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They came home to cheers and open arms. A welcome sight compared to what these Edge Outreach volunteers have seen over the past few weeks in Haiti.
"Amputees, kids with big bandages on their heads, mothers that just delivered babies... it's unbelievable," said Edge Outreach volunteer Jerry McBroom.
Jerry McBroom took pictures during his time in Haiti. Some show devastation, sadness and in some cases, hopelessness. But these volunteers are trying to change that, one water purification system at a time.
"You know these young kids running around with swollen bellies and glassy eyes can finally get clean water and I'm so thankful for the work that Edge is doing," he said.
And even in the midst of devastation, these volunteers say a resiliency abounds.
"There was a 6-year-old girl who just had her leg amputated and she was just learning how to walk on crutches and she had the biggest smile on her face because she was still alive and um... she just praised God," said Billy Ward, volunteer with Edge Outreach.
"The kids there are amazingly resilient. Amidst all of the devastation, the pain, the sorrow, the kids were still kids. We got to play games with the kids, the kids would help us, the kid would pull buckets out of the well," said Jim Keagy.
And as much as these volunteers won't forget their time in Haiti, Haitians won't forget them either. They installed enough water purification systems to provide clean water for 50,000 to 100,000 people a day.
"That it just makes all the difficulties, and all the sleeping on the ground and mosquitoes and stuff worth it," said McBroom.
