Days of Mourning

Saturday and Sunday (click day for photos) were extended days of mourning mandated by the Haitian president, and I did not end up finding work to do at a field hospital, but we made major progress organizing our clinic plans and the application of our currently limited medications. Also, we were able to tour the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, and the widespread destruction made my soul ache for this nation. On Saturday we got to go to a large worship/mourning service downtown at the square by the destroyed Presidential Palace, and everyone we saw was very welcoming and friendly. What especially moved me was the amazing Sunday worship service we attended at the Nazarene church in the Port-au-Prince downtown area Bel Air. Despite the church being undamaged, this was the first church meeting being held inside this building since the earthquake a month ago. There were probably 1000 Haitians present, most completely homeless, and I was amazed at the intense gratitude and praise expressed by the people's singing and dancing and praying, despite what they had been through. Every once in a while I noticed a Haitian spontaneously lay head in hands and just start bawling. I could only imagine the horrific losses that weighed on their souls, and I could not help but just cry with them in compassion. It was an honor to be there with these precious people and worship Jesus and pray for God's blessings upon them together.