Earthquake Updates

I can't say I understand people's suffering, or why so many died that day while some were spared, but I do know I will forever trust God, whether I have the answers in this life or not. As I rocked Julian to sleep tonight I sang him the familiar hymn and verse from Psalms. The hymn that my father sang to me as a little girl...

"As the deer pants for the water so my soul longs after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship Thee"

If only that were true for the millions of people who know and sing that song every day. The writer is talking about being desperate for God—so desperate that he's comparing longing for the Lord to a deer panting and longing for the very thing it needs to survive. Do we really ever long for God that badly? Each time I sing that song or hum it under my breath I have to ask myself if I really long for Him like that.

I've never been so reminded about the shortness of life as I have this last month. As I walked past people's homes that had been flattened by the earthquake I got a glimpse of the person that once lived inside. I could see what kind of clothes they wore, what they cooked with, what color of uniform their child wore to school. One house stood out to me in all of the homes we saw.  I walked quietly and alone around the remains of a flattened home where I was told a mother and her child were dead inside. The horrible smell confirmed it, but I felt like I needed to know them, so I walked around, speechless. Outside were some scattered pieces of paper with beautiful, perfect writing on each one. Hymns. Hundreds of them. Beautiful songs and poems written to the Lord, scattered about the pebble and brick that once was her home. I imagined her singing those hymns to Jesus while she was cooking for her family, or rocking her baby to sleep in the now broken rocking chair. This woman may have died young, but she lived. She understood that the only thing that matters is Jesus. She understood that when we die the only thing in the whole world that will count for anything is our relationship with God, nothing else.

Death seems so far off to us, like we are all going to have enough time before we die to change our lives and get our priorities straight, but it rarely happens like that. Almost never. It happens in an instant, when you are least expecting it. You don't have time to change; you don't have time to live like you always wished you did. I know this last month has challenged me. It has reminded me of the reality that life is short. It has made me think about what really matters and I have drawn closer to God because I know that it is only HIM that matters. It will be only Him and I standing face to face at the end of this life, and nothing else will count for anything.

"This Is an Emergency" video
Song: "Tears of The Saints"by Leeland from the album Sound of Melodies

Earthquake Relief Efforts
January 13, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,    

As you have likely heard by now, an earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude hit the city of Port au Prince last evening, January 12, 2010. I wanted to let you, our supporters, know that everyone in Haiti at Danita’s Children is safe.

The earthquake occurred in the southwestern region of the country near Port au Prince, about nine hours from our compound in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. Ouanaminthe is located in the northeastern region of the country on the border of the Dominican Republic.

When the earthquake occurred, although the Hope for Haiti Children’s Center compound is more than nine hours from the epicenter, our buildings were shaken and jolted and we evacuated our staff and children as a precaution. There does not appear to be any noticeable structural damage.

Sadly, this disaster has killed and injured thousands of people in Haiti, with even more being left homeless and hungry in a country where even on a good day survival is difficult.  

Many of you have asked how you can help during this crisis.
Our mission is specifically to care for the orphaned and impoverished children. We anticipate an influx of needs for the children of Haiti. Quite likely, many children have lost parents in this disaster. We are preparing to take in new orphans as needed. It is our prayer that our orphanage and school, as well as other orphanages in our community can bring hope and assistance to those who need it most.

There are two main ways you can help during this time of crisis.  

Pray.
Pray for the people of Haiti. Pray for provision, protection, and for hope during this incredible time of loss.

Give.
Your donation makes it possible for us to do more during this crisis. (Ways To Give) Your donation will help us supply food, clothing, shelter and hope to the neediest children.

Finally, one of our supporters sent these scriptures as a reminder to many of us yesterday:      

1 John 3:18
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth."

Isaiah 50:10
"And if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noon day."

Thank you for bringing Hope to Haiti.  
Serving with you,