January 20th, 2010

We arrived in the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince in the afternoon.  At a site powerfully affected, but not devastated was our first base.  At a hospital that stood strong in the midst of several fallen buildings, a young Dominican physician and I saw about seventy patients with various minor injuries infections and other illnesses.  The level of anxiety and fear was notable and understandable.

Once we finished seeing patients we were separated from the rest of the team and left the hospital, for a location unknown to us.  After an hour and a flat tire we arrived in Port Au Prince after dark.  We drove to many different locations dropping of food and clothing at the friends and family of our Haitian chauffeur.  The buildings around us were devastated.  The driver had to be careful as we moved through the streets because of the thousands that were sleeping outside.  It was hard to see the twisted columns of steel and metal and harder still to think of the many who lost their lives in them one short week ago.  The city was relatively calm and well patrolled by the UN.

Shortly after 9PM we arrived at the house of a pastor that is boarding the team.  We are all well if not a little shaken.

Thank you for your prayers.

Mark

(posted by a friend)