I hit a point several weeks ago where I didn’t think I could handle seeing one more thing or reading one more article about Haiti. I needed some distance and recuperating time, which is a good thing. But despite the time of stress and trauma, there is one thing we must keep doing:
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” – Ephesians 6:18, (NIV)
Imagine this.
You’re at work and you run into a coworker. You ask them how they’re doing. Their aunt has just passed away, and they’re having a hard time dealing with it.
Then you’re sitting in a meeting at work. You look around and realize that every single person in the room has had a loved one die in the past month. One a cousin. One a pastor. One a father.
Now imagine that you haven’t slept in your own bed for one month. 30 full days.
You’re not sure your home is safe, so you, your spouse and your kids are sleeping in a tent outside. At night you hear the dogs bark and cars roaring up steep hills. You don’t remember the last time you got a full night’s sleep. You duck inside your home in the mornings to shower, but other than that, you stay clear away from those uncertain walls.
Now imagine you have also just had your brother and and a good friend both pass away on the same day.
You haven’t had the time or space to grieve. You go to work each day and the day is jam-packed. There are so very many things that need to be done.
You and your coworkers try to keep up each others’ spirits. You play hangman at lunch, laughing together to relieve some stress. The busy-ness and the laughter help you get through each day.
I’m not trying to be dramatic or to emotionally manipulate you. I’m just trying to paint a realistic picture of what our brothers and sisters in Christ in Haiti are going through right now.
Will you continue to pray for our staff, the saints, who are being used but are being put to the test?
It’s been beautiful to see how the Body of Christ has been raised up through this tragedy. Christians in the Dominican Republic have been volunteering every day for weeks to help. Christians around the world have been raised up to pray and give. The church in Haiti itself has raised up to be a light in Port-au-Prince.
One month after the earthquake, Christians in Haiti held three days of fasting and prayer, gathering at the Champ de Mars near their destroyed presidential palace to beseech God. They spilled into the streets wearing white and black in remembrance of loved ones.
Wess will be visiting Haiti at the beginning of March to speak to our staff and to speak to the church in Haiti, encouraging them to continue being a light, being the ones stepping in to help the hurting.
Though this is a time of grief, it is also at time, a time such as this, for which God has prepared the Church.
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I liked the song Dana!
I will continue to pray for Haiti and the people that we have trying to help out….
I will continue to pray for Haiti. It is so encouraging to know that the church in Haiti is rising up during this time.
Amber,
Thank you for painting such a raw, beautiful picture for us.
Thank you for this update and reminder to keep Haiti in our prayers. This article, an the title, made me think of a Wayne Watson song I first heard on a “Touched by an Angel” episode. I fell in love with the song and this article reminded me, once again, of the lyrics to that beautiful song.
It’s a song that also reminds me of the strength and courage of our Hatian brothers and sisters in Christ and how they are being called to shine and share God’s Light and Love. This is the first verse and the chorus from “For Such a Time as This”:
Now, all I have is now
To be faithful
To be holy
And to shine
Lighting up the darkness
Right now, I really have no choice
But to voice the truth to the nations
A generation looking for God
Chorus
For such a time as this
I was placed upon the earth
To hear the voice of God
And do His will
Whatever it is
For such a time as this
For now and all the days He gives
I am here, I am here
And I am His
For such a time as this
Too often I fear, we forget that there are staff helping our sponsored children and they went through the same quake and are dealing with the same stresses. Thanks for the gentle reminder to remember to pray for the ones that help the ones we all pray for. Blessing to you.
“You haven’t had the time or space to grieve. You go to work each day and the day is jam-packed. There are so very many things that need to be done.”
I was just praying for the Country Staff this morning; praying that there would be time for them to grieve, they need this time to complete the healing process. I know that Compassion has sent workers to help them in this area, may the Lord guide each of them in this painful process. I am continuing to pray for the many needs of Haiti and Compassion as they continue in their work there. May the Lord continue to bless you in the work that you do in His Name.
I continue to pray for the staff in Haiti. I can’t imagine what it’s like for them, but you have helped me to put it into perspective. I know the Lord will hear (and act on) our prayers for them.
Good reminder, Amber, although forgetting about Haiti and her needs is not easily done, for some of us. It’s wonderful to read about how the Holy Spirit is working, bringing people into the Kingdom, daily. But that doesn’t negate their needs, at all.
Amber my sister, in the name of Jesus, you have nailed it. Nothing left to say but amen.
The strength of the Haitian people is incredible. I pray we remember their great need daily, and learn what we can from their incredible faith. The rainy season will hit Haiti soon. Let’s do what we can to help them through.