Amidst the rubble

As our team drove through the city on Saturday and Sunday, I saw the rubble and devastation of the earthquake.  Today, when Janese and I traveled with World Relief, I saw the impact the earthquake had on individuals.

• I met a pastor who saw both his church and school collapse and are now nothing but rubble.  
• I met a girl who lost her arm.
• I met a woman who was 107 years old and had been trapped in rubble for eight hours.  When she was rescued, she immediately began to rescue others. She lost her home and is now living in a tent. 

• I watched men and woman, young and old, removing rubble stone by stone in 100 degrees.
• I met a pastor who lost his wife, two children, friends, and 84 members of his church.  Not only did his church collapse, but he also lost his home.  

My eyes had been opened to the devastation, but today my heart was opened and broken for the people of Haiti.  Janese and I will continue to travel with World Relief this week to visit pastors in their neighborhoods, to recognize their needs and envision how the body of Christ can work together to help them.  Please pray that God will open the hearts of individuals and churches to come alongside the churches of Haiti, who are reaching out to those in their community.

Psalm 113 (read today by a Haitian staff member of the World Relief Team during a morning worship service)


Praise the Lord
Praise oh servants of the Lord
Praise the name of the Lord
Let the name of the Lord be praised
Both now and forever more
From the rising of the sun to the place
Where it sets,
The name of the Lord is to be praised

The Lord is exalted above all the nations,
His glory above the heavens
Who is like the Lord our God,
The one who sits enthroned on high,
Who stoops down to look
On the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the death
And lifts the needy from the ash heap:
He seats them with princes,
With the princes of their people
He settles the barren women in her home
As a happy mother of children
Praise the Lord.

– Tracy