November 8, 2008

Dear Friends,

How good it is to have friends! How good it is to know we have caring neighbors!

I hope you are surviving well during these hard times. Please, keep up your good spirit all the way. May you always try to find the positive aspects of life. That is my wish for you.

We are glad that through the What If? Foundation, we (Margaret Trost and the Board, benefactors and volunteers, the food program personnel and myself) have been able to fight hunger and famine in our specific area, Tiplas Kazo, for almost 9 years. We wish more food, especially for the “Main Street” people of Haiti, until more jobs can be created.

The challenges remain. Haiti has been hit hard so far this season with four hurricanes and tropical storms. As a result, the country has been plunged into deeper misery. In some areas, those who were hungry are now starving. Thirteen Haitians in a small town east of Jacmel, recently starved to death. Our hearts break for their families and our tears flow. Many of you have sent money to the What If? Foundation to help with the hurricane recovery. We’re feeding more people than ever at the food program and we all thank you for your help.

As I am writing this letter, I am hearing reports about the tragic collapse of a three-story school building in Petionville near Port-au-Prince. None of our children were involved. The school was built near a deep ravine. Maybe its foundation eroded or there were defects in the structure. At least 80 students have died and many others remain trapped under the concrete walls while a new hurricane, Paloma, is striking Cuba, our neighbor to the west.

It has been a drama this year. Haiti definitely needs help from God and from all our friends. Someday, with technology developing and more jobs available, we expect to be better prepared to resist the Atlantic hurricane season. At this point, I continue to sing… “One day at a time…” Yes, “Piti, piti na rive.”

May your Thanksgiving and the holiday season be happy for you all.

Your grateful,

Gerard Jean-Juste