Santa Came!

Today, Santa came aboard 2 airplanes and one huge truck. I didn't actually see him, but I did see - and help unpack - all the things he brought us. Today we got much, much MUCH needed supplies to help us prevent and fight cholera.

WHAT supplies, you ask? Well - hundreds and hundreds of buckets with covers (to carry and store water), hundreds of jugs of chlorox (to add to drinking and cooking water and to use as disinfectant), thousands and thousands of packets of oral rehydration serum (for when one shows the first signs of cholera), hundreds of bags of IV fluids (for those hospitalized with severe diarrhea and vomiting), boxes of doxycycline (to be taken at the very first signs of cholera), 15000 aquatabs (for purifying water), boxes and boxes of soap, boxes of megaphones (for the health agents in the mountains, to spread the message on how to prevent and treat cholera). "Santa" was helped by two agencies - UNICEF and AmeriCares - to whom we are sooooooooooooo grateful! And we were told that one more huge truck is on the way and will arrive later today or tomorrow. As soon as we can, all of this will be sent into the mountains to be picked up at rendevous points by all the health agents. For Haiti, at this time in its history, we couldn't ask for better Christmas presents!

This afternoon, at 4, we are having a Christmas party for the children of our chapel parishoners and the many children from Fr. Gary's orphanage. There will be much laughter and fun. So, I am signing off to begin my walk to HHF and celebrate. Bye for now, and God bless.
Mary Ann