This post isn't easy to read.

Everyday,  we are living on two different planes at the same time.  On one, we do the normal things one does to make life work.  Go to the market, take daughter to school, pay bills, lament the fact that you are out of dishwashing soap.  However, there is always this other deeper thing that is going on at the same time.  The awareness that the cute little boy walking down the street in his new school uniform has no Mom, she died in the earthquake.  That the garbage pile you pass everyday has a femur sticking out of it.  That almost everyone you meet has a story of tragedy and sickening loss.

Yesterday, I was reminded of this again.  My friend, Fougére, was driving me to a pharmacy up the hill when he started talking again about the earthquake.  He often wants to talk about it.   I know that it will come up, so I try to just listen.  He told me again where he was when it happened and then elaborated.  He said that he vomited for two weeks afterwards, that he couldn't stop.  He didn't know what day or time it was.  That he was almost completely non-functional.  He had a friend who he could hear in the rubble.  Everyday people would push a sac of water through a tiny hole for this man.  They tried to get him out along with his two children 7 and 9, but the rubble was too heavy.  After the third day, they could no longer hear him.  He told me that his wife's cousin died on her knees in prayer. Fougére sleeps with his gate open so that he and his family can run if they need to. 

I asked him if he thought it would help if someone came and walked them through trauma counseling. (Someone in the states wants to do this.)   He said people tried that.  The first day of the meeting, there was an aftershock and everyone there for trauma counseling ran out of the building.  The fear is ever-present.  He says he prays and little by little God helps him. 

It is important that we are a little like Nehemiah when he built that wall.  Part of us is building, but part of us never forgets that tragedy has struck, could strike again, and we stand prepared for battle. 

Anna and I are going to the states for two weeks.  It is important that we don't forget our friends here and what they are overcoming daily.   

A good photo blog of Haiti:  http://voicesofhaiti.com/photos/

Comments

[Sonjehaiti2]

You warned me, it for sure was not easy to read. We can't express enough how much we hold you in our prayers, knowing you are building in Haiti.... amongst so many who rightly so are deeply hurting. Bless you.

[Andrea]

Thanks for the update. I have been wondering about the storm. Will be praying!