5th February 2010 - Haiti Update
"Since the evening of Jan. 12, life for those living in Haiti has drastically changed. The earthquake that rocked the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas caused more than 150,000 deaths. Hundreds of thousands are now homeless and without food or water. It has been a heart-wrenching time for many as loved ones’ bodies have been inhumanely dumped into common graves out of sheer necessity.
In the midst of this indescribable devastation, thousands of relief workers from many countries have poured into Haiti to bring hope to those who are unable to help themselves. Our One Mission Society team, based in Cap Haitien (approximately 150 miles north of Port-au-Prince), has joined many other mission organizations to show Christ’s love by taking food, water and supplies to the needy. Our missionaries in Haiti have transported several large trucks filled with rice, beans, sugar, water and cooking oil, along with needed medical supplies. A trip from Cap to Port takes seven hours one way due to the poor road conditions, yet our team on the ground continues to send truckloads of supplies several times a week.
We have a medical clinic set up near Port. OMS has sent several medical teams to treat the wounded survivors. To date, more than 2,000 patients have been treated and of those, nearly 300 have made decisions for Christ (many Haitian Christians, including six of our seminary students and staff, have come alongside the workers to share the Good News with each patient). Please pray for these medical personnel as they minister to these hurting people.
OMS also has a permanent medical clinic in the north in Cap Haitien. We are seeing our patient load increase daily because of displaced survivors from Port that are fleeing to Cap, Haiti’s second largest city and a major center of ministry for OMS. This migration has created a food problem in the north, so we are now providing food through our Emmaus churches (the denomination that OMS works with in Haiti) to feed thousands of people.
Our field missionaries are assessing the current situation to determine what One Mission Society’s next best step should be. We continue to assist, as able, with immediate needs, but we want to plan for the long-term. OMS has served in Haiti for more than 50 years. We loved the Haitian people long before the earthquake, and we will continue to love them long after the media pulls its cameras from the scene. Join us as we join God in reaching Haiti for Christ. We are expectant about what God will do. Positive things are already beginning to happen. One OMS missionary says, “The people here are calm, and you do not hear Voodoo drums at night--just praise and worship. Haiti is changing. God is working and is faithful.”
Later this month, we will begin sending in trained trauma and grief counselors. Prayer is vitally needed. Pray for all those who are working in these heartbreaking conditions, assisting those who survived. Pray for the scores of people who have been left without family, home or food. Pray earnestly that God will continue to enable the many Christians in the country to show the love of Christ and lead people to faith in Christ, which will give them hope for the future. We will also be monitoring the emotional, mental and spiritual needs of our OMS team. It is almost impossible to describe what they are facing daily.
Many have asked about our Starfish Kids child sponsorship program. Here is an update from our coordinators in Cap Haitien: “All of the Starfish kids and schools are located in the north (Cap Haitien area), and we were unaffected by the earthquake. All schools in Haiti have responded to a government request and closed on January 13 until a time to be determined by officials. Pastor M. continues to oversee the day-to-day operations of Starfish but because the schools are closed, it has been very quiet. We want to assure all sponsors that all of the children are well.”
Our radio station in Cap, Radio 4VEH continues to be used of God to bring hope and comfort to the many listeners who have depended upon this station for up to 50 years as their main source of news and Christian programming. The station is fulfilling a vital ministry at this time. It has been broadcasting in Port daily from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., in addition to its schedule in Cap. Please pray with us that God will supply the additional funds to buy the fuel needed to keep the station on the air for these additional hours.
In addition to your prayer support, we continue to need your financial assistance. We are using the money to buy much-needed food and medical supplies. Many are responding generously, and if you also feel led to give, you can give online or you can mail your check to: OMS, 1 Sandileigh Avenue, Didsbury, Manchester M20 3LN. Please mark your gift for Project #405120.
NOTICE: If your gift is Gift Aid eligible, please do indicate this. We have declaration forms available if you would like us to mail you one (or several).
Thank you for your faithful prayers and generous gifts. To date, more than $150,000 (£96,000) has been donated for Haiti relief efforts. We will keep you updated here as new information becomes available."