Orange & Blue

Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News

Students, faculty and alumni alike are stepping up to join the international relief efforts providing aid to Haiti.

On January 12, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake devastated large portions of the country, killing thousands and destroying cities. As a result of the quake, families are scattered, children are homeless, and parts the already-impoverished nation are in a state of ruin.

As of Monday, Campus Ministries Director Nenette Measels reported approximately $350 in donations from the campus community. Campus Ministries collected the money during offerings following chapel services and from individuals who came by their office desiring to help the efforts.

No deadline has been set for donations; Rev. Measels said that she would continue to collect and send money towards the relief efforts indefinitely.

Early last week, Dr. Sue McBee, professor of nursing, flew to Haiti to join the medical relief efforts, along with Family Nurse Practitioner Courtney Finney and Pharmacist Megan McBee Schrock, both of whom are C-N graduates. The group returned on Monday but was unavailable for comment before publication.

Even for those who have never been to Haiti, seeing the devastation from the earthquake can be moving - and for those who have, the impact can be even stronger.

When Junior Cortney Hansley heard the news she was shocked. Hansley had been in the Dominican Republic the day before; her emotions overflowed to tears.

"We went to an orphanage in Port-au-Prince and we haven't heard if those children are okay," she said.

For the past two years, Hansley has spent her Spring Break in Haiti.

"It was life-changing. It opens your eyes to how much you have. Sometimes they have to travel to another village just to get drinking water," she said.

Dr. Patsy Boyce, professor of biology, explained that is hard for all those who have been there, not only because of the relationships they have formed, but because they understand the state of the country.

"To have nothing, and then have less than nothing, it makes your heart sick," Boyce said.

"You think about third world countries, but you don't really see them," Boyce said. "It doesn't become reality until you've been there. There's very little industry, there is pollution … their huts were made of sticks and mud, and the roofs of whatever they could find. This is their life. They know of better things, but they know it's not within reach. Here, if you work hard, you can get better things. But they can't, and they know that, and they're happy. They are happy and gracious and the biggest thing they want is love."

Junior Nichole Garner had been to Haiti and the Dominican Republic two times before the break.

Garner said that she "cannot even begin to imagine what it looks like now. My heart was broken for those people and what they were going through."

She also says it was life changing and that the experience helped her fall in love with both medicine and missions.

"During the trip, God showed me a great passion for medical missions which sparked a change in my life that I will never forget," she said.

"I think everyone should get some sort of international experience. It is for sure one of the most life-changing things you can ever decide to do," she continued.

"If you are thinking of going to help in Haiti, get ready to be greeted by the biggest and warmest smiles you have ever seen. Although I know it will be a lot different returning now than before the earthquake, I think that while you're there, you will see people with faith and courage [un]like any other."

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