Earthquake – Wednesday Morning

Thank you all for your prayers and messages of hope and encouragement.  It is a blessing to partner with all of you.

We have very little to report this morning.  Bernie spoke with Leonette’s brother in Miami.  Neither he nor Diogene and Leonette’s three older children (also in the US) have heard anything.  As you can imagine, they are quite concerned and covet your prayers.

Bernie continues to be in contact with Pastor Al in Minnesota and with Art Berry.  Neither has any new news at this point, but they will forward anything they hear to us.  We continue to try to reach every contact we have in Port-au-Prince, hoping that communication will be restored.  We are also attempting to reach one of our friends in northern Haiti, in case communication is restored there before Port-au-Prince.

We thank God that Pastor Steve Hanson is leading the team from the Church of the Open Door, which is in Port-au-Prince right now.  Pastor Steve has been to Haiti many times, is very savvy, and knows Port-au-Prince well.  We are confident God will use him to make good decisions for that team.  It’s likely the first word we receive from Pastor Diogene may come through Pastor Steve as well.

The airport in Port-au-Prince is closed until at least Friday.  The team won’t be able to leave Port-au-Prince before then.  And, obviously, Bernie’s trip into the country has been delayed.

Please pray specifically for the 35 orphans who are currently in Port-au-Prince.  They were raised in the Starfish Orphanage in Tricotte before moving to Port-au-Prince to continue their education.  Many are in high school.  Some are in technical school or university:

1. Pray for their immediate safety.  We haven’t heard anything, and while we are hopeful that none have sustained any serious injuries, we just don’t know.
2. Pray for their immediate provision in the aftermath of the earthquake: food, water, and shelter.
3. Pray for their future and for wisdom as we assess the situation in the coming days and weeks.

Thank you again for your prayers,

Bernie, Sheryl & Philip Bovenkamp