| “When
we arrived at our destination, we found out that we had been
fortunate enough to have left Port-au-Prince only a short time
before the devastating earthquake hit. The St. Boniface Hospital
had a computer so we had electronic availability to hear what
had happened. Urgent emails from everywhere, including the U.S.,
were constantly being sent to the Hospital trying to find out
if we were safe. We were also trying to get as many details
as possible from anyone in Port-au-Prince. Unfortunately, we
learned that the Cathedral where the Archbishop was having a
conference with 100 priests and seminarians was destroyed. They
all perished. We felt ongoing
tremors, and a discussion ensued in terms of whether we would
sleep outside that evening or remain inside for fear of a
building collapse. We decided to remain inside.
WEDNESDAY: Six boys from Fond des Blancs (sponsored
by St. Boniface to attend Xavier House, a school in Port-au-Prince)
made their long way to the hospital and told us that they
just happened to be outside when the earthquake hit. All the
other students and teachers inside the school perished. The
boys were told by the Staff/friends at the hospital that they
wouldn’t be able to return to the school. Because the
boys couldn’t speak English, we just remained present,
listening and learning as the staff relayed to us what the
boys were saying. Then, the group gathered together and talked
about what would make sense in our approach to the boys. It
was suggested that it was important to help them focus on
one thing…WAIT…Wait and see what makes sense to
do. The immediate action was to give them food and food supplies
to take to their families and told them to return the following
day which the boys did.
THURSDAY: We all had to register on the Internet
at a website with our passport numbers to let people know
that we were alive. The question remained in our minds regarding
the fact that we’re due to leave on Saturday…what
process will we now have to go through to exit the country?
We had to keep reminding ourselves not to panic, that it was
best to wait and see what was going on, to stay calm, and
to stay where we were as we looked at all our options. Everything
in the streets was now so unpredictable. So many people were
walking in silence, others were carrying cell phones awaiting
word as to whether loved ones had survived. We heard that
many of the roads and bridges out of the city were destroyed
or impassable.
To maintain focus on our mission to Fond des
Blancs, despite the horror going on around us, we continued
to help with the meals at the hospital and we showed our friendship
to the 6 young men. We went to the library in town and helped
pick up books that had toppled over from the tremors and did
the same in other buildings.
As the day continued, we received news that our
flight back on Delta had been cancelled and the only way out
would be on a helicopter that would pick us up and take us
to Port-au-Prince and then onto the Dominican Republic. Only
one vehicle was being used to transport people around the
area as many of the roads were destroyed and other vehicles
were being used to bring people to safety.
FRIDAY/SATURDAY: Early on Friday, our group was
told to pack our bags and remain ready to board a bus that
would take us to a field where we would be picked up by helicopter.
We went, but upon arriving at our destination, we were told
there was no helicopter. We were getting hungry so we walked
back about ½ mile to the town to get something to eat.
As we began eating they got word that the helicopter was on
it’s way and to get to the field immediately! We stopped
eating and ran back.
Crowds were forming on the field as we caught
site of the helicopter. It was extremely difficult to make
our way through the crowds to the helicopter, but we continued
to push through. We arrived and were ready to all board, only
to discover that the helicopter could only take 4 passengers.
Four would have to remain. My brother and I and 2 others got
on, but 4 others had to stay. The bus carrying our luggage
also couldn’t get through the crowds, so we had to leave
without our luggage.
It was quite an experience. The helicopter pilot
was supposed to take us to an airport in another town, but
he was uncertain as to what direction to fly or where it was
located, telling my brother that he would have to be the co-pilot.
None of us passengers had ever been on a helicopter before.
From the helicopter, we could see the devastation and remnants
of buildings destroyed. We landed safely in Port-au-Prince
rather than the intended airport. Once landing, we had to
get a taxi to take us to Santo Domingo. It was a grueling
5 hour drive….our minds constantly recalling what we’d
seen and wondering what we could possibly do to help.
SUNDAY: From Santo Domingo we flew to Miami and
from Miami home. When I arrived at the Rectory, I was met
with a loud halleluia, hugs and handshakes….
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