Dr. Delia Nuesch-Olver, Area Director of Latin America, and Dr. Dale Woods, Director of Mobilization, report what is happening to the Haitian Free Methodist Church just 10 days after being devastated by the earthquake. Check out what they are doing to help and find out the ways you can help your brothers and sisters in Christ.
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Haiti Update
Reported from Port-au-Prince by Delia Nüesch-Olver on behalf of the second response team.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
“Will we ever get over this trauma?” Gaity said. “I had an appointment with Pastor Jeanne but she was praying; so I went downstairs to wait for her to finish. Then the earthquake happened.”
“It was terrible, terrible; and now it is terribly sad, terribly sad. But this I know: God is in charge.” – Robenson Herman, Pastor Jeanne Acheson-Munos’ translator at the Bible Institute.
While Ken LaBelle and Larry Judy checked buildings for structural safety, Andy Yardy, Dr. Dale Woods and I visited schools and met and prayed with pastors and Free Methodist brothers and sisters. Some of those we prayed with are among the thousands and thousands living in “tents” made of sheets draped from poles.
There are deep cracks on the roads and hillsides that have slid into roads, making driving a nightmare. It takes hours and hours to get anywhere.
We have been in buildings where the destruction took our breath away, such as L’Eglise and School Rensberry Metodist Libre. We saw mile after mile of collapsed buildings; some looking like powder. And that was on the main roads. When we went into the communities we realized that many people – many of our people – are living in the midst of total destruction.
At the Fontamara FMC people told us what happened: a crowd was waiting for prayer meeting to start when the earthquake happened. Four died. The local pastor reports that many children have died in that neighborhood of Port-au-Prince – some of whom are “our” sponsored children through International Child Care Ministries. If schools had been in session, many more would have died. I walked into the site of a FM school and saw the blackboard: “January 12, 2010. Homework for tomorrow.” That school is no more.
Food and water are huge issues. We prayed for many people; we sang together and brought them words of encouragement. As we left, they often said: “But we still need food and water.” Heart wrenching.
We had the joy of finding some people whose friends in the States had asked us to check whether they had survived.
This is a dangerous place. Even if there are no more aftershocks there is still much physical danger. Precarious buildings that are still standing might not survive a thunderstorm. If the building is on a hillside, a mudslide will take other buildings with them.
Dr. Dale Woods and I did a training video for all VISA teams so they know what to expect if God calls them to come here. We strongly recommend that all FM VISA teams watch this video and discuss it with their spiritual leaders before coming to Haiti.
We understand a FM medical team arrived at the Dessalines Hospital (3 hours north of Port-au-Prince) today at 4 PM, but cell phone towers were knocked out, making communication a huge problem for everyone in Port-au-Prince throughout the day.
As we look to the future, there is a great need of small teams of structural engineers to determine the safety of all buildings – churches, schools and pastors’ homes. Many of our pastors are homeless, living in the streets with their families. Their homes need to be assessed for safety so they can be free to minister to others.
We saw people walking – just walking – with a completely vacant look in their eyes.
With the blessings of Bishop Roller and Dr. Art Brown we have asked Jean Marc to become Field Coordinator for FMWM response. He is a Haitian leader, qualified for this role. He will be assisted by Pastor Rick Ireland as his administrator. Pastor Jean Marc is assembling his team for this role.
Please continue to pray for us. Dr. Woods and I are both preaching tomorrow (Sunday) in different churches.
The Free Methodist Church in Haiti
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Port-au-Prince
Reported by Delia Nüesch-Olver on behalf of Team A
Friday, Jan 22, 2010
We flew to the Dominican Republic yesterday where we were met by Kendra and Sammy Luna, members of the Davison MI Free Methodist Church. We traveled together for some 3 ½ hours towards the border where we had a short night sleep.
Today we drove into Haiti. Once we saw the conditions of a road never intended for relief traffic, it was not difficult to understand why the delivery of aid has been slow. We were part of a three-vehicle convoy but it was bumper-to-bumper traffic all way to Port-au-Prince.
The destruction in Port-au-Prince is unbelievable, and I am told we have not yet seen the worst, which is downtown. Our first stop was the Friends of Haiti Organization (FOHO) building. There are no words to express the shock of seeing that building destroyed by the earthquake. It is beyond comprehension that anyone inside did survive, and it is clear nothing could have been done to rescue the four (three missionaries and the caretaker) people who lost their lives in the collapse.
We met with General Superintendent Clovis and some of his leaders and brought greetings and love from Free Methodists and fellow believers around the world. After we prayed together we sat down to discuss a strategy for relief and reconstruction, which we will start implementing tomorrow.
We will:
The first medical team arrives Sunday. An ICCM (International Child Care Ministries) team arrives Wednesday. The first construction team arrives the following week.
The Dominican Republic General Conference sent a team with food and water to the Haitian people – which is being distributed even as I write these words. For many reasons, this is very meaningful and beautiful to see, in spite of the tragedy.
Today I met several heroes. We had the opportunity to personally thank Gaity, Mollard and others who risked their lives on the day of the earthquake to save Katie Zook and Jack Munos on our FM team. We cannot believe they got them out. They join us in mourning the loss of our Free Methodist missionaries, Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West and Gene Dufour. Andy Yardy filmed comments from Haitian people as they mourned the loss of our friends in the FOHO building.
People we met seemed to have moved out of their initial shock and into the reality of what this will mean for Haiti long term.
Thank you for your giving last Sunday. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to personally deliver significant amounts of money to the people of Haiti. The road ahead will be long and difficult, but together we will be able to accomplish what none of us could do alone. Please make sure that if your church desires to sends a team to help with the reconstruction that you work through the FMWM VISA Office, so our choices honors the priority list of our Haitian leadership.
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Bishop David Roller received the following report from Response Team A at 9:30 a.m. (EST).
Share:The team was one hour away from the Haitian border. They experienced minor vehicle troubles which have been resolved. The team is traveling in a three vehicle convoy – one truck with the team and the other two trucks with Dominican Free Methodists. The trucks are loaded with relief supplies such as water, fuel and emergency provisions. As soon as the team arrives in Port-au-Prince, they will meet with Haitian church leaders to continue relief efforts. The team is doing well and asks for your continued prayers.
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Jan 21
Tonight members of the Haiti Earthquake Response Team A arrived Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The five persons team includes FMWM’s Director of Mobilization, Area Director for Latin American Ministries, FMCNA’s videographer, a structural engineer, and a long-time FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) leader. The “A” team will be on the ground in Port-au-Prince until the Tuesday (26 Jan 10).
Priority will be given to:
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Jan 19
from International Child Care Ministries
Share:Updates from Haiti
News continues to trickle about ICCM staff, friends, facilities, and conditions in the area of Haiti affected by last Tuesday’s 7.0 earthquake. Here is a synopsis of news about ICCM concerns to date:
- ICCM Field Coordinator Mondale Perkins Oscar is alive and unharmed. However, he, like most, have lost everything and are living in temporary shelters.
- Many other Haitian church leaders and ICCM staff have been found alive. All Haitian Free Methodist superintendents in the affected area are alive and well. Photo: Bishop Roller with several Haitian church members
- ICCM sponsors over 8,900 children in Haiti,1,867 of which live in the Port-au-Prince area. Specific information about their safety is still not accessible.
- The ICCM Office, Parc Chretien FM Church and ICCM School (HA500), all located together in Port-au-Prince, are damaged but standing. We do not know about ICCM’s 52 other school buildings across the island.
- The Friends Of Haiti Organization (FOHO) building, adjacent to these other facilities, collapsed.
- VISA volunteer Katie Zook and missionary Jack Munos were rescued from the rubble of the FOHO building within a few hours. Both are in ICU but stable and improving in Miami, Florida area hospitals. ICCM Director Linda Adams has been making personal visits to Katie and Jack.
Jeanne with Vanderlin- Missionary Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West and Gene Defour were in the FOHO building when it collapsed but their bodies have not been recovered after nearly a week of rescue efforts. They are considered missing and presumed not alive. We grieve deeply with their families and friends. Jeanne, from Indianapolis and known to many in our U.S. ICCM office, was a tireless advocate for Haitian children and real ambassador for ICCM.
- U.S. Free Methodist Bishop David Roller visited the site of the collapsed FOHO facility on Saturday. After rescue efforts ended, Bishop Roller held a brief memorial service for Jeanne, Merle and Gene. When it is possible to recover their remains, these will buried near the site. Video excerpts of that memorial service at at this link.
- Bishop Roller delivered needed relief supplies at ICCM School HA500, which has been used as a relief shelter site. He spoke words of encouragement and solidarity to many Free Methodists and friends who gathered.
- Free Methodist Media Director Andy Yardy was with Bishop Roller in Haiti and is returning to the U.S. today with insightful video, some of which is posted at the Free Methodist Haiti response website: www.helphaitiheal.org.
How You Can Help
Please continue to join us in vigilant prayer for all who are affected by and responding to this natural disaster. May Christ’s love be conveyed in unsurpassed ways in the response.
ICCM is responding to this crisis through our Special Projects Fund. All donations to this fund at this time are being directed to Haiti relief and recovery (unless otherwise designated).
Relief supplies of water, Sawyer water filters, medical supplies, and food have already been delivered by Free Methodists. More is on the way and even more will be needed.
The Free Methodist Church is continuing to mobilize its response resources to be part of what is becoming a global compassionate relief effort.
You can follow developments, learn more about Free Methodist responses, our cooperation with other relief and recovery efforts, and consider personal involvement at www.helphaitiheal.org
ICCM is Twittering immediate updates on the situation in Haiti at www.twitter.com/intlchildcare
ICCM will continue to send updates via this special “ICCM Bulletin” to the sponsors and friends for whom we have e-mail addresses. You may also check our website – www.childcareministries.org – for information and other ways you can respond.
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Below are some of the news stories produced by local television stations:
Fox 59
Wish TV 8
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Jan 16
This morning Bishop Roller and others from the relief team traveled to Port-au-Prince to deliver supplies and meet with church leaders. They met at International Child Care Ministries School 500 where hundred of survivors are huddled in a makeshift relief shelter. For them the trip, meant a lifeline of clean-safe water, food and fuel.
While in the city, a preliminary assessment of damage to International Child Care Ministries schools and churches was conducted while meeting with pastors in the area. Logistical questions were posed and some answered. What is needed? Where does it need to go? How do we get it to the people that need it the most? The questions were posed to those with the best understanding of the situation, those living there.
Below are pictures from the day. Check back later in the day. We will post a video of the days events.
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Fervently praying friends,
Some of you have prayed through the night. Many of you are led by the Holy Spirit to pray throughout the day. God is at work. God is ALL for all (yes, each one) in all (absolutely every situation.) Praise and thanks to our Lord!
He is at work in your life, and He is at work in Haiti.
Imagine the emotion with each phone call:
A cell phone connection is established with Haitian General Superintendent Clovis. He reports Assistant Pastor Gilot was able to connect at FOHO (Free Methodist Friends of Haiti Organization) site with Andy Yardy and Samuel Luna who traveled in a convoy with World Vision to Port-au-Prince. Andy is shooting video as events unfold.
Pastor Brenda Young reports the Clear Blue team returned safely to Cleveland last night.
PNW Superintendent Matt Whitehead calls from Miami with a report of continued recuperation for Jack Munos and Katie Zook.
A vital e-mail from Superintendent Delamy Bazile reports:
Pastor Devariste’s wife needs medical attention; their house was greatly affected.
Gardy is OK.
Pastor Pierre P. was saved miraculously, but church collapsed.
Pastor Zamor is OK but damage was sustained to house and church.
Pastor Innocent’s wife died.
Many church members are unaccounted for.
Dale Woods and FMWM team call stateside government officials working for excavation of FOHO building. Calls are being dispatched and received in rapid succession.
Local news affiliates interview to learn of hometown residents affected. May Christ be glorified to learn of their commitment to Jesus!
Phone connection was established with missionaries Dee Ann Snyder and James Snyder. They arrived in Miami after many hours of waiting in the U.S. Embassy evacuation lounge in Haiti.
Hours later, a phone call came from VISA volunteer Sherri Cole, while riding on the bus to the Dominican Republic after her evacuation.
A long-awaited call came from Dr. Dan Snyder, Russ Cole and Pastor Arron Swenson that they’ve arrived in the Dominican Republic after driving through Haiti.
In the wee hours of the morning, phone communication takes place with David Roller attempting to rendezvous today with Andy Yardy, Samuel Luna and Haitian FM church leadership. Only as Emmanuel is with them will this be accomplished today.
And now a phone call comes from Kendra Luna in Santo Domingo! Sherri Cole is with her in the car. They are riding to meet her husband Russ Cole, Dr. Dan Snyder, Pastor Arron Swenson, Kelly Perkins and Jason Sheets–coming together from three different locations.
Countless scraps of paper of feverishly written notes by phones and computers in Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Washington, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Virginia, Idaho, Canada, South Africa, etc. You can imagine your FMC family in orchestration.
Jeanne Acheson-Munos always signs her communication, “For His Kingdom to fully come to Haiti.” Let it be so.
Yvonne
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Short tour through the city of Port Au Prince stops at United Nations search and rescue locations and a shelter at an International Child Care School where medical supplies, water filtration equipment and other much needed resources were delivered.
You help is needed. Give Now! Make a difference today.
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