Katie Zook's Rescue --in Haiti

Subject: Katie Zook's rescue story as told by her father, Greg Zook

Katie was finishing her day on Tuesday, January 12, in the fourth floor apartment of a four-story building when the earthquake hit. She sought protection in a doorway when, at the last moment, Katie chose to dive under a table when the building began to crumble. The next thing Katie remembers is finding herself under rubble, unable to move but able to hear the cries of people in the street. As Katie struggled in the dark unable to move, the aftershocks continued to shake the now destroyed building causing Katie to fear that she had survived the initial quake only to be killed by the aftershocks.

Eventually, Katie heard the familiar voices of friends and co-workers, digging in the rubble and calling out for her. Our Haitian friend, John Willair, who works for the mission was digging with his bare hands and praying for Jesus to show him where to dig. Eventually, more help came and after three hours Katie was pulled from the wreckage of the building. Our friend Dr. Dan Snyder was there to provide Katie with some initial medical care and transport her to the U.N. Hospital. Katie was Med-Vaced to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where she was treated in the U.S. Naval hospital and then rushed to her current location here in Ft. Lauderdale early Thursday morning. We have been holding vigil over Katie and sharing with her your expressions of love and support. Our Superintendent Matt Whitehead along with his wife, Melanie, happened to be in Florida for a working vacation and have been a great support to us.



"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible