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LATEST HAITI UPDATES

Our hearts go out to our Haitian brothers and sisters who have been suffering because of the earthquake disaster. We will continue to update this page to keep you updated with our partner organizations CRWRC, GLOW Ministries, Faith In Action, World Harvest Orphanage, and HCJB Global Medical Team. 

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Food to Reach 1,200 Haitian Families

CRWRC Newsroom | February 12, 2010

 
A CRWRC food distribution in Bolosse, Haiti.

Through its affiliation with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee will soon be distributing a two month supply of emergency food to 1,200 families in the Massan area of Haiti, a community on the outskirts of Leogane, close to the epicenter of the January 12 earthquake.

CRWRC staff and volunteers in Haiti assessed the needs in various parts of Haiti and decided to focus their initial attentions on 6 villages in the Leogane area, of which Massan is one. 

In their assessment, staff reported that Massan had lost a substantial amount of homes and buildings and that livelihoods had been severely affected, yet few other agencies were providing aid to this area.  Through CFGB funding, CRWRC will distribute 136 tonnes of rice, 15 tonnes of black beans, and 15 tonnes of oil to vulnerable families in Massan over the next two months. 

CRWRC staff and volunteers have also spent the last four days conducting and in-depth, door-to-door survey of the residents of Massan.  They will use their findings to develop plans for home reconstruction, livelihood rehabilitation, and other activities to help Massan rebuild.

Please continue to pray CRWRC staff, volunteers and partners in Haiti. While much has already been accomplished after this disaster, there is a long road still ahead. Pray for safety, endurance, and wisdom as people work together to rebuild this country.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010 

Update from CRWRC:

At least five Christian Reformed Church in Haiti (ECRH) church buildings in the Jacmel area, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, were destroyed in the massive earthquake of Jan. 12, says Ad deBlaeij, CRWRC-Haiti staff member.

While he and members of the ECRH have been active delivering food, tarps and other forms of aid to earthquake survivors, they have also taken a few moments to mourn the loss of these churches that meant so much to the pastors and people who worshipped in them. While the buildings can always be rebuilt, a part of the tradition that they represented has been lost.

Consider, for example, Holy Trinity Church. While it was not a part of the ECRH, this church building was a beautiful structure filled with bright, sacred Haitian art including a painting behind the altar showing the birth, crucifixion, and ascension of Christ.

"Inside this church there were beautiful murals. Famous Haitian painters had painted on the walls different Bible stories, and for me it was always a great place to talk with groups about religion and art in Haiti," said deBlaiej.

When deBlaeij went to visit the church after the earthquake, he realized only one wall was standing. Climbing over the rubble, he could see on that wall a mural of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. As with so many other churches, so little was left intact. A rich artistic legacy was destroyed.

While Christians across Haiti mourn the loss of this art and these buildings, deBlaeij and his colleagues in Haiti couldn't ponder the rubble for too long. Instead, they've continued to reach out to meet the needs of those around them.

"This past week our Haiti team has been helping in relief. Food has been distributed through our partners in many pockets of the city. Also tarps have been given out and people have started to build small houses with the tarps, which are necessary in light of the coming rainy season, which could start as early as March," he said.

At the same time, the Haiti team continues preparations for a long-term rehabilitation project in the Leogane area, including temporary shelter and building of houses, which will be earthquake resistant.

George and Toni Fernhout from Edmonton, Alberta, sent by CRWRC, are leading the relief effort. Jos Joosse, a Dutch engineer has been sent by ZOA, a Dutch relief organization, to help make plans for the availability of clean water and to address other technical issues.

Perhaps most importantly for the ability to accomplish long-term relief and rehabilitation, the CRWRC-Haiti staff is also working on a plan to help in the rehabilitation of its local partners.

"[Our partners] have lost family members and are traumatized. One of our partners (PWOFOD) has lost its office building and everything the organization owned. Many staff members have lost their houses, too. We have to help them back on their feet, both the partners and their staff, before they can continue their work," he says.

Coby deBlaeij, Ad's wife, has been busy at a Quisqueya Christian School, which is one of CRWRC's partners. The local school reopened a week and a half ago. Of the original 275 students at the school, only 60 are still in the country. Teachers are also gone. The teacher who had been expected to teach grades Pre-K through 1st grade is in the United States. Coby will take over these classes while he is gone. When that teacher returns, Coby "will take on whatever comes her way."

Please continue to pray for Ad, Coby, and the other CRC staff and partners in Haiti. While much has already been accomplished after this disaster, there is a long road still ahead. Pray for safety, endurance, and wisdom as people work together to rebuild this country.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 

For an update regarding Phil Snyder of GLOW Ministries and Evans, click HERE.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Dear family and friends:

Thanks for praying for us and for Haiti .  The process of relief and rehabilitation will be long.

Today I visited the ruins of the Holy Trinity Church , down town Port-au-Prince .  Many of you who have been visiting Haiti have seen this church.  It was one of my favorite places to bring visitors.  Inside this church there were beautiful murals.  Famous Haitian painters had painted on the walls different Bible stories, and for me it was always a great place to talk with groups about religion and art in Haiti .  The most impressive painting was behind the altar and showed the birth, crucifiction, and ascension of Jesus, all painted in a colorful Haitian context.  From this church only one wall was standing, and climbing over the rubble I could see the mural about Jesus baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist (see picture).  It is only one of the many churches destroyed in the earthquake.  The Haitian Christian Reformed Church lost at least 5 church buildings in the Jacmel area.

This past week our Haiti team has been helping in relief.  Food has been distributed through our partners in many pockets of the city.  Also tarps have been given out and people start to build small houses with the tarps, which is necessary in light of the coming rainy season (which could start as early as March).  At the same time we continue preparations for a long-term rehabilitation project in the Leogane area, including temporary shelter and building of houses, which will be earthquake resistant.  George and Toni Fernhout from Edmonton , sent by CRWRC, are leading the relief effort.  This week Jos Joosse, a Dutch engineer was sent by ZOA (Dutch Relief organization) to help us in the area of potable water and other technical issues.

At the same time our staff is working on a plan how to help the rehabilitation of our partners.  Their staff members have lost family members and are traumatized.  One of our partners (PWOFOD) has lost its office building and everything the organization owned.  Many staff members have lost their houses too.  We have to help them back on their feet, both the partners and their staff, before they can continue their work. 

Coby has been busy at the school. School opened a week and a half ago for the students still in the country, about 60 out of the 275. The teacher who is going to teach grades Pre-K through 1st grade left for the States for just over a week and Coby took those grades. One more day and then she'll take on whatever comes her way.

Please keep praying for our partners and us.

Greetings from Haiti ,

Ad & Coby de Blaeij

Monday, February 8, 2010

Phil Snyder, of GLOW Ministries, and Evans were in a car accident last night near Port-Au-Prince.  Both are sore, but doing fine.  Please keep them in your prayers as they recover.  

Thursday, February 4, 2010

As most of you know, the orphanage in Haiti where Cyndy and I have been volunteering for the past 3 years has been set up as a place for the injured to come and recuperate following the earthquake.  We have set up a hospital in our church and have staffed it with volunteer nurses.  We have a retired naval officer, Mike, trained as a field PA who keeps a close watch on the healing process.  Tonight he was concerned about the pain that 17 year old Darlene was experiencing.  She had broken her leg when the school building she occupied collapsed during the earthquake.  She had a compound fracture of the tibia that had broken through the skin.   She has a cast on her leg that was put on 10 days ago.  The cast was applied 10 days after the earthquake.We decided to take her back to the University of Miami Medishare hospital where the original cast was applied to take a look under her cast. 
You will probably hear this story out of Haiti many times in the coming weeks and months.  As they removed Darlene's cast, the smell of infection was overwhelming.  I held Darlene's hand and tried to distract her as the medical staff reacted to the discovery of infection.  Infections like this will certainly cause a second wave of terror in Haiti..  There will be more amputations and more deaths following this earthquake.   

Darlene is one of the fortunate; she has people around her who care and have medical knowledge.  PA, Mike said as we got back to the compound tonight. "Thank you Jesus, I think we saved her leg tonight.."  Pray for Darlene and pray for her leg to heal.


Art, reporting from Haiti 

CRWRC Gears Up For Long-term Response in Haiti

CRWRC Newsroom | February 2, 2010

CRWM's Howard VanDam (left) and CRWRC's International Relief Manager George Fernhout distribute food to an orphanage.

As the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) continues its short-term response to the needs of earthquake survivors in Haiti, the organization is also gearing up for a multi-year rebuilding and reconstruction program.

“Over the weekend we distributed 264 tarps as well as rice, beans, and pasta to 1,106 families,” said CRWRC’s Programme Manager, Jacqueline Koster. “This type of short-term relief of providing food, water, tarps, and blankets in the Port au Prince area will continue for another week at least.”

While CRWRC’s Haiti earthquake response team - consisting of one CRWRC-Haiti staff member,  three volunteer international relief managers, two Christian Reformed World Missions staff, and one Back to God Ministries International staffmember – continues to carry out these emergency distributions they are also preparing for a longer term response that will span at least the next 24 months. 

“The team has identified six villages in Leogane for the next phase of our response,” said Jacob Kramer, CRWRC Director of Disaster Response.  “They have an approximate population of 2,500 families.  The first discussions with the village leaders have been positive and we are beginning to survey the families to assess needs.”

The response in these villages will likely include building transitional and permanent housing, re-establishing livelihoods, providing programs for psycho-social needs, forming community groups, and providing for children.  It will also include rebuilding infrastructure such as wells and latrines.

“Yesterday, our team was reinforced by a water and sanitation expert from one of CRWRC’s partners in the Netherlands. He will head up the redevelopment of wells and latrines,” said Kramer. “We will continue to hire staff for the different sector activities like community organizing and building temporary shelter.” 

The team is operating from a base in a vocational boarding school in Flon, near the center of Leogane.  They have also secured a warehouse in Port au Prince for storing supplies and preparing for distributions.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Bart and Pat DenBoer's son Tim, members of Calvary, has been deployed to Haiti as part of the relief effort! He left last weekend and will be there from 2 weeks to 90 days. He was really excited for the opportunity to help there.  Cell phone coverage and internet is scarce.  They received one short phone call from him after he arrived.
Please pray for safety and health of all those serving in Haiti and that they will truly make a huge difference. 

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Phil Snyder from GLOW is in Haiti. Here is a brief update.

GLOW is working in 5 refugee camps. see pics below. They are feeding about 6,000 people a day. Phil is meeting with USAID and other orgs to try to get more food. They have a container coming into the DR any day with food.
GLOW has set up water tanks in these camps and these are being filled daily so people have water. The teachers from the GLOW schools are helping distribute food and water to the refugee people. The teachers are being paid for this.
The government schools have closed down for the rest of the year, private schools can determine when they can start up. GLOW would like to start the schools up again asap. They will be determining when they can start up soon.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Note from Howard Van Dam


Dear Friends, Howard sent this more personal note to share with our family and friends a few days ago. Please keep praying. As I talk to him on the phone I can hear he is quite tired and under a lot of stress, but glad to be helping where he can. Here is his note:

Since January 12, our small world has been turned upside down. At 5:12pm, a 7.1 earthquake rocked the entire city of Port-au-Prince and beyond. As you can imagine, the destruction is overwhelming. From the national palace to catholic cathedrals, to universities which were in full session, to business, banks, schools, churches, electrical lines, to individual homes and even water cisterns. Massive piles of rubble and buildings ready to fall over are major obstacles throughout the city, certain areas were hit harder than others. In some areas, as much as 80% lay in ruins. Even though our neighborhood is relatively unharmed, our house sustained significant damage—several sections of our outer walls collapsed, our cistern cracked, along with new cracks in almost every room in the house. As I drive around the city I am humbled that my family and our house survived. So many people didn’t have a chance to escape their dwellings when the earthquake hit.
With the death toll now over 120,000, it seems like every person knows of one or more who had died. We are still grieving the loss of one young man, Caleb Petit Homme. Caleb worked with the CRC of Haiti, overseeing their youth ministry. He was an incredible leader who had a real servant’s heart. The numbered injured is also staggering, now over 200,000. One of our Haitian co-workers, Arielle sustained a broken leg. Arielle has a newborn and from what I heard, her brother found the baby in the rubble, uninjured. (As I write this, we just had another aftershock). There are some amazing stories of people surviving the earthquake.
After weathering the first couple of days, our staff has focused on emergency relief work. We were able to purchase food and tarps from warehouses here in Port-au-Prince, and with the partner organization’s assistance have begun to distribute these to neighborhoods throughout the city. CRWRC has also sent down a team of four International Response Managers (IRM) to help coordinate some of our relief efforts. They are currently assessing where CRWRC could best assist families and communities in the long-term recovery process. Many trips have been made to Leogane, which was close to the epicenter.
We ask that you continue to pray for the nation of Haiti. At night I hear the people singing Christian songs and worshipping. Many are still too afraid to move back into their homes and prefer to sleep on the street. Others have no home to return to. Even though many have lost so much, they still praise God for giving them life and for not abandoning them. Pray also for good coordination of all the relief efforts. So many people need help and it is challenging to prioritize those most in need. Most of all pray that the people of Haiti can begin rebuilding their lives and can move forward.  
Ruth

Monday, February 1, 2010

CRWRC update

Jan. 28, 2010—Jozias Joosee, a water and sanitation specialist from ZOA Refugee Care in the Netherlands, joins the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee this weekend to assist in designing water solutions and providing for latrines and other sanitary solutions for Haitian earthquake survivors living in crowded conditions in camps.

ZOA Refugee Care is dedicated to supporting refugees and internally displaced persons in countries that have undergone disruptions that have left much of the physical and social infrastructure non-functional or dysfunctional.

One of the main restoration activities that ZOA conducts is working to improve water and sanitation in order that clean drinking water is available and healthy living conditions are in place.

While water is critical, CRWRC's Haiti earthquake response has also included the distribution of food and shelter. This week 100 tarps were delivered to refugees living on the seminary campus of the Union of Baptist Churches in Haiti (UEBH) in Bolosse.

UEBH is a long-term partner of CRWRC in Haiti. Since the quake, they have been providing shelter to approximately 2,500 earthquake survivors who have no homes to return to.

In addition, CRWRC distributed food to 60 families in two small communities in Carrefour on Wednesday, and to an orphanage in Leogane earlier in the week.

"The children (from the orphanage) had been sleeping in tents on the grounds as they were too afraid to sleep indoors," said Toni Fernhout, CRWRC's International Relief Manager in Haiti. "Nearly 90 percent of the homes here were destroyed or damaged. The house at this orphanage sustained only minimal damage but the wall surrounding the compound was completely destroyed."

In the midst of this destruction, CRWRC staff in Haiti are seeing signs of hope as the Haitian government, local churches, and the international community work together to meet the many needs of earthquake survivors.

"We are seeing lots of positive things happening in this most awful situation—not as much looting as expected, banks opening, gas and fuels available, churches are full, people moving back into their homes and much needed health care is now available to the people in the city," said Fernhout.

Joyce Johnson, Missions Director

Monday, February 1, 2010

Update from World Harvest Orphanage
To All, 
 I have been in Haiti since Wednesday.  I had no idea what I was going to be doing down here when I left Bellingham, but given the fact I have lived here for 17 of the last 24 months, I have been able to plug in quite easily.
The last two days I have been involved in transporting injured kids that have been operated on at the University of Miami Medishare compound and bringing them back to our orphanage where we have set up the church to do post op care.
We have about 25 now.  Lots of burn victims, broken legs, amputees, and head injuries.  Most of them are around 10 years of age.
It is very interesting to go through security at the airport and basically go on the runway to get to the hospital.  The hospital, if you watched the news is a series of tents.  Inside those tent seems like total chaos, but once you find the right person they are really helpful. No one ever seems to be flustered given the circumstances.  The doctors and nurses are amazing people.  Being white everyone thinks that I'm a doctor. I have been concurring on a lot of diagnosis.  Standing waiting for the kids that I need to transport, I do interpreting for the doctors and nurses and sometimes just talk to patients that are lying on cots.  Lots of kids and babies in the hospital.  There is no security, I could wander into the operating room and start to operate, the sign above the OR just says to wear caps and shoes. If I had any ambition to try operating on someone, this would be my chance.  I would probably pass out though. 
Lots of media come through the hospital and do interviews with anyone willing to talk.  The hatian president stopped by today and the hatian NBA player.  All that does is add to the confusion in a very congested field hospital.
Things are smoothing out at the orphanage (New Life).  We have about 60 relief workers living on the compound.  Two the groups provide there own food and camp in tents.  We had power issues when I got here, but I've been able to switch things around, charge inverter batteries and keep the water pump going at the same time.  It is a challenge because we have to rely totally on the 17 KW generator and I can't get people to turn off the lights and fans when they leave a room.
We have plenty of food for now and our cook is able to go out and find food in the local out door markets.  Delimart is still not open nor Megamart and of course the Caribean Market was completely destroyed.  We did see that the Eagle market is open at the top of Delmas..
If you have been to Haiti during mango season, you know the sound of a mango falling through the trees.  The kids recognize this sound and sprint to the location of the sound to try and be the first on the scene of the fallen fruit.  There is usually a lot of pushing and shoving to get the prize.  Anyway, as the earthquake was happening it shook the mango trees and the mangoes started to drop.  Three of our little 8 year old girls, crying from the shock of the earthquake, still ran out and started gathering mangoes in the folds of their dresses.  The story goes that they were bawling loudly as they picked up every mango that fell.  The older kids were too scared to move.
All of our buildings are in good shape.  Sam has an engineer friend here that has gone around and certified that any visible cracks are minor and not life threatening. We will need to replace our east and west walls, but they dug down along the foundation and it is solid and won't need to be replaced.  So we will be able to build right on top of the old foundation, but with better columns holding up the block walls.
Our kids here at the orphanage are healthy and happy, but I'm sure they are going to get bored really soon since there is no school, and we have no idea if school will even start up again this year.  Our kids school was not destroyed, but a lot of schools were.  And who knows how many of the kids' teachers were killed.  The kids are still too scared to sleep indoors and have been on their matresses outside since the quake.
I haven't been downtown Port au Prince to see where the most severe damage occurred, but I hope to venture down there very soon.  My understanding is that the smell is really bad down there with decaying bodies still trapped in fallen buildings.
Reporting from Haiti,
Art Berry
World Harvest Orphanage

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

To friends who have an interest in Haiti

I was reminded again this last week, because of the earthquake in Haiti, of the urgency of getting Bibles in to people’s lives.  The time is short and the hunger is great! 173,000 new believers were led in discipleship Bible Studies in Haiti this past year. Bilda, our National Director from Haiti was at the Bible League International office just  a little over a month ago, sharing about the hunger for the Word there.  They are dealing with the darkness that Satan has cast over that area through voodoo and witchcraft but our Bible League staff is meeting it head-on with the Gospel and seeing great results for the Kingdom.  Please pray with us as the after math of this great tragedy begins to unveil.

The Bible League office staff were able to have phone contact with Pierre, our Director from Dominican Republic this morning.  He is working directly with Bilda in Haiti.  He shared with us some of the urgent prayer requests and reported about our continual work that is happening after the earthquake. 

 Vladimir, our ministry coordinator who is responsible for ministry, discipleship and training classes in Port-au-Prince, lost his wife, his 3 month old baby and mother and father-in-law.  He himself was able to pull his little 8 year old boy out of the rubble, but he is in serious condition. They will be going to Dominican Republic this week with Bilda to try to find proper treatment for his young son’s arm that was injured in the quake.  He is in the picture above on the far right side.  Bilda, our National Director for Haiti is in the blue shirt.  They have been working relentlessly every day since the earthquake, carrying in water and food to Haiti. 

In Jacmel, on the Southside of Port-au-Prince, our staff is all alive, but have all lost their homes.  Last Friday, Bilda personally went to that area and delivered water and food to our staff. 

The following prayer requests were given to us today from Pierre along with his thanks for holding them up in our prayers:

1.      Pray that God may continue to give strength and hope to those who have lost their wives, husbands, children, uncles and aunts, along with all of their physical possessions. (Most of our ministry workers and church planters in that area have lost several family members.)

2.      Pray that God will continue to allow Bible League to be an instrument of restoration in Haiti.

3.      Pray that through an effective placement of God’s Word, our workers there will be able to bring a better future for the survivors in Haiti.

4.      Pray for the many Haitians that are going to the Dominican Republic for physical help in the hospitals there.

5.      Pray for Pierre, as a minister of the Gospel from Dominican Republic, and Bilda and Vladamir as they not only recover from their immediate losses, but that God will give them strength and wisdom as they minister to those immediately placed within their area of care. 

Over 700 of the 1,200 Churches in Port-au-Prince were destroyed along with the death of many pastors and members of the congregations.   Only God’s love and strength will help them make it through this trauma.  Only God’s love and strength will help them make it through this trauma. 

What a privilege and responsibility that God has allowed us to have,  to pray for God’s mercy, comfort and provision for our brothers and sisters that are going through such a devastating time.  Thank you for joining in with us in prayer.  If you have any questions or concerns feel free to either email me or call me.

Gaylin DenOuden

Michigan & Ohio Regional Field Director

The Bible League

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

For the latest GLOW Ministries updates click HERE.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

  
It is official.  BOTH Samar Faith AND Aiden Manuel are out of Haiti and with Paul and Marisa!!!!!!  And boy do they look HAPPY. Praise God!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Update from Brad Quist (Written by Steve Nelson)

I'm listening to beautiful Haitian music roll up from the hills below us.  Amazing ... the people in Indonesia were singing the night after the earthquake too.  It both soothes and brings tears through the day in the hospital too as we move from ward to ward.  Seems everybody in Haiti knows how to sing ... ahhhh .. Africa, right?

A certain semblance of order has begun to show itself at the Haiti Mission Hospital ... long days, welcome reinforcements and a increasingly steady supply of materials have allowed us to get through nearly 100 surgery cases and most of the patients that crowded the floors and hallways of the hospital when we arrived.   The last surgery for today will probably be done by 8PM ... a welcome change from the midnight schedules we kept the first few days ... especially for our anesthesiologists who are obligatorily invited to ALL surgeries.

Samaritans Purse will try to continue to equip and man this hospital and figure out ways to get patients here.  In some ways ... and of course relatively speaking ... it is paradise here ... cool in the evenings, high enough to be above the malaria zone, and safe from the increasing unrest in the center.  We could proabably handle 20 or more new cases a day figuring that 90% of them would have to go to surgery. We just need to figure out how to get them here.Pray we make the right decisions for the most people.  Pray for the Billy Graham Evangelism team that is here trying to make sure each person has a chance to hear eternal life-providing Good News before and during our attempts to restore life and health in this realm.  Thanks for holding us all up so strong and tender with your prayers. 

Steve

Saturday, January 23, 2010 

Update sent from Brad Quist

With each faint scent or sound of life beneath the rubble, rescue workers call for total silence, but their hope of hearing a tapped or shouted reply is fading with each day following the Jan. 12 quake that shook the Haitian capital.

For a week now, the Ecuador team of HCJB Global Hands has assisted at BHM where local chaplains and those from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) circulate among the patients. The chaplains comfort those grieving and share the news that God is love, even in times of trial.

Observing the Haitians, physicians, chaplains and support staff blending to form an effective Christian body, water engineer Martin Harrison arrived at two summarizing words: resilience and improvisation.

"Many staff have lost family members and close friends," he wrote in a quiet moment. "Yet they have not downed tools since the first day, as they seek to help others live. The surgeons, doctors, nurses, water engineers and caretakers each play their own vital part, tirelessly working from dawn until late into the night, improvising with whatever comes to hand as certain medical supplies run low."

With two operating rooms now treating patients at BHM, surgical plates, pins, casting material and other supplies are all needed, along with blood. German physician Eckehart Wolff donated blood to one patient, Alexis, during a surgery he was performing. It helped her survive . . . but only for a short while longer. To extend scarce supplies, staff members have begun cutting the pins in half.

While being prepped for surgery at BHM, 14-year-old Marcelus was evangelized by Cesaire Elusmond, a Haitian chaplain, and BGEA's Jack Dowling. "Then and there," Harrison recounted, "just minutes before going to surgery under HCJB Global surgeons, he prayed and gave his life to the Lord. As doctors were saving his life, Jesus was changing his heart."

"We give thanks for the miracles God is working each and every day," the British engineer added, "not only saving lives, but changing hearts."  

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Haiti update from the Bible League

Just a quick review of what I shared.

  1. Arbonite office in Haiti, Not damaged, no loss of life or injury to staff
  2. Port Au Prince – National director safe, office damaged. Director of church planting Vladimar injured, house destroyed, He pulled his 8 yr old son from ruble, His wife, 3 month old child, mother in law and father in law – all perished.
  3. Pray for the staff. Much is in chaos.

Gaylin DenOuden; Michigan & Ohio Regional Field Director

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Friends:

The past days have been really hectic.  Sorry that I have not written more, but it is difficult to start writing an email after a long day of working in this situation.  Even now I can hardly think.

The past days we have been busy to help teams of medical workers from MTI an organization that collaborates with CRWRC.  The first group of doctors, nurses and other personel arrived Saturday.  The Ministry Center of our partner ECRH is their home for this moment.  They started working in King’s Hospital.  By organizing the lodging of this group we helped them to start working right away.  Now more medical teams arrived and we assist them also to find new places where they have a safe place to see and treat patients.  Still many people have wounds and fractures from the quake.  Today we visited our partner UEBH, which has a seminary campus in the midst of Fort Mercredi an area on the southwest end of Port-au-Prince, where many houses of the poor have been destroyed.  More than 2500 people sleep in the night in the grass of the campus.  Many of them need medical care.  Part of the group that works in the King’s Hospital will be send to the UEBH campus.  At the same time CRWRC is working to supply extra food to these people.  It is amazing that many of them are already working to start up their small businesses in the street and on the market.  The main things they need to survive are water, food and medical care.  Later we will try to work on shelter (at this point it is dry season, so it is not urgent).

The logistics is not easy.  First of all it is very difficult to get somewhere in the city.  Roads are blocked by bulldozers which are removing rubble, power lines that are down, and people who live in the street.  The strong aftershock this morning is not helping.  Even people whose houses are not damaged by the first earth quake are afraid to sleep in their houses.  Many smaller streets are blocked off by the population because they have their chairs and other furniture on the street.  The reality that for a week all gasstations, banks, and stores were closed doesn’t help.  How can you purchase food and other items when everything is closed?  Since yesterday the gas stations are opening, and we could secure some fuel.  It was announced that Saturday the banks will be opening, and through personal contacts we try to find businesses who can sell us rice, beans and cooking oil.

In the midst of this chaos Haiti is slowly returning back to life.  Many people have buried their loved ones.  Many not even had the chance to burry them because they are in the mass graves or still under the rubble.  However, they are back in the street trying to make a living.  We are doing our best to support the Haitian brothers and sisters in their suffering, showing them the love of Christ.  The Haitian Christians are sharing the aid in their communities.  Thank you for praying and giving for Haiti.

In Christ,

Ad & Coby de Blaeij

Haiti  

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 

News from the VanDam's in Haiti 

The Ministry Center building has little to no damage. It is currently housing 25 doctors and nurses who are working at King's Hospital. Amazingly, the gas tank on the generator was FULL. That was probably due to the good work of Caleb ( of the CRC of Haiti) who is believed to have been killed when the roof of his University class collapsed on him. 

Miracles and pain. God is in it all. The people of Haiti are incredible! Ruth 

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) will focus its current emergency response efforts in Haiti on the town of Leogane about 20 miles west of Port au Prince.“Leogane is a community where 90% of the people have lost their homes,” said CRWRC’s Disaster Response Director, Jacob Kramer of the town of about 175,000 people.  “CRWRC and its partner, PWOFOD, have on-going programs in Leogane and there is a Haitian Christian Reformed Church there.  The people already know us and hopefully we can work with some local leaders as we carry out our relief response.”The United Nations recently reported that Leogane was the area worst hit by the quake.  Their local market was already dependent on outside food shipments, and this need has now increased. “Currently, we are using cash to buy food locally,” said Kramer, “but these supplies will soon run out.  We will then have to ship food in.”CRWRC’s effort in Haiti is currently being organized by Ad deBlaeij, CRWRC’s country consultant in Haiti, and Ken Little, a Senior Disaster Response Project Manager from Burlington, Ontario.  They will be joined tomorrow by George and Toni Fernhout from Edmonton, Alberta and Lee Mys from Fremont, Michigan.  Mys and the Fernhouts are volunteer International Relief Managers who have experience organizing and carrying out disaster response activities.Lee Mys has served with CRWRC in Indonesia after the 2004 tsunami and also led a food distribution in Kenya.Following the 2004 tsunami, the Fernhouts stayed for the duration of CRWRC’s 3 ½ year project in Sri Lanka, managing the complicated owner-driven approach, and engaging the government to live up to its obligations. Thanks to the hard work of this couple, over 800 permanent houses were built across Sri Lanka.  Last summer the Fernhouts were in Haiti to implement CRWRC’s response to the three hurricanes. They distributed food and seed to restart agriculture, handed out goats, and oversaw the drilling of new 15 wells. Joyce Johnson, Missions Director    

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

As I read the following, I seemed to have developed a problem with my eyes.  The tears just don't seem to want to stop . . .

Brad

-We are running out of diesel and instruments and clean sheets so I'll take advantage of at least a partial slowdown to fill you in.

Arrived friday morning to Haiti airport aboard a luxurious Leer jet ... flight donated apparently by the owner for relief.

Arrived Haiti Baptist Mission friday around three o'clock ... brief greeting and prayer from the exhausted folks who were manning the guns until we arrived and then waded into the foray ... with hundreds of people in the corredors since the beds were long ago full and most of whom needed urgent surgery.  In spite of a two ortho guys and an anesthesiologist there are so many other limiting factors for how much surgery you can do ... but managed to get about ten cases in before quitting at midnight.  Unfortnately the fastest ones are often the most urgent ... amputations.  Six hours sleep and yesterday had a full day and did about 15 surgeries.  Us non surgical types were out on the floors trying to triage which cases were most likely to get complicated if left longer ... Sepsis, infected compound fracturs and little kids made up our priority list.   15 cases on saturday ... still finishing after midnight ..more complicated cases that second day.

Now ... everything is short ... diesel for the electric plant to keep the OR going, cast material, surgical supplies for "fixing" fractures, food water .... everything except patients who continue to come in ... changing the surgery list for the day as more advanced cases come in. But ... praise the Lord ... people are trickling out too which is sort of a miracle in itself.  I have asked almost all my patients that look like they could go home soon ... do you have a home to return to ... 100% "no" so far.  Some have relatives who lived higher up in the hills... but many of of the ones who could go home would eventually need surgery and getting back and forth would be so hard.

Yesterday's hardest moment was being called to take a picture of a little girl who looked to be 10 years old.  She had just died ... we didn't even know she was in the hospital.  I suppose the docs who were here before us knew she wouldn't make it so put us to work on the ones who could.  The lady who translated for me ... whispered into my ear ... "this is the sixth of their nine children who has died from this earthquake.  They just want a picture" ... (Well figure out how to get it to them).  Heartache and tragedy are soooo relative.

Last night's last patient to be seen by Mark Nelson ... a two year old with a large wound to her left leg and complete fragmented bones ... tibia and fibula ... and lots of infection in wound.  Mark wasn't sure what he would find so decided to clean the wound under an anesthesia called Ketalar which leaves kids looking like they are sort of awake but not feeling anything.  Cleaning the wound and finding such an important injury put her first on the schedule today ... she will be next in when the "lights go on".  Then we all heard her start singing ... first in sort of a low voice and later stronger ... and it seemed happier!!  It was in creole so of course none of useless Spanish and English speakers could know what she was saying ... but a translator brightened up nearby and said she is singing "I am saved, I am saved, I am saved ......"

Please pray about all this but unless you have something that HAS to come back ... don't answer please ... just pray.  The system here when it works is slow and downloading lots of enouraging remarks ... although it would be a blessing,  would slow things down further.  I know you all ... thanks ahead of time for even unspoken support.  Everybody loves to be prayed for and that's sure true of the Haitians.  (I just now heard the plant go on .. back to work)

Love, Steve

Please pray for all


Estima Yomel is a 12 year old shepherd boy. He was coming home down the mountain with his herd of goats when the earthquake struck. Boulders tumbled down the mountain. One of these hit Estima and crushed his leg and arm. The HCJB docs have done an amazing job to put everything back in place. Jack is one of the Billy Graham chaplains who has been working tirelessly via a translater to comfort patients and share Christ with many In these shots Estima is receiving a Bible after coming to know Christ in his hospital bed this afternoon. The chaplains keep careful records to pass on to local pastors to ensure there is follow up after the disaster passes.

The hospital security team!

 HCJB docs work as a team with the new Sam Purse arrivals.

 Dr Leonardo Febres tackles a foot with gangrene. Please pass these on to whoever was asking for photos of him.

Thats all folks for tonight!  Martin
 

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The following is correspondence that has come in over the past couple of days from the Haiti team.  You will also find new photos attached.

Blessings,  Brad

****************

18 January 10

Estima Yomel is a 12 year old shepherd boy. He was coming home down the mountain with his herd of goats when the earthquake struck. Boulders tumbled down the mountain. One of these hit Estima and crushed his leg and arm. The HCJB docs have done an amazing job to put everything back in place.

Jack is one of the Billy Graham chaplains who has been working tirelessly via a translater to comfort patients and share Christ with many.

In these shots Estima is receiving a Bible after coming to know Christ in his hospital bed this afternoon. The chaplains keep careful records to pass on to local pastors to ensure there is follow up after the disaster passes.

-Martin H


18 January 10

It has been a frantic day at the Baptist Haiti Mission Hospital where I am part of a multi skilled team who arrived last Friday. The hospital is one of the few which survived the earthquake. News continues to spread that the hospital is open and that foreign doctors and surgeons are attending to patients. The hospital remains extremely stretched and is having to make difficult decisions about both the living and the dead in terms of priorities.

We have had to dig a mass grave for patients who died and who have no family to collect the body – presumably the rest of the family perished in the earthquake. The smell of death is in the air, something I have not ever really had to deal with before.

In terms of the living we are having to make patients wait with what would normally be high priority injuries because there are others who arrive without warning in a critical condition. People say they are still pulling bodies out of the rubble, even after six days.

The hospital is under extreme pressure and came close to running out of medical supplies, diesel for the generator and water. However it can only be described as miraculous how these needs are met at the last moment. A lorry arrived laden with fresh medical supplies just as the final cast on a broken leg was being completed. Somebody sourced some diesel as we ran the generator to keep the hospital functioning on its last gallons. As the hospital was reporting that it was out of water, we got the emergency filtration unit running!

Despite all of this there are smiles of hope. A man grabbed me as I walked through the ward with my camera and insisted that I took a photo of his son who, after being operated on by the HCJB Global medical team, is going to live. Whilst still in the same ward a Haitian hospital chaplain led the patients in prayers and singing of hymns. It was quite overwhelming to experience the sense of peace that descended on this ward in the midst of such tremendous suffering.

Estima Yonel is another person with a big smile on his face. A 12 year old shepherd boy, Estima was walking back down the mountain with his herd of goats when the earthquake struck. Boulders tumbled down the mountainside and his leg and arm were crushed. The surgeons worked late into the night to save him. His brother and sister sit by his bedside with equally big white grins on their faces.


18 January 10

Hi

Here is the first of three batches of photos for Jan 18. I will try and provide explanations to some of them.

A grave we have had to dig for putting bodies in of patients who died where no family members came forward to claim them - presumably the rest of the family died in the quake too. The normal system for dealing with deaths has collapsed.


New medical supplies arrived yesterday evening just in time. Everyone pulls together to off load the truck - doctors, mechanics, photographers, missionaries etc.

Martin has been fine tuning the operation of the emergency water filtration unit today. The chlorine tablets finally arrived today so the water is fully drinkable. Yesterday the hospital was within a cats whisker of running dry.

The fish pond that is saving lives! This is the emergency water source that is being pumped through the filter to produce water for the Mission Hospital, clinic, E.R. and all the missionary housing.

The hospital chaplains are doing an amazing job, both the Haitan and Billy Graham chaplains. This pastor led the whole ward in a bible reading, prayer and singing of hymns. It was extremely moving to hear the whole ward singing praise to the Lord in such a desperate situation. Many non believers joined in, probably remembering the words from childhood.



Woman in prayer at the foot of the bed of an injured family member.

A family in prayer with their injured child.

 One of the two doctors who just appeared and began to help with the many patients we have in the hospital.

It is not all sadness. People are so happy to have been treated by the HCJB doctors and many lives are being saved. People are understandably delighted to have been given back their lives. These young ladies are all smiles!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Haiti and Beyond!!

Please join us in giving thanks to God for his provision of an opportunity to allow Ruth Van Dam and the Van Dam children along with Sharon Segaar-King and the Segaar-King children to successfully leave Haiti. They flew from Port-au-Prince to Ft. Pierce, Florida on a corporate plane donated to Missionary Flights International for transporting disaster relief volunteers and for evacuation efforts. Ruth, Sharon, and their children will make their way to New York and Grand Rapids respectively on Monday.  Ruth's husband, Howard, and Sharon's husband, Zachary, remain in Haiti to work in the relief effort.  The same is true for other personnel of CRWM and CRWRC who were in Haiti at the time of the earthquake.
 
CRWRC continues to travel throughout the Port-au-Prince area evaluating opportunities to provide emergency relief and developing a network with other relief organizations.  The need for water, food, and shelter is overwhelming due to the sheer number of Haitians living in Port-au-Prince who have lost their homes and livelihoods.  Damaged roads and dock facilities, coupled with limited fuel make it difficult to distribute what is already available.  
 
In the midst of tragedy, stories of God’s grace abound.  Pastor Elihu Metellus, the president of the CRC of Haiti (a partner of CRWRC and CRWM), was helping to pour a new concrete roof for a church construction project in the town of Belladere some distance away from his home in Jacmel, Haiti.  When the quake struck at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, the last bucket of wet concrete was being poured onto the Belladere church roof. At that very same moment, a hundred miles away, Pastor Elihu’s own church in Jacmel buckled under the force of the quake and was completely destroyed. Thankfully, no one was in the Jacmel church when it fell.  In what can only be described as a miracle of God, the freshly poured cement of the Belladere church withstood the quake and did not fall down on Pastor Elihu and the other volunteer laborers standing on and under the Belladere church roof.  As Job proclaimed, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21 ).

In Christ,

Howard VanDam

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Ministry Center is great – no serious damage.  This is one of the reasons we thank the Lord.  Thanks to the Ministry Center we host now a medical team (doctors/ nurses/ etc) who work in King’s Hospital, and there will be a second medical team soon both from an organization working very closely with CRWRC.

Ad

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Brinks Adoption Update

Secretary Napolitano has announced humanitarian parole for orphaned Haitian children!!!

That means that the kids are coming home.  ALL children that have been connected and accepted by a family qualify and it’s just a matter of working out the details of the how and whens and wheres.

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could be Wednesday , could be Friday…….could be ????

Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Brinks

Monday, January 18, 2010

Due to the devastated infrastructure throughout Haiti, CRWRC is setting up a logistics center in the Dominican Republic as a base for procuring and distributing aid. 

“Haiti doesn’t have large reserves of food and other supplies at the best of times so the existing supplies are expected to be exhausted very soon after which all supplies will have to come in from abroad,” said CRWRC’s Disaster Response Director, Jacob Kramer. “In addition the container cranes at the port in Port au Prince cannot be used. I have talked to our staff in the Dominican Republic and we are setting up a logistics group with some other relief organizations which will be based in Santa Domingo.”

CRWRC’s first priorities are to get water, food, and medical aid to all those who need it. “Together with Trojan Industries we are readying three small, self-contained water purification plants which should be on their way on today,” reported Kramer.  “We are also working with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to provide rice, corn meal and beans, and with Medical Teams International to provide medical support.  Our first surgical team arrived last week and a specialized orthopaedic team will arrive later today.” Once these immediate needs are met, CRWRC’s next priority will be temporary and more permanent shelter.  Financial contributions for CRWRC's response are urgently needed.  Every dollar makes a difference and now if Canadians give a donation to the Haiti Earthquake victims through CRWRC by February 12th, it will double in impact due to a generous contribution from the Canadian Government.

Joyce Johnson, Missions Director

Sunday, January 17

Calvary has sent a medical team to Haiti to help with the relief.  We are partnered with Samaritan's Purse and HCJB Global

This is just in from Brad Quist via Ruth on scene with the medical team in Haiti:

Hi all,

Just a reminder that this is Ruth writing and i will just give the quick facts as Martin told me them over the phone. You can make it into proper prose - that is not my gifting!!!Martin has sent 3 lots of photos so far, if you need these let me know and i will forward them to you.

They have been incredibly busy. The situation is very serious. They tried to make a list for surgery but more urgent cases arrived during the day. People are still being pulled out of the rubble with dreadful injuries. They have saved lives but there have been deaths as well. They worked until 12am last night to save a baby and the mother, the mother survived but sadly the baby didn't. And today they were treating a 15yr old but she died - she was the last child of her mother - all her other children had died and she was the last one. They had to carry her body out of the hospital on a door as no stretcher was available and carry her one mile to be buried.

It seems that word is getting out that the hospital is functioning and has foreign doctors so people are traveling there for help. One problem that may be developing is that once people have been treated they don't want to leave as they have nowhere to go and the hospital is safe and has some water. But this could overload the hospital so we need to pray for wisdom for the hospital staff.

An exciting development however is the fact that there is a team of Billy Graham chaplains there working with translators. They are sharing Christ with the patients and 20 people have given their lives to Christ today AMEN!!!!! The chaplains have been helping our team as well.

The Doctors are working long hours. They started at 8 this morning and were still going when Martin called at 19:20 but they are well. They felt another after shock when they were in surgery this morning but overall that side of things has eased now. They need more materials but SP has two planes arriving tonight with hosp supplies, vehicles, water filters and much more.

So pray it will arrive and be distributed without delay.

Martin completed a survey of the water supply for the whole hospital compound today and will fit the filter system tomorrow. Sam. Purse is trying to come up with a strategy for water distribution in the city. They have heard that there are water tankers out and about with short lines but other reports talk of fights for water. It will be hard to find a water source amongst the rubble but if they can they could pump water into  tankers and distribute from them maybe with security? Contact with the media for those with Sam. Purse is taking a lot of time Martin said but i guess funds need to be raised.

(On that note I (Ruth) was called this afternoon by the BBC in London and was interviewed about the team! Martin hoped to call them tonight and they want to interview Dr. Febres for their Spanish news prog ! We are thrilled that there maybe a Christian witness on the BBC!!! Maybe you heard that Martin gave two interviews for local BBC stations when they were in Miami which have been aired. Let me know if you want  a link for this!)

Sorry this took a while to get out to you i have typed in between putting our two little ones to bed. Need to go and check our 8 old Ben he is really missing his Dad. Thanks for praying with us wives and the team!

In Christ, Ruth

Sunday, January 17, 7:29 PM

From World Harvest Orphanage

Art talked with Sam this morning.  They are all fine.  Everyone at the orphanage is unharmed. We have heard from some of our older kids (Marilee, Nadge, Naomi, Jean Kelly)  that were living off compound and they are ok.  They have food and good water.  They were able to buy generator fuel yesterday and Manette has been able to go out and buy some food.  They have a container that just arrived last week but had not been cleared.  It may have food and supplies in it.  They have beefed up security since some of the walls are down.  Sam specifically told Art to stay in the US until the airport opens.  Anyone going to Haiti right now will be a burden on the already taxed food and water supply, unless they have medical training or bring their own supplies.  We've also been told that it is difficult getting into Haiti via the Dominican Republic because the borders are jammed and it is unsafe at this time.

The orphanage compound suffered some damage to the walls surrounding the compound.  The front gate and wall are still standing.  The wall behind the guesthouse have sections down and the rest is leaning.  The wall behind the depot storage building is down.   The buildings are usable except the church which lost 1/4 of its roof  and there is some damage to one of the boys dorm buildings.

Sam and Patty's attitude is good.  They are handling things well.  Miriam is getting ready to send supplies and nursed and doctors to Haiti and set up temporary housing for new orphans.  She is working with several organizations that may be using the compound grounds to house a rotation of doctors and nurses coming to Haiti.

I have set up at blog to report of info that we hear from Haiti.  My blog will report of any ministry in Haiti that we have worked with so it is not just restricted to New Life Children's Home.  The blog address is http://hungerforchrist.blogspot.com

Feel free to distribute this email to people you know.

We will be going to Haiti as soon as the PAP airport opens.

Praying for Haiti,  Cyndy

Sunday, January 17, 12:25 PM

Update from Pastor Lemete in charge of the Ministry for Christian Development in PAP which is the organization we built the building for in September of 2009.

Dear Friends,

Thanks to all of you for calling and writing to me in these difficult dyas. I sropted using computer the day of the earthquake as many people in Haiti. My phones started working again on thursday just to receive calls.  My family and I are alive and safe. We are as everybody leaving in a new situation where everyone has to learn to survive. God hs been good to us. One of my brother in low had a broken arm and had to go to the DR for a surgery yesterday after visiting all the available medical care with no success. An other one has been hurt at STEP. He can't walk by himself but will be fine soon. But God has used this earthquake to save many people trough prayers and short meditations in the street where we have to stay day and night. Many good results everywhere. Blessed be his name. We have been praying for all of you at least twice a day. We are sure that everyone has some bad news to share. I know I will see some colleagues and friends in heaven. May the Lord comfort all of us so that we continue comforting others too! Let's keep on praying for each other in order to sart as soon as possible rebuilding again and better our country!

May our Lord bless you and your family powerfully!

Lemète Zéphyr



Saturday, January 16, 8:09 PM

Update from Howard and Ruth Van Dam

Dear Family and Friends,

We continue to give thanks to God for protecting staff members of the Christian Reformed Church during and after Tuesday evening's severe earthquake near Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city of Haiti.  The immense suffering of the Haitian people continues to unfold as Haitians search the city for loved ones.

While the earthquake caused only moderate damage in some neighborhoods, it caused catastrophic damage in others. It is becoming clear that repairs to the city's infrastructure and the normal functioning of the city will take months. We are also hoping to receive a CRWRC disaster response member today. CRWRC hopes to begin organizing relief efforts as soon as possible.

In light of this, it was decided today to have the mothers and children on our team leave Haiti. We are still exploring which option would be the best for these family members. The Segaar-Kings and the Van Dams families, a total of 10, will be leaving as soon as it is feasible. Zachary King and Howard Van Dam will remain in Haiti, along with Tony DeKoter, Ad and Coby deBlaeij, Leslie Miller and her husband Diego Toussaint.

Sounds of large military jet aircraft landing and taking off can be heard often from the P-a-P airport and Haitian police and United Nations soldiers can be seen patrolling streets today. Relief organizations are also arriving and are setting up bases around the city. As to be expected, stores, offices, and schools are not functioning.

The open-street markets are full of people-for those who have the resources to buy food. There are long lines of people standing in front of water trucks with their five gallon buckets. By God's grace, Quisqueya Christian School, the home of CRC partner teachers and the school many missionary children attend, has suffered minor damage and is now becoming the base for relief efforts.

Please continue to pray for mission staff members in the coming days due to the increased pressure of living in such a difficult situation.  Adequate but limited supplies of food, fuel, and water are available.  Pray also for the safety of our Haitian staff members, two of which are still unaccounted for.  Pray also for our Haitian ministry partners, some of whom we have yet to hear from. Most of all, pray that mission staff and our partners will be the light of Christ amidst the suffering people of Haiti.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Howard and Ruth Van Dam and the whole Sous Espwa (Christian Reformed Ministries in Haiti) team.

Saturday, January 16, 12:32 PM

Update from Howard and Ruth Van Dam

Dear Family,

This is the official update we are sending to all our supporters and family.

In the midst of the terrible suffering of the Haitian people after Tuesday's earthquake, we give thanks to God for the grace he has given us. All expatriate staff members of our mission have been accounted for. Our families are doing well, but still a little shaken up from the experience, as is everyone. We have not heard from a few of our Haitian staff members nor do we have news of all of the staff of the Haitian partner organizations we work with.  Over the next few days we will be attempting to make contact with as many people as possible, but at this point, it is difficult because the phone connections are either down or overloaded with traffic.  We can hear many large transport planes landing and taking off from the Port-au-Prince airport, so there is beginning to be evidence of a relief response to this tragedy.  One bit of good news: an engineer stopped by yesterday to examine a couple of the missionary houses that sustained damage. He told us that despite cracks in the walls, they were structurally sound.

Please pray for the following:

1. Patience and wisdom for decisions about the next steps for mission staff and ministries.  A team has been appointed by our mission to make decisions about staff security in Haiti.  Some plans are coming together for relief projects, but they depend on how things develop the next few days.

2. Trust and faith in God's provision for our lives.  Currently our missionary families have adequate supplies of food, fuel, water, and other supplies. We remain hopeful for basic services to be available in the coming days and weeks.

3. Opportunities to contact our Haitian staff, partners, and friends that we have not heard from.

4. Coordination for efforts to deliver food and water to the suffering Haitian people.

Thanks for your prayers!

Ruth and Howard

Saturday, January 16

Update from Brad Quist in regards to the medical team working in Haiti

The Haiti medical response team is on the ground and working hard.  I have attached 30 or so photos of their work with Samaritan's Purse.  The following correspondence is from Ruth Harrison (HCJB Community Development missionary wife in Quito) and her husband, Martin (Director, Community Development, and water engineer with the team in Haiti).  What a blessing for Calvary to be a part of this response to Haiti's critical need!

Brad

News from the team

Hi

Martin called at 9am

All is well just getting on with the job Everyone is very focused Doctors working hard Martin will be working today on the hospital water supply and distribution to surrounding houses. 20 more water units are expected soon then he will be out and about with others from SP setting them up Sam Purse have 18 more Doctors arriving Monday May start Medical trips out of hospital not sure at this stage. Security would be the big concern here. There is some internet as you have seen from the photos he has sent but it is very slow If you wnat to get a message to them this is the address Martin will check put the subject as For Martin and i will mark it with a star so he doesn't have to wade through too much He will call again at 6pm I will be out until 2pm

In Christ, Ruth

PS-Did you all see this from martin last night?

*We are all well. Now in situ at a Baptist Mission Hospital on edge of Port Au Prince up on a mountain. many hundreds of patients flooding a small hospital with limited facilties. Haiti is the poorest country n the western hemisphere. I am mucking in with whatever. I helped fix up a broken leg and generally running around to make sure all the medical team have what they need to do their job. Tomorrow (16th) I will be installing a water filtration unit at the hospital. They are running out of water. We will also plan to distribute water to others in the area. Also on thre 16th we have two planes coming, a DC6 and a C130 Hercules. These are bringing many supplies - medical, blankets, hygiene packs, pure packs (basic water filter) and 20 large water filtration units, perhaps some vehicles too. I may be getting busy now! Please pray about security as we figure out how to distribute supplies and water in an increasingly desperate environment. All 6 medical team members are working their socks off in the hospital and especially in the operating room. Seeing many fractured limbs, infected wounds etc. Also delivering babies with complications which the hospital is not kitted out for. One has died sadly but mum was saved. Will try to get you some photos but bandwith not good. No chance for video clips yet! Please email the questions you want answers to and I wil do my best to get the info you need. Please bear in mind that I am in here in a multipurpose role in this order - water filtration, logistics and team member care, communication, news. I will do my best to do ALL this.  Ok I will sign off there.

Blessings to you all.

Martin

Friday, January 15, 2010 2:10pm

The following is a message from CRWRC International Disaster Relief regarding your interest in volunteering in Haiti. 

 First of all, thank you so much for your interest in volunteering with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee as we seek to assist the people in Haiti and walk alongside them at this very traumatic time. We have been struck by the willingness of numerous people such as yourself, wanting to make contributions to all those so drastically affected by the devastating earthquake. Thank you so much for your compassion and empathy – your response to serve those in need is a great witness and certainly what makes this world a better place. Thank you!! 

CRWRC is responding to those needs.  We have staff on the ground and strong partners who we have worked with for many years. The needs are huge and we will be starting by addressing immediate needs such as shelter, food & water while also starting assessments.   

We realize that after the initial shock of what has taken place people will be picking up and finding strength again to rebuild their lives. CRWRC’s presence in Haiti is through our partner ministries, who are strong and capable of doing a great job.  Ken Little, CRWRC’s Senior Project Manager for the Disaster Response Team will be travelling to the affected areas and along with our ministry partners, assess the needs of the local people. The plan is to formulate a long term rehabilitation project – rebuilding homes, providing food and other needs. We anticipate that a more comprehensive plan will be in place by the end of February at which time we will know how our partners will be able to handle the anticipated projects and so determine if additional human resources will be required. 

CRWRC does not expect to engage volunteers for any type of general labour at this time, although may have opportunities for some specialists, primarily in the area of project management and housing standards.  If there are to be any opportunities in the future, we feel that may come in the form of work team projects, but again that will be determined upon the needs and the ultimate project proposals. Please continue to check CRWRC’s website for future updates.  www.crwrc.org  

If you are interested in having your name on file with us for future projects, we request that you respond back to me upon receipt of this notice. I will then record your name and contact information for future reference. Please also send us your resume/CV. Thank you again for your compassion and your willingness to give so freely of yourself. We have been humbled by your response. May God continue to bless you and your desire to serve him by serving the most vulnerable in our world. 

Shalom. 

Carol Sybenga

ServiceLink Program Manager  

ServiceLink is the Volunteer Program of the Christian Reformed Church, including CRWRC. Check our website at www.crcservicelink.org

Friday, January 15, 2010 10:31am

Tom Braak is leader of Faith in Action that Calvary has helped by funding an animal husbandry program.  This is his latest update from last night: 

Jean Rony went in today as local pastors thought we should take food and water in to a church that pleaded on the radio for such. I asked that we send water at first see how it goes. It was terrible. The strongest fought for it all, as I had anticipated. We will not do that again.

We are looking to send in a truckload of food, much that FIAI supplies, some that locals give, to a church near downtown. They will give to the community - hot meals as well as uncooked food. It is already a poor area and now it is largely destroyed. I met the pastor of the church as he moved to Verrettes last night with his family. His wife is from here. He brought all her relatives along. His brother in law works for the main branch of Fonkoze in Port and may be able to help us get funds. 

We plan to help this community in PAP as well as people in the area with medical bills. The latter is not as important as HAS (Albert Schweitzer Hospital) is asking donors for funds for such. We may help a community up the valley as many houses reportedly down, but I don't sense the need is as great there as in Port (PAP) so may not.

Tonight we are sleeping in the road in front of or home as they are predicting an aftershock as big as the first quak for sometime tonight or Friday. Downtown are hundreds of people milling about. People plan to sleep outside down ther but we will see. Most of our neighbors are not out - may be downtown... We are showing a Haitian movies for our household and a few neighbors. I only agreed to sleep outside for the adventure of it. When was the last time you got to sleep in the middle of the road!? I'm in the middle of the road now using wireless.

Good news - we have needed new batteries for some time.Was waiting for the new year to buy them. Hired someone to come and install and check out the solar panels on on roof. As a result we are charging batteries only about three to four hours a day down from twelve! With gas around $5 a gallon it is quite a savings. 

Thank you for your prayers.   Had a rough day and at one point wanted to leave Haiti - a very good friend of mine is likely dead as his store he co-manages is gone, two of three guest homes I like are gone, the two grocery stores I used are gone; maybe the others as well, gas is impossible to find (we bought 24 gallons - was it just yesterday morning?) Food is going to run out fast - no meat in the market for the first time ever.  The problem just seems too big to be fixed. i've never felt that way before about anything. 

Again, thanks for the prayers and financial support. What we plan to do is short term but will save lives. What is really needed is relocation of people from the city to places like Verrettes, or better yet, build new villages... PAP was never meant to hold two million people. A quarter of that would be plenty.

Tom Braak, Faith In Action

Thursday, January 14th, 8:00pm

Read and watch WZZM13's report on the Brink's adoption of two children in Haiti filmed at Calvary. Click Here

Thursday, January 14th, 2010 2:52PM

In response to the press release (see below) from HCJB, Calvary Church will be giving $5,000 towards a second medical team going to Haiti at the end of this month.  The teams will be working out of The Baptist Mission Hospital.  It holds 100 beds and is the closest hospital to Port Au Prince since the one hospital in Port Au Prince collapsed.  Many of the teams from Calvary have been to the Baptist Mission.

Joyce Johnson, Calvary Missions Director

Thursday, January 14th, 2010 11:47 AM


HCJB Global, Samaritan’s Purse Join Efforts in Haiti After Massive Quake
Sources: HCJB Global, Samaritan’s Purse

A quick response by HCJB Global Hands has put an emergency medical response team from Ecuador en route to the devastation on the Caribbean nation of Haiti after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 12.  In response to Samaritan Purse’s request for a medical help, International Healthcare Director Sheila Leech immediately began assembling a medical team including surgeons, family physicians, nurses, an anesthesiologist and a water engineer.  A registered nurse, Leech is heading the group as she has done in previous disasters around the world such as in 2005 when a medical team from Ecuador helped in quake relief efforts on Nias Island, Indonesia. Samaritan’s Purse is centering its relief efforts at a 100-bed hospital in Port-au-Prince operated by a local partner, Baptist Haiti Mission. The hospital, 20 miles from the quake’s epicenter, only suffered minor damage and has electricity from back-up generators.  The hospital’s director of operations, Kyrk Baker, called the situation “overwhelming” with patients lining the floor. “There are big box vans coming in with people to see a doctor,” he told Samaritan’s Purse. “It’s just unbelievable the amount of people that are lined up trying to get basic medical care.”

(complete story at http://calloftheandes.wordpress.com)

 

Thursday 1/14/2010 11:14AM

Update on GLOW Schools:
Chad Snyder, son of Phil Snyder is traveling from the Dominican Republic to Haiti today.  This is very good news because he will be able to assess the situation and he has a satelite phone so will be able to communicate to GLOW's offices in Michigan.  One contact of GLOW traveled from Cap Haitien to Port Au Prince yesterday and drove by Grande Gode school and said there was minimal damage.  This is great news!  GLOW does have a school in Port Au Prince which is still a concern. 

Joyce Johnson, Calvary Missions Director

Thu 1/14/2010 7:48 AM

Dear Friends,
We all slept well last night. We drove our two cars out of our driveway and slept in them in the street. This is because we are still experiencing after shocks and everyone is asked to not sleep in their homes. We were so exhausted that we slept pretty much the whole night. There were several strong aftershocks yet during the night and even now as I write this. We will be so thankful when they are finished.  Howard got on his MC this morning to look around. This will be his first time out.

We can communicate by e-mail because we have a satellite access from our neighbor. We have electricity from our inverter system. We still have some diesel for our generator so that can keep us going for awhile. We are not using much electricity especially since we are sleeping outside at night. We have very little water left, but are hoping our neighbors will allow us to get some water from their cistern by a hose.

The phones are hardly working at all. Yesterday morning we were able to use the phone, buts its been about 24 hours now and still no phone.  There are so many people we are wondering about! People from the US have asked us to search for their families and loved ones but we have been told not to go on the streets if at all possible. And where to begin?

At 10:00 we will be having a meeting with all the Sous Espwa people to make some plans and decisions. Please be praying for that.

Thanks again for your prayers!
Ruth and Howard Van Dam and family

Wed 1/13/2010

We have heard from World Harvest orphanage Wednesday evening and they are all okay.  There is some damage to the buildings but the children are okay, they are all sleeping outside and there is still no internet or cell phone coverage yet.

Joyce Johnson, Calvary Missions Director

January 13, 2010 11:30:35 AM 

By now we’ve all heard about the devastating earthquake that has struck Haiti. I’m sure you feel like I do. When you hear about something terrible happening to someone, you respond very differently if that someone is somebody you know and love. Well, you and I have come to know and love the people of Haiti.

Many of us have visited Haiti and now call persons there our brothers and sisters. Some of our teachers have invested in Haitian teachers and know them by name. Many of us have a picture of a Haitian child we support on our refrigerators. Our kids have painted rice bowls that children in Haiti eat from. Nearly 500 of us packed up over 100,000 bags of food for Haitians. For three years we’ve given sacrificially to our Mission Haiti Christmas offering. We’ve prayed over and over for the people and needs of Haiti.

So hearing of the devastation in Haiti, seeing the pictures of damage, is all very personal to us as a congregation. We are praying and grieving for individuals who struggle in the best of times and now must struggle even more in the worst of times. We want you to know that we are putting together a response to this heart-breaking disaster. First of all, we will gather this evening (Wednesday) at 6:30 in the auditorium for prayer. Can you spread the news to those you know about this time of prayer? Join others in interceding for our brothers and sisters in Haiti tonight.

Secondly, we are planning a love gift for disaster relief in Haiti for this coming Sunday. We will send out a note to homes later this week to fill you in with the details. At a time like this, it is critical to get needed funds to those who are on the ground in Haiti and can do something immediately to address the needs that this disaster has created.  I hope to see you tonight as we travel through prayer to Haiti and call for God’s mercy. Let us find ways to live out the recent raditude of the Sermon on the Mount: The disciple of Christ has a natural affinity for the down and out and delights to tell them of their great value to God.

Frank Wevers, Calvary Senior Pastor

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:36 AM

News from the Van Dams in Haiti

Dear Friends,
Thank you all for writing and sharing your concerns. I want you to know that we are physically fine. It was a terrifying night of after shock after shock. We joined our neighbors trying to get some sleep in the street last night. The people in the ravine beside our house were praising and singing to God all night long. Still this morning we feel after shocks but just slight ones.

WE are now beginning to clean up our home slowly. There is a lot of damage. We're not sure if its actually livable. Both our water cisterns have leaked out all our water. Which we have no water access. We have walls broken down outside our house and serious cracks inside. Please pray for wisdom as we decide what to do.

We are hearing reports from friends and co-workers. Most are fine and we are so thankful. But we have also heard some horror stories and we are burdened.

Please keep praying. Pray that we will find peace and feel safe. Thank you.
Ruth and Howard Van Dam and Family
Port-au-Prince, Haiti 


January 13, 2010 8:33:36 AM

As you know, at 4:47pm Tuesday, Haiti had a devastating earthquake registering 7.3 which brought much of Port Au Prince, Haiti's capital, to the ground and caused extensive damage in other areas. The quake was centered just 10 miles southwest of the capita. The U.S. Geological Survey is saying that this is the worst earthquake to shake this region in 200 years.
 
We have heard from people we support in Haiti through the internet, so I wanted to give you an update.
Tom and Fecilta in Verrettes, Haiti which is about 80 miles north of PAP felt the earthquake. They do not have damage to their home and they are ok. Ad and Coby DeBlaeij who live near where the center of the earthquake hit have no damage to their home and are ok.

Howard and Ruth VanDam and family are ok. I will let you know when I get an update on the Ministry Center and the MCD building we worked on this September.

Phil Snyder is not in Haiti, don't know how much damage to the schools yet, he will update me when he gets information from his directors.

Haven't heard from World Harvest Orphanage, will send out an update when I hear.
 
I will let you know what Calvary's plans are to help with this. In the meantime, please right now! say a prayer for Haiti.Prayers are powerful and needed more now than ever! Pray that God's people will trust in Him alone, that they may reach out to the broken, hurting, and homeless. Pray that God will protect his people from evil and hide them under His wings. Pray that Haitians will seek God's face.
 
Joyce Johnson, Calvary Missions Director

  • Haiti Teacher Summit BLOG
    Follow what happens during this trip!
  • Haiti Youth Trip BLOG
    Student's ministering with CRWRC.
  • For information and updates regarding Haiti Earthquake Relief, please visit our partners sites of GLOW Ministries, Faith In Action, and CRWRC.
 
__________________
 
   
This video was put together with footage from the HCJB Global medical team that went to Haiti with funds from Calvary.

 

 

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