Today is payday and, thanks to so many of you who have given cash gifts, we can give our workers their pay plus extra money. All of them lost their homes in the quake and were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. It is a pleasure to watch them rejoice as the Lord takes care of them. Thank you!!!
One of our nannies, Marie, has a 10 yr old son who was living with someone else. The house where he was living was destroyed and she couldn't find any news of him. Some of the neighbors think he is surely dead. Not knowing is so hard for her! Pray for definite news of him. Even if he died, she can start grieving for him when she knows for sure.
Marie's other daughter lives in a tent city in the Delmas 31-33 area. I went there with her and found a very well organized camp. They already had appointed a committee of leaders who had a list of residents. There are 99 families, a total of 512 people. With the help of Much Ministries out of Georgia (the Brooks family and others) we will take food and medicine to them today.
Our staff are still afraid to stay inside the house and I cannot promise them that we won't have another quake or strong aftershock. Pray that someone will bring tents quickly to set up for our infants, all of whom are living outside with everyone else. They need protection from flies and mosquitoes.
Dr. Kelly Crowdis, a veterinarian who lives and works in Haiti, was shuttling patients between the stadium and the Israeli field hospital. She saw that Arbolina did not know how to care for her infant. Arbolina does not know her last name or where she lived before the quake. She only remembers that her house crashed and she got the baby out. Kelly brought her to us with little Ronald. She isn't sure whether Ronald was 1 day old when she got her, or 2 months old, or 4 months old. We think 1 month is about right.
People have said that I am brave. Ha! Right now I feel many things but brave is not included. Life is what it is, you know? Something happens, you are there, you do what you have to do. Without God I would not be able to do anything, the shock would be too great. I have never seen injuries like these and to see them in such huge numbers is just - well, indescribable. Such sadness! Such horror. Every time I see a crashed building I feel sick because now I know the pain it caused. The people who are brave are those who are voluntarily putting themselves at risk to help us. And so many others who cannot come are sacrificing to send help. Praise God for wonderful people!
We thank God for giving us enough for ourselves and enough to share. He has opened the heavens and is pouring out blessings. It is a privilege to watch Him work so up close and personal, something that isn't often so clear in the United States. HE, the Lord God almighty, the one true God, is not a religion: HE is the living God, very active in our personal lives if we allow Him to be.
Claudia, our nanny, is helped to the car by nannies Kattelyne and Margareth.
Claudia was living in her yard sheltered by tarps and sheets.
Dr. Kelly Crowdis brought Arbolina, a little lost lady, to us.
Our laundry area. Laundry is done by hand every day for about 35 people including about 12 infants and children in diapers.
The part of our yard where everyone lives and sleeps.
Wilmerson's mother was killed in the quake. His aunt brought him to stay with us for a while.
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