Our View: Finding hope amidst tragedy, suffering

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• Local church members home safe

It’s often tough to find a sliver of hope among widespread tragedy. Especially when that tragedy has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives at the hands of a natural disaster. But the Woodbury community had reason to be thankful last week when it was discovered 11 members of a local church who were in Haiti when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Caribbean nation Jan. 12 were indeed safe and unharmed.

The members of Five Oaks Community Church were in the city of Fedja (45 miles north of Port-au-Prince) working at an orphanage when the earthquake struck.

The “All Of God’s Children” orphanage and school was not damaged and all of its children and staff were unharmed in the quake. And despite a ban on commercial airline travel out of the country in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the church members found a flight home Friday, where they were welcomed by many family, friends and community members.

The fact that the orphanage that Five Oaks has been sending volunteers to for more than five years is still standing is definitely a sign for the people of Haiti and the people of Woodbury that the efforts of a few can make a difference to many.

Because of the efforts of the volunteers affiliated with the Five Oaks Community Church mission, the orphanage that was once a sheep barn is now a sturdily-constructed home and school that serves more than 350 children.

That is why we ask residents, faith organizations and businesses (who have the means to do so) to find a way to help Five Oaks Community Church continue their mission to serve the youth of All Of God’s Children orphanage, in any way you can.

There is no doubt the needs at this orphanage will dramatically increase as thousands of children were instantly made orphans upon the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that destroyed much of the infrastructure in one of the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nations.

So how can you help?

The Five Oaks Community Church, which has partnered with the United Nations to receive assistance to improve and expand the orphanage facilities, has a Web site where people who would like to help monetarily can do so. The church is also looking for volunteers to help in future missions to the orphanage.

For more information about the project at All Of God’s Children orphanage and school go to www.allofgodschildren.org.