YWAM workers that are still digging their properties out of feet of mud and debris are also coming to the aid of desperate survivors of the category one tropical storm that hit Haiti on August 29. Among other things, they’re coordinating the effort to register storm victims in St. Marc even as their own computers are just coming back online. An identification card system devised by YWAMers in past storms is being utilized to track and aid current victims.

“The ID card helps them know they are seen and not forgotten,” said Terry Snow, YWAM Haiti director. “To them (the victims) I think it was a sign of good things to come.”

The simplest of tasks are made difficult by the lack of fuel; even the St. Marc mayor’s office cannot operate its generator due to lack of fuel. Meanwhile, on the YWAM St. Marc campus, workers are still digging out drainage ditches and sidewalks even though they’re running out of places to put the mud and water. Every single load of mud costs $50 per dump truck to remove from the property, as such trucks must be rented.

Meanwhile, in Gonvaives, tens of thousands of people are struggling for survival in this low-lying port city in northern Haiti which was “drowned in a sea of mud and filthy water” and where 500 people are reported dead, according to a Reuters report. Relief efforts are moving slowly there, but the YWAM St. Marc campus plans to begin sending assistance teams as soon as possible.

Lubens Romulus, YWAM leader in Jacmel, has been assisting people with food, repair of roofs and water distribution as they share Christ with storm victims there. A YWAM team from the neighboring Dominican Republic arrived earlier this week to help the St. Marc team dig out and begin registering and aiding victims.

“It is exciting to see how all our YWAMers have sought ways to help others in spite of the incredible situation they are in and with such limited resources,” Snow said.

If you would like to help you can email YWAM Haiti at hurricane_assist2008@ywamhaiti.org. You can also give to the relief fund. Please make your gift payable to YWAM Haiti and designate it for "Victims of Gustav". Please include if you want your gift to go directly to a specific program (Food, House Cleaning or Water) and mail to: YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501, USA.