Devastation in Haiti

By now, most of you have heard of the major earthquake that has devastated Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. News of natural disasters affect me greatly, like they do most people. It saddens me to watch the full media barrage, and yet, I find myself drawn to it, almost as if I need to somehow understand their pain, so I submerge myself in the emotion of it all. I suppose that is part of coping, relating. My heart and prayers go out to all the people there in and around Port-au-Prince and their families and friends, where the 7.0 magnitude earthquake, centered just 10 miles from Port-au-Prince, demolished the capital and surrounding areas. In a 3rd world-poverty-stricken nation of 9 million plus, for a quake to hit just south of its capital, bearing about 25% of the entire population is a tragic blow to the infrastructure. In the part of the nation built up with stories of concrete-blocked structures, the number of people who must be buried under the rubble, entombed in the disaster that struck during business hours, is unfathomable, and to pile on after-shocks for those terror-stricken people, so far numbering more than 32, each stronger than 4.5 in magnitude, it's truly unimaginable. The images coming out of the area are heart wrenching... homes, the President's home, buildings, the main hospital, the UN peace-keeping building... destroyed, piles of concrete lay in the wake of this historic earthquake. It is estimated that 3 million people were affected by the powerful earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday and that thousands of lives were claimed.

The heart-warming part is the way the world unifies in disasters such as this...

"Haiti has moved to center of the world's thoughts and the world's compassion," said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

So many countries are activating humanitarian relief to rush to the aid of this devastated, impoverished nation.

... women covered in dust clawed out of debris, wailing. Stunned people wandered the streets holding hands. Thousands gathered in public squares singing hymns.
~source

Even during the most horrific natural disaster this nation has ever known, these people have turned to God in praise. How beautiful. How beautiful that these strangers, hand-in-hand, find a way to seek Him for counsel.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The people of Haiti are in desperate need of our prayers and assistance. Please keep them in your thoughts as you walk through your day today.

1:13PM I just got this breaking news update:

Haitian officials are estimating the dead at between 100,000 and 500,000 from Tuesday's quake in Haiti.
~source

Missionary saves his wife and roomate
~Dewdrop