Ephrata family feels aftershock of Haitian quake

Courtesy photo<br> Sam Strickler and Andrew Middleton work at an orphanage in Haiti. Tina strickler watches.

by Cameron Probert<br
| January 18, 2010 8:00 PM

EPHRATA — Tina Strickler has been on the phone a lot since Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti.

“I was heartbroken right away. I was sick to my stomach,” she said. “I knew how hopeless the vast majority of the people there were and knowing that everything was going to be magnified … I knew right away there was a ton of destruction. I was scared for the people I know and care about.”

Stricker along with her brother, Sam and his fiance, Darcee Salef, all from Ephrata, returned to the United States from Haiti two weeks before a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked Port au Prince. The three spent their Christmas breaks on a church mission repairing an orphanage in the city.

“I went to this Bible school in Oregon. We went on a mission trip to Haiti during the spring last year,” Sam said. “It was my first time in a Third World country … That’s one thing that I was struck with, the extreme poverty … I wanted to go and make a difference.”

Sam along with a former classmate from his bible school, Andrew Middleton, spent their time building a ladder to the roof of the boy’s dormitory of the orphanage, while Tina and Salef were painting the inside of buildings. They were working at an orphanage run by a Idaho couple, the Tlucek’s.

“You see on the news, there’s all these reports that are talking about what a bad deal it is. For me, being down there, I saw people sleeping in the streets,” Sam said.

Tina heard the news about the earthquake from a classmate at her Oregon bible school, saying she knew there would be a lot of destruction in the city and was scared for the people she cared about in the country. She was able to get information about the orphanage through the Tlucek’s son, who attends the school.

“The first thing I did was pray about it and ask God to keep as many people safe, and then I’m currently in contact with the Tluceks … I’m trying to find a way to get back into Haiti … I’m just trying to get involved with the relief effort. I’ve been on the phone a lot.”

Sam had a more delayed reaction, saying the devastation didn’t strike him until he started seeing the pictures coming in from the country.

“I came to find out the house we stayed at has a massive crack in it. Their security walls have been broken down,” he said. “It was really hitting home and it really just made me realize how close to home this was for me.”

The group received news on Friday, the father of the family they stayed with was able to connect with his family, all but one of the children were able to get into the Dominican Republic, the other is still in the country because her adoption wasn’t final.

“Him and his wife were up in Florida,” Sam said. “They have been stuck in Florida until today (Friday …) He was able to get back on a charter.”