THE CHILDREN OF PAP NEED YOU

THOUSANDS of homeless children orphaned by the Haiti earthquake are just wandering the streets of Port-au-Prince. I received word yesterday of an abandoned preemie baby that needed a place to go.... there are stories upon stories since the quake hit..... all ending the same..... nowhere for these children to go, no one to care for them. These children have been tugging at my heartstrings since the disaster hit..... and I believe they are tugging at yours as well.

What can we do?? We know that we can't help the thousands of children but we can help many. We will be working with Luc Bouquet in Lilavois (outskirts of PAP) to open an orphanage. We have plenty of room we just need funding to provide for the children. WILL YOU HELP?? Together if we each help just one child..... many of these children can have a loving home. I will see to it. Will you sponsor 1 child at $40./month?? THEY NEED YOU.....THEY NEED US.

Please send me an email to let me know of your pledge to these children so we can go ahead and get started. disasterrelief@hotmail.com

Your support for the children can be made through PayPal on our website: http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org or sent to:

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team

810 Hollywood Blvd.

West Melbourne, Fl. 32904

ANOTHER AFTERSHOCK

A 4.7 aftershock struck 20 miles from Port-au-Prince early this morning. This is the second 4.7 in 2 days. Please continue to keep the Haitian people and volunteers in your prayers during this extremely difficult time.

Another Haiti Earthquake

A 4.7 earthquake hit Haiti this morning approx. 20 w of Port-au-Prince.
I've been in touch with Luc. He said he felt it and it was very scary but he is fine. He hasn't heard of any damage yet but feels that more of the buildings with significant cracks were probably affected.
I will update more as the information becomes available.

HAITI NEEDS YOU

I'm in daily contact with our people in Port-au-Prince. Yesterday I received word from Luc. He said it had rained all night and he had been up since 1:00 am with the rains and calls from those that are living outside. The panic......the desperation..... the despair...... it's so unreal.

Haiti is out of the news now and to those of us away from the death and destruction.... it may seem like everything should be "back to normal" by now...... we forget..... we continue on with our daily lives. IT ISN'T "back to normal"...... and won't be for a very long time......for many years to come.

Let's not forget...... Lets do something about it. Together WE can make a difference in the lives of the Haitian people. Help is getting to them....slowly. Their hearts are open...... they are attending the worship services in the makeshift "church buildings"......they're allowing Christ into their lives and being baptized.....only GOD can take such a tragedy and turn it into a blessing.

The Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team (DRT) has been sending in basic needs supplies, medical supplies, tents and volunteers. All of this is happening because either individually or through your church congregations you are becoming part of the "team". Whether its been through financial donations, medical/basic needs supplies, volunteering, etc. YOU are allowing GOD to work through your life helping those in such dire need. I beg you to PLEASE..... don't let it stop. We need you to continue helping..... please tell others about the desperate need of the Haitian people in and around the Port-au-Prince area. THEY NEED YOU......THEY NEED GOD.

YES..... we have a plan :-) Mark and 2 other DRT coordinators will be heading to PAP next week. They will be staying at least 2 months and helping Luc (our nurse practitioner on the ground) The following is the "immediate needs" plan that will be taking place:

1. Tent City established on Luc's property on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince for over 100 people who up until now have been sleeping outside. This will include showers... supplies.... 2 meals daily.

2. Sid Smith (DRT Food Coordinator) will be onsite to help in preparing the meals.

3. Bible Studies will be made available.

4. A school will be set up for the children.

5. A clinic will be set up


Right now you're asking yourself......"how can I help" aren't you????? I'm glad you asked :-)
Below is what is needed immediately to get things set up. Let me mention here that the "rainy" season begins in March so we don't have much time..... actually no time, as it has already begun to rain so this is URGENT.

1. PRAYERS-- 1st and foremost we ask you to be in constant prayer for those affected by this disaster.

2. DONATIONS-- It's very expensive getting equipment, supplies, food, etc. to Haiti as well as the providing the continual needs of the Haitian people.

** Let me also mention here that the Haitian people are a very hard working and proud people. They have lost family members.....their belongings....their jobs..... But they are willing to work to make things better they just need help......My help....Your help....

3. VOLUNTEERS-- We are in desperate need of doctors, nurses, contractors, teachers.... you name it.... YOU ARE NEEDED.


LET US NOT FORGET!!!!

Donations can be made online through PayPal on the DRT website http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/ or by postal to:

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904

Thanks to so many of you donating items.....these are some of the supplies being shipped to Haiti.

HAITI PHASE I

(Left) -Luc Bouquet -- Clinic in Port-au-Prince

It all sounds pretty good on the surface..... We are sending tents, basic needs supplies, food and medical supplies to Haiti. Thanks to so many of you through your monetary and supply donations DRT is able to help some of the Haitian people.......... While this is great and good things are happening.....like the 7 baptisms through Jean Robert at the Delmas 43 church this past Sunday!!...... SO MUCH MORE is still needed.

Over 1,000 members of the church in Port-au-Prince are still without any type of housing.....this doesn't even include the remaining 3 million people in Port-au-Prince.

The DRT's focus is currently on the immediate needs. Below is the beginning phase we are working on.

PHASE I

1. Clinics- DRT's Medical Coordinator (Luc Bouquet) is in charge of a clinic in Port-au-Prince.
We are also assessing and planning the opening of a possible clinic near the Sonlight Childrens Home.

CURRENT NEEDS FOR THE CLINICS--
Medical Supplies-- Any/All including pain medications, antibiotics, antibiotic creams, diabetes medications, blood pressure medications, Malaria medications, bandages, etc.
Medical Personnel --
Ob-Gyn
Pediatricians
Internists
Nurses
Monetary Donations


2. Food
DRT will be purchasing 50# bags of rice, beans, oatmeal as well as pasta for distribution in Port-au-Prince.
CURRENT NEEDS FOR FOOD:
Monetary Donations

3. Housing and Basic Needs
DRT is accepting donations as well as purchasing 6-8 person tents. These are being sent into Port-au-Prince and distributed through the local churches.
DRT is sending family buckets and personal care packs. Many of you are making these up for us and we appreciate it so much!

CURRENT NEEDS FOR HOUSING AND BASIC NEEDS:
Monetary donations
6-8 Person Tents (New or gently used)
Family Buckets/Personal Care Packs (list of items on the DRT website)
http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/


THE HAITIAN PEOPLE NEED OUR HELP!! WE HAVE TO HELP THEM... These are tough times financially for everyone, I understand that. However things get accomplished by ALL of us giving a little.

Donations can be made through PayPal on the DRT website or by postal mail to:
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904

To donate items needed, please contact me for shipping instructions. 937-308-2259

HOW YOU CAN HELP HAITI

As most of you know by now, we have people doing assessments as well as finding locations for volunteers/command centers in Haiti and hope to have things in place very soon for those of you who want to volunteer.

I have been taking calls all day and night thanks to so many of you who want to help with the Haiti effort. The last 2 weeks have been spent making phone calls to international agencies, congregations here in the states and anywhere else I can think of to get help shipping supplies in to Haiti as well as flying volunteers in. This has definitely been a challenge and can become frustrating. Working out of the country is so different from disasters here in the states. When we're working in the states, we are on site and set up within 24-48 hours. So if you're used to volunteering with us and wondering why it's taking so long to get set up, please try to be patient. We hope to have things in place very soon. But we want it to be organized also like you've come to expect. Much more can be accomplished that way.

Mark is expected to return to the states sometime today. We will then get things in motion to really begin helping the Haitian people. Hopefully I can have pictures uploaded by tomorrow.

If you would like to volunteer (we will need many) please go to the DRT website to register. Don't worry about the arrival and departure dates that it asks for since we don't have schedules made out yet. I'm thinking we will most likely be taking in teams for 1 week at a time to begin with.
I will update with specifics as soon as I hear from Mark.
In the meantime......Please tell everyone you know about DRT's effort in Haiti. There is such a tremendous, overwhelming need there. We will need volunteers, supplies and funding.
WE NEED YOU!!

You can donate online through PayPal on the DRT website or by postal mail to:
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Fl. 32904