Hopps in Haiti: Lagonav post-earthquake

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Lagonav post-earthquake

The wind blew all night and the waves were up but we made it safely back to the mainland of Haiti this morning. Once again we were able to travel on the Wesleyan boat and pickup our vehicle at their dock 10 minutes north of Kaliko.

We are thankful to report that the damage on Lagonav was very minor. Several houses we saw and the Wesleyan Hospital have superficial damage to the cement walls and ceilings. The houses are safe but most people are sleeping outside for fear. Pray for them as they cannot stay outside indefinitely. Below is a section of an e-mail from missionaries we know in the Central Plateau of Haiti. It shows how deep the fears are.

“Continue to pray for the emotional/spiritual health of the refugees. A kind of sad/funny story happened Thursday. We have a lot of airplanes flying overhead since the quake. On Thursday, 2 Ospreys flew overhead at a very low altitude. I hope I'm naming this plane correctly. It is the plane that can take off and land like a helicopter but can cruise like a DC-3. It is big military plane that has a distinctive, loud sound. We had never heard it before. When it went over our house, all the Port-au-Prince people came running out of the house in a panic. One poor girl even peed in her pants! Everyone was scared that it was another earthquake. From what people tell me, the noise of the quakes and aftershocks, or at least the noise of the houses cracking, crumbling, disassembling, was almost as bad as the shaking. When the people heard the Ospreys, they thought another quake was coming. When I say all of the people, I mean every single one of them, at least at our house, ran out of the house and they looked down at the earth and didn't even think to look above. Everyone laughed afterwards, even the girl with the wet undies, but it is still sobering to know how affected they were.”

We were thankful for be able to visit the churches in Doglas, Nan Mangot and Gran Lagon. The children were smiling, the worship was sweet and I think I was able to encourage the saints with a message from Luke 13:1-5. God is good and we know he will provide for these dear ones.

Many had stories of people they knew who came through the earthquake alive. Many of the parents on Lagonav had teenage children going to school on Lagonav. Sadly, Teveno Maxime, the church leader in Nan Mangot lost his 16 year old daughter in the quake. Pray for this dear family that has suffered this tearing loss.

We also spent a morning at the Wesleyan Hospital in Ansagale. The are fully stocked with medications and the clinic is busy. Dr. Gordy and I saw 7 patients who were recovering from recent surgeries performed by a medical team that was there a few days previously. Most were doing well and we had an opportunity to pray with them. Pray for Jonicia, who could not undergo an operation and has what is likely terminal cancer. We were able to speak to her and her family and inquire as to her faith. I am thankful that she has put her hope in Jesus and the eternal life he brings.