Haiti Earthquake Relief Update: 1/20/10
20. Jan, 2010 
24 Comments
I’m not sure how to even write this post. I want to avoid being over dramatic, if that’s even possible in this situation, and I want to paint the picture as accurately as possible so you can pray and be as connected to this as I can possibly can.
I woke up this morning at 4am to prepare myself for the day, you can actually get used to sleeping 3 hours a night, kind of like anything in life worth living for, hurts at first but you get used to it. Anyway, I was working on making some more connections for other teams coming in today when an earthquake started around 6am. I was in an upstairs buildings and it started like a plane was flying low over head and vibrating the building. I looked around to others, thinking maybe I was just sleep deprived and feeling things, but then it went from vibrations to feeling the floor moving your feet and chair. That initiated my outburst, “quake!” and sprinting from building down stairs to the yard. It lasted all of maybe 10-15 secs but for a North Georgia boy, it was a unique experience, better than any thing at Starbucks to get you going.
Rumor is more buildings fell. All are fine where I am staying, the buildings have received zero damage during all of this. God has protected this place and is using this place called Quisqueya Christian School (www.quisqueya.org), who have attacked this disaster with a great passion and drive. They know the community, they’ve been here for decades and these efforts that have started are very much in large due to their commitment to serve the community. More and more believers from all over the world are pouring into here and it is perhaps a little piece of heaven in the midst of the chaos that surrounds.
The physical shaking this morning was but a precursor to the shaking I would receive this day. An expeditionary team took off at 8am this morning to assess and triage any orphanages that we had received information on. Shaun King, the tweet master of the universe, helped us find the eventual orphanage which I will write about in a moment. I can’t begin to tell you how valuable social media has been on the ground here in Haiti and it largely why I am still here and helping make connections and helping teams get connected. I said early on in this experience that I am just a conduit and I’ve prayed from the beginning that God would just use me to provide connection for believers to get connected to this current need. Using the relationships that had been developed with the Dominican Republic and Haiti over the last five years I thought that I could at least connect some Dominicans into the need and hopefully as many Americans as possible. God has answered those prayers in ways much greater than I could of ever imagined. So God of God. And it is all Him, it is simply amazing to see how some of these connections are made, whether it be through twitter, facebook, or simply talking to teams on the border, God is the story in all of this.
But I am tired and digress yet again, perhaps I’m stalling from what I don’t want to tell you. So let me get it out.
Today I arrived on the scene of an unspeakable tragedy at Foyer Notre Dame de la Nativite in Fonta Mara. My team of Dominican and American docs were the first to arrive. I travel with Dominicans, Haitians, and Americans and have had zero problem getting to where we need to go. The Dominicans are not easily spooked by rocks in the road and crazy traffic, they move the rocks and continue on. I even had to help push a full sized dump truck out of our way, we were determined to get here.
I digress yet again, I really don’t want to write this.
So we got out and were hit immediately with the stench of death, if you’ve smelled death you know what I mean. Immediately we were greeted by Eveline Louis Jacques. She was very glad to see us, and then quickly informed us that 56 children had 1 caretaker had died in the quake. 75 survivors remain. She showed us the totally collapsed house from which the stench came and then began telling me the horrific details of hearing children for five days cry for help, but could do nothing to reach them. The cries stopped two days ago. That really hurt knowing I was here when the cries stopped. I wept, our team wept but we continued on.
The docs jumped to the baby’s needing immediate care. Eveline showed me the rest of the orphanage and property. All buildings are destroyed, either totally collapsed or partially. I began devising a simple plan. Oh yeah, the docs worked on the children the community began to gather around our team, never threatening or even a push. They were suffering too, one man approached me and said in very clear English, “2,000 need help.” Whoa!
Ernesto, one of our Dominican team doctors finished with his child patient and left to assess the situation in the community. We continued triage on the children, we found two children with immediate medical needs, broken bones that were not being treated. One baby boy with such a fracture that was keeping him from peeing and he had serious swelling. We transported them to the hospital you supporters have supplied and they are treating now. The boy with swelling needs immediate surgery and that is being arranged. As we worked on the field I began an on the fly plan.
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Triage immediate needs of children.
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Transport critical immediately to hospital we supplied yesterday.
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Give Eveline some cash to buy food from market (yes it’s open) to supply immediate needs of kids for the next few days ahead.
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Arrange an entire medical team (trauma docs, orthopedics, etc) to return and to serve orphans first and then move into the Fonta Mara community which has received zero help since quake and has 2000 patients waiting for immediate care. A medical team from Acts of Mercy in Waco, TX is going to be serving this need tomorrow. Two of their team members are presently there with our medical docs assessing the medical plan of action
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Bring temporary shelter (tents) for orphans, none of the orphanage is functional, all buildings fully or partially collapsed. They are rightfully scared that the building will fall, so they have located in a corner of their property, they need immediate shelter.
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Bring rice,beans, water, milk, and diapers for orphans in need so they can get some decent meals.
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Begin a long term plan for the homeless orphans. I would like to include any American Orphan ministries in this. I know they have many connections with U.S. Government and the international laws and I need their help in this. I’m committed to do what is necessary but all of this is way beyond my means. Put me into contact and I will follow the lead in this. I don’t think I can come home now until this is resolved or someone is here that can resolve it. All help is appreciated.
There is no communication in Fonta Mara, so I can’t get info in and out when I am there. I was pretty shot as we arrived back to Quisqueya but as soon as my phone connected I got a complete wave of encouraging msm’s, tweets, facebook messages, and even emails, that really brought out some more tears. So many of you, some of you I have no idea of who you even are, but you all have communicated with such love and compassion. Thank you so much! I can’t respond to everyone but know that I feel your love and please know how much I appreciate such kind words and the reminder I need that this is ALL God’s work and I just get the privilege of participating in it. I have felt the earth shake today, both literally and metaphorically. My heart, my mind and my soul has been shaken by this tragedy, specifically at the orphanage, but I am not destroyed, in fact I’m driven on to do what God calls me to do, hopefully pointing to Him the entire way. May grace continue to be with all of us, and may hope come again in the morning.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” -2Cor. 4:8,9
you are an amazing person i wish you well in your efforts and pray that u can help those innocent kids with the help they need good luck stay safe and god bless you
Thanks for the updates. God be with you all. Jesus is!
My heart breaks, yet it is encouraged for God answers prayer. We are still praying for you, brother!!!
Words cannot describe how I am feeling reading this and your tweets today. Hang in there and thank you for what your and the others are doing there.
I can not imagine the horror of hearing children you love cry for days and not being able to get to them….and then even worse, hearing their cries stop. Oh my! Thank you for being the hands, heart, and feet of God. Thank you for being there in Haiti making a difference.
I will pray for continued endurance and the gift of hope in the morning with the assurance that God loves each of these children and the rescuers so much. Our tears are His tears – He cries with us.
Been praying and weeping all day for you and your team and the orphanage you found. Thank God for you. May His grace and goodness fill you up and His strength propel you on.
Praying praying for the work being done to help these children. Learned about them through Troy, a friend of a friend of a friend…what God does through His power. I am crying with you over these orphans. I pray you get enough rest to help again tomorrow and the next day. Thank you for responding to the call of Jesus.
Praying for you, your team, those you are helping and those in other places! Thank you for the encouragement to my own life, and thank you for being willing to go! Much love!
Thanks for the continued updates. Kam and I have talked on many occasions about the children affected in all of this. She wanted to go to use her medical skills, but God didn’t seem to open that door right now. Know that I am praying for you and for God’s work in Haiti.
So very glad that you’re there… may God bless you and many, many others through you…
Dear God, I feel so blessed to have come into contact with such a warm, caring, dedicated bunch of people. My prayers to you and the children. My heart breaks for all of Haiti. God bless You!
Leesa
@viequesbound twitter
I hate to ask this, but is it possible that some children are still alive but too weak and tired to cry?
I’m praying for you and those with whom you are serving. I pray for each and every person and need you will encounter, that the Lord will meet it, that your heart will be strong and your leadership wise and sure. Thank you for answering this call with all that you are in Christ.
So sad. It hurts my heart to read this. Continuously praying.
Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
I wish we were there to help. We love you so much and are with you in heart and spirit. It is awesome for me to see how God is using the vision for GTN given years ago come to fruition as never before because of His guidance and strength in your life to persevere through GTN unknowns. Know we will continue to pray for you, your family, your team and for each life you touch in Haiti. Praying for strength of body and clarity of mind for you today.
We are praying for you, your family and the team you are with. Continued prayers for the children and people who are suffering. I know you have seen some horrific sites these past few days but I know you are needed there. Thanks for keeping us updated….we love you!!
Praying for you, your team and the work you are doing in Haiti. Our God is good and may His name be spread and glorified through your teams work there. Praying for strength , endurance and the supplies you need to minister to these people!
I noticed you said you said that you help people get connected. I feel that God has a purpose for me over in Haiti to bring Him glory by evangelism. I have only read of how things are there, but I know God will provide for me and equipped me for doing His will, no matter what the situation. So I was wondering is there any connections that you can recommend for me, or any organisations that are reliable? I am looking to go sometime after July, because I have to finish my internship with Youth for Christ.
Keep it up! Our prayers are with you. If need us to do anything here at the home front let us know. Love ya brother.
Found your site through Adam Housley’s report on CNN. I will share your post with my husband and children. Together we commit to pray for you and your team and your ministry in Haiti.
Jeannie Pace
SW Georgia
CORRECTION…Adam Housley on FoxNews.com NOT CNN.