It was almost 5 PM on Tuesday January 12. I was on the second floor of our home, Ed was over at the Guest House. There was a vibration that I thought for a brief moment was a big truck going past. The next moment I realized our house was shaking violently. I scrambled to the doorway and just as I got out of the room, a large glass block wall shattered, sending flying glass throughout the room. I was able to get down the stairs and out the door (which had been locked but was now standing wide open) just as Ed came running around the corner, asking if I was okay. He said there had been an earthquake and we ran hand in hand to the Guest House lawn.
Miraculously none of the missionaries had been injured other than a few minor scrapes and bruises. Our Haitian neighbors started to arrive, knowing Christianville was a place of refuge and assistance. Our amazing med team sprung into action and within the hour we had tables and supplies set up to treat a multitude of injuries, many life-threatening. The docs worked through the night, doing their very best in VERY limited condition. We had about 100 people sleep on the front lawn of the Mission. There were tremors throughout the night.Three new healthy babies were delivered among the chaos!
At dawn, the incredible Haitian people greeted the sun with songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Many, many people had lost their homes and loved ones but were still praising Jesus. What a living example of I Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks..."
With daylight, we were able to access the damage to our facilities. Our high school, university and the English academy were damaged beyond repair. Thank God this did not happen during school hours! The brand new 4 unit apartment building for the med staff, two other apartments for missionaries and our pharmacy are also lost. Our medical, dental and eye clinics were hit pretty bad. Not sure if they can be used. The remaining buildings have some cracks but we have a short term team here that includes some construction people and a civil engineer and they believe these buildings (including our home) are okay. However, due to continuing tremors, we are all still sleeping outside in the front yard of the Mission.
Many of our employees have lost their homes but most seem to have escaped serious injury. We hope to be able to continue to pay their salaries over the next several months as we rebuild.
Yesterday we had a truck arrive from another mission in Haiti that had not been hit as hard as us. They sent bed sheets, medical supplies, food and water that we will be able to distribute to folks in the area. Praise God!
Overall, our mission is in good shape compared to our neighbors. We went out the day after the earthquake and got several drums of diesel fuel for our vehicles and generator so we have power. Our water is running but we need to boil it. We have a decent supply of canned and non-perishable food. We're hoping to get our short term vistors out as soon as possible. This trip to Haiti is more than they bargained for! But they have been real troopers and very helpful.
We plan to continue our work here at Christianville, although it will be on a smaller scale in some areas. However, this catastrophe has presented us with many NEW opportunites to minster and share the Gospel, so the work will continue.
The next several months will be devoted to clean up, rebuilding and providing whatever services we can to our neighbors. The med clinic plans to reopen next week in one of the remaining school buildings. School will probably not resume until next Fall. Our main concerns for the next few weeks will be food and fuel shortages. We will be cutting back as much as we can so our supplies will last as long as possible. Even though much aid is cmoing into the country, distribution will be an issue in a country that is inefficient even under the best of conditions!
Through all this, we have seen God's protection and provision over and over again. We have seen people who had little to begin with and have now lost EVERYTHING continue to worhip our God. We have seen people (Americans and Haitians) work hard and give 110% for the sake of others.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support.
Miraculously none of the missionaries had been injured other than a few minor scrapes and bruises. Our Haitian neighbors started to arrive, knowing Christianville was a place of refuge and assistance. Our amazing med team sprung into action and within the hour we had tables and supplies set up to treat a multitude of injuries, many life-threatening. The docs worked through the night, doing their very best in VERY limited condition. We had about 100 people sleep on the front lawn of the Mission. There were tremors throughout the night.Three new healthy babies were delivered among the chaos!
At dawn, the incredible Haitian people greeted the sun with songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Many, many people had lost their homes and loved ones but were still praising Jesus. What a living example of I Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks..."
With daylight, we were able to access the damage to our facilities. Our high school, university and the English academy were damaged beyond repair. Thank God this did not happen during school hours! The brand new 4 unit apartment building for the med staff, two other apartments for missionaries and our pharmacy are also lost. Our medical, dental and eye clinics were hit pretty bad. Not sure if they can be used. The remaining buildings have some cracks but we have a short term team here that includes some construction people and a civil engineer and they believe these buildings (including our home) are okay. However, due to continuing tremors, we are all still sleeping outside in the front yard of the Mission.
Many of our employees have lost their homes but most seem to have escaped serious injury. We hope to be able to continue to pay their salaries over the next several months as we rebuild.
Yesterday we had a truck arrive from another mission in Haiti that had not been hit as hard as us. They sent bed sheets, medical supplies, food and water that we will be able to distribute to folks in the area. Praise God!
Overall, our mission is in good shape compared to our neighbors. We went out the day after the earthquake and got several drums of diesel fuel for our vehicles and generator so we have power. Our water is running but we need to boil it. We have a decent supply of canned and non-perishable food. We're hoping to get our short term vistors out as soon as possible. This trip to Haiti is more than they bargained for! But they have been real troopers and very helpful.
We plan to continue our work here at Christianville, although it will be on a smaller scale in some areas. However, this catastrophe has presented us with many NEW opportunites to minster and share the Gospel, so the work will continue.
The next several months will be devoted to clean up, rebuilding and providing whatever services we can to our neighbors. The med clinic plans to reopen next week in one of the remaining school buildings. School will probably not resume until next Fall. Our main concerns for the next few weeks will be food and fuel shortages. We will be cutting back as much as we can so our supplies will last as long as possible. Even though much aid is cmoing into the country, distribution will be an issue in a country that is inefficient even under the best of conditions!
Through all this, we have seen God's protection and provision over and over again. We have seen people who had little to begin with and have now lost EVERYTHING continue to worhip our God. We have seen people (Americans and Haitians) work hard and give 110% for the sake of others.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support.
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