Three Brazilian leaders traveled to Haiti Mon., March 1, taking donations and tents. Venezuela also joined the countries sending an offering for the relief and recovery efforts.

Your funds at work:

1. Emergency funds are being used to purchase rice and oil to supplement distributions of free items acquired from various aid organizations.
2. A large number of doses to immunize for tetanus and typhoid have been acquired.
3. Resources are being used to relocate pastors and others who are living in refugee camps where people are surrounded by filth and the potential for disease is great. Three areas have been identified to set up secure camps with adequate sanitation.
4. Through the work of the Dominican Church, 80 shelterboxes will be received soon. These tents are larger and sturdier than many of the tents pastors currently have.
5. Plans are underway for demolition of FM churches and schools that cannot be repaired. These buildings pose a major safety threat if not demolished as soon as possible.
6. Grants are being made available to demolish and/or build temporary homes before the hurricane season.

Continue to pray for the Leadership Consultation taking place through Thurs., March 4 to strategize, pray and chart a course for the maturing Haitian Church.

Pray for these individuals currently ministering in Haiti:

• Missionaries Rick Ireland and FOHO members Larry and Alice Judy
• Medical/maintenance personnel, including Dan and DeeAnn Snyder, Cedric Johnson, Jerry Rusher, Greg Ingle, Garrett Stanley, Randy and Jane Wynn, and Jim Rowan, based out of Dessalines Hospital
• Vahan Sipantizi, with a team of 6, and Arron Swenson, digging wells
• Team of 18 led by Ron Hansen (Arlington FMC, WA) in Port-au-Prince
• Team of three engineers to provide structural assessments
• VISA Voyagers Russ and Sherrie Cole (Quincy, WA)
• VISA Affiliate Steve Hersey (Wilmore FMC, KY)

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Dr. Dan Snyder, Dessalines Hospital – Saturday, February 13

We are seeing a lot of emotional trauma and misinformation. The country as a whole is spending three days in government-mandated time off and prayer. Preachers in the country are frequently preaching non-biblical messages. One example is: the reason the earthquake happened is because we as a Haitian people knew we lived in an earthquake area and should have built our homes with wood. But instead we ignored this and built with brick and iron, and God is punishing us for this. (In other words, we ignored “common sense” recommendations and God is punishing us.)

Pastor Robenson was in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit. He was waiting to meet with Jeanne (Acheson-Munos) when he received a phone call from his girlfriend asking him to meet her. … The earthquake hit as he turned to leave FOHO; he saw the building going down. His girlfriend is a nursing student, and only she and one other classmate who were not in the downtown school building survived – 85 died. Jean Castel, our hospital administrator of 23 years, lost his oldest daughter and multiple other family members. Leon, our accountant, lost six family members. Sydney, our pharmacist, lost 16 members of his family … and on. The hospital has set up a counseling program for any patient who arrives and agrees to see our chaplains.

I have only had interactions with a few staff members so far but none of them are sleeping well or functioning very well. I have never seen them like this. A huge support for them is going to be feeding, building construction and health care; however the pastoral staff also need their emotional and spiritual issues addressed. Basic education of the Biblical message concerning pain and suffering should be part of the process to thwart the misinformation circulating in country.

Dessalines was very busy the first 2-3 weeks treating earthquake trauma victims. We are now seeing mostly follow up patients and are shifting into the more routine care. The obvious problem is that many do not have funds for payment. These are in categories: first those who were in the earthquake and have lost everything and are living in the street or in a U.N. tent in Port-au-Prince or with a local family or friend, all of whom are coming for health care. Second are the local families themselves who are having to feed and support friends and relatives and are already broke due to the economic stress of this situation. The hospital earlier made an announcement that they would treat earthquake victims for free for one month.

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Praise God Jack Munos arrived safely at his brother’s home in Texas where he will be staying for the remainder of his recovery.

Pray for individuals currently ministering in Haiti:

• Missionary Rick Ireland
• Medical personnel, including Drs. Dan Snyder, Joel Miller, Tim Dew and Jerry Rusher, based out of Dessalines Hospital
• Vahan Sipantizi, digging wells
• Team of six led by Jim Rowan (Texas) at Dessalines Hospital serving in maintenance/repair and medical
• Team of six led by Rick Stetner (Quincy FMC, WA) in Port-au-Prince, construction
• Team of four led by Eric Messer (CrossRoads FMC, Ottawa Lake, MI) providing an eye clinic for those who lost their glasses in the earthquake

Leaving this week:

• Team of 18 led by Ron Hansen (Arlington FMC, WA) leave Wed., Feb.17, for Port-au-Prince (one doctor will be based at Dessalines)
• Team of three engineers leave Thurs., Feb 18, to provide structural assessments

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Dr. Delia Nuesch-Olver oversees all our FMWM missionaries and work in Latin American including Haiti. She and Bishop David Roller co-chair the Haiti Response Team which is led by Pastor John Marc Zamor of Haiti with missionary Rick Ireland as administrator. Larry and Alice Judy, members of FOHO (Friends of Haiti) provide logistical support and Dr. Dan Snyder oversees FM work at Dessalines Hospital.

The team of seven in Haiti who are overseeing relief, recovery and development efforts include: John Marc Zamor; Rick Ireland; Haitian superintendents Clovis, Desvariste and Clodius; Haiti ICCM Field Coordinator Mondale Perkins Oscar and Pastor George Valcourt.

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Katie Zook was able to be moved to a Seattle area hospital on Friday, February 5, where she will continue her recovery.

Pray for individuals currently ministering in Haiti:

• Drs. Dan Snyder, Joel Miller and Tim Drew have joined the medical team led by Dr. Jerry Rusher, based out of Dessalines Hospital.
• Continuing to minister are: missionary Rick Ireland; a team from Spring Arbor FMC (Spring Arbor MI) through Feb. 12; a medical team from Yakima, WA, through Feb. 14; and well-drillers Vahan Sipantizi, Curt King and Kevin Kate.

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Injured

Jack Munos and Katie Zook (Arlington FMC, Arlington WA) remain in ICU in a Miami hospital. Both continue to improve. Katie was on a 2 year VISA assignment which began September 2009.  She was assisting Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos in day-to-day ministry and helping with hospitality at the FOHO Guesthouse.

Dan and DeeAnn Snyder

DeeAnn Snyder has arrived safely in Michigan. Dan is expected to arrive late this evening. James, their son who was with them in Haiti, returns to his college in the U.S. this evening.

VSIA Ministries Volunteers

Among the Free Methodists serving in Haiti at the time of the earthquake were several VISA Ministries volunteers. Melanie Brooks, Chris Browne, Dave Hornish, and Bruce Oberlin, part of the Clear Blue Global Water Project from the Cornerstone FMC (Akron, OH), returned home safely late yesterday evening.

Working in conjunction with the Clear Blue team, Rev. Arron Swenson and Jason Sheets from Cornerstone Community Church (Pendelton, OR) and Kelly Perkins from the Deer Flat FMC (Caldwell, ID) are expected to arrive in Seattle this evening.

Russ and Sherrie Cole from the Quincy FMC (Quincy, WA), who have been in Haiti since November helping with guesthouse management/hospitality, bookkeeping and maintenance, depart from Miami on Monday.

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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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This from http://www.fohomissions.org/

As far as we have heard it looks like Katie Zook and Jack Munos have been evacuated and are at Guantanamo Bay.

I’m copying a letter sent from Dan Synder

We are writing with tragic news.

The new FOHO building collapsed totally. Jeanne Munos, Merle West and his friend Gene who arrived today are all unaccounted for. Erlin who works at FOHO is also unaccounted for. We are not able to do anything more but are trying to get assistance to return to keep looking for them..

Katie Zook was pulled out of the basement after several hours of searching and seems to be ok. She is at the UN hospital with probable pulmonary contusions and possible back injury. Jack Munos was pulled out after 6 hours and probably has a broken hand, broken foot, possible fractured leg. We brought him to the Embassy as the UN refused to let me in with further injured. He is being treated and stabilized here. I am hoping to medivac both of them out in the a.m. The embassy is being exceedingly helpful and it may be we will have marine medivacs available. I THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO START THE PROCESS OF PLANNING FOR A MEDIVAC USING OUR EVACUATION IMG INSURANCE PROGRAM. I WILL CONTINUE TO SEE IF PAP AIRPORT WILL BE OPEN IN THE A.M. I WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO SEE IF THE EMBASSY WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THIS.

All of the Clear Blue team are safe. They had left for Gonaives and returned and are helping still with clearing rubble at FOHO.

Both the U.N. and the Embassy are telling me that they expect civil disorder to erupt. DD and I walked from Vivey Michel to FOHO and there are buildings down everywhere. Phones are out and we will only be able to communicate as the embassy lets us use their system.WE WILL CHECK THE EMAIL AT LEAST IN THE A.M.

Dan, Dee Ann, James Snyder are not injured.

Russ Cole sustained a laceration to his leg but other than that he and Sherri are OK.

Dan Snyder

Contact information and more information can be found at http://www.fohomissions.org/

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A major earthquake struck just off the coast of Haiti late this afternoon, January 12. According to reports, the 7.0 quake has caused major damage in the capital city, Port-au-Prince.

Please urgently pray for all those impacted by this disaster. We will provide Hotline updates as soon as reports are received as to the welfare of Free Methodist missionaries, church members and children sponsored through International Child Care Ministries.

Missionaries serving in Haiti include:

Missionaries

Jack Munos and Jeanne Acheson-Munos

Dan and DeeAnn Snyder and James

VISA

Russell and Sherrie Cole

Katie Zook

Steve and Ruth Hersey (VISA Affiliates)

Other VISA Personnel

Melanie Brooks

Chris Browne

Gene Defour

Dave Hornish

Bruce Oberlin

Kelly Perkins

Jason Sheets

Arron Swenson

Merle West

The 79 Free Methodist Haitian churches have a total membership of 14,642.

International Child Care Ministries sponsors more than 4,000 children in Haiti. ICCM has 53 schools across the island nation, many in or near Port-au-Prince. ICCM Haitian offices are in Port-au-Prince.

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A major earthquake struck just off the coast of Haiti late this afternoon, January 12. According to reports, the 7.0 quake has caused major damage in the capital city, Port-au-Prince.

Please urgently pray for all those impacted by this disaster. We will provide Hotline updates as soon as reports are received as to the welfare of Free Methodist missionaries, church members and children sponsored through International Child Care Ministries.

Missionaries serving in Haiti include: Jack Munos and Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Dan and DeeAnn Snyder, Katie Zook (VISA) and Steve and Ruth Hersey (VISA Affiliates).

The 79 Free Methodist Haitian churches have a total membership of 14,642.

International Child Care Ministries sponsors more than 4,000 children in Haiti. ICCM has 53 schools across the island nation, many in or near Port-au-Prince. ICCM Haitian offices are in Port-au-Prince.

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