Dunkle Haiti Update

[Bill Bolyard]

From Johns Better Half

John indicated it was an adventure thru DR as the car they rented would overheat periodically. It broke down in the middle of the night in front of a police station.... The officers didn’t speak any Fren......ch, English or Creole nor did John and his comrades speak any Spanish; however, despite the language barrier the police helped get them up and going and two of the officers escorted them on their way to make sure they were going in the right direction in return for a ride home. They made it thru the border in good time. Border patrol let them thru 2 hours before the border was open as they thought the white man was someone important. If they only knew. :-)

He spent part of the morning driving thru PAP and indicated that the news couldn’t grasp the full devastation of the damage done by the earthquake. He did comment on the resiliency of the kids as they continued to be just kids despite their surroundings.

He made it to Les Cayes by about 3:30pm and met up with Adrien our friend and contact in Haiti. The car only overheated a few times along the way so there was much stopping and taking in the countryside as he waited for the car to cool down.

They are planning on going to the hospital today to deliver medical supplies as well as visit Father Marc at Pwoje Espwa.

[Bill Bolyard]

This mornings update from John D.

John and Adrienne made it to the local hospital in Les Cayes and met Dr. Moses. They delivered the medical supplies and they were very appreciated of them. Dr. Moses indicated that medical supplies were only just beginning to trickle in. They are currently seeing abou...t 1400 to 1500 folks a day who are coming in from PAP.

They then went out to see Pastor Andre’s orphanage and the kids are doing well. Since school is still not back in session, they bought them shovels and pick axes and put them to work cleaning up the grounds and filling in pot holes. The orphanage was to have received a shipment of food and supplies and John and Adrienne went in search of that at the airport and ended up helping unload incoming shipments.

John’s been staying with Adrienne and has been quiet the novelty with locals stopping in at all hours of the night to confirm the rumor that there is a white man sleeping on the floor. I think John's been too exhausted to notice and has been sleeping right thru.

They are off today to meet with Father Marc and then continue to track down that food shipment for Pastor Andre. John is happy to be there and helping out where he can but at the same time his heartaches for the displaced families who are coming in from PAP.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks for the update Bill. John certainly has my admiration. There aren't many like him...

[Bill Bolyard]

Dean,

I agree! John is a special person who deserves our support. I have been contacting friends and family spreading the word about John and his foundation. His is I be leave the only hands on organization in Haiti that 100% of all donations end up in the victims care.

Bill

[calvin humburg]

Whats John's foundation and how does one help? ch

[Bill Bolyard]

Whats John's foundation and how does one help? ch

Here you go Calvin www.rennwish.org

Bill

[John Dunkle]

Hi From Haiti...

I'll try to post this while I have both an Internet connection and electricity... First of all - the children and people would like to thank all of you for your support, encourgement and wonderful well-wishes...

Over the past days - much of the time has been spent securing food, delivering medicine and trying to make some order.. Things in Les Cayes are in dis-array, as I've never seen the city and town so overcrowded with refugees from PaP.. People are arriving with friends and family - and the already short food supply is being more of concern as many from PaP have been told that there is food available down in this area...

For that - I want to take a minute and thank the many private pilots who have kept Les Cayes on a "shoe-string" of medicine, food and basics. Most are from the USA that I've worked with - but it really is a global effort..

For our efforts - Pastor Andre's orphange is fine.. We will have enough food to last for a bit, and as well - assist some of the children and refugees from PaP alongside Pastor Vilnor's school - attending to newly made refugees and senior citizens who are doing without... It's heartbreaking on one side - and inspiring on another...

At the orphanage - Adrien and myself are trying to get things back on track quickly. I set the task that 15 large, deep holes in the front yeard were to be filled (by hand - using rocks, a wheelbarrow, a pick, shovel and machete) - AND with dozens of the older children.. Two days later - the holes are almost filled!! It's amazing what these little guys are capable of... Next on the agenda is to create a garden - and have the children grow and care for it. In the meantime - I think it's our task to ensure that they have the basics and prepare the orphanage for more orphans from PaP in the near future..

Another bit of good news is that tomorrow, we've been assurred that a Pilot will be bringing in a plane load of food for the orphans - and for as much as we can assist those streaming in from PaP. I'm not certain of how much to expect - but - I do know it will be more than we have now and can be used immediately for many in dire need...

Medical supplies... I would like to thank Meg DesFosses and a friend of hers for kick-starting the purchase of much, much needed medical supplies... We delivered those a few days ago - and if you could see the clinic at the hospital and the wards - you'd understand how much these victims have endured without anything. I want to also send on the thanks of Dr. Moses and his staff to all of you. Fifty - 80 pounds of topical antibiotics, bandages, gauze, etc. - were well recieved - and much needed, as when we arrived, those meager stocks had been depleted. Today, we visited that same hospital again - the doctors and nurses look a bit haggard...

The school is fine - and we toured that today.. Pastor Vilnor is as upbeat as ever, and has dedicated some of our funds for those arriving in the village from PaP and again, the children and senior citizens.. Our thoughts and prayers go with him...

On a personal note.. I can not really describe PaP, nor all I saw. I can't really write the words to make all of you "see" all I have seen over here. When I get home - I'll let some pictures do that for me - not so much of the tradegy, but rather pictures which hopefully inspire all of us to not only keep our current efforts going, but more importantly - be able to expand them...

Tomorrow - I need to meet the plane with our food, deliver it to our children, the mothers who are caring for our kids, the village, etc... I hope to have some time to also visit with Pwoje Espwa - as Marc and his staff are fighting their own battles to get as much to as many - in a hearbeat...

Again - simply - thank all of you... Your support and contributions have been awe inspiring... And as well - somehow - I know we are just beginning - so the "tough work" is still in the future...

From Les Cayes, Haiti,

John
(BTW - sorry if this is a ramble.. there is so much to say - and so many words... And - I'm trying to write it before the electricy and/or internet goes away - typically both...)

[Robin Lewis]

I received the following in email today and was asked to post it here:
Last evening, I got a phone call from John Dunkle.. He is in fact in Haiti, and sounds well, but a bit agitated..Seems as though he single handedly stayed off a riot of sorts yesterday afternoon.. A shipment of food was being delivered to his area and there was an effort by gang members to take over the shipment.. John stepped in, and with waving arms and yelling native verbiage managed to quell the incident albeit somewhat life threatening on his part.. He actually knew some of the potential trouble makers in that he has seen and worked with them over the years in Haiti.. All was settled and John felt relieved that there was no seriousconsequence to the incident.

He said that he was trying to keep up with the Parker web site, but has just all that he can handle there in the country where such tragedy has occurred. His one notable frustration is that he says the news stations are telling the residents of the various communities that there could well be more quake damages coming =and that they should not be in or around buildings..So folks are sleeping outside and avoiding going into their homes.

He did say that there were volunteer pilots bringing necessities into the country form everywhere.. I asked him about his return date, and he was not sure as to when he might be returning to the U S. There is so much to do, that he is uncertain, but he did say to wish all those that assisted in his financial endeavor his most sincere and heartfelt thanks.

I asked him to take and send photos of the real world situations an they are in his town where the orphanages are, and he said that he was taking photos as time allowed.. I had a somewhat hard time hearing John at times, in that there were a number of locals talking in the background, and their language and tone was distracting to me.. However, I did get the most of John's conversation, and told him that I would share his call with folks on the forum..

[Lee St.Clair]

Oh my goodness. As tears come. You ARE a very special man John. There is a special place in heaven for you. I can not imagine the devastation. My prayers are fervent for you and those devastated by this earthquake. Jesus is carrying you now John. Know this. Praise Him through the storm. The treasures that await you in heaven are immense. May all Gods angels surround you and yours and lead you. My prayers continue....Lee

[John Dunkle]

I've been asked to take pictures and videos of what it was like last week in Haiti, and since I'm just home - I'm still getting caught up. Anyway - so - I did take videos and stuff. The link below is BIG (115 MB!) but -most of the pictures and video I took last week and threw this together. It is "my world" in Haiti - and if you have supported Project Rennwish - it is indeed, your world as well... My thanks for your support, well wishes and well, you know...

Here is that LINK (http://rennwish.org/Rennwish_Haiti.wmv)(<--RIGHT click there) and try saving the link to your computer.. It is NOT finished - and only work in progress, but for those who want to see what Haiti is like - it might be interesting (it is a WMV file type)..

As well - I updated the Project Rennwish (http://rennwish.org) site for the orphanage and our kids in the Family to Foster program and stuff...

My Best Always,

John

[Greg S. Phillips]

John,

What a eye opening video, thanks. I pray that your efforts will prosper there and we all wish you safe travels going back and forth.

[Harry Collins]

John,

Thanks for doing God's work...

Harry

[John Dunkle]

Hi Greg and Harry...

My thanks... As well - I thought, since it's Sunday and I'm finally getting caught up (only to leave again this Wed or Thusday for Haiti as there are a few issues I need to address with food/medical for the folks).. Anyway...

A while ago - a fellow by the name of "Patrick" went with me to Haiti. During that trip, he rode in our old truck - called "the crab" (don't ask, OK?). After his week in Haiti, Pat decided Adrien needed a "new to him" truck... So, Pat stepped forward and we got a "new - used" truck - one with over 130,000 miles - but it is a great truck nonetheless...

Some may ask why in the world I am posting this? Well, I'll tell you why...

Our truck last week was used for:

Picking up food from the airport - and delivering it;
Picking up medical supplies - and delivering them;
Delivering medical supplies to the clinic (fourth picture down - Adrien has an 80 lb. bag he's lifting);
Helping refugees from PaP get to the refugee center;
Delivering a group of doctors from the USA to the hospital;
Picking up a news reporter from Cayes and taking him to the border to the DR outside PaP;
Bringing food to not only our orphanage - but to several others....

BUT - my favorite use?

The truck-bed was used a bed for two families who didn't dare sleep inside at night. Most in Cayes sleep outside as I write this, for fear of sleeping inside and being crushed should there be another earthquake...

John