15th January 2010 - Haiti
Below is the most up-to-date communication we have on the Haiti situation. Many of you have been phoning up... all your calls are appreciated, as are your prayers and support!
Dear Prayer supporters,
You will have heard of the devastation in Haiti due to the recent earthquake out there. Please pray for that situation. We want to inform you that our OMS missionaries are safe - there has been little effect where they work in Cap Haitian in the north of the country. Please pray for all the OMS team out there at this time. From the UK we have Pamela Simpson (teaching at the seminary) who has been in email contact today to say that she is ok. Julie Briggs is currently training in the USA and will be heading to Haiti at the end of this month to work in the medical clinic as a physiotherapist. The training ends on the 29th Jan, and she is just booking flights for her onward travel.
Following are some excerpts from emails, facebook posts etc from the field:
The OMS field leader Brett Bundy has travelled to Port au Prince with several other OMS missionaries to ascertain damage to OMS properties, and to investigate ways in which OMS can contribute to the relief effort.
The Villa (OMS guesthouse) is structurally sound and our staff and friends there are well. Praise the Lord! The outer wall collapsed, but other than that, there is no damage. Today (Thursday) Brett hopes to contact the pastor at our church in Port-au-Prince and check on them. He also hopes to find out how we can best distribute aid. Is the church standing? Can we use the church as a distribution centre? Is there another place that will work better? He hopes to find answers to these questions today.
So, please pray:
- as we gather needed supplies (Brett says there is a need for water, first aid, and food)
- for a safe distribution centre in Port to facilitate getting aid to those who are suffering
- for protection getting supplies to the centre (Art Duerkson from Canada is in Haiti at the moment helping to work out the details from there)
In the north, it has been raining since church on Sunday morning. Before Brett left yesterday morning the Mayor of Cape Haitian asked for some help with refugees in Cape Haitian. Many people have had to leave their homes in the area of Petite Anse (where the Radio 4VEH transmitters are) due to flooding. This is small in comparison to the devastation in Port - but still a concern. Also there are some reports from Cap Haitien this morning that the main bridge going from the town to the airport is cracked and not passable.
OMS will be involved in the relief effort. We are just in the process of ascertaining exactly what form that relief aid will take. If you would like to add your support to our efforts, any donations can be sent to Project #405120 - Haiti Relief Fund via the OMS Manchester office at 1 Sandileigh Ave, Manchester M20 3LN.
Please pray for Haiti at this time. Keep up to date with the situation through the news and the internet, and pray accordingly.
If you have any further questions please do contact our Manchester office on 0161 283 7992.
Many thanks for your support and God bless you.
- The OMS Manchester team