Our Family Tragedy

My Beautiful Aunt Kim and cousin Rachel.

Last Thursday, my family found out some shocking news. My uncle in Haiti that had survived the horrific earthquake back in January was recently murdered there. My mother told me the news after I came home from the Home School Convention on Saturday. Our hearts were all broken.

How could this have happened? What happened. My Aunt Kim, my mom is one of seven, and her sister Kim is the second youngest, has been here in the states for several years now since my grandfather passed away. Kim moved in with my grandmother in Staten Island to be with grandma and help her get situated, but there was a lot of rioting and bad things going on in Haiti, so my uncle cautioned Kim and the 4 children to stay here in NY with grandma.

My Aunt Kim is a lover of Christ, a great mom of 3, and wonderful Auntie. She has the sweetest voice, the kindest heart, and is beyond generous, and my uncle was the same. How could someone so loving and good, be killed so violently? How could he have survived this awful earthquake, and still meet his demise?

Since I have not seen my uncle in many years, he has lived in Haiti for many years now establishing an ice factory business and has done very well there, I was never very close to him, but my heart aches for Kim and her children, they are devastated as you could imagine. Why, we ask? Why did this happen? What is God's purpose? What is God's plan?

Well, Kim and her oldest son are now in Haiti, she flew there on Monday, and we've heard back that she is safe and has decided to bury Kesley there. I don't know if that was her choice or the embassy rule, but at least now she can have closure.

We are all praying for her safety and continued strength. We are praying for the children. My uncle's oldest son is a college graduate, Kim's oldest son is a college student, and the youngest two children are in high school. I can't imagine losing your father. My dad means everything to me. And it must've been hard to also have a far distance relationship since his business was in Haiti and they were here in NY. I pray for Kim to have wisdom with her home in Haiti, whether or not to sell or keep it, and wisdom with what to do with their factory. She invested a lot of money with Kesley and I just pray that God will be gracious and allow for them to be able to be provided for through all of this.

I know that when things don't make sense to me, it doesn't have to. God's ways are not my ways. His thoughts are not my thoughts. He has everything under control, and all I can do is trust Him. I know He loves us and that all things work together for good for them that love Him and right now that is all we can cling to.