Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Port-au-Prince day 2
The day began with a bang…actually a shake, which we learned later was a 6.1 magnitude earthquake. The psychological impact on this people cannot be overestimated. Streets are full of households that will wait a long time before entering a structure again. We are in a house that withstood the first earthquake with little to no damage. Yet even with that assurance, many in the house and in the compound (70 of us?) went running when the ground started moving. Amazingly and gloriously, voices began singing praise songs soon after the early morning quake. We heard many stories today of people who are turning to Christ in the midst of this. A mission field opens in the wake of crisis.
The supplies God provided in his perfect time were like a glass of cold water in the desert. Patients lined up long before we arrived and waited patiently as we organized a pharmacy and medical supply area. These supplies were sorely needed today as patients continued to arrive with tragic wounds that have gone too long without care. The clinical picture for many is not good and we saw tragedy that would never happen in a normal situation. Yet even in the midst of this, we saw God work and know that He loves each of these people.
Walking along the streets gives an up-close picture of what daily life has become for almost everyone. People have become very creative in making places to sleep, hang their clothes and cook meals. Crushed houses, buildings and cars are everywhere. Some still stand, but each night when an aftershock hits people jump and run. No one will enter a house or building that was damaged. We regularly walk by one school where sixty children still lie crushed beneath the rubble. The smell of decay and open sewage is everywhere in this poor area.
God continued to work as we met our partners from Cap Haitian who came with stories of surgeries postponed due to no anesthesia, fluids or gloves. We were able to return to the UN warehouse and were greeted with big smiles from the people who helped us late yesterday. God must have blinded their eyes because we aren’t exactly neat and clean or present a very pretty picture. Yet they went out of their way to provide basic supplies for our team and promised to have the rest for us in the morning. We continued to bank on God opening doors and we were able to drive right into the guarded airport compound where all the relief and government organizations have their bases. We visited a number of them and are using those contacts to build a network of partners who can help with specific needs we cannot. Samaritan’s Purse was one such organization and they were excited about working with us to set up a water treatment plant here in the Carrefour area of Port-au-Prince. In the morning we return to the UN warehouse for more clinical supplies to keep the clinic going. We ask for prayer as we seek for God ordained opportunities to meet and partner with other organizations in this stricken community.
So much is needed, and we are asking our Lord for teams to be raised, for leaders to come work and for the Spirit to move on the hearts of his people. The harvest is ripe, people are open to the Gospel. Workers for the harvest will find their work is fulfilling and fruitful.