The National Palace

The devastation the earthquake had caused really hit home when I saw a picture of the National Palace on the news. I think it was the most beautiful building in Port-au-Prince; two stories, a bright white, manicured grounds with palm trees.
The National Palace had been in my area of responsibility as a missionary for four months. I walked by it nearly every day. I was in the area in February, 1986 when the revolution ousted the dictator "Baby Doc" Jean-Claude Duvalier.

The palace now lay in ruins. The second floor completely crushed along with much of the first floor. To see it was an emotional blow. As Haitians say "Dlo tap koule nan je'm" or "water was leaking from my eyes".