What a ride

Dear all,

Below is a copy of an email I sent a couple days ago regarding Tim's aborted Haiti trip - if you're wondering what happened, this should explain things.

++++++

Dear friends,

Thanks so much for your prayers for Tim. What a roller coaster ride!

And just like a real roller coaster, the ride was over faster than expected. Turned out, the mission cancelled the trip in the middle of the night last night due to all the turmoil and the high price of diesel (reportedly going for $100/gallon USD). The operating room is run of course by generators, and at that price, the hospital couldn't afford to buy the diesel to run them -- so no mission trip. American Airlines has graciously given vouchers to all concerned, so folks won't lose their tickets, but can return anytime in the next year.

Meanwhile, about 80 people from the team were already in Haiti. Unfortunately, these are support staff, anaesthesia doctors and nurses, but no surgeons. Most are staying in the mountains for the next week and finishing the trip, as it is much safer to do this than try to go through the capital (where a lot of the rioting is taking place) in order to get to the airport. The regional airline that took them to the mountains from the capital has already shut down operations indefinitely. If they tried to leave now, they would have to drive many miles along very poor roads and risk getting mixed up in the riots. Hopefully, in a week's time, the situation will have calmed down and they can get out safely.

A few people will be trying to leave today, as American has stated that they too will soon stop flying into and out of Haiti for at least a few days, and these people feel they need/want to get out before that happens.

I am overwhelmingly grateful that, once again, God so graciously and lovingly protected a member of our family from physical harm. Yet my heart goes out to the people in Haiti who were lined up for surgery and now will not be able to get the medical care they need. It is hard for us Americans to grasp that there isn't another surgeon down the street to give care -- you know, if you don't like this one, or if she/he isn't available, just go to another one! Of course, that isn't the case in Haiti, which is why the medical group was going down there in the first place!

As the political situation there deteriorates, more and more babies, children and even adults will suffer and some will die due to sickness & lack of medical care, violence or starvation. It isn't a good time to be a Haitian.

Meanwhile, I can't wait to give Tim a big hug when he comes home tomorrow!

Thanks again for your prayers,
Linda Berg