The Deluge

We didn’t know anything about a low pressure system until we woke up, checked the email, and found a few people who were concerned for our safety because a hurricane named Gustav was supposedly passing through Haiti. You couldn’t prove it by me but we did check the weather websites and did see that Gustav was heading to the southern coast of Haiti. So of course we got breakfast in preparation to go to school and out to our daily chores. That idea ended when we got a call from the school telling us that school would be canceled because we were to get 20” of rain. I know, you would say that there are no such days as rain days but you just don’t live in Haiti I guess.

As we sat finishing our breakfast it quickly became obvious why we didn’t go to school. The mountain in front of our house disappeared in a huge rain cloud and the rain began falling at a horrendous rate. That was five hours ago and it is yet to leave up.

Feel sorry for us? Don’t. We are still warm and dry. This gives us a chance to catch up on some things that needed done. Since we returned from our Home Assignment in the States just last Wednesday there is still a lot to unpack and clean up. I’ve done some of that but feel that this little article for the blog is more important. I stopped writing sometime last Spring since I just couldn’t get motivated to do it. I am now writing because I have a mother-in-law who continually wants to know “why do you have a blog and not write on it?” Well, this is for her. My life’s obligation for the week is almost finished. Thanks, Jacq, I needed to do this. Now back to the rain.

If you’re a praying person do ask for protection for the many Haitians who because of the rain are now or will later be struggling to keep the heads of themselves and their children above water. We are so blessed to have the mountain to our backs to protect us from the rain, wind, and flooding and also a dry cement block house to keep us dry. Most of the people here live in houses in low lying areas that are very vulnerable to flooding. Their tin roofs don’t protect them from the rain like ours do, and their floors are made of packed mud. Even the foundations are in danger of being swept away by the raging flood water.

And so it goes, Not always the way we like it to go!

John

Instead of Bringing Down the Prices
They Brought Down the Prime Minister

Well, it has been a fun week! We spent most of it inside our house since it was too dangerous to get out and run around. School was canceled for the week and I went ahead and gave into the obvious and canceled the Thursday clinic.

One thing that made it particularly difficult for us was that we had visitors. Jessica's friend from South Carolina was here. They spent most of their week watching DVDs of Gilmore Girls. Now wouldn't you like to take your spring break and fly to the Caribbean and watch old videos? Also Jess, a young teacher from Michigan who used to teach at Quisqueya was in town and was stuck in another home where we couldn't get to visit with her. Anyway, on Friday we did get out and went to see Jess,who had been sick all week. I guess if you're going to be closed up in a home for a week you may as well be sick.

So both the visitors are now gone. The looting, rock throwing, tire burning, and demonstrations are now history. Of course the prices are still going to be too high for most Haitians to purchase food for their family but they have the satisfaction of knowing that their mass destruction has led to a change in the government. It seems that those who were protesting agreed to stop if the Prime Minister was fired. So it happened. One more out of a job and a population who still can't eat. Sounds normal to me!

And so it goes!

John

The family just got to the bottom of the mountain and are safe.

Just wanted to let you know.

and so it goes!

John

BRING DOWN THOSE PRICES!

It's been a fun day. Because food prices are high Haitians are protesting. They think their president should do something about it. They actually believe that he has the power to make the prices go down. Maybe he should have emphasized the education of the general population so they might have an inkling of understanding about how finances work.

I tried to get down the mountain to get fuel for the generator today and couldn’t due to the stones being thrown and people in the streets in Petionville. Also as of now Jodie is stuck at school along with Jessica and Jess’s friend Rebecca who is visiting this week from South Carolina.

I doubt if I’ll see my wife tonight. The 5^th grade teacher’s husband has been setting on Kenskoff road since 11 this morning. Can’t get up or down. There are about 6 other teachers who have a big possibility of not making it home tonight. Luckly CSI guesthouse has a group of theirs stuck out in the provinces. So the teachers can at least find a bed for the night.

Life is great. Claudette is here fixing a big meal possibly only for me. But I got the water fixed so it's again coming into our house. I'll get to take a shower anyway

This is the official stuff that the US Embassy is putting out:

WARDEN MESSAGE NO. 50 Tuesday, April 8, 2008 AM

This Warden Message is being issued to alert American
Citizens traveling to or living in Haiti that sporadic
protests have escalated in Port-au-Prince and its
environs. The protestors are blocking main routes
with burning tires and barricades in Carrefour,
Martissant, La Saline, Canape Vert, Delmas and
downtown Port-au-Prince. The Embassy received reports
from MINUSTAH and the Haitian National Police (HNP)
that protestors are scuffling with the police,
throwing rocks and committing acts of vandalism
throughout Port-au-Prince. The HNP also reported that
several businesses and gas stations have been damaged
in Port-au-Prince. The HNP stopped protestors from
breaking into the National Palace. Tear gas and
rubber bullets are being used to disperse crowds of
protestors. Random gunfire has been heard in the
capital. Many schools, stores and businesses have
closed because of the tension and violence. The
airport remains open and commercial flights continue
on a normal schedule, though traffic on the road to
the airport has been disrupted at times by some of the
protests. As reported in Warden Message No. 49,
protests continue in the city of Les Cayes, located in
the South Department of Haiti.
The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens to maintain a high
level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to
increase their security/safety awareness. Americans
are encouraged to remain indoors if demonstrations are
taking place in their vicinity. Monitor the local
news and maintain contact with the U.S. Embassy in
Port-au-Prince. Also be sure to keep friends and
family updated on your welfare and whereabouts. The
Embassy reminds all citizens to avoid crowds and
demonstrations as even those intended to be peaceful
may suddenly turn violent. The Embassy will continue
to evaluate the situation and notify U.S. citizens of
any potential security threats.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor
the U.S. Department of State's travel website at
www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide
Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be
found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens
to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
, which includes valuable security information for
those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to
information on the Internet, travelers may obtain
up-to-date information on security conditions by
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and
Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular
toll line at 1-202-501-4444. Citizens living and
residing in Haiti are advised to register their
presence in the country through the U.S. Department of
State's automated online
registration system,
https://travelregistration.state.gov.
In case of emergency, please contact the American
Citizen Services Unit in the Consular Section of the
U.S. Embassy. The Consular Section is located at 104,
rue Oswald Durand, Port-au-Prince. The telephone
numbers are: (509) 223-7011, 223-6440, 223-6443,
223-6421, 223-6426, 223-6424, 223-6407, and 223-7008.
The fax number is: (509) 223-9665. Our e-mail address
is acspap@state.gov. If you have an emergency when we
are closed, please call the Duty Officer at (509)
417-2399 or (509) 558-9099, or you may call Post One
(U.S. Marine Guard) at the Chancery at 222-0200.

So, here we are again back to the unstable stuff. Isn't it crazy how you can love a place and hate it all at the same time? At least I had something to blog about.

And so it goes!

Jessica, Jodie, and John Ackerman