Earthquake Update

Update 9:48 pm Eastern

Things continue to be quiet.  Some of the guys are watching CNN - they're starting to get a few pictures and details through now.

We're going to sit tight and continue our work for the next couple days while we wait for information.  We're also keeping our ears open for any opportunities or ways we can help, but for the moment the best thing for us to do is simply sit tight.  We've contacted the Canadian Embassy and are going to check in with Air Canada tomorrow.  We're scheduled to fly home a week from today at this point.

Going to sign off for the night now and get some rest.  Thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement and concern, and especially for your prayers.  Please continue to pray for those directly affected by the quake.

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Update 8:53 Eastern

All is well.  Minor aftershocks continue.  We're settling in for the night.  Please continue to pray for those directly affected.

We're sitting tight for now, have notified the Embassy of our status and contacting Air Canada in the next day or so to try to get more info.  Reports so far seem to indicate that the airport is okay, though we don't know what the roads are like down near Port-au-Prince.

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Update 7:43 Eastern
Some details about damage in PaP are starting to get through - we've been watching CNN here as well to keep up to date (Satellite TV and Internet here).

Things continue to be quiet overall - we just had a minor aftershock as we started to type this, but it seems very minor now.

We're moving out of the main building to the single-story dining hall - we'll have our mosquito tents and mattresses so will be quite comfortable as well as safe there.

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Update 5:38 Eastern
We've had verbal indications from Luckner that the Palace and Justice building in PaP have collapsed.
New reports are indicating a hospital has collapsed in or near the capital.

Karen and Luckner were both in PaP today dropping Peter off and stayed several hours running errands.  We're all tremendously happy that they arrived home not too long before the quake hit.
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Many of you may have heard by now but a few minutes ago there was a magnitude 7 earthquake with an epicenter just outside Port-au-Prince.  Thankfully it was an hour or two after Pastor Peter's flight departed.

Please know that we are all safe and sound.  We felt the quake quite strongly and everyone cleared out of the house where we were relaxing after a day's work.  The house shook very visibly.  Some of the walls around the compound appeared to move about 2 feet or so back and forth. There are a few minor cracks in the walls and such but the building appears sound.  Even the new construction was not affected that we've seen so far.

We've had 3-4 minor aftershocks but nothing serious.  We're taking things very cautiously and are prepared to clear out of the building in a hurry if needed.  The worst appears to be over for us, but we fear for many of the rough huts in this area and most especially near and outside Port-au-Prince.  Please keep the poor of this country in your prayers tonight.

We'll post further information later tonight, but for now we wanted to ensure you know we're all safe.

FYI: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010rja6.php

In Him,
HATS Mission Team