An Update from Stacey

Yesterday…01/20/2010

I know everyone has been anxious to hear from us, but this will be brief. We did have another aftershock/earthquake…nobody seems to know what to call it at this point, this morning around 5:00. We did not feel it, but several people around here did. As you can well imagine, emotions are running high and people are getting nervous.

We are getting my mom and dad, Tony and Shirley Phillips, out of Haiti this afternoon along with Will and Natalie. We feel this is the best decision for all concerned as Jared and I are needed here to assist in coordinating a relief effort with the hospital and those coming in to help. We are also trying to work with other missionaries in the area to make sure the people of Haiti are getting the care and material things they need.

At this time we don’t have a better list of supplies, and we are not even sure how they would get here at this time. Our regular mission flights in from Ft. Pierce have been suspended, rightly so, so they can concentrate on efforts in Port-au-Prince. We stand behind them 100% and know we will get our own supplies when they can get them here.

We do have medical teams from Virginia, CCH, and Minnesota, Project Haiti, coming soon to provide care for the growing number of patients coming in from Port and other hospitals around Haiti. The hospital has already declared that all patients of the earthquake would receive care free of cost, which to us seems like a no-brainer, but the hospital still has to operate and most of this funding will come primarily from donations. If you feel led to donate to help with these costs, please visit the Promise for Haiti website at www.promiseforhaiti.org. I have asked Beth to post the contact information for them, and you can find it on the right side of the blog.

We were able to secure 1000 gallons of diesel to operate the generators at the hospital and got authorization to cover that with funds from Many Hands. This was just yesterday and already the price of fuel is up again. We are also hearing that prices for everyday things are on the rise, but we haven’t confirmed this information. As you know, after a disaster panic erupts and Haiti is no exception.

On a lighter note, there have been some amazing stories coming out of the city, and we are thrilled and rejoice with our friends from Pella who have been able to get their adopted children home! Praise the Lord.

We will continue to update the blog as we can. Thank you all for your constant prayers and support. We know we are covered.


Thursday, January 21, 2010

It is almost 6:00 am Haiti time, and I have apparently gotten in the habit of getting up at 5:30 for our prayer meetings. Although we have officially concluded, there has been fruit from our commitment. Several lay people from Pignon became regulars attending prayer at the hospital and have chosen to continue to pray for the hospital, staff and patients. Some are doing so with their churches, and they have all agreed to start a Sunday afternoon worship service at the hospital for families of patients! It will be “come as you are,” and we pray for a good response. They are also visiting patients and praying with them; some patients are new from Port and others were already there.

A young pastor and his father from the group asked to come to our house to pray for us and our family on Tuesday afternoon. Jared and I were running around, but Mom and Dad, Will and Natalie were still here. The father prayed against the enemy’s attacks and easily recognizes there is a battle much larger going on here. We have already been hearing more Voodoo drumming and chanting, and we drove by a ceremony that was being held along the road in broad daylight. As a matter of fact, I can hear it now.

People here are scared. After the quaking yesterday, there have been rumors flying around about an 8.1 earthquake predicted to hit Cap-Haitien. We keep telling our friends to stay calm and look to God for strength and protection. Many people even here in Pignon are sleeping outside in their yards, if sleeping at all. Jared and I are trying our best to not get caught up in it all and trying to remain calm for those around us. We know that God is in control of it all, and my wise sister-in-law said it best: “God is gracious in keeping the future from us and giving us just one day at a time to cope with.”

Please keep our kids in your prayers. They got in to Ft. Pierce, Florida, late last night on an MFI flight from Pignon. We had a car and hotel arrangements made prior to their departure here, and the first thing they did was drive by the hotel and went to McDonalds. I am sure the kids were thrilled with that! They are excited to be going back to Iowa and will need lots of love, attention and patient grace. Their world is turned upside down now, and it was the most difficult decision we have ever made to send them out.

The only response I have to, “What can we pray for?” is MERCY.