Update 1 month in Haiti

During the first week of February we had the opportunity to meet key officials in Haiti such as the Haiti's Chief of Police (Andre Sol), the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, the Prime Minister of Haiti, U.S. General Keen, and other key government officials. The PBS crew that we assisted asked them what can be done to make things better and inquired about their plans.

We went to areas of Bellaire, Carrefour, Carrefour Feuilles; and Delmas. In these areas we asked people what they received (in aid), what they haven't received and what they needed the most. We went to a number of hospitals and followed up with families that were separated and reported to them the status of their family members. General Keen took us for a day in the U.S. military helicopters where we witnessed their process. Within one week, I went to the mass gravesites 3 times, where there are dump trucks loaded with bodies and thousands of people being buried. It's sad because there are so many dead people and there is not a process of identifying the bodies.

The positive thing and a sign of progress is that now people are slowly carrying on with their daily lives in the midst of all this. However, there's still a lot of work to be done. In a lot of areas there are a lot of destroyed homes and still many people buried under rubble.

Right now I'm back in the States temporarily organizing for more aid to take back to Haiti. My brother and our team are still in Haiti and I will be returning very soon. The biggest necessities right now are tents and sleeping bags to prepare for the rainy season which will be a tough season.

In addition, below are some brief videos taken from my phone. The first video was taken in one of the main business districts in Port-au-Prince.

We can't thank you all enough for your continued prayers and support.

Peace and Blessings, Caleb Leconte

Los Angeles Benefit for our Haiti Relief Efforts

8pm- 2am tonight in Los Angeles.

Update from Haiti (Day 14, 2 weeks)

We've been in Haiti for about 2 weeks now. When we first arrived there were (at the max) around 5-7 aftershocks per day, now we're at about 2-4 aftershocks per day. Each time there is an aftershock everyone runs into the streets. If it's in the evening and we're at our compound, then we all run into the courtyard.

We recently confirmed that all of my family (on both my mother and father's side) are all alive. Although aid is slowly coming in, it's still not enough. Every neighborhood or hospital we move to, there are always more people than there are supplies or food. Right now lack of food is a very big issue. Talking to people in different neighborhoods, another big fear is that it may start raining soon and most people are without a home.

There is still no power throughout Haiti, and any power there is, it's running off of generators, which aren't always dependable. Every day we are racing the sunset trying to get supplies and aid to as many people as possible. Every day, my brother Josh and I are on the phones trying to contact as many people as we can to get more supplies to come in. Telephone communication can be a little frustrating because sometimes we have to call someone 5-10 times before it finally connects or the call often drops. Our team is pretty exhausted and we are trying our best to stay balanced.

In addition, we have been assisting a PBS documentary crew all week. Through assisting them, we are able to scout areas that are still in need of aid. Aid is coming in slowly but there is never enough to go around, as there are so many people who really need food and shelter. Right now we are really in need of rice, dry beans, cooking oil, flour and tents. I can't thank everyone enough for your prayers and donations. There is still so much to be done.

Peace & Blessings,

Caleb Leconte

Update from Haiti (Day 9)

Jan. 21, 2010 11:30pm.

Please continue your prayers as I have faith that they are working! Yesterday I was up at 4am and headed straight to the airport in PAP. We coordinated a cargo plane to arrive with medical supplies. As we speak there are many planes all trying to land in PAP. Of course, our plane didn't land in time so we were playing somewhat of a dance with all the different planes waiting for ours to arrive. Fortunately, our plane did arrive.

Tomorrow we will have another plane arriving with more diapers, antibiotics and other medical supplies. Wednesday was a difficult day for our group because we lacked supplies but it's good that we have some coming in and will continue to need more supplies every day. When our supplies come in, I am the one at the airport who is accepting the supplies. Thursday our focus was getting supplies to areas who had none, these supplies included medical aid and food.

My days are crazy going from hospitals to neighborhoods to the airport, etc. I see that some areas have too much aid, for example one hospital set up had around 23 doctors and not that many patients and then some areas have no aid whatsoever. Things are pretty disorganized and there is no system. But being here a week now, at least I'm able to get a better handle on logistics and what works for our group.

To give you a better picture of what I see- yesterday at one hospital I saw tons of people who were getting different limbs amputated, arms and legs being removed. In the morgue and autopsy rooms, there are dead bodies stacked to the ceiling- it's like a freaky horror show. In the streets you see a lot of dead bodies just laying there and the youth looting...it's a zoo. I also heard that in one prison, the prisoners all escaped. In every neighborhood we talk to people and try to see how things could be better. Obviously everything is not planned and managed correctly but we are doing the best we can. Nonetheless my faith is strong and I cannot thank you all enough for your kind thoughts, donations and prayers...back to work!

God Bless,
Caleb Leconte

Update from Haiti (Day 7)

Jan. 19, 2010

Thank you again to everyone for the continued prayers and donations. It's been rough out here, I can't lie. The past two days have been chaotic. We have about 15 medical professionals and press who have recently arrived to add to our volunteer staff and spent a majority of the day yesterday and part of today transporting new volunteers across the Dominican Republic/Haiti Border. As most of you are probably aware, the road along the border has gotten quite dangerous.

Today we traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood interviewing people and seeing what the medical needs are for their families. Tomorrow we hope to have our medical staff in the field. PBS is currently staying with us at our same compound. Every day is more chaotic than the last. My younger brother and sister just arrived to help as well. I'm exhausted as its been quite a task coordinating the daily schedule, managing our volunteers and press, speaking to families and traveling from neighborhood to neighborhood. Thank you all again for your prayers & donations, and please keep them coming, there is so much more work to be done.

Peace & Blessings,
Caleb Leconte

Haiti Day 5. 01/17/2010

My group and I are still safe in Haiti as we are staying at a compound with security. It is worse then you can imagine. Today, we are prepping for clean drinking water distribution due to the lack of. We are arranging for supplies to be shipped to Haiti out of Florida and we currently have about 30 medical professionals on their way here as we speak. Keep praying for us though because there is at least 5-7 after shocks per day. Again, we appreciate you for your continued prayers and support.

Peace & Blessings, Caleb Leconte

Below are photos taken by our relief group within the past 5 days:

Haiti Day 3

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