In the early afternoon of Friday, a strange sensation filled our senses, something like dizziness as the walls, the very buildings began to sway. After a moment of initial shock, the realization struck: earthquake!

The Mercy staff reacted quickly. Thankfully, most of the Mercy kids had already left in the morning for a two-week summer camp stay on the Mercy Farm, but teachers swiftly evacuated Lock 6 students and contacted parents to come and pick up their children. Mercy staff and volunteers fled to the street, some shoeless on the burning tar, and stared in fear and wonder, feeling the world sway. We are currently expecting aftershocks, but as of now, there has been no damage to buildings or people at the HDF, for which we are grateful. The rest remains to be seen.