Thursday, January 21, 2010

Cry for Haiti



Last week as I was enjoying a family vacation on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, the captain of the ship came on the loud speaker to let us know that Haiti suffered an earthquake. He said initally there was a Sunami warning put out but that it had now been lifted. I was glad that we weren't in danger but my thoughts drifted to the Safehome. The safehome is a ministry that was started by a friend from our old church in Pennsylvania, Jacques Merine. It was opened to provide a home for some of the many abandoned, uncared children, that roam the streets of Haiti's capital. On February 9. 2009 they received our first 10 children into the home, which is located west of Port au Prince in Carrefour. The Haiti ministry ( www.source-of-life-ministries.org ) is a part of my dad's non-profit ministry ThirstySouls.

If you visit their website, you can view some before and after pictures of some of the children that are part of the safehome. It is amazing to see the change in their countenance.

Since we were on the cruise, I didn't have a chance to call my parents to check the status of the children and thier caregivers. As we pull into port on Sunday morning, I called my parents. There was good and bad news. The children were safe but the home was unlivable. The group was now on the street and they hadn't had food or water in over three days. The safehome had also picked up an additional 18 chldren. I just sat there and cried. By the time we got off the ship, went through customs and drove home the over five hour trip, it was late in the evening and there was nothing we could do.

The next morning we began calling anyone and everyone we might know that was in Haiti or going to Haiti. Since the airport was closed to commercial flights, there was no way to get in and take supplies to the safehome. As we began calling, we realized it was a holiday and many business or offices were closed. We had a few possible leads and hoped it would result in getting some food and water to them. By Tuesday morning we found that they were able to get some food...how much we don't know. Our contact with the founder's brother, who lives in Haiti is not alway consistant or reliable due to the instablility in Haiti.

I would ask that you continue to pray for Haiti as a nation and specifically for Source of Life's Safehome. The children and caregivers have to be moved because where they had been living on the street was just doors away from the morgue. My dad and a group were ready to head to Haiti this morning, but the trip has been delayed.

I have attached photos of the Safehome children that we taken last year and one of the children after they were displaced from their home. If you are looking for a reliable organization to give to in support of reaching out to Haiti, Source of Life Ministries is a great place to give. All donations are tax deductible. Donations can be mailed to ThirstySouls Ministry (Source of Life), PO Box 96, Hanover, PA 17331.