Kevin O'Brien - Reporting from Haiti - Sunday, February 7, 2010

  • Kevin O'Brien
  • Feb 8, 2010
  • Series: Reports from Haiti

Today is Sunday. I sure am glad that God designed this to be a day of rest.  I went to an English speaking church this morning, Quisquero (sp?), and was surprised to see that 85% of the people were Haitian.  There are quite a few Haitian churches around, that's why it surprised me to see so many Haitians there. He preached from Isaiah 58:11-12.

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

I think the preacher is absolutely right in that it will be the Haitian people that will rebuild their nation.   

Reports are that there is a spiritual awakening happening.  The Haitian Christian church on the corner has twice as many people attending now compared to before the earthquake. My translator said.  "I saw them with my own eyes on their knees praying and crying out to God confessing their sins."  He said they felt very fortunate to have survived the quake and want to start fresh.  How about that!

As I have stated previously, I personally feel that my task here now is to create a pathway for structural engineers to come here and do assessments of buildings that are still standing.  Can they be re-used or must they be torn down? The urgency of that was made more clear yesterday.  In the area of Carrefour, inspectors have gone through and put a red "X" on most all the houses.  I was told by one of the occupants (I think he rents), who happened to be our driver, the "X" meant the houses were not safe.  I inspected his house and there was one minor crack - the house was fine!

Now I was told today that the marks were put on there by some firemen right after the quake who were trying to indicate which houses would be hard to vacate.  I don't know which is true but in either case, the people feel as though they cannot sleep in their homes. 

The rainy season is due to begin the first part of March.  There is a strong possibility that the people will stay out in the rain which means that typhoid, cholera and dysentery will become problems (this is what I am told, I'm no doc).

Just now talked to a Mennonite organization that is doing exactly what I am doing ... am going to walk over to their guest house here in a minute!!  Isn't it incredible that I should hear about them today and find out that in this large city, they are only a few blocks away from me?  I have been searching for an organization that exists and has the same mission. 

Gotta go before it gets dark

Love to all,

Kevin