I returned to my office for a few days this week and started catching up on emails. After all the hospitality work I’d been doing, it was nice to be able to focus on administrative tasks for a little while.

Monday was the 5th anniversary of the devastating 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti. As I reflected on the horror of that moment, and the uncertainty of the hours and weeks following, I remembered the sense of uncertainty and hopelessness that clung to all of us. I also thought of how many millions of people were affected here in Haiti and throughout the world by that one short moment in time. It is estimated that some 300,000 people died that day (or shortly thereafter). Each of those individuals had family and friends who were left brokenhearted. For many months afterward we all wondered which of our friends had survived and which had not. I remember seeing Pastor Guy a few months later. I was so happy to see him, realizing that he’d been spared right in the middle of Port-au-Prince. We all laughed, hugged and stared at each other a bit longer than we normally would.

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Our daughter, Alexis posted the following video on her Facebook this week. It’s a song written for the 5 year anniversary and performed by dozens of popular singers in Haiti – including the president of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly. It had me reduced to tears. I realize many of you won’t understand the words and many of the scenes are graphic, just as our lives were at that time, but I thought I’d share it with you anyway. If you don’t want to listen to the entire song, at least listen to the first 30 seconds or so. President Martelly is the first person to actually sing in the video (and he has a very nice voice). The song is mostly in Haitian Créole with a little bit of English thrown in. Among other things, the song calls on God to help the people of Haiti because of the intensity of the pain they are feeling.

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Those of you who have stayed at the MOHI missionary compound here in Grand-Goâve will remember the house next door that was also destroyed in the earthquake. The house was built just a few feet from the MOHI compound wall. Probably a year or so after the earthquake, the owner knocked down the second floor, but he left the first floor standing. He had so much invested in the house. He was hoping against hope he’d be able to salvage it. Five years later, he finally decided he was ready to let it go. We made arrangements with him to have our crew knock the building down. Two days later it was gone. Everything at the compound was totally covered with concrete dust, so we’re still cleaning up from that. Rain has fallen since then, so all the dust is settled now. When I came out of my room this afternoon, as the sun was getting low, this is what I saw. (The picture doesn’t do it justice. It’s quite lovely in person.)

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We had a very active week in the clinic, with several severe cases. I continue to thank God for providing for all our need as we minister to our students and neighbors: spirit, soul, and body. I’m so glad Leah is back in the saddle again and I’m thanking God for His grace in her life.

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Our students had exams this past week. Leah always has clever comments when she sees a photo…

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We’ve been anticipating the arrival of this team from Bless Back Worldwide. They call themselves “Team Lean and Mean.”

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This team will be focusing on medical/dental clinics and teacher training/appreciation this week. They also will do some ministry in the Gallet (the village near the missionary compound) as they do each time they come.

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I shared this picture on Facebook this week, but for those of you don’t indulge in Facebook, I wanted to share these with you. I absolutely LOVE seeing my husband interact with older people.

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And here are a few snapshots from this morning’s service in Thozin. Lex preached at the church in St. Etienne and Pastor Sean Moore shared a message here in Thozin with us. It was a very encouraging message about going through hard times and seeing Jesus right there with you in the midst of it (Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and the storm where the disciples woke Jesus to tell him they were about to die). The message was a blessing to me personally and I could sense the congregation was really ingesting it, as well.

Thank you for your interest in Mission of Hope International, your prayers and your financial support. Together we are working to positively impact the lives of many of our neighbors in Haiti. God bless you!