It’s funny – just when I was getting too absorbed into our problems, I find myself reminded of what’s really important. I know I’m probably one of thousands of bloggers who has mentioned this topic this week, but it’s hit home for me in a very real way – the earthquake in Haiti. You see, there’s a church in the area where we used to live, and I still stay in touch with a couple of their DCE’s via facebook and blogs. I consider them to be colleagues, even friends. One of them, Sue, and the pastor of that church, Chuck, plus a group of others, went down to Haiti on Sunday for their annual mission trip. They are currently there. Through the wonders of internet, twitter, and the connectivity that I sometimes think is not so good (but in this case is a good thing) we know that they are all safe. They weren’t in the worst damaged areas. So I’ve been praying for them lately, obviously.
Here are some amazing things about that:
1. God must have wanted them to be there for this. They arrived basically a day and a half before the earthquake hit. Their original mission was to reach out to an orphanage that they are connected with, do some handy-man work, and run a VBS. Needless to say, they are not doing those things now. But the supplies they brought are needed more than ever, and they have been able to pray with people at the hospital who are turning their lives over to Jesus. What a miracle!
2. Chuck, the pastor and his wife have adopted a couple of kids from the orphanage. I don’t know why, but they have not yet been able to bring them home. Because Chuck is there, he knows his kids are safe. If he wasn’t there, it would take weeks to get news of their well-being. This spares them the agony of wondering. I am so thankful for them.
3. While they may have trouble returning home, I don’t think any of them are in a real hurry to get back. One member had a family member with some health issues back home, but otherwise, I think they are thankful to be there.
If you want to know more, head over to Sue’s blog at http://sweetsoup.wordpress.com/. Another worker at their church who is at home has been updating her blog for her with the news as they get it. Please pray for the people of Haiti if you aren’t already and for the amazing ministry being done by this mission team.
Blooming Joy! 
We continue to pray for all the people of Hatti, but now we have some names to put with the prayers. We continue to pray for you and Travis as well, but you are right this earthquake makes our small problems seem so much smaller. Thank you for your blog.
Thank you for making this personal. For providing faces and personalities to even a few who are in the heart of this tragic situation. I especially agreed with your insight that “God must have wanted them to be there.” That too is something we can all remember when faced with confusion and difficulties in our own lives: miracles do happen!
Yep. We pray for Haiti, and we have friends who “just coincidentally” were on mission trips at the time. One of them was on a roof when the quake hit 😮 !