9/3 Haiti/Gustav Update from Linda

Dear Friends,

Delamy called this evening twice to give us an update. He talked to Pastor Borgelain and M. Joslien (a good friend from Gonaives). As many of you know Delamy has been in Florida with his family, planning to return to Haiti 8/27, and now after 2 cancelled planes, is scheduled to return sometimes next week. Please excuse my use of ‘bullets’ to cover everything he shared.

· The flooding is ‘everywhere, everywhere’ … from Saint Marc, across the Artobonite Valley through Gonaives, and all the villages north of Gonaives: Terre Blanche, Dubedou, Finel, Mapou – there is no way to get there to help.

· Although the rains have stopped, the North is completely cut off from the rest of the country. There is no road into this part of Haiti.

· President Preval tried to go by car, but it is impossible. …. The Lake that formed after the 2004 flood has returned and it is even worse due to the partially built bridge over this area. It is impassable. Several other lakes have formed in the Artobonite Valley.

· Part of the wall around Delamy’s home in Gonaives has collapsed.

· Pastor Borgelain reported that the clinic is OK, but the village of Terre Blanche is in desperate condition. Most of the homes along the road into TB have collapsed. No one knows about the homes near the river.

· Pastor Borgelain and Ti-Renney tried to go to the home of Francise to save her, but almost died while trying to get to her. Later she was brought to the area of Norther Gonaives called Gatro. She is safe at the moment.

· The area of Gonaives where M. Herold and Mme. Julberte live is destroyed and they have probably lost all.

· The small bridge about a mile from the turn off to TB has collapsed. This is the one where marchans sold mangoes and 2 rivers met at this point.

· Needless to say, there is no food available and the safe water is almost gone. Most homes in TB are destroyed. The books and uniforms for the new school year were distributed before Delamy left for Haiti and now they are probably destroyed.

Please join us in prayer….

Linda