Hopegivers Blogs

January 25, 2010

By John Batastini

Posted in: Haiti

Haiti Eathquake: January 22 Update

The devastation and need in Haiti is unimaginable. It is heart breaking to hear the stories about children's voices fading in the rubble. The earth mover operators can't even articulate the pain they experience as they bury tens of thousands of bodies in mass graves on the hillsides outside of Port Au Prince. Countless children are now orphaned along with wives and husbands who have literally lost their entire families. The doctors and nurses are laboring around the clock with little to no resources, yet determined to do whatever they can to help with the little they have at their disposal. The level of despair is difficult for any of us to comprehend.

Amidst all this pain, there are child traffickers taking advantage of the situation and snatching orphaned children from hospitals. Women are being raped in tent encampments. Many other atrocities are taking place in the lives of these helpless victims.

Yet in the midst of all this destruction and death, you do hear songs of joy. You will hear a nurse singing Hallelujah in a children's hospital, or some orphans singing songs of praise. Rescuers hear victims left homeless singing songs of thanksgiving to the Lord in the tent encampments in the still of the night. Everyone feels joy when the excited shouts of rescuers are heard pulling children alive from the rubble after 9 days of being buried.

These are the bright spots in the midst of historical darkness and they bring Isaiah 9:2 to my mind:

    "The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shined (Isaiah 9:2)."  

Although this verse tells of Jesus Christ entering human history, it also encourages us that our Lord is still active and moving in this world - even in the midst of terrible devastation. He told us that we would not escape hardship, but He also assured us that He would walk through the hardships with us. It is during times like these that we must remember His faithfulness.

I apologize for not providing you with more frequent updates. We still do not have photos showing all the death, suffering, and destruction which might help in your fundraising efforts. Frankly, there are so many politicians and ministry leaders in Haiti getting face time in front of the cameras, that we feel the people on the ground don't need one more person participating in some media blitz - including Hopegivers.

Some of these situations remind me of the photographer in Africa who took a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of a small child on the brink of starvation being followed by a vulture just waiting for him to die. The child was crawling to a feeding station just about a mile away, but he never made it. The photographer took the picture and walked away without helping the child. Months later, no doubt haunted by what he had done, this photographer took his own life. I cannot imagine seeing someone in such desperate need, choosing to photograph the pain, yet not extending a hand of mercy.

As a father of 3, I could not imagine scraping my fingers to the bone trying to dig my boys out of rubble while able bodied men video taped me instead of helping me find my children. I cannot tell you what I would do in the despair of that moment. At Hopegivers we do not wish to take part in this. Our desire is to send help in the most effective way possible and that help does not include sending a camera team or even me to Haiti at this time. We have chosen to help our partners already in the field with whatever they need.  

There are several teams of doctors now serving in the Port Au Prince area. We have not received any reports from the first team that went in, but we trust that they are doing all they can. I do know that they trust us to do all we can to send help. The other two on the ground have gotten word to us that they are overwhelmed by the medical needs. They are in desperate need of medical supplies, food and water. ALL OF THIS CAN BE PURCHASED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC and transported to the field in a short time.

We thank all of you who have expressed a desire to go to Haiti and help. However, right now, I plead with you to send whatever funds you would spend in airfare or in buying and shipping supplies to our US office to send a donation instead. We can send those funds directly to the field and they can purchase what they need much quicker. 

Thank you all for your support and prayers. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters serving on the ground and for all those suffering in Haiti. We also ask that you pray for wisdom for Hopegivers. Once the dust settles we will develop long-term strategies to bring help and hope to Haiti from the inside out.

Again, if you wish to partner with us in this effort, you may use the donation box below.

In Christ Alone,

John Batastini

International Ministry Director of Hopegivers International 

 

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

Your donation to the special Relief Fund will provide food, water, and medical assistance to those affected by the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Suggested donation amount: $50
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