Flooding

Just a quick note to let those of you still following us here that Port-au-Prince (and actually the island of Hispanola and Jamaica as well) have been pounded by a deadly and destructive storm over the past day or so. Below is an update we received from Child Hope on the state of things. Please pray and consider donating to assist with relief efforts.

From Child Hope:

Last night a violent storm hit Haiti, leaving behind devastation.  In our neighborhood, there were flash floods which caused rushing waters and mudslides.

 

People were standing on roof tops to avoid the water. Houses were up to four feet in mud, causing furniture and belongings to be destroyed. People have died and some are still missing.

 

Many of our staff members were out all last night rescuing people, finding missing family members and taking care of people who lost their homes.  Some of our Hatian staff members were also seriously affected.  Fritzner lost his entire home.  Carole and Mari-France both had all of their belongings washed away.  We are also praying for the families of our MDL children, who may have also been affected by the storm.

The destruction is overwhelming and we are doing our best to respond to the needs. We are expecting to take in people that lost their homes and possessions, feeding them, and assisting in cleaning up their properties during the day.  We are still in the process of evaluating the losses and checking up on our staff members and children's families.

  

If you'd like to contribute  toward  our relief effort, you can go to: https://childhope.webconnex.com/donation_form?notes=Relief%20Fund&category=14234 

Here is a recent article on the flood:

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/americas/Severe-Weather-Leaves-11-Dead-in-Haiti-123377693.html 

Please join us in prayer for those suffering as a result of the flood and as we seek His guidance during this time.


God bless.


bill and susette manassero

We're Back...

Our team arrived back in the U.S. on Saturday...but the U.S. was one thing, all the way home was another. After a very long travel delay on Saturday that resulted in sitting for three hours on the tarmac in Dallas and us missing our flight from LA to Sacramento that night, we got a few precious hours of sleep at a hotel near LAX (and the first "real" showers in a week) before waking up early Sunday for our flight back to Sacramento.

Our team at LAX around midnight, waiting to get re-booked for the next day and to get to a hotel for what was left of the night - Emily was D.O.N.E.

Most of us went directly to church after we landed...we were a little out of it and some of us were wearing less-than-clean clothes, but it was great to see people and to share a little bit about the trip.  Over the past couple of days we have all been recuperating and working on processing through all that we saw, learned and experienced.

This Sunday at church we'll be sharing even more about the trip, complete with photos, video and stories from all of our team members. We would love to have you come join us - 10:30am at Discovery High School located 3401 Fong Ranch Road. Sacramento, CA 95834.

Updated: A House for Ismel

Editor's Note/Update: After we returned to the U.S. the Child Hope team in Haiti sent us a few more photos of Ismel's house, which is now basically done! Here are a couple of photos...thank you again to those of you who made this home for Ismel a reality by supporting our trip!

The house from the front - it is significant that the house is made of wood, which will withstand a future earthquake much better than the cement and cinder block homes so prevalent in Haiti.

The house from the side.

Original Post Below: 

Ismel is getting a house thanks to so many of you who invested your resources in this team and into Haiti.

Chuck on his way to the lumber yard to pick up the house (the walls, etc. are pre- cut and partly assembled).

In addition to building a home for Ismel, this building project also is putting a group of Haitian men to work for several days - a blessing in a country where a job is difficult to come by.

Haitian workers loading the house onto the truck for transport to the building site. 

Ismel has been living in a USAID tent along with three other family members since the earthquake struck more than 17 months ago. In the video below, Pastor Dave talks with Ismel while she sits under the roof of her current home about the house being built for her and about the many people who came together to make building it a reality.

After visiting with Ismel some members of our team helped the laborers out with the construction and leveling of the area.

Erick and Dave shoveling as part of the effort to level the area for the house. Eventually concrete will be poured to make the floor of the house.

 

Rob, Chuck, Andrea, Erick and Dave helping to hold up the walls while they are nailed together.

Before we left the site three of the four walls of the house had been joined, while much work remains to be done over the next few days, the project is well underway.

Our entire team poses for a photo with Ismel.

Before we left, we prayed with Ismel and asked God to bless her, her family and her new home. She was so grateful to us - and everyone who donated to make this possible - she thanked us over and over again. It was clear just from meeting Ismel for a few minutes that she is a loving and humble woman and that the simple act of giving her a new home meant much to her and her family.

Ismel thanks our team.

We also want to thank all of you who have supported this trip with prayer and financial resources. From the building of Ismel's home, to supplies for Maison de Lumiere, to getting our entire team to Haiti safely, none of this would have been possible with out you. When you hear and see Ismel thanking us, she is is thanking you too. 

More blog posts coming later today, now it's off to the Feeding Program.