I received this long letter a few days after the massive earthquake on January 12. It is written by water and civil engineer Bruce Robinson, a missionary with CrossWorld. He lives east of Port-de-Paix on the northern peninsula of Haiti.  Bruce and his wife Deb have a well drilling (and everything else) ministry.  I met him back in 1986 when I lived in Haiti. David got acquainted with him since they were both bachelors at that point and would spend time together whenever Bruce would come to the capitol for supplies or R and R. David was living on the mission campus where the seminary is that Bruce describes in the article. I spent many hours on that campus when David and I were dating.

So, I have attached it for those of you hungry for this sort of thing. 

Thank you Bruce for your permission to share this.

Earthquake Haiti

I always expected the next big one would be here. On the north coast. In doing research for the bridge one of the things you do is check the earthquake history. For the last four hundred years. It is not pretty.

David was in Leogane today

"We had a good day! Went to Leogane and started to distribute supplies. I did a lot of translation. Attached is a church that we visited. They are trying to clear it so that they can have church on Sunday. Every other house is flat." David Uttley, in an email home

So David spent today in the town that holds such vivid memories for me. I believe I would be very disheartened to see it like this. But what are the Haitians doing? Trying to clear the rubble so they can resume their lives, including worshiping God together.

And, are they misunderstood because there are not enough translators? Or because they are such a proud and resilient people? Because they have been beaten down so many times by political corruption and abuse, natural disaster, severe poverty and can still get back up? Because they are a people of faith who turn to God when they lose it all? And then lose it again? Because they want something better for their families? Because they are weary of broken promises from well-meaning foreigners?

I don't even know the right questions, let alone the right answers.

“Thank you for coming,” Pastor Janvier said. “We have been praying for God’s help and He sent you here.” Courtesy Samaritan's Purse:

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/making_a_difference/

My ties to Leogane, Haiti

Following yesterday's aftershock, more attention is being focused on Leogane, Haiti. It is situated about 15 -20 miles west of the capitol of Port-au-Prince, virtually the epicenter of last week's quake and as you might imagine was very hard hit. I have read and heard estimates as high as 90+% of the buildings were leveled.

Leogane was my home for six weeks in February 1986, during the "dechoukaj" or literally, "uprooting" of then President Jean-Claude Duvalier, or "Baby Doc" as he was known. He was also known for the ton-ton macoutes, or "secret service" who were notorious for being his personal henchmen. Of course, it is debatable how much direct involvement he had in their questionable (at best!) activities. That Haitians feared them, is an understatement.

During the "dechoukaj", I was living in Port (short for Port-au-Prince) enrolled in language study and preparing to move "up country" with a small team of doctors and nurses to work at a vacant hospital.

This was before cell phones, Facebook, blogs, instant messaging or the internet as we know it today. Hopital Ste. Croix, a hospital in Leogane with Presbyterian and Episcopalian ties to the US, was in desperate need of reinforcements. They spoke to their home office in the states who shared this prayer request in church. Someone at that church service knew the physician stationed with me in Port. Long story short? He and I packed our bags and rode out to Leogane, praying the whole way as we passed very visible signs of the political upheaval....burning tires, agitated people, and a palpable anxiety as long stifled emotions were erupting all around us.

Leogane is where I delivered my first Haitian baby, honed my very crude Creole skills, and worked to save the lives of ton-ton macoutes who were brutally beaten in retaliation for years of abuse. It is where I fell in love with the Haitian people.

Would I go now to help if I could? In a heartbeat! But I am not able to go now, so I take great comfort in the fact that my soul-mate is there.

On a different note, I heard today that a secondary pier is now operational in Port-au-Prince, speeding delivery of humanitarian supplies.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/21/haiti.earthquake/index.html

And Samaritan's Purse has a convoy of trucks with heavy equipment on the way to Ft. Pierce, Florida to be shipped to Haiti.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/convoy_details/

Again, I can't thank you enough for your interest and prayers.

Digging out and digging in

Thursday is garbage day here. Remembered to roll the garbage can out last night to the end of the driveway for pickup. Just heard the truck come by for the latest Uttley contribution to the local landfill. That got me to thinking....

With Haiti never long from my thoughts, I am reminded of the overwhelming clean up efforts which will be needed. Last night, we were talking at the dinner table about this and other aspects of the Haiti crisis. We were wondering what will be done with all the rubble from collapsed buildings? My mom remembered hearing that during the Tsunami recovery in 2004, they ground it up and used in the rebuilding efforts. Could it be used on dirt roads? How would the possible contamination be handled? One question leads to another.

This morning as I was reviewing incoming emails and news reports, I read a very moving and troubling letter about a family in Colorado Springs still waiting on word about their husband/father who was trapped in the rubble of Hotel Montana. They have been on a roller coaster of emotions; hearing first that the rescue efforts have shifted to recovery, now, that tapping is heard again which brings the rescue crews back. May God grant this precious family much grace to wait it out!

If you want more information on their story:

http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=402939

Then my thoughts shift back to the countless Haitians who will never know exactly what happened to family members who are missing.

I cannot dig out, offer shelter, a soothing shower, or hot meal. But I can dig in and trust my God who will not forsake them.

Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds me:

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

I am clinging to that promise for my Haitian brothers and sisters; and also for our sister in Colorado Springs.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/god_is_now_real/

Reflections on a rough day.

I hesitate to call today a rough day, but it was. What I am feeling and experiencing is nothing compared to the devastation we see when we turn on the news. I think my emotions finally had a chance to spill over. My heart had been breaking for the country of Haiti; today it was breaking for David. He has had to put his camera down to haul supplies, translate for relief workers and bury bodies. His team leader has called him "an asset". Of course, as his proud wife, I am not surprised.

Even though this was a rough day, when I spoke with him, I was once again assured that this is where he is meant to be, that he was made for this. God is very present with him and will bring him through this; not untouched, but rather touched by the hand of God.

I have recevied a few images and they speak volumes to my heart; David's ability to capture the dignity of suffering people blesses me. Please keep watching Samaritan's Purse website; updates are changed several times a day!

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/emotions_running_deep/

Aftershock rocks the city

By God's grace, early this morning, I heard that David was safe following the aftershock, before I even had a chance to hear about the aftershock.

This relief effort, not to mention rebuilding, is going to be a long haul. Your prayers and interest are very valuable! Thank you

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/Haiti_Donation/

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/seeing_god_amid_tragedy/

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/aftershock/

Getting the word out

Either this is a slow news day, or we are blessed to live in a town that can think outside of itself. Our local weekly paper is putting a photo from David on tomorrow's front page and tells his story.

http://nuggetnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=16768&TM=6894.124

Haven't talked to him since Satruday night but I am confident he is safe. My contact at Samaritan's Purse today told me the media team is relocating today to a different location; doesn't surpirse me that David hasn't contacted me. On normal business trips we talk every few days. I hardly call this trip normal.

Recommended reading, but not for the faint of heart; the photographer referred to is David:

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/report_from_the_ground/

We appreciate all of you and your interest and prayers.

Report from Carlos Castaneda, SP-Canada's international regional director for West Africa and Haiti for Operation Christmas Child:

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/the_stories_are_heart_wrenching/

Praise in the midst of rubble

Hello dear praying friends and family,

Today was the first day since the quake that I haven't had CNN on all day. Will turn it on after dinner.

In the course of an otherwise "normal" type day, I read countless emails from others here in the states with deep ties to Haiti.  I have also received countless reports of the Haitian people singing in the evenings as it becomes dark; mostly they sing familiar hymns and church songs. Praising God for his deliverance and calling out to him to help them. They can be heard all over the capitol as their is nothing much else to do in the evenings with everyone "camping" out. Pretty humbling to me that having lost the very little they had, not to mention their loved ones, they can praise instead of blame God.

Sort of reminds me of an index card I saw on my mother-in-law's dresser mirror right after my father-in-law died suddenly: "When Jesus is all you have, you discover Jesus is all you need."

On a different note, for updates several times daily of the Samaritan's Purse relief efforts, and you are on, Facebook, look up and send a friend request to:

Samaritan's Purse International Relief - Official Page

Several updates from Samaritan's Purse:

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/moved_to_help/

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/dr_frist_working_with_samaritans_purse/

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/treating_the_wounded/

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/operation_christmas_child_response/