Earthquake Update

To my family and friends,
Over the last 3 days I have been inundated with emails and calls regarding all that has been happening in Haiti. Most of you have been inquiring about the “characters” in my blog and the state of the mission. I’ve waited as long as possible, holding my breath for each and every one of my friends. There has been some good news, some bad news, and still a lot of unknowns. I’ve been kept up to date as best as possible through Diana (MOH teacher) and Rachel (whose place I stayed with the twins). Here is what I know :

Though the mission is located in the area of worst impact, its buildings are still standing, although the insides are completely destroyed; there have been injuries of course, but those who were on MOH at the time are all alive. The majority of the 150 employees, however, are Haitian and do not live on the mission. 85% of the surrounding villages are completely destroyed and they are still awaiting news on many of the employees and the over 1200 children who attended school on the mission. It is already known that one of the little girls, Farah, was killed. The Hope House kids are too terrified to be near anything, so they are huddled together in the grass with the animals; everyone is sleeping outside. Though the inside of the clinic was destroyed and many of the supplies ruined, there have been hundreds of patients flocking to the mission especially because of the other hospitals that had collapsed. I took the following from Diana’s blog:

Within half an hour, an emergency medical team was arranged by Grant and Cheryl, and all of the team doctors and nurses trekked down to the clinic to give care to the countless village people who could be seen from the top of the mission hill flocking to the mission gates. This initial medical aid ran all through Tuesday night and all day Wednesday. Medical professionals worked around the clock after just returning from a full day of work to assist the Haitian people with broken limbs, bleeding wounds, burns, and internal damages.

Yesterday, I was relieved to find out that Sadrac Innocent was okay. Apparently he was on his way to school by foot when it struck. Patris’ school building collapsed and he lost many of his classmates; fortunately he was not in school at the time either. I’ve been especially worried about Wicky, and just this evening I got some good news. He writes: praise the Lord, the almighty God that i am ok, my family. we really need your prayer for haiti. my house craks, but i am a life. psaums 46...

Another sigh of relief. Bildad’s (one of the Haitian employees)sister was in one of the Port-Au-Prince buildings when it collapsed and they were mourning her loss when they found out that she had been drug out and brought to a hospital. I am very worried about Cenea Sadrac and Dr. Jennifer. Dr. Jennifer lives in Petionville, one of the worst hit areas, and I have yet to hear news about her. I have been looking at pictures from the clinic and I keep hoping to see her or Dr. Alex or Blondy or Charlins in one, but I have not. I’ve kept in good touch with Cenea Sadrac (Cadrak) since I’ve been back, I really hope that I will hear from him again soon so I can breathe again. I have not heard about Venna, but I hope that she wasn’t home when it struck because I’m sure that her house could not withstand it (remember the pictures). I am anxiously awaiting any news about the Good Samaritan Orphanage kids. They had already been through so much with the hurricanes. I can’t help think of Gwendolyn and Carnesise (my favorite, who never smiled), and imagine how frightened they are. Or worse.

That is all I know for now. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your messages of concern and encouragement. I will try to put updates on the blog if I get any more news (http://haiti2009-brittsolar.blogspot.com/). Some of you have been asking about where to send donations. I’m sure that almost anywhere you pledge to would go to its best use, especially something like the Red Cross. I know that MOH is desperately in need of funds and medical supplies as they have absorbed hundreds of patients from the surrounding areas. The facilities are relatively small and the patients are lined up bloodied and dying outside of the partly destroyed clinic building. Many cannot be saved. I worked very closely with the founder and president Brad Johnson, and I can guarantee to you that your donations will be used in the best possible way if made through him. That website is http://www.mohhaiti.org/. There is a specific place for the Disaster Relief. I would not recommend it if I didn’t truly have confidence in the priorities and abilities of this organization.

I hope that this elucidated some of your concerns. I write this with a heavy heart, but with appreciation of all the prayers and thoughts that have been directed towards Haiti. I can’t help but feel helpless. Dr. Cheryl, after holding a dead 2 yr old in her arms, writes “…this child will no longer feel pain, will no longer cry, will no longer hunger. She will no longer want for anything, she will no longer be judged, she will no longer be lonely.” Has it come to that? How can a house fall on you when you sleep in a wheelbarrow? It is travesty just an hour and a half from Miami Beach and what I once thought could never be any worse, just got worse.

Thank you so much for your prayers and concerns, I love you all.
Britt


Sadrac Inocent January 17 at 12:57pm
Im okay my friend thank you for thinking about me i love u sadrac

Josaphat Noel January 18 at 5:33pm
i am ok, don't worry, God keep me safe. thank you for thinking of me. God bless you, wicky