An Update on Hurricane Matthew

Haiti – a beautiful country, a beautiful people who have had far too many natural disasters to deal with. The Haitians are people who are willing to work hard to provide food for their families, people who take pride in their country, who support each other, and are quick to take in children who are in need, while they, themselves, have very little. They are a resilient people – standing together and fighting back from every disaster. Now Hurricane Matthew.

Matthew was, at one time, predicted to hit the south hard and predicted to also greatly affect the Artibionite Valley, where the HATS Mission is located. This morning it has definitely caused a lot of damage in the south. It has been described as catastrophic. Major flooding, some whole towns flooded, electricity gone, mudslides, homes destroyed, lifestock washed away and a large amount of crops ruined, some of which are banana trees and mango trees. Southern Haiti is now cut off from Port au Prince due to a major bridge collapsing. Other bridges are covered in water and in danger of collapsing as well. Some photos were posted from Les Cayes showing people trying to walk through water shoulder height. Streets in Port au Prince flooded also this afternoon.

I have been there on two occasions when hurricanes did cause a lot of flooding and damage on the HATS compound. Thankfully, today, our area has not received the feared damage. Rain has been falling steadily, which can cause flooding but no heavy rain. A careful eye has being kept on things today as heavy rain has been announced for tonight. If this should come there would be lots of water coming down from the mountains and could flood canals around Deschapelles. It would be a relief to many if this heavy rain too would miss us. There is a possibility that the the Pelig Dam may have to release water, but that should not affect us directly.

I am happy to report that everyone on the HATS compound and all on Luckner’s compound are okay.

Please pray for the people who are in the areas that were badly damaged. With the flooding comes waterborne diseases. Cholera cases may well increase, as well as several mosquito born diseases.

Thank you for the tremendous prayer support, encouragement, and reaching out to us to be sure if we were okay. May we thank God together for how things are in the valley and pray together for the needs of those who are in desperate help.

God bless you all.
Karen