Dixie's Latest Post 1/15 PM

Before I say anything about my day, there are some things I forgot to post that I want you to know! 

1.     Did you know that during an earthquake all of the water in the toilet bowls splash out on the floor? I do not think I ever thought about this! But I do think it is one of those interesting facts!

2.     Those of you who might be wondering if I am still on that stupid diet…the answer is NO! Tuesday, started out as a stressful day and at noon my whole office staff ate cheeseburgers and French fries! At 4:53 PM, we had the earthquake! I am glad that I had that cheeseburger, because if I had died and the last thing I had tasted was a fake chocolate soy based milk shake. It would have been awful!  Needless to say, with all of the stress that we are under, I am NOT doing this diet again until things settle down!

I thought today would be quieter.   Reporters are on the ground in Port-au-Prince. TV coverage of rescues and such are going on. I thought I could stay off the telephone and actually do some work! But it did not happen. We still have some reporters and lots of people wanting to send in humanitarian aid. One of our American board members has arranged for a 737 jet to carry in to Haiti for GLA 12,000 pounds worth of donations. Some of these will be for our orphanage and others will be given to agencies working down in Port-au-Prince to distribute. Some of the items arriving will be blankets, tents, hygiene packets, first aid items, food and water. They will also bring diapers and baby items. This will help for a while. We are very thankful for the help.

I am continuing to plan to petition the Haitian government to allow the children to leave Haiti. It is difficult to find anyone to talk to. Their minds are on rescue work and “humanitarian” efforts. But helping these children is a humanitarian effort too! We do not know that tomorrow is going to bring here. Where do we buy food, water, fuel, cooking fuel, and supplies? Will we see the children going without food before the end of the month? Will the relief effort be enough? I do not know. I guess the future holds all the answers.

Does it never end? We just received a call from the Fermathe Hospital asking us to take a premature baby from a mother who is having seizures and was a earthquake survivor. We also received word that one of my staff members is trying to reach the orphanage with her children, niece, and sister-in-law who were all hurt in the earthquake and they cannot find food, water, or medical assistance. And the aftershocks, rolling of the ground, and trembling, continues!

If fear it is just a small taste of what we can expect in the next few weeks.

I can hear my staff outside my office window singing and praising God. What a sweet sound to my ear and how comforting this is to me.

And life in Haiti goes on…