This is a recent e-mail sent to us. Most of you know I am not very prolific e-mailer, how ever the events of the last 6 days related to the earthquake in Haiti have encompassed our lives and Lea and I want to share some eye witness experiences. Last Wednesday, a day after the earthquake there was communication between the Governing body in Brooklyn, NY and our branch in Haiti to take care of preliminary relief needs to our brothers.

That same day the buying department went into top gear buying staples such as rice, beans, milk as well as tinned fruits and spaghetti. The kitchen here raided the larder and produced 3 pallets of food provisions. Later that afternoon, the bethel doctor drove down to the boarder to go across and help at the Haitian bethel. The next day (Thursday) at 2.45 in the morning a team of four drivers in a truck and a van embarked on the 7 hrs (201 miles) drive to the Haiti branch with 7 tons of provisions. Bethel in Haiti is 20 mins out of the city and we found the area around bethel to be relatively unaffected by the quake, business as usual, but with many more people on the street, people coming out of the city with the few things they had left, and others going in to look for family and friends – communication is a huge problem at the moment. At bethel we found the family busy taking care of injured brothers who had turned up at the next door assembly hall. They were also going out to the affected areas to check on the brothers and asses immediate needs vehicles. Immediately the rice that we had brought was split into smaller portions to be sent out with the bros going out to the affected areas. We were told that many kingdom halls are being used as refuges were our brother can get shelter and food. Later that day a group of 4 doctors from DR travelled down to work in the assembly hall caring for the sick.

On Saturday a team of 7 returned in two trucks and a van with another 15 tons of provisions which included medical supplies for the docs working at the assembly hall.

Today is Saturday; we have been informed that of the approximately 10,000 bros that live in Puerto Prince, 104 have lost their lives.

This week we plan to keep supplying our bros with what they need as well as revive more help that is coming from outside. Co- incidentally this week has been our zone visit in the DR and today 75,185 were in attendance in 5 locations linked by a satellite connection, at a special talk by Bro Monahan.

Hope your all well, thinking as always of the Fam, also Juanfra & Loren in your new assignment.

Shane & Lea