The Day After

It is now almost 24 hours since the quake here in Haiti.  Lots has happened and we certainly have lots to be thankful for.  Out here at Kaliko we were spared the tremendous damage you are hearing about in the capital of Port-au-Prince.  The kids slept reasonably well despite continuing aftershocks until about midnight.  Keep praying for them that they would not fear.

Today I went down to Port-au-Prince with another missionary and his workers.  Chris had been at the site of a school collapse down in the city the night before.  He was able to free one girl but to leave a couple behind because he had no tools and no light.  Today we headed back.

We arrived at the school off Delmas 28.  From the front the 4-story school looked fine. But the back half had collapsed so that it rose about 2-stories off the ground.  We brought what we could – our generator, sledgehammer, cutter and gloves.  The Lord was very gracious in using us at this location.  Through the morning about 50 men working were able to rescue 10 young girls alive.  They had been trapped since 5PM yesterday.  Many were injured but not with life-threatening injuries.  They were taken to nearby clinics.  We had also hoped to drop off the bodies pulled from the wreckage to a morgue.  The problem is there is no one accepting bodies.

After we had pulled out all the live people at the school we went to a nearby house where a 2-year old was trapped under rubble of a house collapse.  We dug a hole in the floor but after completing the work were not able to hear a voice.  The rescues are right alongside the sad endings.

Weeping is turned to joy as well.  Heather was at home when our neighbors received news that their daughter may have died in Port-au-Prince.  There was wailing and crying all morning as they absorbed the news.  Heather spoke with our gardner Wilson and told him not to lose hope.  They had not seen a body yet and with no definite news no reason to despair.  About 2 hours later their daughter showed up at the house.  The shouts of joy were as loud as the wailing and tears.  God is good.

Continue to pray for the people of Haiti.  Many people are leaving Port-au-Prince because their homes and places of work have collapsed.  If they have family in the country they head there.  It seems the rescue operations will turn to body removal in the next day or so.  The city still has no power, medical help is spotty and the needs are great.

Also give thanks to the Lord for our many missionary friends who are safe.  Pray for Pastor Octavius Delfils (PCA missionary) who was seriously injured along with his son.  We do not have detailed reports on his condition but his family needs your prayers. 

We are helping where we can and processing the devastation.  Pray for our kids that they would sleep well.  The aftershocks made them a little anxious.  Pray we would use our resources and skills well as we try and give aid.

Earthquake in Haiti

Still in Shock

‘Unimaginable’ catastrophe in Haiti