Nikkels Are Safe Following Major Earthquake

Thanks to so many people who have inquired about the safety of Jared & Stacey following the devastating news of a major earthquake today in and around Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, which is 50-60 miles from Pignon. We are thankful to report that Jared, Stacey, Will & Natalie are safe as well as Stacey's parents who are currently visiting. Although they felt the quake in Pignon, no significant damage was reported there. All phone communications are down right now so we cannot get in touch with Jared & Stacey so far, but we have been able to receive news via email from some doctors and other missionaries in the Pignon area that confirm that everyone is safe. Here are some email excerpts with more information:

From Kristie & JeanJean Mompremier, missionaries who live 5-6 miles from Jared & Stacey:

Yes, we definitely felt the earthquake that hit Haiti. We are 85km from Port-au-Prince where they reported a 7.0 quake but we felt the first quake and the 2nd aftershock. It was crazy--we were outside by our Ford pickup. It was rocking up and down and the springs were making a lot of noise. We thought someone was horsing around and jumping on it! The girls were on a rock bench that surrounds our huge tree with all their friends. The whole rock bench starting swaying. My house had some vases of flowers and pictures fall down. We are all just fine. We are just very anxious about our family and friends in Port. JeanJean has heard from one brother but can't get a hold of 3 of his sisters/sister-in-law who live in Port. They say the national palace and cathedral are wrecked. There are reports that many have died. Our phones aren't working. Only one radio station is broadcasting. I can't imagine what things are like down in Port. Keep praying!

Kristie and JeanJean

From Bev Brand:

We have not heard from Jared and Stacey but just received an e-mail from Dr. Batsch at the hospital in Pignon and he said everyone was ok. He did not elaborate but did ask for prayers for Haiti.

Below is the message from Dr. Batsch:
Thanks for your support and prayers. Thanks to God everybody is OK in Pignon (Fargo Team members and the Hospital staff).Thank you...
JEAN - JUMEAU Batsch,MD

Please keep praying.

On a side note: Denny Brand was on his way to Haiti and is in Florida – American Airlines has cancelled all flights into Haiti – he was to fly in tomorrow for the Promise for Haiti Board meeting. So he will be spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale and flying back to Pella hopefully tomorrow.

I’m not sure what all this means but I think it is significant that we are in the 40 days of prayer for Haiti. We can see the destruction, but what we can’t see is what is going on in the heavenlies. 1 Cor. 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” There is something going on here that is much bigger than we can understand. Keep praying!!!

Another update: Karen Carr from the Virginia CCH group just let Tim Brand know that she has talked to Dr. Batsch and that they were reporting no major damage in Pignon but they definitely felt the tremors. Dr. Batsch’s family lives in Port-au-Prince (wife and children) so he is quite concerned for them and has not been able to get information. Please pray for their safety and also the safety of four children that are in the process of being adopted by two families at Third, the Fullers and the VanderHoffs…….their children are in an orphanage in Port au Prince.

Bev Brand

There are many ways to pray right now. I'm so thankful that the Nikkels are safe, but the reality is that many, many people in Haiti are not. This is devastating. Please be in prayer:

• For Dr. Batsch's family in Port-au-Prince
• For Kristie & JeanJean Mompremier's family in Port-au-Prince
• For the Fullers' & VanderHoffs' children in Port-au-Prince and all the children in their orphanage
• For those injured or grieving loss of loved ones
• For the government in handling this tragedy
• For many people, already impoverished, who have been left with nothing.

Thanks so much for your support and prayers!