It is still hard to accept this. At an orphanage we visited, 50 of the 150 kids living there were killed in the earthquake.

Today some team members will leave. This is not an easy thing to do though, as there are still no commercial planes flying in/out of Port-au-Prince. Leaving requires an hour ride to the bus station, then a 7 hour ride to the Dominican Republic, and then waiting overnight for the plane out.

Today the reality is really starting to set in. So many businesses destroyed. So many people afraid to sleep in their homes. So many children without schools. I can’t even imagine what the long-term effects of this will be for the country of Haiti.

Tomorrow the family search continues in Cité Soleil. Some people will stay in the clinic in Blanchard to keep working, while others will work to secure the clinic wall. The last group of people will go to Carrefour, the epicenter of the earthquake.

Lots of damage, but managed to make the drive to Bon Repos in the dark. Safe in our tents now, work begins early tomorrow.

Arrived in Haiti. Just waiting now for a taptap (Haitian bus).

Satellite Image of the PID Clinic in Blanchard, Haiti

January 16th, 2010

While attempting to make maps for the relief teams, our office staff was able to find the PID clinic in Haiti today on Google Earth. What we found outside of the clinic was absolutely unbelievable.

Using sand and the only other other available resources, the people in the clinic have tried any way possible to contact the helicopters and planes consistently flying overhead, as they are desperate for food and water… We only wish we could get there faster.

More on the story, here.

Special thanks to Jamie. Greatest IT person!

In the airport in with the team.

Leaving for Haiti at 8.

Guatemala team members from UDEL had there last day of work and had a good bye party in Concepcion. Tomorrow they take a tour of Guatemala