Waiting

A bit of regrouping here. Adjusting to David's very connected presence in Haiti. My high school son shifting gears to graduate in March instead of June. My mom, who shares our home, adapting to some physical limitations which are not surprising, considering she is 93.

People have asked me how I am doing. Ok. I will admit this has been a stressful couple of weeks for me. And I am consciously trying to manage by going to bed at a decent hour...can you believe it, David?.... eating a bit healthier than usual, and asking friends for practical help. I have prayed more in the last two weeks than I have in a long time. 


It is well with me and mine and I feel curiously alive. But honestly, it hardly seems to matter how I am doing.


I think of the woman who is desperate to sweep up rubbish in the tent city she now calls "home" in Port-au-Prince. The $3-$5 she earns from Oxfam will feed her 6 children for the day. She is thankful for the pay, but would do it anyway, just to keep the vermin at bay.


I think of the woman in Colorado Springs who is still clinging to hope for word that her husband has survived the earthquake. Is he possibly safe in a void beneath the rubble once known as Hotel Montana, with a backpack of water and snacks?


Oh Lord, break my heart for these two women. Comfort and sustain them and the countless others that are starting over or waiting for word of their husbands.

Despair or Hope?

The story of Haiti, at this time, is not one of unending violence, looting and a population angry enough to fight over scant resources. But the people we met were wounded and weary and afraid to go back inside. The earth could shake at any moment and death could visit once again.  Closing paragraph from an article by Soledad O'Brien and Rose Arce, CNN January 30, 2010 

Healing the heart and soul is the work that the church does best.  Radio Lumiere is the voice of the church to minister to the hurting of the nation.  To do that effectively they need the equipment repaired and working reliably.  That is why I am here.  I have been greatly encouraged as I have been listening to the radio.  Pastors and others are giving much needed information, and more. They’re giving the encouragement and counsel that people really need.  Over and over again I hear pastors telling people to do what they can to share and to help others around them. ...  I heard testimonies of God's faithfulness, and also admonitions to trust the Lord in all things.  This is important work! Engineer and missionary Jerry Miel in an email letter home and forward to prayer partners. January 30, 2010

On day 18 since the earthquake, I am deeply thankful that there are people on the ground in Haiti who are also ministering to the wounded emotions and spirits of a people who have been traumatized, yet once again.  "This is important work!" 
I couldn't agree more. 


For another compelling look at "one of the modern world's worst natural disasters"
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16380

God makes a way ~ His love is not in our league

David Torres was the leader of our disaster relief team during the first two weeks of Samaritan's Purse's response in Haiti.

Many have given up hope for this little country because despite the tremendous amounts of money, effort, and resources that are pouring in, Haiti just doesn't seem to get any better. There are even whispers that Port-au-Prince should be abandoned. Almost 200,000 Haitians have already loaded on buses and left.

The rational mind might be able to justify throwing its hands up in defeat saying, “Yes, nothing here is salvageable.” But not our God, for we are assured that His love is perfect and cannot be diminished or overwhelmed.

His love is not in our league, and we can rest in this. 

Excerpt from "God Makes a Way"
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/god_makes_a_way/ 

"Jesus is our goal" ... A surgeon's painful reflections

Dr. Dick Furman, co-founder of World Medical Mission, was part of a Samaritan's Purse team that arrived in Haiti less than a week after the earthquake to help provide emergency medical treatment. He reflected on his experiences on his flight out a week later.

I don’t know how their memories will affect me as time goes on. But now it is difficult not to compare them with life as we know it. They will not sleep in their homes because of the aftershocks. At night they still cry out and moan and wail. The stench remains in the air as you drive by building that collapsed.

And then there are the patients that survived and we operated on who are in despair with nowhere to go and loved ones dead. I made my last walk through the hospital after our surgical team meeting Monday morning. I left patients I will remember for the rest of my life. I am on the plane flying home as I think back over what was the most horrific time I have ever experienced in my life. I have never seen such suffering. I have never seen so many people go through so much sorrow. 

It surely looked different on TV. Watching it, you could get the feeling of what the earthquake was like. You could get a feel of the destruction of buildings and houses and stores. You could even get some insight into the terrible devastating feeling the people are going through.

But until you have examined a patient who was in the kitchen while her husband and four children were in the next room, 

Give to Haiti, deduct from your '09 tax returns

Thanks to a new bill passed by Congress, gifts made through February 28, 2010, for Haiti earthquake relief are eligible for a tax deduction on your 2009 return. Any gifts made to a 501c , such as Samaritan’s Purse, for Haiti relief between January 12 and February 28 can be counted as a tax-deductible contribution on Form 1040, Schedule A. 

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

Also, many corporations will match your financial gift. And many relief organizations will accept your airline miles. See this from United Airlines:

Donate miles to our partner charities who are actively involved in Haiti relief efforts through our Charity Miles Program. These organizations will use your donated miles to fly aid workers to affected areas. http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1363,00.html?jumpLink=/charitymiles

The children of Haiti

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:16 King James Bible

These last few days I have been assured that David is doing well, so I can focus a bit more easily on my sons. One is wrapping things up to graduate from high school, hopefully in March. The other is hitting the books in his second year of college. The one at home has been teaching me how to play cribbage; the older one and I had lunch together today. I know they are safe and thriving.
But what of the children in Haiti? The ones not grown up yet. The ones dependent on the adults in their lives to care and provide for them, teach them, enjoy them and keep them safe? How do they thrive? What of the ones who have been separated by death or displacement from their parents?
And how do we process reports of child trafficking? They are disturbing, to say the least! It is difficult to accept that there are people who would take advantage of the chaos in Haiti in such a way. There are even allegations that children are being exploited as organ donors. And I thought the devastation from the earthquake itself was unimaginable! (Scroll down for today's interview on the subject with Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive.)
How can we respond? 
Pray. Such a simple word, such a powerful action. Believe. That the Lord of the universe will intervene on behalf of these children, unique images of God. That there will be such an outcry on behalf of the children of Haiti that there will be miracles of deliverance. Be ready. To give, to wait, to learn, to intervene, to suffer.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/27/haiti.earthquake.orphans/index.html

What about the relief workers?

David's images set to music


Thanks to a good satellite connection, David and I had a long conversation last night. He is doing well. After the first several days of extremely challenging conditions, the relief work that he is participating in and documenting, is running more smoothly.
Because of Samaritan's Purse long standing partnerships, contacts and 30 year presence in Haiti, they are strategically positioning themselves for the long haul. David may be staying longer or coming home for a short break and returning. We are totally ok with that.
He spoke again of how good it is to be there in the land that is home, with the people he can so easily relate to. I know that there is nowhere else he would rather be right now. He feels he is able to process all that he is experiencing as he goes through his images each night and chooses the ones to pass on. From what I can tell, he is doing well. He truly appreciates the prayers and interest of all of you! 
I am thankful for the unique cultural and life experience preparation that David has. From all reports, the earthquake which rocked Haiti is truly one of the worst, if not worst, catastrophes the world has known in recent times. At least in terms of the brutally crushing injuries the survivors have suffered. When you couple the immensity of injuries and necessary rehabilitation for the countless amputees with the paucity of the Haitian infrastructure, it becomes mind-boggling. 
I think of the relief workers who are ill-prepared for this devastation; I pray that the God of all comfort would be real to them, even as they ask the hard questions. Will you keep praying? 
Thank you from the depths of my heart.


Cindy, for David and our sons, Josh and Nate

"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too."  2 Corinthians 1:3-5, The Message

A look at a former commodities trader running a school for Haiti's future leaders:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704762904575025382061100568.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLENews

"Should I go to Haiti?"

I interact with several people a day who are feeling called, led, moved to go to Haiti. I totally understand. These people are our brothers and sisters, they are our neighbors.

Since I am not there nor in a position of authority, I take pause when asked what do I think about heading to Haiti, soon.  Important? Yes. Urgent? I don't know; the recovery will take years. Haiti will need real help long after she is in the headlines.

So, if we are thinking about heading south, we might consider the following.

God looks on the heart; examining our own hearts seems a good place to start. Bolstering oneself spiritually will be well worth it, many times over.

Next, an updated passport and shots are critical. Keep working to maintain or improve physical fitness; this preparation will also pay off. 

Stay informed. Sleuth out reputable agencies, churches, organizations who are doing work that you resonate with. Are they well established? What are their ties to Haiti? Do they have financial integrity? Can they connect you to someone who has been affiliated with them in Haiti to get the inside "scoop"?. What are their needs for personnel, volunteer or otherwise? Are they ready to accommodate you now or would you be one more person to keep fed, safe, find a bed and transportation for? You get the idea

Ask trusted friends and mentors what they think. 

Be prepared to hurry up and wait. We'll have plenty of opportunities to practice patience there, might as well start here.

And last, keep Haiti in your prayers.

CNN on rebuilding effort after the quake.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/25/haiti.earthquake/index.html
Samaritan's Purse: Surviving Day by Day
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/surviving_day_by_day/
Audio Report from Haiti
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/audio_report/