Gary sent Mike Painter to Port to pick up Al and Bev yesterday. He went to Montrouis to pick up Al and Bev. They left all their luggage at Mikes as it wasn't safe to have four big suitcases going across the bridge in the dark with so many people millling around. We will have to figure out how to get the needed luggage when it's not going to cause a great problem. It seems that people are agitated and anything we do these days or anywhere we go insults are hurled as though the hurricane were our fault and now it's our job to fix it all. Desperation takes on many different forms.
Gary went to one of the cell phone offices to get Jessica hooked up (she already had a phone) and a man from New Jersey badgered him (in English), "What are you doing about the flood?" Gary ignored him until the man got in Gary's face and asked again. Gary's reply was this, "I've handed out 1000 Haitian dollars and fed 500 people, what are you doing to help?" The guy backed off saying his pockets were empty but at least it stopped the badgering. Gary's decided not to go downtown unless absolutely necessary so as to avoid these kinds of confrontations. There are many quick trips that a staff member can handle so we are "laying low".
We think we have a good plan to distribute food to the needy. One of our staff is a pastor and has connections in town with local officials. We think we will put him (Samuel) in charge of distribution of goods. There will be more about that as it develops.
Helicopters are going overhead all day in one direction or the other since Gonaives cannot be reached but by air. When Al and Bev flew over they could see that water was everywhere.
I better get over to the school and put the finishing touches on the pre-school, kindergarten and first grade classrooms so we are ready to greet the children on Monday.
Be blessed!
Carolyn
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