On January 4^th, our team in Haiti discovered that brokenness has faces as we entered a walled in property that consisted of a cinderblock building and an acre of barren land. It was hard to imagine that this placed housed 120 orphans. 60% of their parents had died of HIV/AIDS, 40% were abandoned on the street. It was nearly impossible for us to comprehend the conditions these kids were required to live in.

Grey walls surrounded them, dirt floors supported them.  Their clothes were dirty & damp and their feet were callous & bare. Food was sparse and disease was rampant. There was no running water, no bathroom or shower. This place was empty of hope. The normal smiles and laughter of children was absent, for these kids were abandoned and desolate.

Our only reality was God’s love for the helpless and His heart for the orphaned.

So we did the only thing we could do…love the children. We set up a washbasin and began to wash their feet. As the dirt and dust was washed away the love of Christ began to break through. We learned that it is only God’s love that can bring smiles and laughter to children in the midst of brokenness and hopelessness.

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Surreal…that’s the best I can describe the feeling of seeing images and hearing stories of the devastation in Haiti. To think that our team was there 1 week ago is unreal. Our hotel (pictured below) in the city of Jacmel is demolished. Thankfully, we have heard from our friends in both Port-au-Prince and Jacmel and the best we can tell they are safe.

Read the email below from the director of Hands & Feet in Jacmel. We met some of the nannies and volunteers while at our hotel. Then PRAY for the people of Haiti. Finally, GIVE to the relief efforts.

Email from the director of H&F: “Our internet is working finally.  So I’m sending this to a few of you….Everyone here is ok, but we are all very scared.  The buildings held up great, but there are several houses right around us that have collapsed.  Also, Hotel Cyvadier had major damage, while the brand new three story “peace of mind” hotel was demolished.  Francine, one of our teenage nannies was in afternoon school and escaped while the building was collapsing around her because she was sitting by the door…however many of her classmates died yesterday.  Many houses and and buildings have collapsed in Jacmel including the hospital.  I know most of the news there is coming from PAP, but there is substantial loss of life here on the south coast.  We need prayer for wisdom and strength.  Its very chaotic here.  We were able to buy diesel this morning and hopefully get more propane for cooking tomorrow.  Last night was crazy…slept on the dirt in the center of the village…away from the buildings.  Tonight we may venture back indoors, but that is yet to be decided.  We go in and out to get necessities.  The Haitian people are numb and sad to say very used to death, but this has created what seems to be a hypnotic state.  I’ve never been in a situation were you feel SO helpless, fearful, and small. The tremors are coming again as i type this. Whoa!!!”

You can find out more on their website.

You can also support relief efforts through World Hope International.

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