Update from Norma

I am sad to say that Madam Marange (the marinade lady) passed away in the night last night. Here is a detailed account of the day from Norma:

...yesterday, - there was an accident that has caused untold grief and heartache. In a perfectly routine event, - the diesel truck came to unload fuel, - and it was actually in the process of unloading, - John had gone to get a tool, the driver was either behind the truck or across the street (unclear to me at this point in time) when the hose popped out of the big tank, spraying diesel fuel outside the wall, covering the women who cook food. This is a local fast food place where they daily cook rice and beans, marinade, sell candy, hotdogs etc. - Instantly the tentlike covering, the oil, the wooden tables AND THE WOMEN were on fire. I heard people screaming, get Mme Roger, - John says go to the Preschool, which is of course just 'next door' to the fire. As I was running, I could see the smoke, but of course had no idea what was happening. I ran into the preschool room escorted by Mme Emmanuel who had met me, - to be met by two women unbelievably burned. Their clothes were torn from them in the street as they burned. We put them in the shower to wash the diesel off of them, and slathered them with silvadine, - wrapped them in sheets, and took them to LaPointe. We were met by a team of workers and a crowd of people. They took them into the ER - which if you haven't been there, it does not resemble an emergency room as you would know it. The one lady, Mme Morange, was burned the worst, - between 50 and 60% of her body, skin all peeled off, -
They immediately put them on serum (IV's) with valium and perhaps something else. We had just bought a supply of silvadine, which is not available for purchase in Haiti, and had some burn bandages that had been donated when we had a little girl, Sabina, one of our students was badly burned. We had taken the Silvadine and the bandages with us. - Carmen and I worked alongside the doctor and nurses to get them cleaned - and again put Silvadine on them, as most of it was on the sheets, and bandage them. - Carmen determined she did NOT want to be a nurse! - me neither. I want to be a doctor! : ) They finished bandaging them and took them to rooms and we came home to get sheets for the beds, and fans, etc. The hospital supplies very basic needs which does not include sheets, food, nor constant care. The doctor assured us that they were stable, although it was very serious, - but at 6:15 this morning, her nephew came to tell us that she (Mme Morange) died.

John and Carmen and some of the family went today to pick up the body and take it to the morgue. In our devotion time before school this morning we all prayed for the family and everyone determined to surround this family with Christian love, - perhaps they will put their voodoo beliefs aside and let the Lord wash away their sin and grief. I am convinced God does not have a 'plan' for such a tragedy, but can use it, and as people see HIM (or us) holding out hands both giving and praying hands, perhaps they will become his disciples.