Message from Haitian Lady

Here's a message Mom sent me from a lady named Marie Lucie. It's long, so I put a "break" in - click on the "read more" link to see it all.

"This letter is from Marie Lucie, a lady I dearly love and esteem highly. She is the director of the Child Sponsorship office in Haiti where I worked when we were in Haiti for a month. I was able to see and visit with her a couple times while we were down there this time. Her husband, Chavannes works for the Haitian government and lives in Port-au-Prince during the week. " ~Mom

"The Lord reigneth, let the people tremble" Psalm 99:4


Since Friday morning I have been thinking about the earthquake and I have learned three major lessons that I would like to share with you. I have shared it with my family and coworkers but I would like to share them also with you who have been praying for me, my family and my dear country.


1. God is sovereign.

There is no question about God's sovereignty. We all know it but this earthquake is a real proof for me. Chavannes had a meeting with the staff at Universite Lumiere on Monday the 11th that lasted until after 6PM. If the meeting had taken place on the 12th Chavannes and all the staff members would have been dead. Now they have only two people from the personnel who have moved to heaven: Pastor Desplumes, a Radio Lumiere employee who was teaching and another doctor who was teaching also. Around 30 students died from the approximately 900 registered. The earthquake did not take place in the morning when many students are in school, many people at work but at 4:53 when most kids are at home, when employees and employers are either at home or close to home. God in his love knew the exact time to send the eartquake.
People close to Chavannes know that he always leaves Port late to go to Cayes. Because God wanted to spare him Chavannes had planned a meeting at 6PM in Cayes. Because of that we had to leave early to get to Cayes at 5:35PM. I heard that they are vehicles on the road who turned over or hit other vehicle during the earthquake but we were driving toward Cayes and did not even notice the hurricane. I have so many proofs of his sovereignty that the only thing I want to do now is bow down and say: "How great thou art"

2. God is no respecter of person.

Dear brothers and sisters, it is true. Wealthy people, poor people have been affected. Everybody is affected. I don't think there is one haitian family that is not affected one way or another. Yesterday Chavannes went to visit a vacant place where many people are staying and you know what some of them are saying, the "gran neg" (the big guys) are encouraging us to go in country so they can take all the food that will be distributed. You know what, both the "gran neg" and the poor are waiting for some help. I have a relative who is a poor girl who was living in Port. She came back yesterday and she told me that rich people and poor are sleeping together on the open field where they were staying. God is telling me and everyone that we are all the same, dust. All of them sleep on the ground or on a sheet if someone gives them one, or on a piece of board. What a lesson of humility. I am thrilled.

3. Do not be attached with wealth.

Around 10:00 o'clock AM I was by my father's home, at 4:53 PM no more home. In less than 2 minutes no more home. My father bought a new vehicle less than two months a go, now no vehicle. I don't even ask for his 4 stories building that he has on Delmas or another house on Delmas 31. In less than two minutes no more wealth. My mother would not stay at my house for a week, she wants to be sure everything is in order, my father is well fed. Now someone has to give her a dress to wear or a pair of shoes. Can you imagine? Do not store wealth, they won't serve you in the days of trouble.

I tell you, I have learned my lessons. They are more lessons but I capitalize on those three. I hear so many testimonies. Haitian would never be the same if they have learned the lessons God has given during this time. Yesterday as I walked to church I ask everyone I met, how are you, do you hear from your folks in Port. Everyone had a story about how God escaped someone and let someone else die. At church one lady would start crying and when I approach her, she has not heard from any of her relative in Port. Another one was crying, she is not from Cayes but she came with other people and she has lost her house. Oh ,the people need comfort. My Mom has lot of pain, her body aches for being underneath the gravel for 5 hours but I think she is suffering mentally as well as many haitians. A lady at church was taking care of her husband at St Francois de Salles hospital, died together with her husband and and a brother, a sister who were visiting. The husband had an accident on November 16th, he did not die, it was not the time appointed by God. Oh, too many examples!!! Chavannes's driver has lost 13 people from his family. The surviving ones are in the street. Pasteur Vilcnor at my office has 26 people sleeping in the streets, Past Amorce lost 12 people and 3 houses collapsed. Everyone is affected. Sometimes I say it's like when the angel passed over in Egypt.

My son finishes school at 3:30 and it's 3:37, I have to pick him up. I feel like telling about so many stories. God is good. Last night I barely sleep. Chavannes came home last night and he would receive calls all night. One called I don't know at what time and I would be talking in order for Chavannes to sleep. That pastor lives in Leogane, he lost everything. He said that he is in the streets with his wife and kids. At 2:38 I gave chavannes the phone. Another one called from Gonaives. These affected people need someone to talk and from midnight to six AM, calls are free. At 3:45 AM I turned off Chavannes phone and I slept until 6: 30. The situation is terrible, people need everything. Many have been asking what to send, you can send everything but they won't get the people now. For me I think now it's better to send money. Today one Western Union was open in Cayes, I don't know about POrt-au-Prince. Cayes was not affected but loads of people from Port arrived every day. On Saturday there were 192 people on the main soccer field. Plus General hospital is full, Brenda is full, Cite Lumiere and Bonnefin also. On the Radio I heard that they were transferring the orthopedic cases to Bonnefin. Several committes had been formed in the city to accomodate all these people from Port and to receive help to distribute. They come from everywhere, they want to flee from Port. In the mean time food prices, fuel prices have increased. God knows why, we cannot question him. May His name be blessed!

Thank you for all your prayers and your support!

Because of His love,

Marie Lucie