We started this morning at Marie’s church which was being held in the temporary shelter area where the girls, Marie, and many of the neighbors had slept between the earthquake and the time Shawn and I arrived last Monday evening. It was good to see and hear the Haitians worshiping God. We passed a couple of outdoor churches on our way there as well. The tent cities have set up churches and were conducting services. Some we are told hold services every night –they are praising God with their hearts.
We walked the neighborhood a little and stopped at the neighbors who had lost everything and were sleeping in a two man tent. Shawn and I both gave them some money for which they extremely grateful. Marie is rekindling some old relationships with people who she hasn’t talked to in years.
One very cool event that happened today was Marie re-establishing a relationship with a woman who used to be her very best friend in Haiti. The woman had turned to Voodoo and Marie stopped talking to her. The woman involved in voodoo heard a voice that Port au Prince would be destroyed. She was told that she would be spared. And then it happened. I could not follow the conversation or the translation but the end result is the woman has turned from voodoo and toward Christ and is now a Christian with a wonderful testimony that she is sharing with everyone. She told Marie that when a friend goes down the wrong path it is the responsibility of their friend(s) to bring them back on track. Marie felt bad because her friend was right and Marie did not try to bring her back. It was another life lesson for Marie—still learning at age 73 just we all are. It weighed on Marie’s heart all day—but forgiveness has been given by her friend and by Jesus Christ.
We also saw Shawn’s sponsor child for Marie’s school and her brother who is another friend of ours sponsor child. We were able to get some photos and give her a little money to help with food. It was good to see them and the mother is so grateful.
We spent a good part of the day at the destruction site again. By the end of the day the entire orphanage-roof, wall, and rebar had been demolished. I think it the neighborhood has come alive with all of the activity and hammering and we have seen several other Haitian destruction crews working on various buildings today—Sunday—which is a day of rest in Haiti.
We continue to see and hear many transport planes and helicopters coming and going and it gives me hope that those in need are getting the life saving, life giving, supplies they need. We will venture out tomorrow to see how other neighborhoods are doing. We will go the airport to see if Shawn can get out soon and see when I may be able to get home. The radios says Americans who are going home should go to the airport and bring food and water—this is several day old information, heard second hand, so we will go and check it out. Things change rapidly each day and who knows what they will say tomorrow. We assume the American military is in control of the airport and at least we can have a conversation with them in English.
We ended the day at Marie’s and played with the girls a little. They sure love the attention they get. They are such beautiful girls with beautiful eyes and smiles. Let the little children come to me!!!
1.31.2010
1.30.2010
Saturday in Haiti
Shawn and I spent the entire day at the orphanage destruction site (after three hours of uploading two videos which makes me crazy but I know people want to see). I posted them on facebook and other people with more knowhow are working on getting them on the blog.
The entire orphanage, which was the second story of the church that collapsed in the earthquake, which was basically still in tacked but unlivable—leaning over with significant damage, has now been reduced to rubble with thousands of swings of the Haitian’s hammers. All that remains is the rebar that once held the concrete roof and the rebar that was inside the concrete roof. All the inside and outside walls and the entire roof have been reduced to rubble—all by hand. It has been sad to watch as I had once sat watching as they built it, brick by brick, and now the very same people who helped build it are knocking it down—brick by brick. I am happy to a part to this group of Haitians and in some ways I am happy they have a job as things are very difficult in this country on a good day, without an earthquake.
There were still pictures and notes on the walls of the orphanage from some of the girl’s sponsors. One Christmas card from a sponsor still taped to a now destroyed wall. Many memories of the last several years come to mind…but it is a new day and we will begin again. I continue to praise God that none of the girls or Marie were injured and that most of the people we know were not hurt. Many were not so fortunate in this neighborhood and in and all around Port au Prince.
Marie, Shawn, and I talked about how we may be able to help others in the neighborhood and we will continue to discuss this and assess the needs. Marie will make room for teams to come down once we get the rubble cleared away. It will take some planning so we can be helpful and not get in the way. Many things need to be done, people need help, many have lost everything, and most of us have more than we need—maybe we can continue to share our blessings with others just as God intended.
Shawn and I have been driving Marie’s car which is a disaster waiting to happen. It needs major work and I am going to talk to John tomorrow (I hope) to see if he will do it. Minor in comparison to not having a home but we can run and get things when they are needed with a car.
Continue to pray for the people of Haiti. It is a difficult life here but the Haitians teach me something every day. They are strong, resourceful, and wonderful! God bless them!
The entire orphanage, which was the second story of the church that collapsed in the earthquake, which was basically still in tacked but unlivable—leaning over with significant damage, has now been reduced to rubble with thousands of swings of the Haitian’s hammers. All that remains is the rebar that once held the concrete roof and the rebar that was inside the concrete roof. All the inside and outside walls and the entire roof have been reduced to rubble—all by hand. It has been sad to watch as I had once sat watching as they built it, brick by brick, and now the very same people who helped build it are knocking it down—brick by brick. I am happy to a part to this group of Haitians and in some ways I am happy they have a job as things are very difficult in this country on a good day, without an earthquake.
There were still pictures and notes on the walls of the orphanage from some of the girl’s sponsors. One Christmas card from a sponsor still taped to a now destroyed wall. Many memories of the last several years come to mind…but it is a new day and we will begin again. I continue to praise God that none of the girls or Marie were injured and that most of the people we know were not hurt. Many were not so fortunate in this neighborhood and in and all around Port au Prince.
Marie, Shawn, and I talked about how we may be able to help others in the neighborhood and we will continue to discuss this and assess the needs. Marie will make room for teams to come down once we get the rubble cleared away. It will take some planning so we can be helpful and not get in the way. Many things need to be done, people need help, many have lost everything, and most of us have more than we need—maybe we can continue to share our blessings with others just as God intended.
Shawn and I have been driving Marie’s car which is a disaster waiting to happen. It needs major work and I am going to talk to John tomorrow (I hope) to see if he will do it. Minor in comparison to not having a home but we can run and get things when they are needed with a car.
Continue to pray for the people of Haiti. It is a difficult life here but the Haitians teach me something every day. They are strong, resourceful, and wonderful! God bless them!
1.29.2010
Jim called from Haiti on the satellite phone...
Yesterday, Jim called from Haiti on the satellite phone and we spoke for twenty minutes. It's always nice to hear someone's voice rather than read their blog. As we spoke, I could hear the sledge hammers pounding and the workers singing while they work. It was an incredibly joyous moment in a time when much of Haiti is still in shock and experiencing loss. The orphanage has to come down so it can rise again, better and maybe even bigger than before.
The real joy comes in thinking we (Impact for Jesus supporters) are one of the first to rebuild. Through our quick response, the neighborhood is showing signs of life. The dollars we are spending to hire workers means people in the neighborhood will have money to eat and rebuild their own homes. As a result, the orphanage becomes a center of hope for the neighborhood. It is a symbol that the world has not abandon them and better times are coming. Our Christian witness couldn't be any stronger. Jesus followers are bringing hope. Please continue to pray for the Haiti, the government, the neighborhood, the orphanage, the orphans, Sister Marie, Brother Jim and Sean. We are making a difference!
Bob Butler
(Impact For Jesus - Board Member)
In the Neighborhood Around Marie's
We started today at the deconstruction site. Hammers were pounding when we arrived at 7:30. Pretty much the same crew as yesterday with the addition of some of the younger kids helping to remove the debris. They were carting it off and dumping it in the streets, the same as everyone else.
The girls were all doing fine at Marie’s with a good looking peanut butter bread and juice breakfast. They seem to fairing well despite the chaos and destruction around them. Shawn and I hung out with them a little this evening before we left—a bit crazy but fun.
We took a walk with Marie around the neighborhood which was really the first time she has seen more than the area immediately around her. Destruction is clearly everywhere with little pattern—well built houses on the ground in rubble, flimsy block building standing next to it. This was all throughout her neighborhood. We visited a doctor and his wife who house is completely gone, living a tent, with nothing but rubble around them. Small tent cities where neighbors have gathered to sleep together were seen in several locations. I had my CNN baseball cap on so people wanted to talk with me and help them somehow. Requests for college funds, food, new homes, prayer, etc. I told them I would help with prayer. Marie is very sad and distraught over all of the loss. We may try to take her into PAP in a few days so she can get a bigger picture of the devastation. Not sure if she will go.
There is a “rumor” that there is free land being “given” away not too far from here. It is a business man who said people can but their tents up there temporarily—but it turned into a free land giveaway rumor. Thousands were walking there maybe 10 miles from here. We drove there and people were staking out their piece of land—probably no bigger that maybe 15 by 15 feet, probably smaller. Both sides of the road were busy with people coming and going to check it out. Many of the work crew had gone to stake out their share. I believe it will be a temporary Refugee camp vs. the “landowner dream” many Haitians had. Marie did see some of the many collapsed buildings along the way, again no pattern to the destruction. She gasped at the collapsed ABC Market as she knows people who died there.
We walked down the road to see Marie’s brother Para Lou who was badly hurt when a security wall fell on him. His face and head were badly injured but he has healed fairly well. Two young children died in that same collapse. It was Marie’s neighbor who saved Para Lou and unburied him from the rubble. He was playing dominos in his familiar place along the wall.
The work crew destroyed another third of the roof today and by tomorrow the concrete roof should be broken into pieces with only the rebar remaining. They may begin to bring the rebar down tomorrow as well.
Shawn and I are doing well. We are staying down the road from Marie’s at Hope House and Debbie, a missionary in Haiti is feeding us well. We get one cold shower at the end of each day while the generator is running. No electricity since the earthquake—there rarely was before the quake. The people have all been very nice. Peace remains in the neighborhoods we have been in.
The girls were all doing fine at Marie’s with a good looking peanut butter bread and juice breakfast. They seem to fairing well despite the chaos and destruction around them. Shawn and I hung out with them a little this evening before we left—a bit crazy but fun.
We took a walk with Marie around the neighborhood which was really the first time she has seen more than the area immediately around her. Destruction is clearly everywhere with little pattern—well built houses on the ground in rubble, flimsy block building standing next to it. This was all throughout her neighborhood. We visited a doctor and his wife who house is completely gone, living a tent, with nothing but rubble around them. Small tent cities where neighbors have gathered to sleep together were seen in several locations. I had my CNN baseball cap on so people wanted to talk with me and help them somehow. Requests for college funds, food, new homes, prayer, etc. I told them I would help with prayer. Marie is very sad and distraught over all of the loss. We may try to take her into PAP in a few days so she can get a bigger picture of the devastation. Not sure if she will go.
There is a “rumor” that there is free land being “given” away not too far from here. It is a business man who said people can but their tents up there temporarily—but it turned into a free land giveaway rumor. Thousands were walking there maybe 10 miles from here. We drove there and people were staking out their piece of land—probably no bigger that maybe 15 by 15 feet, probably smaller. Both sides of the road were busy with people coming and going to check it out. Many of the work crew had gone to stake out their share. I believe it will be a temporary Refugee camp vs. the “landowner dream” many Haitians had. Marie did see some of the many collapsed buildings along the way, again no pattern to the destruction. She gasped at the collapsed ABC Market as she knows people who died there.
We walked down the road to see Marie’s brother Para Lou who was badly hurt when a security wall fell on him. His face and head were badly injured but he has healed fairly well. Two young children died in that same collapse. It was Marie’s neighbor who saved Para Lou and unburied him from the rubble. He was playing dominos in his familiar place along the wall.
The work crew destroyed another third of the roof today and by tomorrow the concrete roof should be broken into pieces with only the rebar remaining. They may begin to bring the rebar down tomorrow as well.
Shawn and I are doing well. We are staying down the road from Marie’s at Hope House and Debbie, a missionary in Haiti is feeding us well. We get one cold shower at the end of each day while the generator is running. No electricity since the earthquake—there rarely was before the quake. The people have all been very nice. Peace remains in the neighborhoods we have been in.
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