Today we were blessed. I know, we are blessed everyday but
today the rain stopped and we were able to work at Bethany. This year is
different. We are a good team, unified in purpose, but some people we love are
not with us and I miss them terribly. First of course is our dear Jackensie.
Pastor Voltaire told me at the airport that his wish is that we would fill his
house with joy. We are doing our best Pastor. We are also missing Azer’s son
Chris, but it is for good reason. His business is going very well in PaP and so
he cannot get away; selfishly, I am bummed but I am happy that he is doing so
well that he cannot come. Then of course there is Steve who is now living in
CT. It’s all different but on the way here I told Josie that it must be God
will bring us a new “Steve” and indeed today we are thinking the young man
named Mackenzie may be the one we are to adopt. I don’t know if we are going to
get to the countryside school because of flooding and bad roads. L
I’m certain we will not go over the mountain to DuCroix. L We will hopefully get to College Practique du
Nord to deliver a trombone and flash drives and a thank you for their support
of Mt. Sinai, the countryside school. It’s all just very different than the
past and it’s OK because yes, we remain flexible, flexible, flexible. Now on to
the work we are doing.
I have never seen such a mess with this flooding. There are
pictures that are being shared that are shocking; I hope Vince can post the one
of the bicyclist who rode into the hole in the road and was in water up to his
neck. It’s an image I won’t soon forget. We have been unable thus far to do
clean water because the mountain roads are too muddy to climb; it is just too
dangerous. Nonetheless, we carry on sorting donations and preparing to turn them
over to the church. For those who were a part of that crazy packing party for 3
Sundays, we had to pay only $250 to get everything in. I know the dollar amount
started a lot higher, but Pastor Voltaire was able to negotiate this for us and
we are grateful. Other than about 6 of our team t-shirts, which have to still
be in our bags somewhere, it seems as if everything made it through.
Now to the flooding situation. There are no words. I’ve
never seen anything like this in my life, even on TV. It takes me back to the
Gulf Coast after Katrina and the first time we drove around in the van, none of
us able to speak, deafening silence except the sound of tears flowing and noses
running, in shock at what we were seeing with our own eyes and understanding
for the first time that what I have ever seen on TV is nothing. There the water
came in from the sea, if I remember correctly went inland about 10 miles, and
then everything washed back out leaving trees stripped, sticks and pillars and
stilts from housing standing, boats and cars and baby grand pianos on their
side, in trees, on top of houses. Oh my.
God has placed us here in the midst of the worst flooding in
a few decades as people can remember. The skies opened up Saturday before we
arrived on Monday and the rain poured in record breaking amounts and continues
to come down. Today though we had clouds but no rain as we worked and I thank
God. The smell, wow, gross doesn’t describe in. We’re moving the worst of the
worst “stuff” with our hands. I’ll leave it at that. Actually, I can’t leave it
at that. Stench doesn’t describe it. We are being disciplined in washing and
sanitizing as best we can. So far, so good with no one feeling ill.
Thank you to everyone who is praying for us. I hope we can
get a connection soon. There are beautiful stories to share.
In Christ, Lynne Punnett
First Baptist Ypsilanti
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