Cholera dominates activities this Christmas season

As fast as supplies were received, they were distributed! Here the nurse supervisors begin loading hundreds of buckets and lids into the vehicles outside. It is Christmas eve day, but these men are working- getting the desperately needed supplies to fight cholera into the mountains.

Later that morning our last shipment from UNICEF arrived and included the 126 cases of bar soap, among other supplies. Much of this will go out on Monday. It might normally be the staff's vacation time, but, for this year, many are working to bring help to the people in need. As someone said, "people are still dying, even if it is Christmas!"

Today, the 26th, there is a big meeting here in Jeremie, bringing all parties working on cholera prevention and treatment together to work on continuing logistics and solutions. The meeting is being headed by the World Health Organization and yesterday we met the two men who will head it. They wanted to be sure that HHF was included because we have the best knowledge of what is happening in the hundreds of mountain villages. Casimir Alfred, the man in the white and red shirt, in the picture above, will represent us at the meeting. Hopefully, continued and increased cooperation will result - and everyone will have a better picture of the extent of the problem, including the number of people treated and the number who have died.

The next step in the presidential elections has not yet been announced, so there is a reduction in political protests at the moment. This helped reduce the unrest over Christmas. They haven't announced when the announcements will be made, so we wait!

Early afternoon on the 24th, I had a small party for the 23 women who are presently at the Center and were unable to be home for Christmas. We read the gospel of Luke, telling of the story of Christ's birth, and sang Christmas songs. Then each woman got a small gift of usable items like laundry soap and bar soap as well as a few cookies and something to drink. What it lacked in material things it more than made up for in spirit. The "thank yous" were loud and profuse! I know I had fun!

Our Christmas eve services, which began with an enactment of several bible stories, including the first Christmas, was touching and beautiful. In spite of music blaring from the bar across the street, the Church was permeated with a spirit of prayer and thankfulness. As the pastor said in the homily - in spite of the many afflictions being endured by the people of Haiti, we still thank God for loving us and sending us Jesus to heal us.

Sister Maryann and Marty - the only other Americans who didn't go to the U.S. for Christmas - and I shared a wonderful Christmas dinner. Our guest was a 19 year old German girl who is working in Jeremie for 6 months. With Christmas music for a background, we enjoyed not only the food, but also each others company.

I hope your Christmas was blessed! Merry Christmas. Mary Ann