The following is an excerpt from Episcopal Life Online

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_91613_ENG_HTM.htm

Hurricane Noel left "chaotic situations" across Haiti last week,
according to the Rev. Frantz Cole, director of development for the
Diocese of Haiti. "Our priests are not injured. We can't say the same
about members of our churches…We are much more present in the
countryside where the poor are. They have been hit hard."

In Haiti, ERD will be assisting by providing food, temporary shelter,
clothing, and first aid supplies.

The development office, under the direction of Haiti Bishop Jean Zaché
Duracin, "is going to distribute food and clothing in five towns that
the government can't reach," writes Cole in an email to Episcopal
Life. "The priests are being alerted. We want to cover at least 1,000
brothers and sisters. The Church of St. Matthew in Leogane is flooded.
[Holy Cross Hospital] is flooded. The rectory in Torbek is flooded."

Parishioners have been calling by cell phone reporting chaotic
situations, writes Cole. "They are safe, but they've lost houses,
plantations and animals." He lists other destruction: "Ti Trou de
Nippes is isolated…St. Etienne in Buteau has seen its roof carried
away by the wind. Many missions in the Central Plateau (Thomonde and
Ti Riviere) have seen their weak buildings fall apart."

It is still raining in the south, according to Cole and that will mean
great difficulty for the families there. "They have already lost their
crops and now they are losing their goods as well," he writes. "They
will be unable to pay school fees for the church-run schools."

Episcopal Relief and Development "has sent us an emergency fund to
help people recover," writes Cole. "We ask for prayers."






Pix Mahler
pcusa Haiti Partnership Facilitator
pix@...
1022 Floyd St., Lynchburg, VA 24501
434-385-9486
http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/mahlerp.htm