As we drove through Port-au-Prince upon arrival, I was floored by the countless buildings in varying degrees of collapse. Some are only known to have existed by the rubble in the lot. Some look OK at first glance, but then you see the cracks and realize it is not usable. A full year later, the evidence of the devastation is still clear. I cannot imagine what it was like shortly after the disaster.
Most of our time in Haiti so far we have been in the interior. In an area that felt the quake, but did not experience damage. Yet it seems nearly every family could tell of a relative or a loved one that they lost who was in the capital for work or study. The ministry we are visiting lost several graduates of their grade school, who were in university.
So I hope any readers will take some time to pause on January 12 in remembrance of the people of Haiti who lost their lives and to pray for the Lord to raise up a people to Himself from the rubble of the disaster. In the four days we have been here, we have seen so many indications that the Lord is doing just that - may we, their American neighbors, be prepared to stand with them in prayer, support, and service.