(Wed) It has been about 1 week since I’ve written a letter-I’ve enjoyed the break as I normally spend every spare moment trying to write and answer letters. The morning we wrote and faxed a letter to the office to be printed out. You most likely have already received it. It is hard to say how long it will be before our mail service begins again. The last mail that went out was a miracle-ours was the only plane that day that was able to land and then the airport was closed. God had such wonderful timing. Mail has been so slim, but today we received over 30 letters. We also received many boxes of needed and appreciated items like medicine, old magazines, food, drinks, head and shoulders, soap, and other things. It was nice to have all those “I’m thinking of you” items right before the main crisis. It was strange to live through it all but never did we have a moment of anxiety. I don’t know how I would have been if they came in shooting etc. I think I would have remained calm with God’s help.

We had several phones calls in the past few days with people checking up on us to make sure we are ok. Sunday morning Pastor Brad called us and talked to Zach for a good while. Then we went over to Casey’s school and had a wonderful church service that lasted from 10:30 until 2:00pm. After lunch we made homemade ice cream and watched TV. Then we began getting the food ready for the old people who come here on Mondays. We turned the TV on right about the time they announced they had reached an agreement to not invade Haiti with force. Hallelujah! All weekend planes were going here and there above the clouds. By Sunday there were several ships right out front of us in the bay. It looked bad, but I believe God stepped in and made a way for bloodshed to be avoided-on a large scale.

Monday morning by dawn there were more ships inland- a total of 23 before the day was over. We watched in awe as groups of helicopters in #’s of 6, 8 or 12 flew about in an organized way bringing troops and equipment in -once in a while 6 or 8 would fly right over the house deafening our ears an shaking the house. The sky had been silent for so long-this activity sure got our attention.

We are working to get some feeding program started in several areas. Yesterday morning my first patient was a 6 year old that weighed 17 pounds. Then a 9 month old that weighed 8 pounds. All morning I saw starving babies it really got to me. We need to get these programs started soon.

I wanted to tell you we put the binoculars to good use over these last couple of weeks looking at the ships and helicopters. Dad gave them to us years ago to watch birds. Hopefully the planes will be able to come back in soon with mail.

Love, Gretchen