THREE STORY BUILDING AND MAKE SHIFT HOUSING

Fist picture of what was a 3 story structure on the way to Jacmel from PAP..

There are hundreds and hundreds of locations like this one with make shift housing...

DOWN TOWN JACMEL

Here are a couple pictures of down town Jacmel... Can't down load more then two pictures at a time...

PICTURES OF SOME OF THE DEVESTATION IN PAP

The first picture is of our Diquinni schools.. there was apparently no visible damage from the first quake but the 6.1 after shock did all the damage...

I took over 100 pictures as we drove through PAP.. this is just one example...

It is raining heavy hear right now and the net won't download the other pictures I have...

ANOTHER DAY IN PAP

Dear friends, A second day in PAP.. sometimes it is one step forward and a couple steps back.. but things are coming together... as a result of today it is working out that we are going to be getting both containers of food, this time will be released Wed... means another trip to PAP.. make for a long day with about 12 hrs. there and back along with the meetings.. Today the city was much busier.. Just after Leogann there was a traffic jam and we could see that people had blocked the road and a huge crowd was forming.. this is always a bad situation and can get very violent but the UN arrived before any violence broke out and we eventually got through.. we also met a contact on this trip that charters flight from the Dominican into PAP and Jacmel and when he returns to the Dominican the fair is very low so it will give Tom an option getting out around the 9th. with out having to pay a huge fee... we saw several food lines while in PAP and all appeared orderly.. food and water is getting through to the larger centers but the area we got held up in seemed to be getting very little... we hope to purchase a large truck with a cube box on the back for securing the food to the mountain areas.. we should have our containers unloaded in the next day or two at our Chabin location and then distribute from there to all our school locations, helping all the children and their families... Tom will be putting his paramedic training to work as he will be working with a team of Dr.'s and nurses tomorrow to the east of Jacmel.. I will be going to PAP for the 3rd. day straight to receive the containers of food... This is food sent to us by Urban Rufuge and Kids Against Hunger... phones are still up and down and the Internet is still sparse... the power is on in Jacmel from 7PM to 11PM... We have had rain the last two nights making it very difficult for those in make shift tents... they are by the thousands, especially in Leoganne and Port au Prince.. Jacmel as well...
The picture above is of a little boy having a cracker at our Diquinne location which is on the west edge of PAP.... sorry I don't have more time.. I want to post some pictures of what I saw the last couple of days... Thanks to each one for your prayers and financial support.... Bob & Tom

SAFE TRIP TO PORT AU PRINCE

Dear friends, We had a safe trip to Port au Prince and back.. We had no problems at all and made the contacts we were hoping to make.. We return again tomorrow for one of the containers of food... This pictures is just on of over a hundred pictures I took.. We were driving in the city for several hours where we say city blocks flatten... The devastation is as you see it on TV except for the smells.. They are still pulling bodies out of the rubble..
Words can't describe what trauma these people have been through..

We saw a couple places where people were getting food and it was orderly.

I'll post more pictures later... Thanks everyone for covering us in prayers... Bob & Tom

OTHER PIC'S OF THE DAY....EACH FACE HAS A STORY

LITTLE ANGLES ARRIVING AT CHURCH IN our tap tap...

Some of the children as they were peaking out of the box of the tap tap as they arrived at church this morning... so precious... we are so great full they are safe...

Peace of Mind Hotel..

First picture is of the hotel from the back.. you can see that it is three stories...

The next picture is at the same angle taken today... you can see that you can only see two stories... the row of windows on the bottom left was where the dinning room was located.. The first level is crushed to about a foot thick..
















This is a picture from the front of the hotel and then a front shot taken today...

Mr. Clark's brother said everything started to sway back and forth and then things started coming down.. It only took 7 to 10 seconds and it was flat.....

This is some 40 km. from the EPA center to the north..

We are so thankful that Clark and his wife survived.. They were both inside at the time.. Clark was in a meeting in the lobby and his wife was up in their room.. She said that when she felt things start to shake she tried to run but fell and everything came down. She was rescued with minor cuts and bruises... Unfortunately their niece was killed and a guest that was visiting just to get e-mail messages off their satellite dish was killed also.. apparently she started to run out but turned back to get her lap top and didn't make it out..... Most people had no idea what was happening... and then when it did it all happened so fast... This is where our team would have been staying two weeks later... I spoke with Clark today and he said he is going to rebuild.. There was no insurance... Take care..

Air Canada advisory....

I just got a report that the earliest Air Canada will be flying commercially into Haiti will be the 23rd of Feb...

STORIES OF MIRACLES FROM SO MANY PEOPLE

It was quite a day of hearing stories of miracles that happened to people during the earthquake... of how the ground moved some three feet... how houses were tossed too and fro like paper houses... how people could not stand up because it was so violent.. the sound of the quake was like a helicopter blades coming at a distance then very loud and fast.. most people had no idea what was happening ... how just before the quake a man said he laid face down on the floor a few seconds before the quake and then the quake hit.. when he went to lift his head the cement roof was touching his head and when he tried to lift his foot up his heal touch the cement roof that came down... he was able to crawl out on his belly to safety without any injuries...

I talked with Clark today from the Peace of Mind hotel and he shared with me how when things started to move he ran out of the hotel as he was in the lobby, his wife was in their room... as she tried to run the building was swaying so violently that she fell and then things come crashing down but she was pulled from the rubble with minor injuries... the hotel came down in about 7 seconds.. pictures to follow... We will be in PAP all day tomorrow.. watch for more reports... Bob & Linda

CANADIAN MILLITARY HELPING IN JACMEL

A few of the Canadian troops on patrol in front of our school in Jacmel.. They have been great ambassadors everywhere they go down here.. great job soldiers...

About the schools... on my last report I report the government have canceled school for the remainder of the year... we will still have our schools open for the children to come for a hot meal and we will continue to pay our teachers as they will be helping with the recovery program...

Oh Canada......... Bob & Linda

SATURDAY REPORT

So much has happened since my last note.. first I wanted to post a picture of Gord and Jan Zimmer that were so helpful to us in the Dominican... Last night the power came on at 7PM about 1 hr. after dark for about 3 hrs... you could hear a cheer through out the city when the power came on...
We went up to Savanette today early this morning... Don Mowatt is helping us with the water needs of that area.. While the team was working by the spring Tom and I went up to the top where our school is located... picture shows damage to our storage shed but no damage to the school. This was amazing as it is still under construction... There were several houses damaged.. The Voodoo priest was having a service at the time of the quake and he was killed by a cement wall that came down and his wife lost her arm... no one else was injured..

There are so many people starving in the rural mountain areas.. the price of food has gone up in the market making it impossible for them to purchase food... as soon as we get food we will be distributing to the mountain areas...

When I went to the orphanage yesterday the children ran to me screeming with joy... it was such a special moment... there were many tears.. they were asking me about Rebecca and Joanne who stayed with them for two months last fall...

We now have fuel so this helps and the phones are working some of the time which helps...

It was a special time last night to see a church service outside with the street packed with people and to hear the worship was a special time..

We are trying to address a problem as the Dr.'s Without Boarders approached us for help.... they have patients ready to be released but they have no home to go to and have nothing.. we are looking to rent a house or maybe three to help them out.. we can rent for anywhere from $1800. a year to $6000. a year... we need help in this area...

I talked with Dr. Tiffany Keenan tonight and shared with her about a number of nurses that are wanting to come and help.. she asked for them to contact her via e-mail as she is arranging accommodations and a hospital to work in here in Jacmel... the challenge will be to get here.... keenantiffanyj@yahoo.com

We are still a ways away from starting to rebuild... We are making plans and will be starting to organize teams to come in perhaps sometime in May....

The Government has announced that school has been suspended for the year for the whole country of Haiti...

I will get to the down town area tomorrow and report on that and then to PAP on Monday...

Thanks you to each that have made a donation and for covering us in prayers...

Bob & Tom

ARRIVED JACMEL

Just a short note to say that we have arrived in Jacmel.. Phone service is still poor.. Trying to find our contacts.. Cap La Mandou Hotel is open but very limited rooms because of damage.. no rooms available in the city... I have seen many friends already.. Peterson for one that some of you that have been here with me know him... Watch for posts later when I can get on the net... Thanks for your support... Much more will be needed.... Bob & Tom

ARRIVING JACMEL NOON TODAY

We have been well looked after here in the Dominican in preparation for our flight into Jacmel today... Gord and his wife have been awesome hosts and will be driving us to Santa Demengo (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) to catch a charter flight to Jacmel.. We are so grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to see our friends in Haiti... I will report back as soon as I can get connected on the internet... Bob & Linda

RE: UNANSWERED E-MAILS

As you can imagine I have been getting hundreds of e-mails per day... if you had e-mailed me with a question and I hadn't gotten back to you, please could I get you to resend the message....
Bob & Linda

FINDING A WAY TO JACMEL

Dear friends, We have arrived in the Dominican and are being well looked after by Gord Zimmer
who is also a former RCMP officer. There has been a change of plans as the insurance companies have put a $4000. charge to their rates on helicopters to fly into Haiti. This is per trip into Haiti.. This has put a hault to going via helicopter... we are seeking out other ways to get in without driving through PAP, especially on a motor cycle... we are checking with other contacts at this time to find another way in... I will report as soon as I get word... thanks for your prayers... Bob & Tom

WE WILL BE ARRIVING JACMEL AT ABOUT NOON THURSDAY

Dear friends, All things equal we will be arriving in Jacmel around noon Thursday.. We fly all night to Toronto Tuesday night, Wed. morning and then another flight out of Toronto around 11AM and into Punta Canna, Dominican at 4:30 PM.. We should arrive in Jacmel by about noon the next day...

We got word today that the two containers of food that we had received from Urban Refuge Church and Kids Against Hunger out of Minniapolis was to be released to us today or tomorrow... This is such good news as there are about 580,000 meals in those two containers...
The highway is open between Jacmel and PAP... Watch for photo's and reports in the days to follow ........ We are still in need for financial support.. the need is so huge...

Thanks for all that have sent support and said prayers for the people of Haiti... I am prepared to stay for 2 mons. or until all the containers arrive and all the children and staff have been accounted for...

There have been many calls of people that want to come and help.. This trip will give me a chance to scout out the situation for teams to come in... I understand the commercial airlines are to begin flying into Haiti on about the 9th of Feb.. I will report on my blog when it looks like teams will be able to come in.. Our first priority for teams will be Dr.'s and nurses...
God bless you... Bob & Linda

HELP ARRIVES IN JACMEL

Dear friend, You probably caught it on the news that Jacmel is getting aid relief. I have had several organizations contact me here and I have been able to connect them to people on the ground in Jacmel to help get their medical tents and supplies set up.. The Canadian Arm has been a huge help.. they are using our water trucks to help with the desperate water needs.. Food has been arriving from World Food Relief ... One of the biggest needs right now is for fuel so we can run our generators, and fill our trucks so we can deliver food to the mountain areas...

Our travel plans are coming together for Tom Weppler and myself to go to Jacmel. Our friends from West Jet have provided us with our tickets to the Dominican and then friends of ours connected us with a friend of theirs that have a helicopter in the Dominican that will fly us to Jacmel. The helicopter is only costing us the price of the fuel.. This is a huge blessing... We will help with the distribution of food and organizing at that end the receiving of our containers that are being filled here in Canada...

There are so many people that have volunteered their time helping us in getting all this together.. A special thanks to John Devine who has been working tirelessly coordinating the containers...

I was so encouraged by corporations and individuals that did not take advantage of this situation to make money.. A special thanks to West Jet and the man that will be flying us from the Dominican to Jacmel in his helicopter.... This I did not find when trying to make connections to Haiti as the tickets are $1000. each one way from Miami with charter companies... more about that another time...

I will be speaking at the Anglican Church here in Medicine Hat with Rev. Gene Packwood today...

Thank you to each for your support... funds are still needed.. it will be a long process but I can see hope for the people of Haiti... we will rebuild stronger then ever...

God bless you.. Bob & Linda

NEWS STARTING TO TRICKLE IN FROM JACMEL

Thank you for all your words of encouragement and support.. The need is still so huge.....
I have now been able to make contact with Dr. Tiffany a friend of ours from Canada that helps us with our children and parents at our schools... It was so good to hear from her and to find out she arrived in Jacmel safely...

Some of things that I have been able to find out is that is very difficult to make flight connections.. the road is open between Leoganne to Jacmel but the road is blocked into PAP.. there has been some food and water getting into Jacmel, especially from the Canadian Military.. they have also taken over control of the airport in Jacmel... ... medical support is now getting into Jacmel with hospital tents popping up...

Still no word from out mountain schools, from our PAP and City Solie schools.. Our staff in Diquinni are safe but still no word on a number of the children.. about 2300 we are still waiting to hear from...

There has been a wonderful response to our request for supplies and food to send in our containers to Haiti.. There is so much more needed but this will be a huge help to get started... the first container of food will be ready to ship this coming week.. our friends at Urban Refuge and Evergreen from the Minniapolis area are close to having a container of food ready to ship also.. our friends at Coastal Church in Vancouver and many other churches that I have shared at over the years have been sending support that has been a huge help.... the bank in Jacmel is not open as yet... there is an organizational meeting with the UN today with all the organizations in Jacmel....everyone is still sleeping outside....

There have been many inquiries about giving refuge to the children from our orphanage here in Canada.. we are working on the possibility of bringing the children here.. I will keep you posted after I meet with the minister of Immigration in Haiti... I hope to be in Haiti next week but still waiting for confirmations..


Our staff in Haiti are doing everything possible to help... we had our water trucks supply water to the people of Jacmel until gasoline was impossible to get.... the hope is that the service stations will be open soon.. not sure when the roads will be safe enough to bring in fuel trucks from the port.. we understand that the port is open now...

We are still in need of financial support, food, supplies to rebuild... thank you for all you have done and please pray for all in Haiti... Bob & Linda

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JOHN RE:CONTAINERS

Dear friends, From my previous contact information I had made a typing error..

Our Director of Operations here in Canada for shipping containers of food and supplies to Haiti is"

John Devine.... ph. 403-928-0241 e-mail.... lifelinejohn@hotmail.com

Thanks for all your help... John will have a list of needs and what not to send...