Dad in Haiti

I am itching to be down in Haiti serving with my dad!  However, that is simply not an option at this time in my life.  I can support him and pray, though.  I guess that will have to suffice for now, although it doesn’t change the ache in my heart.  My dad has been sending me short tweets and Facebook updating throughout the day today from Haiti.  I am so grateful for technology.  AT&T is supposed to reimburse him for all calls/texts made from Haiti.  How nice!  It is so wonderful to know he is okay.  I asked him tonight, now that he is there if he is as scared as he was before he left.  He told me he was not, but is definitely just heartbroken for the country and the people.  I am so thankful that we are able to get reports from “the horse’s mouth”, and know truthfully what the situation is down there.  Jim Bob and I have really prayed this year, “Lord, please break our heart for what breaks Yours.”  My conversation with my dad tonight was a definite answer to that prayer.  I just truly can’t imagine.  He picked up the phone when I called and the first thing he said was, “Man, Cindy, if this was Harper.  I just don’t know what I’d do if Harper had to live like this, in these conditions.”  He had told my mom he didn’t really sleep well last night; who could sleep with what is going on outside their tents and the stories they are watching firsthand?

So often we watch the news or read the stories, and we don’t react.  We are numb.  I think it is good to put ourselves in these people’s shoes.  By the grace of God, I am not walking through this!  If I was, though, I would hope there would be a Bob Harper to minister to me!  I would hope people would pray for me, as if I was their family member.  I have a new perspective after reading “Crazy Love“.  I highly recommend this book, especially in light of all that has gone on in our world these past few weeks.

Dad left DFW Wednesday morning, and after a long day of traveling, he arrived in Florida.  He and his team were there for two nights, as they waited for all the paperwork and clearance to be on their way to help in Haiti.  A private owner of a jet allowed them to use his plane to get to Haiti.  People’s generosity amazes me!  Here is the article that made the Dallas Morning News today of them boarding the plane.  The news is down in Haiti following them too, so I am watching closely for other stories.  Also, CNN is there.  Here is a picture (he has a better one of him with her that he hasn’t uploaded) my dad took of Christiane Amanpour, a CNN reporter, who asked to board their plane as they were getting off so she could leave Haiti:

This morning, he said he woke up at 4:30AM to a group of Haitians singing praise and worship songs acapella outside of his tent.  How convicting is it that people are that devoted to the Lord that they would wake up to praise him amidst all that they have experienced.  He was extremely blessed by their faith and convicted by their dedication!  The heat was almost unbearable, and he had a headache all day.  They are working on water filtration for a children’s hospital and an orphanage.  Here are some other pictures he shared:

This is the station where they charge their phones.

This is one of their filtration system, it will provide 6,000 gallons a day of clean water.

My dad and his team (dad on far left)

 They drove through the capital tonight to survey all the damage.  They are staying in a hotel, tonight, instead of their tents.  Although the view out of their hotel window is definitely not what you would see on a typical vacation, as you can imagine.  He said that the presidential palace looks like something you would see in a “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not”; in fact, he said all the buildings either lean and look like this or they are simply rubble.  He told me there are 6 story building lying everywhere in shambles, saying, “there must still be thousands of people buried under all this rubble, Cindy.”  He met a filmmaker who lives in Canada but is originally from Haiti.  He told my dad that he had dreaded coming back to his country, but the Lord had really laid it on his heart.  He was so glad he had obeyed because he was able to pull 5 of his family members’ bodies out of buildings.  

Homeless Haitians camping out around the pool outside dad's hotel.

He also said he had to step over human feces in the street tonight as they walked to dinner.  A football field is nearby where they are staying, camped out on it are at least 15,000 homeless.  He said they are starting to sell off what little possessions they have left.  They are constantly experiencing aftershocks and electricity loss.  Generators run around the clock. 

Beam at dad's hotel, most of Haiti's buildings- if still standing- look this way.

Girls at an orphanage in Carrefour, Haiti

He said he spoke to a Haitian man who told him that he knew the Lord was allowing them to go through this tragedy because they are strong, hard working people.  “Tomorrow is another day”, the man told my dad, “and we will keep rebuilding.  We are going to get through this, so we can be of help if another nation has to go through something and needs us.”  Isn’t that amazing?  People’s faith and determination!  

Dad said the faith based organizations are working so hard, there are so many of them helping, and they are accomplishing a lot.  Unfortunately, he reported something that angered him and broke his heart.  This morning he said the UN personnel pulled up in their air-conditioned vans.  He said they pretty much sit in their airconditioned cars all day, not doing much to help.  One of the ladies was yelling back to her colleagues in the car, asking them what cold drink they would like to order.  My dad walked up to her and told her that she should strongly consider giving their drinks to the Haitian guards who are guarding their compound.  He explained to her that they are working so hard to protect the personnel helping, and that they do not have food or drink.  How sad to see this dichotomy! 

Survivor!

Normally, when they are not in the middle of the capital- like they are tonight- they are staying in a compound with other medical personnel.  They will be working on assembly water filters so that the people can have clean water.  They brought MREs with them to eat, and are camping in tents.  I asked if he had plenty to eat today, he told me yes but that he had not had enough water.  It breaks my heart as I type this:  He said as he experienced the effects from not drinking enough, all he could think of were all the thousands of Haitians who have little to no water, and what they do have is not clean.  Hopefully daddy can change that for them this week!  I apologize for the long post, but I am just so amazed and proud of him!  I love my dad, and miss him very much.  He covets your prayers.  This is definitely an experience of a lifetime!  I asked him to journal daily so that he could blog when he returns.  You can friend him on Facebook- Bob Harper- or follow him on Twitter @52bharper.  His journey will bless your heart!