Photos of the suffering in Haiti are inescapable. For Curt & Michelle Friesen of Okotoks, Alberta the images are personal. Their daughter Jessica, 18, flew to Haiti to volunteer at an orphanage the day before an earthquake rocked the impoverished nation.
First things first, Jessica is safe. Miraculously, she was able to phone her parents on January 12th about 40 minutes after the quake hit. They heard from her before they saw the news. Once the call was over they turned on CNN and were shocked by what they saw. Internet connections are still working at the orphanage and the Friesens have been able to talk to their daughter most days.
In an article for the Calgary Sun, Jessica described her experience of the quake saying:
“We were up [on] the balcony, and it felt like we were going to be flung off — it was really scary. I was in the middle of the floor and I couldn’t grab onto anything — I felt so unsteady and it felt like the house was going to collapse, because it was moving back and forth, back and forth.”
When the shaking stopped every dish in the kitchen was broken but the orphanage remained standing. Jessica could see the dust on the hills as houses collapsed all around them. The adults were silent, the children, terrified. The orphanage – God’s Littlest Angels – is walled and secure for the time being, but there is some concern over safety as desperation moves people out of the capital in search of food and water.
Jessica wrote about her experience on her blog:
So much weighs on my heart right now. I have spent two days witnessing a grief that is not my own, yet a grief so horrific and heartbreaking that you cannot help but cry along. The stories I have heard and the pictures I have seen are just devastating. They say blood runs down the streets of Port Au Prince into the gutters.
For me, its just beyond heart-wrenching to think that this happened to an already impoverished nation. I remember my ride here, taking in the streets and how little people lived on, and in less than a minute that little became nothing. Everything they had lies flattened and crumbled, even dead beneath the rubble. I can’t wrap my head or my heart around it.
Who would choose to stay?
It was a big decision to go to Haiti, but the greater challenge now is Jessica’s decision to stay. Several times over the past few days she has been offered a way out and each time she has chosen to remain in Haiti.
When I spoke to Jessica’s mom, Michele, I asked he why her daughter decided to stay in Haiti when she had the change to be evacuated. She told me that Jessica said simply “they need so much help right now” and that she never really considered walking away. One night they were told that there were seven seats available on a flight out. Six volunteers packed their bags.
In a post on her blog on Wednesday Jessica wrote, “I understand their choice to return home, I will not pretend I haven’t wished I was at home a million times throughout this week. But when they woke us up late last night and gave us the chance to leave on a plane in the morning, I had such peace about staying.”
It would be easy to sit here in my nice, warm house and chide those who decided to go, but that would be unbelievably unfair. Until I have walked the ruined streets, seen it and smelled it and wept for it, I really cannot judge. Fear and exhaustion are perfectly normal responses to a crisis like this. I hope that each of these volunteers gets the help they will need to process their experiences.
What comes next for Haiti?
What comes next is a complicated question. For Jessica and thousands of others like her in Haiti right now the answer seems to be to fix what’s right in front of you, to hold on to what is within reach. Aid is reaching Haiti but because so much of the infrastructure has been destroyed the pace is slower than all those involved would like.
God can use your experiences. Take the ‘Built by Brokenness’ lesson
Several countries have established humanitarian parole, allowing children who’s adoptions have been completed to leave the country right away. Close to a hundred children from God’s Littlest Angels are on their home to their forever families. The orphanage expects an influx of new children needing care in the day ahead.
Originally Jessica was supposed to help the kids with developmental care. These days, she spends most of her time just holding the children, hugging and comforting them as best she can. Water is scare so bathing is limited. Jessica told her mom that even though she’s stinky and greasy she has children running into her arms at all times. Just the other day 15 children swarmed her all at once, almost knocking her over with their love. Talking to her mom, Jessica wondered “what if I run out of love?” It seems there’s little danger of that happening.
You can pray for Jessica and the staff of God’s Littlest Angels:
If you are praying for Jessica, please leave a comment so we can encourage her family with your support. You can also read Jessica’s blog for more updates. If you want to donate to relief efforts in Haiti, GAiN has relief on the way right now. You can learn more about God’s Littlest Angels on their site.
Tags: crisis, earthquake, God's Little Angels, Haiti, Jessica Friesen, orphanage, World
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My prayers are with Jessica, her family, the Nannies and Children at “God’s Littlest Angels”. I will continue praying and reading to see Gods amazing hand at work in such a horrific time. He astounds me with all that he can and does do with such devistating circumstances. May God Bless you and all that you do Jessica.
Such courage and fortitude. My wife Patrice and I are clinical therapists who volunteer with Global Aid Network, a division of Power to Change. She just arrived in Haiti this morning, January 22 to teach trauma management to medical staff and community volunteers along with a psychologist in this ministry, Dr. George Rhoades. They will be in Haiti for 10 days. Perhaps Jessica will have an opportunity to connect with them to be supported in this difficult and tragic time.
I’m praying for you Jessica and all your children and the country.
Thanks for hugging all those children for Jesus!
God is so proud of the choice you made to be the children and that is what Jesus would of wanted you do is stay, I am praying for you and all the children in Haiti, just know that God’s see’s and he will get you through this.
2 Corinthians 12:10 For when I am weak I am
God will give you strength in your weakest moments. God bless
Jessica, what a beautiful gift you are giviing to those children. The gift of love is a priceless gift, one that money cannot buy. I pray that your footsteps will continually be directed by the Lord. At 18 years you are giving so much…
God will always remember you and your parents who brought you up in the way of the Lord and keep those little angels and their carers.