A voice from Haiti

The following is a message from a young woman who graduated from CPA (the school my kids attend and where I work)in 1998. The orphanage where she has worked for 7 years is just outside Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Please link to the orphanage at www.danitaschildren.org

from: Karris Hudson
Date: Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 1:36 PM
Subject: Quick update

Hello everyone,

Things have been incredibly busy here, so I wanted to send this to you all and you can forward it to as many people as you can. I am sure I have several more CPA faculty and connections on my email list, but I am short on time now...off to buy mosquito nets and prepare for the 20 + kids that will arrive tonight by bus from Port-Au-Prince! This is just the beginning!

I am not sure what to even say, except Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. My eyes well up with tears when I think of the blessing CPA has been in my life. Looking back to when I first arrived there and to where God has led me makes me so much more in love with Him. Words cannot describe the appreciation I have for those that have helped raise money and awareness for Danita's Children, from kindergarten to 12th grade. I get touched by a lot of things in life, but one of the things that blesses my heart more than anything is seeing young people care for the poor and suffering. I know all of you do this, but I encourage you, the teachers, the staff, the parents, to continue to open the eyes of the children, from elementary to high school, to the suffering of others and the INCREDIBLE privilege of playing a part in relieving the suffering...whether in Haiti or in Nashville. I had parents who taught me this. I had teachers that taught me this. I had a high school that taught me this. I had a headmaster that taught me this. I am forever grateful.

Most of you know that I loved my life before the earthquake hit and I love it even more now. I am heartbroken by the stories, but am overjoyed that I get to play a part in being the extended hands of God. If there was one thing I could beg the students to do would be to stay close to God, obey Him when it hurts and when it is not the popular thing to do, and He will reward you in ways that money could never ever buy.

I have been living in Haiti and been with Danita's Children for almost 8 years and have seen the hand of God when it comes to providing for His children, especially the orphans. I have seen it continuously. Last year, we needed more bunk beds and mattresses and CPA raised money to help us buy most of them! Right after the earthquake hit, the favor of God has been incredible. He has put Haiti on the hearts of people, especially our ministry. A country that was forgotten by many. A country that most people thought was near Africa. Now, the world is watching and I hope and pray they continue to do so.

Some people follow me through Facebook and my blog (which I will update one of these days!), but I wanted to give you an update to pass on to everyone if possible. I will try to make this story short! Yesterday, Danita asked me to call a missionary flight service to see if they could help us transport 2 children and 1 teenager from Port-Au-Prince to Ouanaminthe. We have an airstrip in our town and the flight service usually flies there. We have worked with them in the past. To make a long story short, a few hours later, myself along with some of our team members and missionaries were at the airstrip, clearing the property of kids and goats and horses, so that the plane could land. It is a pretty big deal in our town when a plane flies in, considering that there is no running water, sewage system, or electricity. There were hundreds of people there...watching. The plane landed and three of our newest children came out. One girl is 13 years old. She just had her arm amputated and she has a broken leg. Both of her parents died in the earthquake. Yet, she was carried off of the plane smiling. She radiated the presence of God...simply beautiful. The other boy is a teenager and he has no one as of right now. He had his leg amputated and eventually wants to return to Port-Au-Prince, but needed someone to take care of him for a while. The other boy is about 5 years old and his femur snapped in half and he just had surgery to correct it. He was sitting alone in a hospital for 10 days before our team found him. To say the least, yesterday was a memorable day. Thanks to all of you for bringing them "home."

We are preparing to receive more children tonight. They were living in an orphanage that completely collapsed.

Thank you once again and please give everyone my love and my thanks.

On behalf of Danita's Children and Haiti,

Karris Hudson

CPA graduate 1998