On the Ground

Here's the situation in Carrefour now: Bryan said there are five of these tent communities scattered within a one-mile radius that they are working in. If we had a vehicle, that radius could be greater. Pray for a C-130 and a truck!!! Each community has between 100-500 people and each has injured people in it. The three doctors who have found and joined us are treating these people on somewhat of a circuit.

Our team is finding people who are so badly injured that they could not be moved to these places (ie; no blankets, no stretchers), picking them up and taking them by foot to the injured camps. Bry said Trav carries people for miles and miles every day.

The smell near any building is really terrible. Bry said "It's not that bad, for me, because of having big animals die on the farm." OK, Bry. Whatever.

They are amputating with little anesthesia, if any. Dr. Gerdes will be so welcome! He's an anesthesiologist.

Bry said a little girl (5 years old) had to have 2 toes cut off. She was sitting on her mother's lap, screaming and crying in pain, but never kicked or flinched. Her mom had told her that she couldn't move her foot...and she didn't.

I can't tell you how tough and brave these people are. I hope that helps you to understand. You have no idea how proud I am today to have Haitian blood running through my veins.

Yesterday, they pulled another 15-20 bodies from Lloyd's mission building. The total dead in this one church is about 30, now, with 10-20 more yet to recover. It's worse than we had originally thought.

Lloyd's son Rodney, his wife, and 1-year-old son were coming downstairs to join the church service when the building started to collapse. Rodney said with every new quake they got pressed tighter and tighter from 3 feet of space down to one. He wormed his way out of the debris, pushing the baby forward, and pulling his wife, until they escaped. It took him about an hour. Then he went to work uncovering the others. Most of whom, were dead.

These people are reeling from grief, while having to press forward. Rodney's wife and baby are coming back to the states tonight with Jon, as well as Travis and Kate, who is crying and begging to stay. School starts Monday. If she wants to go medical, she's going to need it.

Jon has landed??? I think...I haven't checked flightaware.com lately. If you want to check on Jon's plane, his tail number is N882TM. Dr. Gerdes and company are waiting to depart. Waiting for mechanical clearance.

Continue to pray for Jon's endurance. I already think it's a miracle.

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles..."