In this corner of the world, we’re often insulated from major world events. But not last month, when the earthquake hit Haiti. The Wednesday before disaster struck, a woman in our Wednesday night Bible study asked us to pray for her father, brother, and several nieces and nephews who were on their way to Haiti to volunteer at a medical mission and orphanage.
We were familiar with the mission, since three people from our church spent a week there last January. So we prayed for this year’s travelers, asking God to grant them a safe journey and many opportunities to share Christ’s compassion with the people in that desperately poor country.
From the moment the earthquake hit, our church body and many others offered prayers for the people of Haiti, the family members at the mission, and those waiting at home. After four harrowing days, they arrived home safely, but suffering from the trauma they’d endured and concerned about those left behind.
For more of their story, click on the newspaper and TV links below:
- www.kotatv.com Wednesday, January 13, 2010: Sioux Falls KOTA interview on Wednesday, January 12, 2010.www.kcci.com Thursday, January 14, 2010: DES MOINES, Iowa — Some Iowans are already in Haiti helping responding to calls for help after Tuesday’s devastating earthquake. You can see the KCCI Des Moines interview with Taylor and pics of the team on their website now – below. Bryan is in blue wearing a Univ of IA cap and Alissa, seen in several pics is in the green scrubs, blond hair.
- www.kcci.com Skype interview with Taylor on Des Moines KCCI TV channel on Jan 14, 2010
- www.kcautv.com Sunday Jan 17, 2010: Sioux City KCAU TV Channel 9 – Megan Harshbarger’s report titled “Missionaries Return Home” includes interviews with Gene and Rachel from Mission to Haiti team and all six First Reformed Church members [Jeannie Clubine; Gene Den Hartog; Andy Getting; Mark Koerselman; Rachel Rooseboom; and Marwin Vogel] as they worship Sunday morning. (Expect a commercial stream to show first)
- Sioux City Journal article Jan 13, 2010 with photo of Bryan, and Alissa assisting him: By the way, all victims they treated survived the night and were transferred to a makeshift clinic on Wednesday. It is unknown if they continued to survive, but we pray they did. Without infection control stepping in soon, the injuries would be fatal. We hope one day any survivors would let Mission to Haiti know they were someone treated that night on campus. I think the team could use some encouraging news like that.
Of course, the country of Haiti needs our continued prayers and support for months to come, just as they needed it before the earthquake. So pray that the world doesn’t abandon Haiti once the media reports wind down. One family I know won’t forget. They’re already planning next year’s trip.
