Phase I: Needs Assessment in Haiti
We had a leadership team that went to Haiti to help get an aid system flowing. That system started, in earnest, on Monday with helicopters and trucks (with a lot of elbow grease shifting from truck to truck over flooded roads). We expect that system to drive about 68,000 lbs of food and a CDC water purification product that will provide several million liters of drinkable water to Gonaives. With the system going, our team is now back in Kansas City.
The work that’s needed is just beginning… For example:
The 250 children we had in our Gonaives village are doing pretty well, under the circumstances. We’re taking in 500 more children in Gonaives. Our local church partners have them in their care right now. We couldn’t turn them back to the streets. They’re in pretty bad shape, I understand.
The 100 children from Cabaret I wrote about are doing well. On Monday night, we took in 68 of them (all the little ones) in the C3 homes with Mission of Hope in Titanyen. For all of you who funded MOH homes (that includes you, little Isabelle!), God knew all along that your homes were needed for these children. You should have seen the looks on their faces when they arrived to safety. Some were just pooped out and crashed. For the most part, they were up late singing and dancing. Kids are so resilient.
We had 2 more homes flood – at Casa Major. All of the children are fine. Scared. But okay. We’re working with El Shaddai to address the home situation there, and will keep you posted.
The food needs continue. The housing needs continue. The clothing needs are huge. We need mattresses – a lot of them. Etc… But, through all of you and your efforts to get the word out, God is providing.
We have completed Phase I of the C3 Needs Assessment in Haiti. This is the starting point of the work that’s ahead of us as we continue to address the situation in Haiti.
Click here to see a C3 Phase I (PDF document)
When you give to the C3 Haiti Relief Fund, this gives you an idea of what we’re doing and will continue to do with the money – ALL of it.
I need to run now, but I want to leave you with 2 hard core realities of what’s happening.
First, as we returned to Haiti, we sent another team. C3’s healthcare partner, Nueterra/Integral Life, has launched a healthcare strike team. We have a goup of docs and nurses from Johns Hopkins headed to Gonaives. They’re arriving in Port au Prince today, and a helicopter will transport them to Gonaives. Job # 1: they will triage and treat – as best they can – the 500 new children coming into C3 homes that we need to build in the wake of this disaster. Then, they’ll help the 250 children already in our homes. Can you imagine this burden??? When you’re donating to help, we know we must work smart and not allow our efforts to get swallowed by the need. I believe this is an example of working smart, and it’s still so much!!! Thank you Nueterra/Integral Life.
Second, the toll of this effort has hit DouDou. Dony and DouDou mobilized the massive effort – consisting of ordinary Haitians suffering themselves – on the ground we and other organizations are using as the pipeline for a lot of aid. This effort taxed them beyond belief. DouDou still suffers repercussions from his head injury last year, and takes medications for this. With the storms, he ran out of medication. But he kept pressing to help the children and so many families in Gonaives. On Tuesday, he collapsed, hit his head, and suffered from seizures. He’s been and remains hospitalized in PAP. Please keep him in your prayers.
El Shaddai taught many of us that Haitian Christians, whenever talking about plans for the future, will always use the following expression at the beginning or end of their thought: “si Bondye vle.” This literally means, “if God wants,” or “if God will permit.”
We have a decent “system” going to help under the extremely harsh circumstances, and many plans to help. For all of them: “si Bondy vle.”
Thanks. And keep spreading the word.
HAITI RELIEF FUND
Faithfully yours,
Joe & Mike
(from Kansas City)
