Camp Perrin Ho!

Access to clean, fresh water is a main concern in Haiti, where waterborne illnesses, such as typhoid, cholera, and chronic diarrhea, are the cause of more than half of the deaths in the country every year. Contaminated water is also one of the leading causes of childhood illness and the very high infant death rate in Haiti (57 for every 1000 births) .  Since the massive 7.0 earthquake in early 2010, the problems of drinking water scarcity have increased greatly.

Our team from Bower Hill Community Church in Pittsburgh, PA, is now ready to embark on another mission to Haiti to provide fresh, pure, healthful water to drink. We leave Wednesday, April 10, heading for Camp Perrin where we will installation a water purification system, working with the Oshun Project from George Washington University. Our team this time includes our pastor, Brian Snyder, Karl Casey, Tim & Darenda Lease, Rick & Pat Jacobs.

But not without a little drama! Only last week we learned that our contact in Camp Perrin, Chavanne Casseus had obtained cots for us there so we can stay there at no cost instead of on the other side of the river for $90/night. We also learned that the rainy season seems to have come early - so the concern is that the river we have to cross without benefit of a bridge will be flooded and we won’t be able to get across to do the installation. As of now, the river crossing is not a problem. “God willing and the creek don’t rise” we will get this done!

God has blessed this effort! We have had donations from many sources - besides the Oshun Project, Rotary, other Presbyterian churches, friends, family members and from within our own congregation have made generous donations. Mary Good and Cathy Philson organized a fashion show/luncheon that raised about $5000 for clean water for Haiti! And our congregation donated over $4000 to purchase various needed items for the project during Lent. And of course we get support from Living Waters for the World (http://www.livingwatersfortheworld.org/) and Solar Under the Sun (http://www.solarunderthesun.org/default/)

Saturday we pack for the trip. Everything for the water purification unit must be carried down in our luggage. Bower Hill congregation members have volunteered to take us and the luggage containing the equipment to the airport waaaaay too early on Wednesday - right now that’s Jim & Bev Burke, Bill Wegner, Glenn Child, and Susan & Dave Hicks. Steve Boisvert, Betsy Hohlfelder and Chris Robbins are available in reserve if we need them. We thank them soooo much!

It’s all about this little girl we met as she drew water in Camp Perrin in February, 2012. We know the water she drinks is contaminated with dangerous pathogens including cholera. Pray we are not too late for her.

Camp Perrin water tested positive for pathogens

She needs pure water