You may have heard that there was a major earthquake in Port-au-Prince earlier today. We know it’s devastating, but the extent is still unclear. We also know our hearts are broken. It’s too much for people in Haiti to be asked to bear.

Haiti Partners co-diretor John Engle is in Port-au-Prince right now with his wife, Merline, and their children Daniel and Layla. They’re all fine, which we’re very grateful for. In the coming hours we’ll be doing our best to get in touch with many other Haitian colleagues and friends. (I, Kent, am in Florida right now.)

People have already been generously asking how to help. First, we’d ask for your prayers for the many people who have been effected immediately–and in the days ahead as the suffering ripples out. Second, it’s too early to know now the best response for Haiti Partners’ work, but we’ll be talking with people at the schools, churches, and other groups we partner with to see how they’ve been effected and how we best can help. We’ll immediately set up a fund to respond to these needs.

With hearts broken, with longing for God’s mercy and grace, and with profound gratitude for your prayers,

Kent (co-director)