October 2, 2008
Dear Family, Friends & Sponsors:
We just returned from Haiti, there is so much to tell and so much to do.
We are always amazed at the beauty of God's creation in that country and the poverty.
This trip we were also amazed and horrified by the devastation we saw from the recent hurricanes,
Torrential rains and resulting flooding and rock & land slides. The community of Raymond where
Our school was lost has been totally changed. When we went there if we had not known where we
Were, we would not have recognized it. In all, 18 homes were lost, We would try to rebuild for them
But the land is gone too and is now river bed. It was all washed away by the river which went from a
Tiny stream 2-10ft wide to a 100 to 150 ft wide. Many homes that are standing are barely usable due
To damage. Some are so isolated by the surrounding riverbed that they are difficult to use. Folks
Are also afraid to go back to these homes until rainy season is over in case their home goes in the
Next storm and they are not able to escape.
The people's ability to feed themselves and their families gets tighter from the loss or damage to crops.
This has made a situation of hunger and poverty even worse. The wife of the gentleman that oversees
Our school, Leann Pye, was there in the community during all of this and was able to help immediately
By handing out food and water. (see PHOTOS section HURRICANE GUSTAV HITS HARD)
They have also rebuilt some homes and put roofs on others.
Another thing that always amazes us is the spirit of these people, to continue to survive in situations that
Many of us in Canada can't even comprehend. I met a woman who knew that Miles and I are responsible for
The school. She lost everything, even her land. She was afraid that if school started, her children wouldn't
Be able to go as they lost their birth certificates & uniforms. I assured her we would do what we could to
Get school started and that the loss of the uniforms & documents was not a problem.
They seem to need to have school to get some kind of normalcy back into their lives.
We have found another building that isn't perfect, but is adequate and school will start there Oct. 6.
We are hoping to get enough funds raised to build on a piece of land that has been purchased in the
Community. We have watched this land for several years and it always does well when hurricanes
And flooding strike. SEE PHOTOS
We met another family Mdme. Lucienne Pierre and her 6 children, ages 17 months to 11 years.
She came to the orphanage a couple months ago to try to give her beautiful children to the orphanage
Rather than see them starve to death. Her husband was killed in an accident at work. She has been selling
Things at the market ever since. She had funds saved up to pay her rent which is paid yearly. Some of her
Children got sick and she had to take them to the hospital. She used all her savings to pay for their care but
Then was losing her home. She had no food and the family was eating scrape-ings of burnt rice from the bottom
Of their neighbors rice pot. None of the children were in school. Danny & Leann helped her by paying the rent
And getting her some food to do for a couple months.
She came again the other day to the orphanage as her 3 youngest were sick again with a high fever. We gave her some
Medicine to bring down the fever. We paid to take them to the doctor who diagnosed Malaria. They all also have
Worms due to the conditions they live in. The house is wooden slats that have a gap between them, there is no
Window and the door is a curtain. The roof is straw and the floor is mud. The furniture is a 3/4 bed where she
And the 2 babies sleep. The 4 older children sleep on a wooden mat on the floor. There is small table in the corner
With a few dishes on it. Their few clothes are strung in the rafters of the house. That is all their belongings.
The Lord told Miles we were to help them. We put all the older children in school, got her a job near the school,
And are looking for a better home near the school. We are now looking for sponsors for all these children and for
Mdme Pierre. Her salary will be about $50 per month. The children's school will be $30 per month. If anyone is
Interested in knowing more about them or would like to sponsor one or all of them, please contact us. Photos are under
PHOTOS and then FAMILY NEEDS HELP
We are planning more trips for the winter. A team is looking at going sometime in January.There will be a Youth
Conference going the last week of February and we'd love to take a bunch of youth with us to take part. There
Will be a Minister's conference the first week or March, if any local pastors are interested, this would be a great time to go.
For further information please contact us through this website. Photos are posted at PHOTOS and then under
The heading September 2008 Haiti Trip.
Take care and God Bless
Miles & Rosemary Blair
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