Haiti

Most of you have heard news of the earthquake which Haiti experienced this evening. For those of us living on LaGonave it was a very unsettling event which continues with aftershocks, several each hour. The major cell phone provider for the country is not functioning and the only news we are receiving out of Port-au-Prince is internet and radio news. Throughout the evening we have been hearing the wails that tell us another family in our community has received devastating news regarding loved ones residing in Port-au-Prince.

Upon initial examination the hospital appears not to have sustained any major damage but the patients are sleeping in the tin roof clinic instead of the concrete roof hospital building. At this point we don't expect to have a lot more information until morning.

At the time of this writing, we have not yet been able to establish contact with Carl and Maya Gilles, Wesleyan missionaries, who live in the Tabarre suburb of Port-au-Prince.

There are 5 Wesleyan churches in the greater Port-au-Prince area. One of them, the largest Wesleyan church in Haiti, is located in the area that seems to have been hardest hit. We have not yet been able to establish communication with the pastor of that church or anyone associated with it.

We presently have a mission team from Western Pennsylvania District, whose families are understandably nervous.

We have already heard from many of you and are grateful for your concern and prayers.

Dan and Joy Irvine