My ties to Leogane, Haiti

Following yesterday's aftershock, more attention is being focused on Leogane, Haiti. It is situated about 15 -20 miles west of the capitol of Port-au-Prince, virtually the epicenter of last week's quake and as you might imagine was very hard hit. I have read and heard estimates as high as 90+% of the buildings were leveled.

Leogane was my home for six weeks in February 1986, during the "dechoukaj" or literally, "uprooting" of then President Jean-Claude Duvalier, or "Baby Doc" as he was known. He was also known for the ton-ton macoutes, or "secret service" who were notorious for being his personal henchmen. Of course, it is debatable how much direct involvement he had in their questionable (at best!) activities. That Haitians feared them, is an understatement.

During the "dechoukaj", I was living in Port (short for Port-au-Prince) enrolled in language study and preparing to move "up country" with a small team of doctors and nurses to work at a vacant hospital.

This was before cell phones, Facebook, blogs, instant messaging or the internet as we know it today. Hopital Ste. Croix, a hospital in Leogane with Presbyterian and Episcopalian ties to the US, was in desperate need of reinforcements. They spoke to their home office in the states who shared this prayer request in church. Someone at that church service knew the physician stationed with me in Port. Long story short? He and I packed our bags and rode out to Leogane, praying the whole way as we passed very visible signs of the political upheaval....burning tires, agitated people, and a palpable anxiety as long stifled emotions were erupting all around us.

Leogane is where I delivered my first Haitian baby, honed my very crude Creole skills, and worked to save the lives of ton-ton macoutes who were brutally beaten in retaliation for years of abuse. It is where I fell in love with the Haitian people.

Would I go now to help if I could? In a heartbeat! But I am not able to go now, so I take great comfort in the fact that my soul-mate is there.

On a different note, I heard today that a secondary pier is now operational in Port-au-Prince, speeding delivery of humanitarian supplies.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/21/haiti.earthquake/index.html

And Samaritan's Purse has a convoy of trucks with heavy equipment on the way to Ft. Pierce, Florida to be shipped to Haiti.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/convoy_details/

Again, I can't thank you enough for your interest and prayers.