L.O.V.E.

Good News!!!!

.... Ernst is OK! He called and said that he went to Milot and got care :) Apparently they amputated the rest of his arm and he made it. He wants to come see us and get a copy of this picture from us:

PRAISE GOD! I seriously cant tell you how worried I was for him- and why him and not everyone else I met that night I don't know, but I do know his story and survival through this all is encouraging to me and I can't wait for him to come and visit us all!

Needs...

For those of you who have told me you feel helpless and want to do anything to help- link to Licia's blog to find out where you can send donations. They are much needed and greatly appreciated!

http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/donation-of-goods-to-haiti/

heading to miami

well the boys left with casey for seattle and they were well rested and excited that this will be their last day of waiting in lines and sitting on planes. 6.1 earthquake hit haiti this morning... not sure of the damage but know that there were many unstable buildings in port that had no chance of surviving another aftershock, so I expect more damage and injuries.... i know for a fact people were awakened and scared by it as it shook their beds and homes- the ones who have beds and homes left- and the streets must have been filled withe fear and prayers. im about to head to miami to meet up with some people from the orphanage i volunteered at the first time i came to haiti to help with some stuff and possibly get on a plane to haiti with them :) if that doesnt work out i might come back for a different flight. right now i just know i cant sit here and do nothing without going insane, so im going to miami. soo many people are helping me out and i couldnt feel more blessed through this all. thank you so much and as always, ill do my best to keep you posted.

Aaron Ivey

This is a link to a music video by artist Aaron Ivey who is adopting Amos from here. His wife Jamie and himself already have a little girl from here who went home not too long ago- who weall loved dearly. They are still anxiously waiting for Amos, who is close to leaving. They both have come to visit since I've been here and I enjoyed meeting the people who are going to love this boy for the rest of his life. Enjoy :)

http://aaronivey.com/?p=9513

cnn news link on RHFH

http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/18/mission-reels-continues-to-serve-in-quakes-aftermath/

Degaje

In the next few days we will be moving all the kids out of the Rescue Center and into a house down the street which was not damaged by the earthquake. Every aftershock that came continued to damage the structure of the building and it has made it impossible to have peace in moving the kids back in. So we won't. It will be a huge task. There is no electricity or water at the new place and well be able to move our generator and pump water into it, but it is not an easy thing to do. Please pray for us as we figure things out. So far we havn't found more gas for the cars or generator. So far no food has come in. We are living off what we had before the earthquake and making a simple bread for some of the kids meals and putting peanut butter on it.

There is a word in Creole: Degaje. It means to make do with what you have. In Haitian culture it is not a word as much as a way of life. Just being born in this country guarantees the ability to "degaje." A Haitian's life quality depends on the ability to make do with what you are given. To stretch 2 dollars to feed a whole family. To make up work and get a house to cover your head when there is no materials other than what you can find on a mountain. To cook a meal out of rice every day and make every variation of it possible so your kids will eat. To be happy with nothing to call your own, and to make a church service in the middle of a field and without any instruments. The kids make toys out of plastic bottles and bend hangers and tops of cans. They can make art out of rocks and home-made paint and make that into a business for themselves. To make their clothes and shoes last years. They can wash a white shirt in a brown river and somehow wear clothes that look like they were professionally cleaned and pressed. Haitians have an amazing ability to take what life gives at them and still smile, still praise their creator, still help others, still get up every morning ready to walk miles to get their water for the day. I respect the people of Haiti so much and would die to know what it was like to live like that- because I can't even imagine. Haitians are amazing people and their spirit and hope is something life-changing to witness.

The tragedy of the earthquake did not change this. Haitians have proven through all this to be even stronger than anyone can imagine. They have hope and an ability to withstand the pain and suffering with extreme strength. I admire Haitians and couldn't be happier to be here during this event in their lives. To pray with them and try to begin to rebuild their country, their homes, their happiness.