A few More days in Haiti...

Tuesday and Wednesday

It had been over a week since Jeff left to assist the earthquake victims of Haiti. The workload of responding to this disaster over the last week has been overwhelming but we have been blessed with many wonderful volunteers to help us. We are grateful for the response received and continue to ask for your prayers for the people of Haiti.

We were asked by Eagle Brook Church to accompany a videographer to Haiti to document Healing Haiti's response to the disaster and how we were attempting to be the hands and feet of Christ. Travel to Haiti right now is difficult and time consuming having to fly through Chicago, San Juan, Santo Dominto and then bus into Haiti to Port au Prince to get to our mission. Because of timing, the videographer was unable to go but I went anyway. I knew the emotional and physical toll Haiti's plight was having on Jeff and just needed to get to him.

Jeff had just brought four orphaned children out of Haiti and was able to meet up with me in San Juan on his way back to Haiti. We flew together to Santo Domingo and traveled together by bus to the Haitian border. From there we met a Haitian government official who graciously gave us a ride to Tabarre. After 36 hours of travel, we were finally back in Haiti.

Our first task back in Haiti was to continue with the humanitarian parole visas for orphans at Mother Theresa's. On the way there we stopped by Gertrude's Providence Guest House which had totally collapsed. I now start to see the massive destruction of this earthquake. By the grace of God, Gertrude and her cook were the only ones in the house at the time of the quake and both escaped to safety. Gertrude slept on the street outside her house for days. JoAnna says she is having a difficult time coming to grips with the reality that everything is gone. Can you imagine devoting your life to God, building and caring for severely handicapped children in the poorest country in the western hemisphere... and what took years of struggle and hard work to create, is destroyed in a matter of seconds? I am at a loss for words and my heart is heavy for Gertrude.

Before:

After:
At Mother Theresa's, the damage is also obvious. The courtyard has been setup as a makeshift emergency room with blue tarps providing shade for many injured laying on cots and gurneys. There's a clinic set up and a doctor from Ireland is treating wounds. The sick and abandoned babies and children have been moved outside into the church yard because the orphanage has damage and is not safe to stay in. Visiting the sick children, I try to comfort a seven year old girl who is extremely malnourished. As I pray over her, I can't stop the tears. How can these Sisters be so strong?

Thursday

The next morning, Jeff was off to the US embassy again to inquire about getting 3 more orphan children to the US. I went to Heartline Ministries clinic to help sort medical supplies. We had sent a load of medical supplies down that we had collected from several generous donors the week after the quake. I now understand the huge task it is to sort and organize all the supplies. The people who have been working at Heartline over the last week and a half were close to burn out. I could see the sadness and exhaustion in the their eyes and faces. They had just lost a baby, done several amputations and treated a severely burned child as listed on the chalkboard for the previous day. I helped comfort a woman who was having her foot treated. Her toe had been amputated and it had become infected and she now needed it closed up. She was in despair and crying. I laid my head on hers, caressed her and kissed her forehead. Her crying slowly turned into singing. A nurse came over and said that a lot of the patients start singing hymns of faith when they are in pain. It was so sad yet so beautiful. How can these poor people be so faithful?

In the afternoon I met up with our water trucks in Cite Soleil. It was good to see both trucks in action, knowing it was through the generous support of those at home that made it possible to bring additional relief during this disaster. Our first truck is delivering water bucket by bucket directly to the people in Cite Soleil, the other is filling cisterns for orphanages, medical clinics and emergency relief in the many tent refugee camps in Port au Prince.

By now I was used to seeing all the concrete and steel rebar that came crashing down everywhere... but I was not prepared for what I would feel while delivering water in Cite Soleil. There were makeshift tents everywhere. The sounds of helicopters overhead and the mass destruction made me feel like I was in a war zone. How could these people who have nothing now have even less? It amazed me how life continued to go on for those who didn't perish. It just had to... they have no other choice. A few vendors still try to sell their wares, kids still play in the streets, people still wait in line to get water. The water lines were more orderly than usual... maybe people were just tired of fighting to survive. Several people had a white paste above their lips. I asked our truck driver about it and he told me it was toothpaste that they rubbed under their nose to keep the smell of death away. We made 3 trips that afternoon and I had the opportunity to walk through much of the city with Johnny, one of our water truck workers. He knew who I needed to see and brought me to Renaldo. I cried in delight to see him. Everyone who lives in his house survived. When we left Cite Soleil the radio of our new water truck was playing "Hallelujah". I couldn't stop weeping... what was it that God was trying to teach me?

We then headed to our orphanage outside Cite Soleil to fill their water tanks. The building we rent has been damaged but by God's Grace, all the children are OK. I was overwhelmed by the greeting from our 30 kids as they came running to hug and touch me as I entered the front gate. Again I just started crying and thanking God that they were all OK. Most of the walls around the orphanage were down and there are cracks and holes in many of the building walls. Gillium led me to the back of the building where a tent city had been setup for the kids. He used money from our donors to buy tents to temporarily house these children. The rainy season is coming and we must now focus on getting these kids moved into Grace Village as soon as possible. I prayed that we will be able to provide permanent shelter for them soon. It was getting late and we couldn't stay long. The kids sang "Merci Jesus" for me as I left. How can these orphaned kids living in tents, surrounded by broken concrete and fear of tremors be thankful? For many of them, faith is all they have.

It was an exhausting day. It was getting dark as I met up with Jeff at Bobby Duvall's soccer field where we park the water trucks. Jeff gave me the news, because of changes made by the Haitian governments, no orphaned children were being granted humanitarian parole visas until the Prime Minister personally signed off on their case. We pray that these transfers will quickly continue.

Friday

I spent much of the time this morning at the clinic helping where I can... first sorting sutures, and then comforting a man who was brought in to have his amputated wounds treated. I learned that he was mute and sought pain medicine for his amputated leg and finger. Doctors asked me to help hold him down while they treated him. This was a very difficult job. One doctor worked on his amputated finger while the second doctor cleaned his amputated leg wound which showed signs of infection. God had prepared me for this task though through previous experience at Mother Theresa's wound clinic. I held the man's stump while the doctor picked, scrubbed and cleansed the wound. The man winced in pain... I wondered just how much pain and suffering anyone can endure?

Later in the day I was given the job of holding and caring for baby Ester. Dr. Jen had grave concern about her. She was emaciated, dehydrated and barely breathing. She was put on oxygen to help her breath. Ester’s mother was exhausted and emaciated herself. I held this little girl and thought about the Esther study I am doing with my small group. Before I left, I made a little box to cradle baby Ester in as patients continued to come into the clinic and no one else was able to hold her.

On our way out to Titanyen, we saw the dumping of concrete and metal debris all along our route. So many buildings are down... so many lives affected, Dump Trucks are starting to remove the debris and dump it in an area that is on our way to Grace Village. We saw men going through the concrete piles, pulling out any rebar or metal they can find. Jean says they will straighten the rebar and resell it. We saw cracks in the road and Jean tells us how our dump truck was on the bridge when the earthquake hit. The driver told us how the bridge shook and moved back and forth as he drove to Grace Village with his load of sand. When we crossed the bridge ourselves, I wondered how anyone would know if it is safe? When we get to Titanyen we see more damage, but not nearly as much as we have seen in Port au Prince. Adrenoi counted 253 houses down or damaged in Titanyen, including his own. He has lost one elderly and tells us there is damage to Lucilles house.

Grace Village had some walls collapse, but our workers were starting to rebuild. We headed to our Titanyen orphanage. Even though the building damage is minor, Yvon and the children are to scared of aftershocks so they have setup a tent made from sheets and blankets for the children to sleep in outside. We hope to make repairs to the orphanage as soon as possible so the children will be able to move back in before the rainy season. All the children are fine. We have accepted four new orphans whose parents were killed in the earthquake. I thank God that we can provide a home for these children where they will be loved and cared for and surrounded by faith. We then visit Jean Garys school that has suffered major damage and is not repairable. This puts about 300 kids out of school. We again see how this earthquake is affecting children... not only now but for the foreseeable future.

On the way home we stop by another small school that Print for Change had just presented a check for roof and floor repairs two days before the earthquake. The school was in bad shape before but even worse now. As we prepared to leave, the schoolmaster arrived and told us he is already working on repairs. He said it was a blessing to have the funds to start the rebuilding. This little school holds multiple shifts educating over 300 children. It is difficult to have optimism when you look at all the damage... how is it possible to have such determination and strong will to go on?

Saturday

We headed out by motorcycle to Bobby Duvalls soccer field to meet up with our director Jean. The soccer field is now a refugee camp covered by tents and about 600 people living there. Bobby was on CNN when Anderson Cooper came to visit this “tent city”. We have provided food and water for these people since the quake and Jeff even gave some rides to the kids on the motor bike. They all had so much fun. It was like an amusement ride for them and all the smiles warmed my heart. How can these kids, who have lost everything be so happy and carefree.

We then went to visit Jeans house and visit his son Djovany. It was so surreal. Amidst all the damage, the market was still going on, and traffic was heavy. We ran into Mialta's wife and daughter in the market. Mialta runs Reiser Heights, our school in the mountains. His wife comes down to the city twice a week to sell beef. Her income helps fund the school. She said that several families have lost their homes in Lespinasse. I thank God that the school is ok and the kids can continue with their education. She sends us away with cabbage and lettuce scraps for Jeans rabbits. Jean has started to clean up around the house. 12 family members had lived there. He has set up a tent for his uncle and cousin while he sleeps in his truck at night. The rest have gone out to the countryside for now.

We go back to Tara and Troys to gather our things and head out. We decide to leave through the Haiti airport. Jeff checked with the embassy and they said military evacuation would be possible through Sunday. We just needed to show up with our passports. We arrived at the airport around 6 pm and waited till 11:30 to board a C17 cargo plane. We arrived in Orlando at 2:30 am. We were treated with such care by everyone and met by the Red Cross upon our arrival to the States.

We spent a day in Florida... never leaving our hotel room. It has been a nice way to re-enter. A time to re-energize. To not be thrown right back into our culture. A time to think about the questions I have asked...

Can you imagine devoting your life to God, building and caring for severely handicapped children in the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, and what took years of struggle and hard work to create, is destroyed in a matter of seconds? How can these Sisters be so strong? How can these poor people be so faithful? How much pain and suffering can anyone endure? How does anyone know if it is safe? How is it possible to have such determination and a strong will to go on? How can these kids, who have lost everything be so happy and carefree?

Looking through my photos I found an image that spoke to me louder than any words could. And it is very simple... it will be by faith, grace, hope, love, patience, and compassion found only in Jesus Christ and those who serve Him.

Blessings...

Alyn

Letting God fill the Gap...

Have you ever experienced God filling the gap in your life... you know when you feel God putting something on your heart but you don't really know what it is? When you need to do something, but don't really know what, why or how? It is such an incredible thing... following what God puts on your heart and letting him fill the gap. I've just experienced this first hand and I feel so incredibly blessed.

My plans were to work at the Heartline clinic on Saturday. During a break, I wondered how Carol Plamanns kids from Mother Theresa's were doing. Mother Theresa's had been trying to get her two kids along with 5 other orphans out of Haiti. The Sisters in Washington DC were trying to get a flight but were struggling. Over the last 4 days, promises and commitments for the flight came and went without success. I decided to go over to Mother Theresa's and check. Sr. Martine told me "no success"...they were unsuccessful getting the authorization for the flight. On a whim, I asked if I could go to the US Embassy and see what was needed to get them out. I had no idea about anything to do with adoption.

When I arrived at the Embassy on Saturday, there were long lines of people trying to get visas or passports. I went to a window on the other side and told them I was there on "Official Business" for Mother Theresa's Missionaries of Charity. I know I was stretching the truth, but they let me right in. Someone came to meet me and brought me to another building inside the compound and I quickly met with the person in charge of "Orphan Evacuations". She gave me a list of what I would need and I was out the door on my way back to Mother Theresa's. I wasn't planning to do this and really didn't know what I was doing but felt a need to ask the questions.

I was in a hurry to get back to Mother Theresa's to see if they had the needed paperwork... the only problem, my motorcycle wouldn't start... and I couldn't get ahold of Jean. So I decided to leave it at the embassy and tap tap back to Mother Theresa's. Sr. Martine brought out all the documents she had and we went through them one by one... the documents seem to line up. It appeared that we had everything they were asking for. I asked if I could take them and if she could go with me early Monday morning to present the documents and see if we could get the two children out and she said sure. Jean came to pick me up in his truck and we headed back down to the embassy to pickup my broken down motorcycle. As we drove through heavy traffic, I was thinking about everything and remembered hearing that because of the huge demand, the embassy was open 24 hours. Without much thought, when we arrived at the embassy, I headed to the guards window instead of my motorcycle. Little did I know that God was moving me and filling the gaps. I had know idea what I was doing but I knew I was doing something.

At the window, I claimed "I'm from Mother Theresa's Missionary of Charity" and I'm here to present and file some documents for adoption. The woman I met earlier was busy but a man who assisted her quickly looked over my papers and asked, "Can you be here tomorrow at 12pm? Without thinking I said "Yes!". He said bring your children and be ready to go... if you get the green light to go you have to leave immediately... but you're going to have to be patient. I was both excited and nervous... for the first time I thought to myself, "maybe I would have to leave Haiti tomorrow". I knew this was not my plan but for the first time thought maybe this is why I was here... maybe it was God's plan.

I called Sr. Martine, told her the news and asked if she could have the children ready at 10:30am. I asked if she would come with to help insure that that we could get this done. I got back to Troy and Tara Livesay's house late... and Troy was just getting home. He asked my what I had planned for tomorrow and I told him I might be going to the US with two orphans. I had already decided if this happened, I would return to Haiti after delivering the children to their adoptive parents. He told me about a 3 year old girl that had gone to the embassy the day before but was rejected because some papers were missing. He asked if I could bring her along and try to get her out along with the other two. I said, "Sure, I could bring her and present the documents, but God would have to do the rest!" We both knew what I meant.

I couldn't sleep at all that night. I dosed in and out and around 2:30am I finally gave up trying to sleep. I started thinking about what an incredible opportunity God had put before me. I wondered why he would choose me to do this... I didn't know anything about the adoption process. I felt totally inadequate and uneasy with the responsibility but also felt grateful for the opportunity to help these 3 little children.

I found out the following morning, Troy spent much of the night and early morning emailing and calling Naomi's adoptive parents to get the missing information and preparing her adoption papers. He worked so hard and really gave me everything I needed. The next morning, Tara brought Naomi over and we were off to Mother Theresa's. We picked up Guyvinscy (7 years old) and Evans (2 years old). I asked Johanna, a nurse who was staying at Troy and Tara's house, if she would come with us incase the two boys got to go but Naomi didn't. She would have the responsibility to bring Naomi home if she was rejected again... what a difficult job this would be.

We arrived at the embassy before 12pm... all of us, Naomi, Guyvinscy, Evans, Joanna, Sr. Martine and me. After checking in we were led to a waiting room containing over 120 children. It was complete chaos with children running and playing and sleeping on the floor. While the children looked happy, the adults looked tired and weary. Many had been there for over 48 hours... waiting to get their children out of Haiti. We quickly found out how they were feeling as we too were forced to wait... and wait... and wait.

Finally around 7pm, a woman behind bullet proof glass started calling out names and handing out "Humanitarian Parole Visas" for orphans in the room. And then it happened... God showed up. One by one we heard the names called out... Guyvinscy Pierre... Evans Pierra... Naomi Joseph... I was so incredibly relieved... and thankful, and grateful... for a faithful God. I said to the others "Praise God... Praise God!!!" You cannot imagine the joy that I felt. It's like nothing I've ever felt before and I thought to myself "This is why I'm here... this is God's plan for my life... God chose me to change the trajectory of these children's lives". I felt honored that he would choose me and for the first time I felt humbled by the trust that he put in me. God was not only filling the "gap" in the lives of these children, but he was filling the "gap" in my life.. I was humbled.

As we prepared to leave, there was a 15 year old boy named Jefthe that had received a "Humanitarian Parole Visa" but was unable to leave because he did not have a guardian to accompany him. His pastor who had raised him since he was 2 years old was there but was unable to leave the other orphans he had. The woman behind the bullet proof glass looked at me and said, "You need to take him, you cannot leave him behind". And she was right, I could not leave him behind... God must have thought 2 or 3 was not enough so now there were four.

Later that evening, by the Grace of God and only God, we left Haiti. The younger children could not have known how their lives had changed as they fell asleep but the two older boys looked intently out the window as the wheels left the ground. I think they understood. I again wondered why God would choose me for this but felt honored and grateful that he did.

The next two days were spent going through immigration... a grueling and sometimes painful experience. One of the other parents reassured me this too would pass... and it did. One by one I was able to release these children that God had entrusted me with to their new adoptive parents. It was incredible to see and to be a part of. I told my wife I thought this is one of the things I was put here on earth to do... I just felt it in my core... God was working though me to fulfill His purpose for my life. I could not help but cry... My wish is for everyone to experience this for themselves and to realize God has a purpose for our lives... each and everyone of us were put here for a reason. It is God's plan for our lives that we should seek, not our own... and in doing so, we will find true joy, peace and fulfillment that we all so desperately desire. I found my little piece of heaven... right here on earth.

Thank you Lord Jesus for revealing yourself to me, for revealing your purpose for my life. I ask that you watch over these four children, Guyvinscy, Evans, Naomi and Jefthe... protect them and let them experience the joy of having a loving mother and father that will care for them and raise them to know you. I pray that they will seek you and as they grow seek your will for their lives. Thank you Father for using me, for giving me the opportunity to love these children. I am so honored and grateful for this experience and know that all Glory goes to you... for it is only through you that miracles truly happen.

Broken Houses, Broken Homes and Broken Hearts...

The damage is easy to see. Everywhere you look there are broken houses. What is harder to see is the broken homes.

Late last night we found an older man with severe injury to his hand. He had lost one finger and two others were severely crushed along with a deep cut in the palm of his hand. His bandages were makeshift and old. Dried blood covered the rag. When we told him we wanted to take him to a Doctor, he followed us to our truck. He must have thought the Doctor was at the truck. When we asked him to climb on to go to the clinic he told us he didn't want to go. He said he was waiting for his wife to come back and if he left, she might not find him. We asked how long she had been gone. He told us he hadn't seen her since the earthquake. It was heartbreaking... he still had hope... and he was willing to suffer to keep it alive. We begged him to go, promised him we would bring him back... the neighbors at the refugee camp said they would tell her where he was when she comes... after a while, he climbed on board. It is heartbreaking to think he may never see her again.

I asked God tonight, how many times can my heart break... cause it's breaking all the time.

I've been staying at Troy and Tara Livesay's house. A missionary family from Minnesota. They have been not only gracious to let me stay but have also taken in other children from other missionaries that have returned to the US. Two little boys have been staying in my room. The youngest Amis, about 5 years old wakes up every morning around 3AM and climbs into bed with me. It is so precious and at the same time heartbreaking to know that this little child of God has no one other than me to hold and comfort him in the middle of the night.

Tara told me today that the boys were flying to the US. One was going to his adoptive family in Houston Texas, the other to a family in Dallas. When I got back from my days work, the boys were all dressed in their very best to meet their new families. They were so excited. I was so excited for them. It was hard to watch them go.

Later in the evening after dinner, the truck returned from the airport where 27 children were flying to meet their new parents. In the front seat of the truck was Ronel, the 6-7 year old that was staying in my room. I asked why he was still here and Tara told me it was because they needed one more paper for him. The other children got to go. She said she hoped they could get the needed paperwork tomorrow. I would never wish for you to see the disappointment on Ronel's face because it would crush your heart... it did mine. It was dark and the power was off. He went into our room, laid down on the bed, pulled the sheets up and sobbed. It was so sad. Tara came in and talked to him in Kreole... I'm not sure what she said but I know she was trying to comfort him. After a time she got up and left as I sat across the room. I could not leave him by himself. I went over and motioned for him to move over and I laid down next to him. The tears were pouring out of him. He was still in his new clothes as he fell asleep. Here is a picture of him as he slept.

As you read this this evening, or tomorrow morning, please keep Ronel in your prayers. Pray that God will provide the necessary documentation that will allow him to go home to his new family... pray that God will grant him peace and comfort until that happens. Heavenly Father, we need you now. My heart is breaking. You are our hope.

Ronel loved to play with my digital camera. Here are a few of his pictures he took.

A Water Truck Day...

When we went to Enel's refugee camp last night to drop off patients that had been treated and released, we were brought from tent to tent and shown babies that were running high fevers. The paramedics from New York said the children were dehydrated and needed water badly. We had brought some water with us for the team and gave it to Enel to give to the parents... we knew this would not be enough but it was all we could do. The paramedics from NY knew I had a water truck and asked me if I could get our water truck there first thing in the morning.

This morning, bright and early, we showed up at the camp. It is incomprehensible, how many people are living in makeshift tents and how they can live there. The camps are everywhere. They have absolutely no services... no water, no food, no sanitary... nothing The conditions are horrible. The tents are hot, dust everywhere, flies everywhere. I saw a plate of garbage put out in the isle between tents... it was meant to attract the flies so they did not land on the people as they slept.

I was only able to get a few photos because I was needed to deliver water.

Later in the day, we made an emergency water run deep into the capital. There is a small clinic a few blocks from the Palace that Kevin had promised water. The drive downtown was overwhelming. The damage was everywhere... there's so much of it. I think I'm becoming numb... there's just too much.

Buildings precariously close to tipping over...

Vintage 100 year old buildings made from brick and wood... completely destroyed.

The Haitian Justice Ministry...

Cars and trucks were crushed and quickly scavenged for parts...

The National Palace where President Preval worked...

There are many people with simple tools like sludge hammers and hack saws trying to cut their way through layers of rubble to find those who were killed... family, friends and coworkers. They have no skill, they put themselves in danger... but if they don't do it, who will?

And when they find their loved one, they wrap them up and put them on the sidewalk for some stranger to bury.

Dear Father, hear the cries from Haiti, send your angles of mercy to give them comfort. Move your armies of believers to be your hands and feet and fight for the poor, the injured, the dying and the dead. Let it be us that gives them dignity, a dignity that they have never known. Let this weigh heavily on our hearts, that it may be etch in our minds, that we are the miracle that Haiti is seeking and miracles only happen if we are obedient to your call. The Lord asks, "Whom shall I send, who will go for me?"... let it be us that say, "Here I am... send me!".