The Morning After- Earthquake Haiti 2010

Since I am not there, I can not even begin to imagine the pain that is being felt in Haiti right now. From what I read, it sounds like it is similar to the feelings we all felt on 9-11, except spread through out an entire nation. There are loved ones trapped under collapsed buildings, slowly waiting to die. However, Haiti doesn't have the resources that we have, and therefore can not help the victims. About an hour after the earthquake hit, it was night fall, so there was no way to help get victims out of the ruble in complete darkness (all electricity is out).

I am going to post a few blogs of people that I read below as they are there and can describe it a lot better than I can. This first one is a family with 7 kids who lives near Port Au Prince (where the epicenter was). The second is a doctor that COTP works with in Port Au Prince. Please continue to pray for all in Haiti!!

1.) The sun is about to come up. The aftershocks continue. Some more noticeable than others. There is no way to even begin to share the things we’ve heard and seen since 5pm yesterday. To do so would take hours that we don’t have to give right now. Some of them feel wrong to tell. Like only God should know these personal horrible tragedies.

The few things we can confirm – yes the four story Caribbean Market building is completely demolished. Yes it was open. Yes the National Palace collapsed. Yes Gov’t buildings nearby the Palace collapsed. Yes St Josephs Boys home is completely collapsed. Yes countless countless - countless other houses, churches, hospitals, schools, and businesses have collapsed. There are buildings that suffered almost no damage. Right next door will be a pile of rubble.

Thousands of people are currently trapped. To guess at a number would be like guessing at raindrops in the ocean. Precious lives hang in the balance. When pulled from the rubble there is no place to take them for care Haiti has an almost non existent medical care system for her people.

I cannot imagine what the next few weeks and months will be like. I am afraid for everyone. Never in my life have I seen people stronger than Haitian people. But I am afraid for them. For us.

When the quake hit it took many seconds to even process what was happening. The house was rocking back and forth in a way that I cannot even begin to describe. It felt fake. It felt like a movie. Things were crashing all over the house. It felt like the world was ending. I do not know why my house stands and my children all lie sleeping in their beds right now. It defies logic and my babies were spared while thousands of others were not.

There are friends and co-workers that are missing. People whom no-one can account for. People we work with and love. There are more than I can name, but in particular we wait on one single friend who lived near the Hotel Montana – which has reportedly collapsed.

The horror has only just begun and I beg you to get on your knees – I truly mean ON YOUR KNEES and pray for the people of this country. The news might forget in a few days - but people will still be trapped alive and suffering. Pray. Pray. Pray. After that - PLEASE PRAY.

2.)Email from Dr. Bernard:

DEAR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,

THANKS 1000 TIMES TO EACH AND ALL OF YOU MY DEAREST FRIENDS WHO SEND US EMAILS

ABOUT THIS DISASTER. THANKS 1,000,000 TIMES FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS. WHAT

WOULD WE HAVE DONE WITHOUT YOUR FRIENDSHIP, PRAYERS, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
PRAISES, GLORIES, AND POWERS BE TO OUR ALMIGHTY SAVIOR AND LORD JESUS FOR
SAVING MY LIFE FROM THIS BIG EARTHQUAKE WHICH MIGHT KILL THIS AFTERNOON
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. IT WAS ABOUT 4:50P.M, I STEPPED UP INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ON MY WAY BACK HOME FROM WORK. AS I JUST ARRIVED ON THE 2ND FLOOR, THE BUILDING
COLLAPSED ON EVERYBODY WITHIN SECONDS . THE ROOF CAME DOWN OVER OUR HEADS. I
WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THIS MIRACLE. I WAS ONE STEP TO DEATH, BUT
PEACEFUL, TRUSTING THAT MY LIFE WAS IN GOD'S HAND. MY MIGHTY GOD GOT ME OUT
SAFELY. AS I JUMPED FROM THE 2ND FLOOR INTO ALL THE DEBRIS, I GOT HURT ON MY
LEFT SIDE. HOWEVER, I AM SAFE AND SOUND...IT IS A LONG LONG STORY. WHAT A MIRACLE!
WHAT A GOD THAT WE ARE SERVING! HE SURELY IS NOT DONE YET WITH ME. WHEN I GOT
HOME, CLAUDETTE AND THE OTHERS WERE FINE, BUT THE GUEST HOUSE SHOOK UP SO BAD
THAT THE WATER COOLER, BOOK SHELVES FULL OF BOOKS, AND CABINETS FELL ON THE
FLOORS. AS I AM WRITING THIS EMAIL, THE HOUSE
IS STILL SHAKING UP. WE WILL SLEEP OUT SIDE, UNDER THE FRONT PORCH.
ALL THE CHILDREN AT THE ORPHANAGE ARE FINE. BECAUSE TELEPHONES ARE OUT OF
SERVICE, IT WAS ALREADY NIGHT AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE WERE IN
THE STREET, MOURNING THEIR TRAPPED AND DEAD FAMILY MEMBERS, THERE WAS NO WAY I
COULD GET TO THE NLL BUILDING OR HAVE ANY NEWS. EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, I WILL
GO THERE. OH ! HOW I PRAY THAT ALL THE CHILDREN AND STAFF ARE SAFE.
THE SITUATION IS AWFULLY AWFUL, TERRIBLY TERRIBLE. PLEASE, PRAY FOR THE GREAT
NUMBERS OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE THEIR LOVED ONES STILL UNDER THE RUBBLES WITHOUT
MUCH HOPE TO SURVIVE. PRAY FOR HAITI, AND THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. I WILL KEEP ALL
POSTED. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO GOD TO HAVE YOU ALL IN OUR LIVES.
Blessings,
Jacob

Nick and I really want to be in Haiti right now. There is so much that needs to be done. Please pray for everyone in Haiti!!

Nikki