Wednesday evening

I am a bit overwhelmed right now... in a lot of ways. We have had OVER 200 emails today alone...we so appreciate all the prayers and concern. I hope everyone understands that I won't be able to answer them all...actually very few at this point. But it is so awesome the amount of prayers and offers that have come in. Thank you all so much!!!!!

Okay, I guess I should try to answer some of the questions that have come in. Sorry if I don't answer the one you asked, but will try to cover most of them. And I apologize ahead of time if I am a bit disoriented.

The aftershocks continue. We have not heard of any more threats of tidal waves, so that is one blessing....and we have heard from so many missionaries who are doing okay. Not many are doing "fine"...because we all have someone in the Port area we are concerned about, and some minor damage has occurred in some areas. At this point in time, we are concerned about finding out if people we know have survived, and if so, where are they and how are they. This first shock will wear off and we will find ways to search for them. We already have gotten a couple of places to give names of those we are missing, so that is a start.

But the hard thing to really grasp right now is that there are THOUSANDS who have survived, and have NO PLACE to go. Just as happened with Gonaives, many will be coming north to find refuge with family or friends here. There is simply NOTHING left for them in Port. They can clear land, but how will these people rebuild, or live for that matter. So much of the city has been destroyed. So, in the very near future we will be concentrating on how we can help those coming north to families here. The economy was horrid to begin with and now this has put a standstill to anything that could have been a boost to people here. Soon there will be no fuel in the north, no food coming from Port to stock shelves, and pretty much nothing to help those living here.

Stan, the fellow who sends our containers, has been thinking of trying to get another container ready to go with simply FOOD for helping people here. Yes, the need in Port is great...but with all those countries sending help in so many areas, the outlaying areas need to be thought of too. This is where the population will be heading to live now. So, we are praying that a container can be a reality in the VERY near future. The needs here will be just as great as the needs are in Port right now, for survival. And at this point, we cannot get help INTO Port au Prince. That help has to come through the organizations already in place there. Taking in things is really not an option. I know we will be feeling the effects of this "migration" as soon as the "dust settles", so to speak. We are trying to readjust our thinking and start planning for the weeks and months ahead. God will really need to direct and be with us through all of this. We want to be HIS hands and feet, doing what HE wants us to do in this awful situation.

Another prayer need...we have had SO much rain that the ground cannot take anymore. None of the water is now being absorbed by the earth...it's over-saturated already. And it continues to rain, and rain, and rain. The roads are so bad that we try to avoid going places. We have to go to the airport tomorrow and we pray we will not have any problems going or coming back.

We have gotten some really sad and tear jerking stories from many missionaries. The death, maiming of bodies, and total destruction of things is overwhelming in so many places. The impact of this will be felt for many years to come. And those surviving will be struggling to survive a little longer in the months and years to come. The job is SO HUGE that it is hard to realize what is all needed and where it will be needed. As discouraged as we are right now, the enormity of what lies ahead is heart stopping. But God has placed us here, and it may be for this exact time.

Pray that we will be able to stand and do what He wants us to do. We really have NO idea what that is at this time, but we are willing to be what He wants us to be, wherever that is.

We are hearing the cries of those who have no idea where loved ones are. We feel their pain and know what they are going through. But we also know we serve a MIGHTY and AWESOME GOD who knows and hears our pleas. Pray with us as we reach out for His hand and strength. Pray with us that we will follow where He leads and do what He wants.

I am sorry this is so disjointed. We are just starting to overcome the shock and beginning to realize the work ahead. My mind and heart are going in so many different directions right now. And with power an uncertainty, we do what we can when we can. I'm praying we will continue to have power and that we will be able to keep in contact. I will try to update as we hear things here. We did hear of several people who somehow got word that their family survived and were coming...so the migration has started....

KEEP PRAYING...God will hear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!