Russ and Sherrie Cole

Russ and Sherrie Cole have spent many months in Haiti both at FOHO and at EGO. They were in Port-au-Prince during the earthquake. Following is a note from Sherrie to Don and Doris describing the events...
[editor's note: John Wiler was one of the Haitian caretakers at FOHO]
*****************************************************
"I don't know how much you know about what happened with us last week so I will give you the shortened details. Russ and I were on the road to the Caribbean Food Market when the earthquake occured. It took us 2 1/2 hours to get back to FOHO. We were shocked to see it in a pile of rubble when we drove in the yard. We saw John Wiler and he was in shock over the situation. Jerry, one of the boys on the corner ran in and said he had talked to Jack. Russ and John went running to the northeast corner of the building where Jerry said he could hear Jack. Russ was determined to get to Jack, even though the aftershocks were still very strong. I was terrified the building would fall on him, but he went in. He found Jack about 75 feet back in the building. He was pinned by his legs. Russ and John Wiler and then Dan Snyder tried to get him out using whatever they could find for tools. Dan and DeeDee got to FOHO by someone who gave them a ride as the roads from the Mission house were trapped by rubble. Anyway, Aaron Swenson and his well drilling team also came and then all the rest of the men continued to try and get Jack out. Someone heard some tapping, which was coming from Katie, who was also buried. John Wiler and Jerry found her. Katie said later she could hear John saying, "show me where to dig Lord, show me where to dig". She moaned and he told her not to moan, but to pray! She had dived under the table in Jeannie's office which protected her. They found a suitcase close to her and managed to get her in it and slide her out. She has extreme swelling and had a ruptured spleen, which we didn't know about until she got to Guantanamo Bay and then they medivaced her on to Miami. The men got Jack out by 10 PM, after being pinned for 4 1/2 hours. We saw him today in Miami. He has a broken leg and wrist. Both he and Katie had surgery to open a drain in their legs so their bodies could drain excess fluids. Poor Katie is extremely swollen. But they are both alive. Both were medivaced to Cuba together and then Miami together and the Lord had them both put in the same hospital. We extended our return trip a day so we could visit with them. There is so much more I could tell you but won't right now. We finally got Jack to the American Embassy so Dan could do what he could for him. Dan was immediately pressed into service as people began coming in there for help. DeeDee and I were stuck at the Embassy for four days and nights as more and more people came there to get help getting out of the country. They ran out of space, water, food, toilet paper and many people ran out of patience. They only were able to take about 70 - 100 people out each day. There were over 200 people including many, many over tired panicked children. Everyone shared what ever food they had. The last day, Dee Dee and I shared two crackers and a cold can of beanie weanies. We each got maybe two hours of combined sleep in those 4 days. So much more happened during this week that it will take many hours to share with you. Another little miracle - After many many hours of trying to get us out of the country, getting passport replacements, etc. Russ and I were at the final checkpoint to get on the plane in Santa Domingo and my passport papers were missing. After a frantic search, I found them in the pocket of Russ' shaving kit, where I had dumped the contents of my wallet, our original passports! I know God put them there at the very last minute to say, "I will always take care of you" We are grieving for Jack, but rejoicing for Jeannie, as she, along with Merle and Gene and Erlin are with the Lord. We plan on returning to Haiti, just as soon as the Lord allows. Much love to you both, Sherrie"