Six Months

Last week was the six month anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. I can't believe it has been half a year already.. so many memories are still fresh in my mind, and I'm sure even more so for the Haitians who experienced it firsthand. Although the main roads in Port-Au-Prince that I saw in May looked to be somewhat picked up, there are still many neighborhoods that look pretty much the same way they did the day after the earthquake. Hundreds of thousands of people are still homeless and living in camps around the city, in sweltering tents without basic necessities such as clean running water, electricity, and waste management. Most tents are flimsy and no match against the strong summer storms that come through.

It's so easy to fall into despair when thinking about the situation. Where is all the money that was supposedly donated? Why isn't the rubble being picked up? How are all of these people ever going to be able to rebuild their homes? The best thing we can do is pray. It's literally going to take a miracle to clean up and rebuild this city. It cant be done on human power alone. Pray especially to our Mother, who has always lovingly helped the country of Haiti.

I've often struggled with thoughts of why this had to happen to Haiti. Why God didn't spare them when He knows how much they already suffer. But I think God allowed this to happen to Haiti and not to any other country because He knows the resilience of the Haitian people. He knows their devout faith and knew it wouldn't be shaken by a traumatic event like this, but instead strengthened. He knew that the witness of the Haitians in the midst of unimaginable suffering would be a light to the world, to inspire a deeper faith in God. So please, pray with me for God's will to be done, for Him to continue to speak to the world through the Haitians, and for them to find peace and security, as we pray:

"Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins. To thee to we cry, before thee do we stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petition, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen."