earthquake in Haiti

I know most of you know what's going on in Haiti, but here's a quick rundown: Yesterday, January 12th, there was a magnitude 7.0 earthquake with the epicenter just south of Port-au-Prince. There were aftershocks for the following twenty-four hours, I think they are still happening now. The clinic I just returned from was due east from Port-au-Prince and I have heard from most people I worked with. The doctors (Fernando, Pia, and Leo) are all okay, the sisters (Luz Marina, Bertha, and Rosemithe) are also okay although I heard one had a head injury or something, the UN troops (Santiago, Ancizar, Omar, Frank, etc) are also okay.

The doctors are very busy, when I last heard, and working on triage. I think the clinic is still in good condition, there seems to be no major structural damage. I talked with Santiago, a colonel with the Colombian UN and he said he was in the UN headquarters when it collapsed, but he managed to escape with only a small injury to his hand. All my friends with the Colombian UN are doing well, there were no injuries other than Santiago's.

There is one person I am waiting to hear from: Molly Hightower. I contacted her family and they are still waiting to hear from her. She was a fellow student at UP with me, we took French classes together and she was working for an organization called Friends of Orphans. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

As of now, I am planning on returning on February 11th to stay for a year. I would love to have some help for the clinic, although I don't know what is needed for right now. I think a good idea would be sheets from the Goodwill or old used sheets if any of you have them. These can be used as slings or as bandages or as bedding or housing or even to make clothing. I cannot think of many other things at the moment, but in the coming days, I will think of more and will post and ask for more assistance as needed. Please keep everyone in your prayers, especially Molly and her family. Encourage friends and family to remember Haiti and donate what you can to Mercy Corps or Medical Teams International or the organization I worked with, Haiti Medical Missions of Memphis.

If you would like to contact me, my phone number is 1(541)914-3958.