We knew Max would not let too much time go by before addressing the situation of the children in the school program. Tonight he told us that about 100 of the 160 are still in Port-au-Prince. For those that have gone out to the provinces he plans on contacting the schools out there in hopes that offering the tuition for the rest of the school year will get them into a class. For those still in the city his plan is this:

1. He is gathering the littler ones – grades 1-6 – to draw pictures and do things to help them process their trauma. This will begin on Monday.
2. He will call the older students into smaller groups to talk with them about what’s happened, ask what they need and reassure them that their lives have not stopped – life will go on, they still have hope.
3. On March 1 he will bring the groups together in the yard and begin educational activities with the older ones assisting the younger ones.

This is how he will start. Max believes in education as the way forward for Haiti. He will NOT let these children languish. He knows that structure will help them to adjust to what has happened.

In other news, a new medical and support group will be arriving this weekend. Included in the group will be a psychiatrist who will work with the people in the neighborhood and try to give them strategies to help them feel some sense of control in their lives.

CRS has said they will be delivering 300 tents by the end of the week. Rainy season is fast approaching bringing many serious concerns.

I have not spoken much about Pharra, our Hospitality Director. I do know that she is one of the strongest people I know and is working with all of her strength for the people of Christ Roi. I hope to have a report from her soon. In her last short email she wrote, ” It is not all lost. Even with all that sorrow It is like a new beginning for Hospice, for Haiti. Hope we can”Carpe Diem”.”

And finally Max shared this analysis, update and story with us a couple of days ago:

…it is true that most of the items are still at the airport and for many reasons. The international community was shocked at the devastation and did not really know how to react. Haiti does not have the infrastructure to welcome the aid. At first it was stored at the industrial facility by the airport and this required so much clearance to get things out because it is controlled by the UN military personnel. Also there were territorial issues between the different big players like France, USA, Venezuela and others. The airport is under the direct control of authority of the US army (different branches) and there were complaints about who they let in.
The president’s operation is at a police precinct (Judiciary Police Dept), the parliament is at the police academy – the different ministries at some UN compound. The interface was very difficult.
By the way, World Food Program and the US army started delivering food and water and it seems to be alleviating people’s hunger. At the beginning we had 7 stations that required food assistance from us and they were serving tens of people. Today we only provide food to 2 stations and yet they don’t come every day like it was in the aftermath of the earthquake. We don’t buy as much drinking water as previously to give to people. The rainy season which is almost upon us presents the biggest challenge because most people are on the street and they don’t have tents. We had two close calls for rain so far. On Sunday and Monday it started to rain and you could hear the whole western part of Haiti screaming out to Jesus to stop the rain. The prayers were answered because although it drizzles, the pouring rain did not occur.

Thanks for your efforts and that of other members of the Hospice family. Hats off to you for all of your efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people of Haiti.

There is not much more I can add to that – Bless you all!

Sue