Earthquake Aftermath

Thoughts from Thursday-- I didn't have internet acccess to send it out earlier.  Praise God we have heard one of our friends is alive and ok!

Thank you to everyone who is lifting me up in prayer and has sent messages of encouragement.  How blessed I am that I have such a network of support there is NO way I can respond to each person.   I just thought I'd share a few thoughts on our lives here in the aftermath of this earthquake.  Our hearts are heavy with grief, uncertainty for the future, and the reality which becomes more real day by day.  Since Haiti is so centralized, the loss in Port au Prince is a loss to the functioning of the entire country. 

My desire when I look at the internet photos is to want to run to Port au Prince and do something to help....Yet I do not feel that is where God wants me to be at the moment.  I feel He wants to be with these Haitian children, creating a small sense of stability in normalcy after that has been shattered.  I think and reflect on the future of Haiti now, the loss of leaders, schools, universities, government buildings etc and wonder who will be the leaders who will rebuild Haiti.  So I do my part to form, train and prepare Haitian citizens, a remnant from all these disasters, who will be of service to their people.  Yesterday, since the educational system is shutdown for the whole country, I "homeschooled" them.  They were to write about the earthquake experience, some wrote poems in french, others wrote songs, prayers or stories.  Many of them questioned the very idea Pat Robertson spoke of, "is our country cursed, doomed, why? how?" 

Phillip, almost 18, said at the dinner table on Wed, "if the Americans come for you with a helicopter, I will hang on --to the helicopter or your legs, but I WILL NOT let go, until I get there with you....Once I get there they can do WHATEVER they want to me (prison etc) but at least I'll be there."  I wasn't able to get the words out of my mouth, "don't worry baby, I'm not going to go if I can't take you all with me." Some of you are confused, since I said we were not seriously affected--we weren't but now the fear in the Haitian psyche is adding yet more suffering to the reality already present.  For the past few years in Cap Haitian, following the hurricanes and flooding in Gonaives and around the country, prophets of doom have been forecasting that Cap Haitians day of reckoning is soon to come.  This summer even the government buildings closed down for people to march, dressed in white, for God's mercy on Cap Haitian from floods and hurricanes.  Now Port au prince has been hit, and the prophets proclaimed yesterday, "What happened to Port au Prince will not even be able to be compared with the disaster that is to hit Cap Haitian," so people are standing in the streets, afraid to enter their houses, in the unending rains of Cap Haitian, prisoners to fear.  The rains, which have been daily for about a month, continue, with each new torrent, adding to the fears.  Whether or not the prophets are true or false, one thing is for sure, the waters are rising, river beds are overflowing. 

On Monday, there were riots in Cap Haitian, over the state of our roads, or lack thereof I should say.  The only thing that stopped the road blockades, bottle and rock throwing etc, (besides the arrests) were the torrential rains.  Now the residents of Cap Haitian are beginning to realize that not only should we be counting our blessings- but that there's probably now no hope of improvement for a long time to come. Local phone service is still not fully functioning, so we are still uncertain as to the welfare of many friends and family. 

Everyone is wondering where to send aid, at the moment I know that the leaders of Eternal Hope in Haiti are looking at the possibility of providing some medical relief, and I know that our local church in Haiti usually is also involved in relief aid.  However at the moment there are no immediate projects that I know of.  I also am not yet aware of specific people and organizations doing relief that I know of and can advocate for.  So I encourage people to pray, and seek God's discernment on where to send money so that it will go to the right group that will actually help those in need.  You can also continue to support the orphanage and me during this time as expenses for fuel, food, everything will go up during this time and become more difficult.  One of the outer walls of the orphanage was badly shaken during the earthquake (although in general it wasn't severe in Cap Haitian),  at this point we may have to replace the wall, or we may just be able to repair it, your support for needs such as this are important.  Monday some of our neighbors cement walls were blown apart by the heavy winds and rains. 

Please pray that the banks will soon open up and be in function.  As for sending supplies directly to me, please refrain from doing so at the moment-- without contacting me first for 2 reasons.  First, since the banks are not functioning I have a very limited amount of money on hand, which I am saving for necessities and cannot use to pay customs fees at this time.  Secondly Agape, my mail carrier is participating in relief flights and not providing mail and cargo at this time.   Also please pray for security and stability during this time, when desperation leads to violence and anger, the displaced persons move to Cap Haitian etc.  Some people have been concerned that I contact the Embassy.  I am registered with the Embassy, the warden for my area, fellow missionaries and friends of mine have already contacted me, and I have given my status, I also regularly receive the warnings and recommendations from the Embassy-- thank you for the concern. 

Through it all I have a peace that passeth all understanding because my life is secured in Jesus Christ and a life lived for Christ is a life well lived. 

                                My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
                                I dare not trust the sweetess frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
                                On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, 
                                                   All other ground is sinking sand.

Still joyfully in His Service,
Cheron Rose Hardy
Eternal Hope in Haiti

For Financial Support: make checks payable to Hands of Love, Inc.  Mail to Hands of Love, Inc, 9408 Highlander Blvd, Walkersville, MD 21793, designate Haiti on the memo.