UPDATE: Cholera in Gonaives

We want to pass along this update from the Rev. Esaie Etienne, who has worked with us in forming the presbytery here in Haiti.  Esaie is a dear friend who is now traveling back and forth to Haiti to minister to churches and their leaders in his hometown of Gonaives (this city is located 2 hours north of our home on the mainland and is not to be confused with the island of Lagonav).  Please pray for him and the ongoing cholera epidemic.  We are reminded that our heavenly Father cares for our every need in Christ.

“Dear praying friends and partners,

I am writing you today to ask for your urgent prayers for my homeland and place of ministry. As you know the people of Haiti have been on the receiving end of many trials for the last eleven months this year. The sufferings of this nation, which was already in great difficulty before the earthquake, have exponentially been increased and now we are just asking how much more can it take?

After the earthquake of January 12, 2010 came the cholera epidemic that is now creating so much fear in the families that life becomes unbearable. It began in two departments, Artibonite and Central Plateau, but now it is a national epidemic. The government has declared it to be a national security problem.

In the city of Gonaives, where our ministry is located, people are living in great fear. Just yesterday, the mayor announced that they have buried 31 people in common grave. The two hospitals in the city are overwhelmed with people infected by the disease and there is no help for them even in the hospital. Two people are already dead from my own congregation, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Gonaives. Nationally more than 10,000 people are infected and more than 600 people dead. These are the official numbers but some organizations believe that the number of death and infections are probably two to four times the official numbers.

I want to go there as soon as possible, either this weekend or beginning of next week … I am asking you to pray for Haiti, the city of Gonaives, and the people in my churches that are living in great fear right now. Pray also for me as I prepare to travel there.”