Pictures and Updates

In this picture: (left to right) Barney Fife, security guard; warehouse man Jourdhui Evans; Neal Peterson, Logistics manager; Roberto Apollon, truck driver. On their way to get the trucks serviced. It was supposed to be done at 400 km but they have been running so much that they are already up to 1500 km. Neal says the Toyota dealership will take a credit card which shows how quickly the country is recovering.

The couple on the left are Marjory and Desius. They were getting their marriage license for their March 1st wedding. Neal and Steve Roberts (another church employee) pooled their own money for the $75 bus ticket so that they can be sealed in the DR temple. They are both serving as interpreters for the church employees. Gethro, the one in the middle with his arm pointing toward the camera was supposed to be married last Friday but his fiance was sent to Boston to live with family after her home was destroyed in the earthquake. Gethro does not know if he will ever see her again. Neal says that helping Marjory and Desius be sealed feels like the least he can do.

Garbage day in Port Au Prince. Usually the garbage is dropped on the ground wherever your standing but in the morning they sweep it all off to the side of the road and then burn it. In my opinion, it's pretty resourceful and they probably don't have overflowing land fills like we do. . .

E-mail from Neal:
"Met tonight with the group of Stake, mission, and Relief Society Presidents that form the Welfare Committee. We were there for training and guidance if necessary, but these leaders are incredible. Yes they show signs of stress and fatigue, but they are dealing with the most extreme complications that I can think of. It is like watching an episode of Zions Camp. Those of us in attendance offering support are:

Logistics - Neal P

Psychologists

Doctors

Humanitarian

Employment

We coordinate with the committee to serve where they need. We offer schedules and suggestions, but they know their needs best. For instance, they sent the Family Services folk to meet with a member who was sitting on her steps when the earthquake collapsed her home killing four of five children.On thursday some engineers come in to assess homes and hospitals for occupancy and to start building transitional housing like was shown on KSL News. I hope we are doing all that they need us to. I am learning so much about the Gospel in action.

Note to Self:Thank ma ma for cooking french fries and slicing a watermelon. They went well with my meatloaf MRE.

Haiti is close to Heaven."

Neal also writes:
"Things are quickly improving here. The markets are open. The banks are starting to reopen. Members are leaving church property now that they have food and a tent. It is not even the same place as it was a week ago. The real growth that I see is with our driver/translators. They are young returned missionaries who sit in all of our strategy meetings and then they translate for all of our Haitian welfare committee including priesthood and relief society leaders. Can you imagine the future these bilingual young men have?"