haiti, one year later.

It took a 7.0 earthquake 35 seconds to ravage Haiti, to tumble homes and shatter bones, to devastate families and claim lives. It has taken an entire year to put a small dent in healing even a fraction of the devastation that the earthquake left behind.

My thoughts today were far away, in a breathtaking country filled with beautiful people. Still, through all the earthquake took, it could not rob Haiti of its beauty, its resilience... of its faith. The land still sprawls out in vibrant greens contrasting the brokenness of the rubble. The buildings left standing still hold the same charm that they did before. The people's beautiful faces, whether stained with tears or graced with smiles, still are captivating in their beauty. Yes, Haiti is a broken nation, but it is beautiful even still.

In the weeks leading up to the earthquake, I became filled with despair. I focused entirely too much on 'earthquake' and forgot to focus on the GOD within it! With so much news of the agony, sometimes you hear little of the miracles. It was so much easier to be there and be witness to the miracles firsthand that I didn't know how to sit back and spectate as God worked faithful and marvelous plans in Haiti, and in my own life. On one part, I felt like giving up the agony would seperate me entirely and cause me to forget. But then today came.

I didn't know how I would feel today. I do know that I didn't hear a single word my bio or nursing instructor said. I do know that I counted down the seconds until 2:53 pm, which is the time that the earthquake happened Alberta time. And I do know when the moment came, remembering wasn't difficult at all. I remembered the things I saw, and heard, and the feelings I felt, all the things that I had thought had faded away. I remembered insignificant little details about the things I thought during and after the quake, how surreal it all felt.

But I remembered with joy, because I remembered most of all my God, the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever, the same God was with us on January 12. The earth shook, but He didn't. He was our Rock and Firm Foundation, our SOLID GROUND!
As I remembered today, I remembered the little girl who held me all that night. I recalled the taste of the crackers that became our supper, the feel of the kids climbing on my legs, and the chill of the night air. I remembered the hardness of the driveway. And I remembered the singing. The voices that came from women, visibly scared, fearing the worst about their families and homes, that were raised in praise. The purest praise I have ever heard. The most beautiful sound. The one moment in Haiti where language was not a barrier, because I knew who they were singing for.

That day changed my life. The faith of the Haitians changed my life. The kids changed my life.

And through the tragedy, 140 children went to Forever Families across the globe. Through the tragedy, I walked into a room of anxious parents and witnessed the most beautiful thing of all.

It's been a year, and a hard year at that. But it's been a year of Faith, and God's enduring faithfulness. So remember Haiti, and most of all remember that when life went on for you and me... God never forgot Haiti!