I reported the event to my parents. I received word the following day that our friends Jack and Jeanne Munos were among those affected. They were missionaries for the Free Methodist church and had been friends of our family for many years. The 5 story building in downtown Port that served as their headquarters had collapsed with them and several other people inside. After about 6 hours, Jack was rescued from the rubble along with another young girl. He suffered a broken leg and hand and was airlifted out to Guantanamo Bay hospital for treatment. Jeanne was still missing, along with 2 other men who had just arrived as part of a work crew.
As the days passed, they were unable to locate any of those three people. There were several members of our missions organization that tried to get them out. However, there was no way to move the heavy boulders to see if they were still trapped on the inside. There were no voice responses. No signs of life. After 4 days, they were presumed dead.
In 1997, Jeanne, along with my mom and several other people traveled to Haiti to be apart of a bible school for children. It was then that Jeanne decided that was where she was supposed to be. Over the next 7 years, she attended seminary at Asbury college and prepared herself and her husband for the life she would be leading. In 2004, Jack and Jeanne finally made it to Haiti. They taught pastors and provided spiritual guidance. Jeanne loved the people of Haiti. She had devoted her life to ensuring the salvation of the people. They had just completed a church in Port that would seat 2,000 people. It's first Sunday was the Sunday before the quake. The church was filled to capacity. She was able to see the fruits of her work.
Jeanne had always said she would never leave Haiti. She had told me many times she would die there. I never thought that would be the case. My mother and I had made plans and booked our flight to go down there in March of last year. I was going to be working with children in the hospitals and showing the nurses how to care for premature and sick infants. I was diagnosed with cancer in February and the trip had been canceled.
In November, Jeanne flew to FL to attend an award ceremony for a member of the Haitian church. We met for lunch at Bahama Breeze and talked again about planning our trip. I was waiting to get the OK from my 1 year check up then going to make plans to go again. She was always so passionate about the people and the ways I would be able to help them. We enjoyed a few hours of good food and good company. Then I hugged her and said I would see her when she came back in January. I got in my car, and left. The thought of never seeing her again NEVER crossed my mind. She and my mother were very good friends. When she took her to the airport, she unknowingly hugged her goodbye for the last time.
When we leave someone, we never think about "what if this is the last time". We argue and yell, then leave it unresolved. Or we tell them how bad they were at whatever and then leave. How often do we call our friends just to let them know we care? And it's not just in tragedy like this. They could go to Wal-Mart and be at the wrong place at the wrong time and not come home. I'm not saying that we should all be scared every time a loved one leaves. But we should take the time to say "I love you". Hastily running out the door and yelling good bye to your spouse in the morning. Shoving your kids out the door to the school bus.
Jack was standing just a few feet away from his wife when the quake hit. He had just enough time to look over and see her falling. No time to think, no time to say "I love you". What do you think he would give to have had that one moment back?
Jeanne was a fantastic woman who gave everything she had to serve God, even her life. She would sign every email "for His kingdom to fully come to Haiti". She had a calling, a mission, and she gave her life in pursuit of that mission.
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May His kingdom fully come to Haiti...enjoy your homecoming, Jeanne
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