1 March

Good morning! Yesterday was an eventful day. The team went out on the Diesel bus to Chambrun and attended the typically Haitian, boisterously worshipful service led by Pastor Pierre (as he’s called by the people). I had never seen him before in a suit (the Haitian pastor’s uniform, I think). He’s so busy he seems to be pulled in every direction. Said last night that he gets up to 500 text messages and calls a day and, even allowing for some exaggeration, which is a lot by any reckoning. There was a distribution of food bags at the end – it seemed like Christmas. I keep stressing the importance of providing aid to the whole community, and not just to the church. Everyone agrees in principle, but it’s a challenge to really make it happen, which it must, I feel. And when general distribution happens, there are huge problems of security and keeping everything from becoming a riot. There are no simple answers. During the morning two very sick babies were identified, one with hydrocephalus (fluids in the head expanding the skull) and one completely sceptic (whole body infection) and extremely (!) thin. A member of the team asked me to translate with the mother of the first child, and committed to sending down a 3-big-wheel stroller with the next team. The second very sick baby was taken by Diana and Ken (paediatrician and internist) to the University of Miami Trauma (field) Hospital (3 big tents) near the P-au-P airport. Long story short: at last news, the baby’s life was saved. Afterwards, the whole group spent their half day off by going to see the devastation in the centre of Port-au-Prince (see the one new photo) – each one of us trying to process what we saw. Everyone is now coming to life, so I’ve got to stop.

Note aux amis francophones: Je vais écrire en français la prochaine fois. Merci de votre patience.