Haita Update from Sean from Daryl Christensen 1-27-2010
gengberg January 28th, 2010
Daryl and Sherry Christensen’s son, Sean, is a missionary in Haita. Sherry and Daryl have been sending me updates. I’m sure that Daryl and Sherry would welcome any donations and help from any of you.
FYI, Daryl has been a professional angler for over 30 years and was a leading money winner in the MWC and PWT Walleye circuits. He is a great person and a Christian as is Sherry. Contact Daryl if you’d like to help. Sincerely, Gary
Hi Everyone:
I talked with Sean last night and he relayed the following message.
“I am very busy, beginning my day before light and getting home after dark. I have now been delegated to handle all relief efforts coming into our area and have been loading, unloading, driving here and there. Unlike in America, Haitian hospitals do not provide food or post-op care for patients. It is up to family members or friends to bring the patient food and water and to feed them if they can’t eat on their own. Because of this, the hospitals are very crowded with people who are not injured, but who are helping feed, bathe and clothe loved ones. They also eat with them, so food disappears in a hurry.”
He also reported that one of the relief planes from Agape Flights out of Venice, Florida was totalled at the Jacmel airport. Fortunately, no one was hurt and they were able to salvage most of the equipment, but the plane was a total loss. The good news is that an aviation company from the east coast is loaning them a plane and pilot for the next month until they can replace the lost plane.
Agape Flights brings in relief teams and goods as well as Sean’s mail, although they have not received any mail for a month.
The well pump that supplies water to his home and several others has broken so they have no water pressure on the missionary compound. Fortunately, a couple who evacuated out last week, will be returning next week with a new pump from the states. Until then, it’s bottled water for drinking and barrel water for washing. It has not rained since the quake, which is good for relief and recovery efforts, but bad for crops and drinking water as Haitians collect rainwater for cooking, drinking, cleaning, etc. If you saw the video of a Haitian bathing under a dripping air conditioning unit, you can understand how scarce clean water can be. He said that supplies are beginning to trickle in, but that the stores are running out of food since the popluation of Les Cayes is now well over 150,000. Two weeks ago, it was around 70,000. “These people are broke, poor and starving and many are injured physically and emotionally.” He said that he and his family are doing fine, but that he is so busy he really hasn’t had time to think the past few days.
Today (Thursday, Jan. 28) he is delivering supplies to Jacmel, which is a long arduous trip from Les Cayes and will take all day. At the moment, he feels he and his family are safe and are in God’s will to stay and help. But as usual, he says “This is Haiti and things can change day by day.”
As much as I would like to see them here and safe, I know that he is a very important cog in the relief wheel at this time and trust that God will protect him and his family as he coordinates communication and now relief efforts in the southern penninsula. He is a perfect person for the job at hand and the Hatian people desperately need his expertise and compassion. Continue Reading »
