Nothing can dampen the spirit of these hardy people.
Despite widespread devastation caused by the extremely powerful Category 5 hurricane Matthew that smashed into Haiti on Oct. 4, Christians in the small Caribbean nation remain rooted in their faith and thankful to the Lord for the gift of life.
On Sunday, hundreds of these Christians trooped to badly damaged churches to sing praises and give thanks to God, according to CBN News. Worshippers even set up an altar outside a badly damaged church and prayed under open skies.
The Haitians' demonstration of faith is continuing even as the death toll has risen past 1,000, NBC News reports. Haiti's government said more than 1.5 million people had been affected by the hurricane and 350,000 of those were in need of immediate assistance.
Elise Pierre, an elderly Christian worshipper, said it was a divine miracle that she and her loved ones were able to survive the storm.
"If God wasn't protecting us we'd all be gone today, blown into the ocean or up into the mountains," said Pierre, who had a cut on her forehead caused by a metal roof sheet that hit her at the height of Matthew's fury.
Matthew also whacked nearby Bahamas, badly damaging homes and churches.
Pastor Barbara L. Rahming said her church was badly damaged, with the walls on both sides of the building completely blown away.
However, she remained hopeful that the church will get back on its feet.
"It's a disaster as far as the building is concerned. Everything is out, it's finished. We are trusting the Lord to make a way, and I know He will make a way, for all things work together for good," she said.
Back in Haiti, the extent of damage inflicted by Matthew is only now becoming clearer. According to U.N. World Food Programme officer for Haiti, Lorene Didier, 90 percent of crops have been destroyed in worst-hit areas of the country.
Cases of cholera are also starting to pile up, bringing additional woes.
Missole Antoine, the medical director of the Port-a-Piment hospital, said the number of patients admitted with cholera symptoms had doubled to 60 during Sunday and that four people had died of the waterborne illness.
"That number is going to rise," she told Reuters as she quickly checked patients lying on the hospital floor.
