LEWISPORTE/EMBREE -
While Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the same land mass, the damage from the Jan. 12 earthquake devastated Haiti while the Dominican received only minor damages.
Jan. 17 marked three years since Mario Sanchez arrived in Canada. He lives in Lewisporte with his wife Shelly and their 18-month-old daughter Mariell. He is originally from Consuelo in the Dominican, about an eight-hour drive from Haiti.
At the exact time the 7.0-magnitude earthquake occurred, he had been on the phone with his sister who is living in the Dominican. She felt the movement of the earthquake.
"She said, 'Wow, it feels like being on the sea'," Mr. Sanchez recalled. "She has diabetes and I thought that maybe her sugars were low and that's why she was feeling this way."
It was shortly after this he spoke with his sister again. She said other people had felt the movement and there had been an earthquake in Haiti. The damage in the Dominican was limited to some satellites falling from buildings and roads breaking up. Mr. Sanchez noted that children in some schools ran out of the buildings and didn't go back because there were fears of a tsunami occurring as a result of the earthquake.
Mr. Sanchez is relieved that his family in the Dominican are all safe and that the damage was minimal. The situation could have been much worse if the impact felt there was stronger because much of the housing infrastructure and materials are the same as in Haiti, with a lot of concrete used in construction.
While Mr. Sanchez has never been to Haiti himself because he says it is too dangerous, he feels for his neighbours who are suffering through this catastrophe.
When asked his reaction to the images he is seeing on TV Mr. Sanchez said, "Last night I was watching it and I was crying. Everyone is crying - it's like a depression has affected everyone."
Helping hand
On Feb. 4 a group of over 20 individuals from the Glad Tidings Pentecostal Tabernacle - including the Sanchez's who attend this church - will be heading to Mr. Sanchez's hometown on a mission of sharing and caring.
Pastor Leighton Foster said the earthquake will not impact on the mission trip plans and everyone that is part of the mission is still onboard for the project.
The foreign ministry trip is part of Glad Tiding's five-year plan that included an international component. For over a year now mission participants have been fundraising for a church that is constructed in Consuelo and collecting donated clothing, linen, hygiene, etc items to bring along for the people in the community. The mission will also include general ministry, children's ministry, door-to-door food distribution to needy families in areas of extreme poverty and teaching English as a second language.
Mr. Sanchez said there is extreme poverty in Consuelo. The work the church members will be doing during their two-weeks in the Dominican will be a great asset to the community.
"The level of poverty is unbelievable," he said. "It's like you would see in Africa. People there don't have a lot. There are some people who only eat three times a week. It's not easy.
"I am glad to be going back and am happy to do God's work to help another person. There is an opportunity here to help a lot of people."
Having spent three years in Lewisporte, Mr. Sanchez is appreciative of the life he has in Newfoundland.
"I sit here with this shirt on and I look at people there on TV who have nothing and it keeps me very humble," he said. "I love it here. Life is more easy.
"I think sometimes people here don't appreciate what they have, but I know what it is like to live there. The people will be so appreciative of what people have provided for them."
Mr. Sanchez noted that there are a lot of Haitians living in the Dominican and in the Consuelo area who will also benefit from the efforts of the Embree mission participants.
He encourages anyone who would like to make a difference in the lives of someone who could really use their help to consider making a cash donation to the mission effort that will help the people in Consuelo and Haitians who live in that area and those impacted by the earthquake who will be in the community.
All the room that was available in the 54 suitcases that will accompany the mission participants have been filled with donated goods already.
Donations can be made at the Glad Tidings Pentecostal Tabernacle. You can also show your support by attending the Jan. 24 gospel concert (begins at 6:30 p.m.). There will also be a service of dedication on Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. related to the mission trip. All are welcome to attend both evenings.
Homecoming
Mr. Sanchez is looking forward to going home. His only concern with going to the Dominican is with possible flight delays due to the number of planes that will be headed that way with aid destined for Haiti.
He is especially excited to be travelling with his family since this will be the first time Mariell has been to the Dominican and the first time the Sanchez family there has had the opportunity to meet her.
"They are all waiting for her arrival," he said.
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