A Macon school says it is offering donations and its prayers for the people of Haiti. First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Georgia has connections to the island nation in more ways than one. It has a teacher and a student who say they were just days away from being in the country.

“I got 5 text messages saying–‘Haiti got hit by an earthquake. We need to help,'” says Lauren Sanders, a senior. “I was like, ‘What in the world?'”

Just 12 days back from a mission trip to Haiti, the 17-year-old says she was hit hard by the news of a massive earthquake in the country that won her heart. “Their living situation is so horrible,” says Sanders. “But they have so much joy.”

The senior at First Presbyterian Day School spent 6 days volunteering in several villages, and says Tuesday’s disaster has left her wondering what’s become of those friends and whether her work just weeks ago has been completely erased.

Irene Marxsen has a 50-pound suitcase full of soap and no way to send it. The french teacher at F.P.D. says she was supposed to bring the donations with her to Haiti. She had to cancel her long-awaited trip after the earthquake.

“I was leaving tomorrow to go to the airport, and then fly out Saturday morning,” says Marxsen. Her students had written prayers in French on the soap boxes, which were going to St. Marc’s church in Trouin. They’ve sponsored the church for 3 years.

“The priest from that church came to Macon,” says Marxsen. “He spent the day with my students.” Marxsen says her students are constantly asking about their visitor now. She says they got word that 4 people died during church service at St. Marc’s. She doesn’t know if the priest was one of them.

Being so many miles away, Sanders and Marxsen feel powerless to help.

Marxsen says, her suitcase of supplies and prayers will have to wait, even though the country needs them now more than ever. She says F.P.D. is taking money donations for Haiti. They’re sending the money directly to the church they’ve been sponsoring.

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