I still cannot make phone calls out so I have to rely on internet for now.  We are hearing very devastating reports about the initial earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks for PAP.  There will be a meeting with the hospital staff this morning at 7:30.  We don't know whether to mobolize and go into PAP, some of the families we have heard from are coming out here to weather the aftershocks which are significantly smaller than in the epicenter of PAP.  We are preparing as like the hurricanes.  There will be many shortages of gas and banking and food so we will try avenues to get what we can here.  Last night a big truck came in but could not unload - hopefully a food delivery from CRS to tied us over.  We will see soon.

Most people have heard from their families in PAP.  Others, like Jules are on motorcycles to try to get into the city now.  Conor tried last night and could not get thru T-Goave - there is a big division in the National Highway 2 and they couldn't get any further.  (the only major way in/out of PAP).  Cadet is okay - he said most people slept in the street last night.  Conor's family is coming to FDB from Carrafour - small damage there. The Xavier House kids got outside before the whole building came crashing down (Mesi Bondye!)

We had so many aftershocks yesterday and last night that all of us - staff and us - sat in the middle of the parking area near the OR where deliveries come in - the most central place we could find away from buildings, cars and trees - until about 10:30 pm and then one by one the WR people went to bed because we were so tired.  The patients were in the courtyard huddled together.  A baby was born at 11 pm last night.  Even though we tried to sleep, each of us came running outside when a bigger tremor was felt until about 3 am when they stopped until 6:15 am this morning.  Conor is getting news and as long as internet stays up I will give you more news later. 

So I don't have much more to tell you.   Please pray for everyone in Haiti right now.  They are very scared.  This has not happened here before.  They don't know what to do.  I will stay solid, rational and safe, don't worry abouft me.  Who knows what lies ahead this week for us - it certainly will be a new adventure first for most of us.  We will stay faithful through it all.  I truly believe God was watching out for my little group in our Landcruiser as we left the city.  It was very odd - hardly anyone on either one of our planes, no one in the airport in PAP, no one bothering us about our bags, no porters trying to carry our suitcases.  Luck would have it that there were less people in PAP then usual.  We had just pulled off the access road when the first earthquake hit.

From Linda Canniff in Haiti

 

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