AN UPDATE FROM A TEAM MEMBER

An Update from Pastor Jonathan  -  Posted Friday about Thursday's experiences

God knows what is needed before you even know you need it! Today we watched God provide in so many ways at just the right time.

A few of us walked down to the ravine and found some people who were really injured or sick that needed immediate care. Can you believe that someone we knew was coming down that very street in a truck right when we needed them? I can!

We were able to get 3 wheelchairs at the Haiti airport when we arrived. At the first medical clinic on Wednesday they needed 3 wheelchairs! Coincidence? No. God? Yes!!

Today we were able to meet a lot more people, hear more stories, see more of the devastation to the city, as well as see a massive amount of people who have been injured. Our medical staff worked from a little after 6am until right before dark - almost 12 hours non-stop. They were amazing! They show so much love and care to each individual patient. They saw a lot of really bad broken bones, many burns, bad cuts, and many were dealing with sickness due to the stress and trauma the earthquake has caused. I was in one of the rooms this afternoon and a woman passed out. We helped her to the floor where she vomited all over. It was very sad. The nurses and doctor were able to help her feel better. Some of the patients were so bad that they had to be sent to a hospital to receive further care, especially the ones with broken bones, mostly legs and arms. One young man had a cut so bad on his leg that they could not use stitches to put it back together. He had had the same bandages on his leg since the day of the earthquake, more than 1 week ago.

This morning a few of us went to Sherrie Fausey's home. The front of the house has a few cracks in it, but the back of the house was completely destroyed. It is truly a miracle that Sherrie is alive today. We saw where Sherrie was standing during the earthquake, and she was just a few feet from having concrete ceilings collapse on her. We took time to thank God for sparing Sherrie's life and we also thanked God for the life of Peterson, praying specifically for his family and friends who are grieving his death. They showed us the place where they found him buried in some of the rubble. It tore your heart apart to know that a child lost his life at this place just 8 days ago.

There are so many people that are homeless here in Port-au-Prince. Many people are living in their front yards because their homes are not safe to live in. Everywhere you go, there are make-shift tents set up. People are living side by side in tents made out of tarp, blankets, and sheets. As we walked through these tents today, the cries of the children were painful to hear. Some of these homes are literally surrounded by piles of trash. The living conditions are horrible. Many were asking for food or for just a drink of water. In many ways I just felt so helpless. We are not able to feed and give water to everyone who asks!

Today I talked with one of the teachers at Sherrie's school. He had a beautiful smile on his face. I asked him how he was doing. He said, "Great. My house was destroyed and I lost everything, but I am alive so I am very happy". This is the testimony of many throughout Haiti.

Today we were able to also see Dorothy Pearce, Pastor Lenny, Pastor Genada and his daughter. All of them came by the Christian Light School. We rejoice to know that all of them are alive and well, serving the precious Haitian people. Pastor Cenor's heart was broken as he shared about the many people he knew that were killed in the earthquake. He could not talk without tears coming to eyes!

As I was getting ready for bed I got on the internet on my phone to look at the blog that was set up by Jim Hambrick's sister, Donna Tyson. I was brought to tears as I read all of the names of the people who are praying for us 24 hours a day. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!! Your prayers continue to make a difference in the lives of the Haitian people and in each team member's life as well. As you pray the things that seem or could be impossible to take place in Haiti, remember that they are all possible with God!!!

In His Amazing Grace,

Jonathan