Haiti Shaken By Earthquake

Urgent prayers are needed, as a 7.3 earthquake hit Haiti today, just 15 miles west of the center of Port Au Prince, not far from Grand-Goave. News says that a part of the capital palace has collapsed as well as a hospital and I am sure many homes. Marc has been back down in Haiti since January 1 as we just finished up our Pastor's Conference.

Today a team of 24 from Mount Sentinel High School and Kootenay Christian Fellowship in Nelson, BC has just landed in Haiti, not long before the quake hit. Marc called when the shaking began to let us know what was happening then, but he was not able to give much more info than to ask us to send out urgent prayer requests for the country. We are hoping and praying that they were already back in Grand-Goave when the shaking began. Port Au Prince is undoubtedly in rubble and trumoil, as power lines and cell phone towers are down, roads are ripped up and many homes have collapsed and slid down mountainsides. We do not have more news from Haiti ARISE yet as we cannot get through, but will keep trying and be sure to post updates as we know. Lifeline Christian Mission, who is also based in Grand-Goave, has a post on their site as well that they are all safe, but have damage to their perimeter wall and block houses- fortunately all of their main buildings were constructed with stone and rock and are standing strong. It makes the scriptures just come to life even more. The house must be built on the rock! We are praying and believing our compound is safe. It is for sure that disaster relief aid will be needed, as we wait to hear of the condition of our community's homes and families. You can donate online or send a donation with the contribution form to go toward Disaster Relief. We will keep you posted!
...Praise God, an update has come for us. Lifeline Mission has sent us this email:
"Lisa,
Marc brought the team here to Lifeline because of some concern about the safety in the structure at your mission. They are all fine...sleeping in ourbuses tonight and someone (probably Marc) had brought them chicken and food to eat. They are doing Ok and I expect they'll make it back to your place tomorrow. But everyone is fine!

It's a mess here, Lisa...unbelievable! Grand Goave people swarmed our grounds because they are all afraid of their homes. They know it's safer to
be outside during this type thing. We learned that there has not been an earthquake in Haiti for 250 years.

PAP is devastated but they say the airport did not suffer much damage. They canceled all flights for tomorrow but I don't know about after that. One
Haitian came here who had gotten treatment at Petit Goave by the U.N. for a severe scalp laceration. He said the mountain is not passable and that he
had to walk here. That's all I can think to tell you now. Oh, and there's no cell service. We have satellite internet!"
So please keep everyone in your prayers!