CrossWorld press release

FOUND UNDER THE RUBBLE

We now know that the two unaccounted for STEP Seminary students buried in the collapsed seminary building are now dead and one has been retrieved this morning. With all the carnage all around and blocked transportation systems, permission has been given to bury them on campus. There is much grieving today among the entire staff and the more than 2,000 Haitians on campus.

CrossWorld Personnel Update David and Phyllis Schmid and Bruce and Cindy McMartin are working feverishly to bring stability to the Bolosse campus. In David’s report this morning he cites issues such as “we are facing a potable water crisis…more people come every day…many still sleep uncovered… the situation with the crowd is serious…Phyllis and I have slept outside since the event…” The report contains pages of similar descriptions. They are grateful for small mercies such as a few tarps brought by World Relief personnel; and “three 5-gallon jugs of Culligan potable water after much effort.”

International Director for Haiti, Dwight Lehman is in contact by phone via skype with the team. He says there are “wall to wall people” on campus. But get this: while he was on the phone, Phyllis said “Dwight, can you hear the people singing hymns. It sounds wonderful.” Right then in the midst of chaos and death hundreds were singing, praying and ‘praising God’. One woman was holding a newborn baby. Can you believe it? You can’t make this stuff up!

The Denny and Susie Day family are safe and living in their own house which is pretty much intact. When the quake hit, Susie was in her parents’ house (who were in Florida at the time). She wrote last night. “I went briefly into Dad’s study…then it hit…it was unbelievable…it was horrible…dad’s office caved in on me…I had no time to react, no warning…a loud noise, then the violent shaking and screaming…I fell down on the floor in front of dad’s sofa, covered in debris. I got hit real hard to the right side of my head … I started talking to God…praying…crying…my legs were buried and I had injured my right arm. I guess I got up on dad’s desk…the iron window at his desk caved in with the wall and I climbed on top and pulled myself out. It was horrible outside – people screaming…rushing up the street …all over.” She continues with a similar description of the next 4 hours until Denny reached her.

The Mears family is fine. A report from them tomorrow.

You can give to CrossWorld’s Haiti Disaster Relief, be going to the CrossWorld website (www.crossworld.org) Thanks to the many who have given finances, prayed faithfully and volunteered for service. The people of Haiti also thank you through us for your help. Our focus for relief efforts is the Bolosse area of the city where there are thousands suffering today. Please keep praying and holding on to the promises of God.

These and other updates are available at www.crossworld.org Thank you for your prayers.

LWS for the Crisis team