Debi Lammert, an Advanced Practice Nurse from Tulsa, Oklahoma, has made five trips to Haiti to volunteer with Samaritan's Purse. She blogs on the two-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake.

Two long—or two short—years after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that literally rocked the small country of Haiti, I pause to reflect and pray again for this nation that has imbedded itself in my heart.

My first trip to Haiti came nearly 11 months after the quake, during a cholera epidemic. My initial images of the devastation came from CNN and Fox News, but the pictures of mass horror and destruction are seared in my memory. The number of deaths and injuries that occurred in a matter of minutes was unimaginable.

When I arrived and saw Haiti for myself, it did not appear much better than the first days and weeks post-disaster. Rubble lined the broken roads, thousands of temporary shelters dotted the land, and we could tell the NGOs working in the area by the types and colors of tarp and tents.

The work that Samaritan's Purse had been doing in Haiti—shelter, water and sanitation, food distribution, livelihoods, mobile medical teams—was abruptly and completely interrupted by the arrival of cholera in the communities in which they were working. All attention focused on fighting the newcomer, a deadly disease that could claim lives in a matter of hours.

Cholera Treatment Centers (CTCs) were quickly created and staffed; hundreds of national staff members were hired and trained. A fight had begun!

It was through this united fight that I began to see the spirit of the Haitian people. Working alongside the medical, water and sanitation, security, hygiene promotion, translators, and logistics staff, a bonding slowly began to occur. For many of the Haitians, this was their first real job. A chance not for a handout, but an opportunity to learn new skills and to use their abilities to save the lives of their fellow Haitians, as well as to provide for their families--a way to start rebuilding their lives. They were grateful for the opportunity.

The first anniversary of the earthquake was a difficult time. At the Cite Soleil CTC, I heard hundreds of heartbreaking stories of that day: where each person was; what they heard and saw and smelled and felt; who was with them; what split-second decision had allowed them to survive when so many others were killed; pain and loss, sorrow and grief.

There were a few happy stories too—families reunited when feared dead, Christians who stepped up quickly to comfort and care for the orphans roaming the streets, the growth of churches and spiritual renewal in the aftermath of the disaster.




St. Christophe’s, the mass grave site that we passed daily on our way to and from the Cite Soleil CTC and Clinic, was adorned with 1,000 small crosses and a large white cross to commemorate the first anniversary. Franklin Graham’s Festival had helped to unite and encourage the Christian community in Haiti, precisely timed for January 2011.

Following the first anniversary, the mood seemed to lighten among the Haitian staff, and a renewed sense of purpose rose up. They were determined to rebuild, to save, to be a part of what God was doing in their land.

By March 2011, the national staff at the CTC was running the night shift by themselves, supplemented by medical volunteers during the day. When I finished my three-month stay, it was with both pride and sadness that I hugged them goodbye and left for the U.S. Their pleas of “don’t forget us”, “pray for us”, and “ come back” echoed in my mind, along with prayers for the safety and health of my Haitian brothers and sisters. They needed to know that they were not alone in their ongoing struggles.

A return visit in April allowed me to help teach part of a cholera prevention and treatment course for the Haitian staff. The CTC census was waning, and predictions were that it might soon close. However, when I stepped into the overflowing CTC six weeks later, I saw a different scenario unfold.

Dr. Steve and I were taken directly from the airport to the CTC, where we saw an overwhelmed medical staff caring for an over-capacity crowd of patients. The CTC census had exploded overnight, and the Haitian staff had admitted 130+ patients in one shift!

This was one of the true miracles of our efforts in Haiti. The Haitian staff blossomed, immediately responding to the recurrent cholera crisis with newly-learned skills and expertise. Nurses, doctors, and other staff members performed at a level that far exceeded expectations. They were confident, equipped, a well-rehearsed team.

When the Cite Soleil CTC was able to close in July and the Bercy CTC in November, many thousands of patients had been successfully treated, and with a survival rate that far exceeded the norm!




Other good things were happening, too. On my frequent return trips, I was able to visit several orphanages and schools that had been created since the earthquake. These were led by Haitian Christians who answered the call of Jesus to care for the orphans, widows, and the vulnerable. In some cases, Samaritan's Purse was able to supply beds, food, and other support; volunteer construction crews built or rebuilt orphanages; a recycling/small enterprise program was begun to assist in job creation.

Riding down the streets near Port au Prince in November 2011, I saw apparent changes. There were more semi-permanent houses, billboards educating against gender-based violence, and more children going to school as the new president began to implement his educational initiative. I witnessed more laughter, more hope, and less total despair. Just a little more, and a little less despair, but still noticeable against the background of poverty and a crumbled country.

I left again, mourning the physical separation from my Haitian friends, but celebrating the resilience of those who have been through so much and have stood firm and survived. There are great needs, but also great possibilities. Such darkness, making the small candles shine so very brightly.

The cry of their hearts, “don’t forget me”, brings a daily remembrance to pray for a country that was changed in an instant, two short years ago.

Samaritan's Purse , “Don’t Forget Us”

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