We talked to John Elmera, the preacher for the Delmas 28 Church of Christ, a few days ago. He said that the Catholic compound immediately across the street from the collapsed Delmas 28 building had opened their doors to the Christians who had been sleeping on the streets. They had even served them their first hot meal since the earthquake. They had plans to have church services this past Sunday for about 200 Christians who are now staying inside the walls of this compound.
As of Feb. 1, the Britton Road elders have received $12,582.11. Last week $10,000 was wired to the Delmas 28 Church of Christ in Port-of-Prince to aid Christians with food, water, medicine, portable tents, etc. We are in contact with the church there on a weekly basis and will be sending more money after we visit this week with John Elmera. We understand that another group of Christians from the Delmas 28 church met last Sunday at the church in Croix des Mission where Jean Claude Lemours preaches. They normally have a congregation of about 120 meeting there.
We have not heard from the Cite Soleil church where Jean Baptiste preaches and is also principal of the school that meets there. The church normally has about 160 members and the school has about 350 students. They meet in a rather large building that Mike Mazzalonga and the church in Choctaw, Oklahoma, help raise funds to build. From what we hear the earthquake only did minor damage to this facility which is out near the sea and in the poorest part of the city. We understand however that many homes were destroyed in this area.
We also understand that the church at Petite Place Cazeau in Port of Prince where Voltaire Edouard preaches has not suffered much damage. However, we have heard that a number of their members did have their homes destroyed. We have not heard the exact figures of the number of members who died or were injured from this church of some 150 members. This church is on the property where the present Cazeau Christian Orphan Home resides. This Home now has 48 orphan children. Several years ago, Britton Road church helped buy this property. We understand the buildings at the Cazeau orphanage were not damaged by the earthquake.