Author: bryan@bmeyers.net (Page 61 of 101)

Friends of Haiti,

We are using this picture to illustrate what is going on in Haiti right now.

All of us know the effects of the weather patterns we are seeing in the U.S. now. In Missouri we had more rain in December than ever before, a very mild winter and more rain during March. In Haiti, it has been just the opposite…no rain at all and at a time when those who can farm are unable to do anything because of a severe drought caused by the El Nino weather pattern. According to the World Food Program, and in an article in the Miami Herald by Jacqueline Charles, those farmers are facing a 70 percent crop loss . This has doubled the number of “food insecure” people since September of 2015 and malnutrition rates have dramatically increased.

Of course, what all of that means is there just isn’t enough food to go around, and what food there is, is just too expensive for the average person to buy. As our friend Beaubrun told us, “Even if you have a few gourdes (Haitian money, sounds like ‘good’) there isn’t a lot you can buy with it now.” Just after the 2010 earthquake you could get 43 gourdes for 1 US dollar. Now a dollar is 61.25 gourdes.

Of course, our programs are operating normally, but it has got to the point we are having to turn people–kids and adults-–away, and we don’t want to do that. If anyone would like to help add to what we do, we and they would appreciate it.

Add to this the political turmoil. We had thought they had solved their presidential problems by appointing an interim president until new elections could be held. But those elections are being contested, as well. Now, no one knows where this is headed. To say the very least, Haiti country needs our prayers and help.

Medical update: Although there were no myeloma proteins in Terry’s latest tests her problems are far from over. A nerve conduction test showed the chemo meds badly damaged her leg and feet nerves, which are causing her to be in pain much of the time. She is also having problems with bronchitis, so keep her in your prayers as well.

Thank you for all you do.

Steve and Terry

Friends of Haiti,

It seems we have a truce in Haiti. The two political parties agreed on a long time politician to act as interim president until an election can be held the 24th of April. We felt that if he is good enough as an interim president, why shouldn’t he be president? He will oversee setting up the elections, their process and installing the new president by the middle of May. The outgoing president would have been forced out had he not stepped down the 7th of February. It’s odd in a way, because prior to becoming president, he was a well-known entertainer, a political “outsider” who said it would take his know-how to get things done (this sounds a little too familiar). The fact is, by the time his term was up, they were ready for him to go. As with all the other politicians over the past 20+ years, very little has changed.

The one thing that has helped, in a way, is the cell phone. They are very cheap in Haiti and they make them that way so everyone except the very poor can come up with what amounts to $10-$15 US. They run specials on holidays, and sell cards very cheaply to load time into them. In the minutes after the earthquake, before service went down, everyone who had one used it to call family, Steve included. It also makes it easier when sending money for the schools or other programs; we send it on line through Western Union, and text Beaubrun the transfer number. Within an hour or so, he texts back saying it has been picked up, and the money is on its way to its intended use. When we first started going, we had to wait to go and at one point we could mail it, but that took two weeks, sometimes even longer. Cell phones have not changed lives but they have made it easier.

What does change lives is the schools. Vitamin programs. Feeding programs. The churches and all the work that goes into any of these. Those of you who support one of these programs or offer prayer for them do just that: change a life.

Medical update: All of the tests on Terry show no myeloma proteins, so for now we can say there is no cancer. Since there is no cure for myeloma, she still has to go back every three months for more tests. Since the chemo destroyed her immune system, she has to retake every vaccination needed from birth to now. They started her with five vaccinations and in a few weeks she gets five more.

Thank you for all you do for our friends in Haiti and thank you for everything you do for us.