Haiti Earthquake News

See the links below for our continuing coverage.
Check back here often - we continue to update this section as new news comes in...

The Haiti Earthquake Medical Response Fund #530-453 will support our partners as they respond both in the immediate and long-term to the devastating January 12 earthquake. Please send checks made out to the Medical Benevolence Foundation with a notation for this fund and send it to:

The Medical Benevolence Foundation
3100 S Gessner, Ste 210
Houston, TX 77063

or donate here online.

Your donation to the Haiti Earthquake Medical Response Fund will go 100% to that cause. MBF also needs money to support our ministry, to cover urgent work elsewhere in the world, and to respond quickly in the future when unforeseen needs like Haiti strike elsewhere. Therefore, we hope you will consider also giving 'where most needed' to help cover some of these expenses.

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OLDER HAITI NEWS:
-See MBF News for further Haiti information
-Don't forget one special way to express love this Valentine's Day
-[video] Dr. Tim Bristol provides video of situation in Haiti
-MBF sending amputation equipment to Haiti
-Arrival of Engineer & Disaster Grant Encourages Nursing School & Hospital
-More Supplies Arrive in Leogane
-MBF shipment was approaching Haiti as quake hit
-How Everyone Can Help Beyond Donations Now
-Earth shakes again while Dr. Lambert in surgery
-MBF's Dr. Lambert Delivers Supplies to Haiti
-MBF-supported Haiti Nursing School Featured in UK News
-Student Nurses in Haiti Saving Lives
-A Message from Mission Worker Suzi Parker
-News from Hospital Ste. Croix in Haiti
-Letter from Haiti Mission Worker
-Update on Rodney & Sharyn Babe
-Links to Other News
-Encouraging news from Haiti School of Nursing
-Letter from Exec. Dir. of MBF on Haiti
-Message to members of PCUSA Haiti Mission Network (HMN)
-Message from Nathan Michaels of HMN
-From PCUSA World Mission Staff
-PDA Prays for Haiti
-Message to PCUSA HMN
-From Kathy Walmer, Exec. Dir. of Family Health Ministries
-From Notre Dame
-From Mission Aviation Fellowship
-Statement From World Mission Security Team
-Other News in mission from MBF

Letter from MBF Executive Director on Haiti Earthquake

Dear Friends of MBF:

By now you have heard about the terrible earthquake that happened in Haiti yesterday afternoon. We are gathering information about the safety of our church partners, mission workers, and the people of Haiti. We ask for your prayers for our church partner, The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, its ministries and institutions, and for all the people of Haiti as well as for those working to bring aid and comfort.

Communication with Haiti has been disrupted, but we are working hard to gather information. MBF staff and PC(USA) World Mission staff are in constant contact as we monitor this situation. There are two PC(USA) missionary families in Haiti: Mark and Jenny Hare who are in development work, and Sharyn and Rodney Babe. Sharyn teaches at the Episcopal University. The Hares and the Babes have been contacted and are accounted for. John and Susan Parker are medical volunteers at Hôpital Ste. Croix in Leogane and as of this writing we know of no one who has been able to communicate with them.

Some of our friends and mission teams from the U.S. are also in Haiti, and we are seeking information about them as well. If you have information on any PC(USA) persons or on our Haitian partners, please email Sue Haas at shaas@mbfoundation.org.

Because we know the need will be great for our partners and the people of Haiti, MBF has established an emergency fund: Haiti Earthquake Medical Response Fund. The account # is 530-453. Checks may be sent to MBF with this account number noted on the check, or you may make an on-line donation at www.mbfoundation.org.

At this point it is not possible to send teams to provide medical services. Dr. Chip Lambert, Director of the MBF Mission Service program, is preparing for teams to go when the way is clear and when we know for sure how to be helpful to our partners as they help those who are suffering.


MBF Current Involvement:

MBF’s current major involvement in Haiti is with the Episcopal Diocese:

1. Hôpital Ste. Croix, Leogane
2. Faculté des Sciences Infirmières de l’Université Episcopale d’Haïti in Léogâne (FSIL) (Faculty of Nursing)
3. The clinic on La Gonave Island
4. The St. Vincent’s Centre for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince

We have no current information about any of these places. The Diocese has suffered extensive damages at many churches and institutions.

Please see MBF Haiti Earthquake News on our web-site for updates.

Praying for Haiti,

-Will Browne
Executive Director
Medical Benevolence Foundation

See MBF News for further Haiti information

As we shift from emergency response mode to recovery mode, we will be integrating further news on Haiti into our main news stream. Please know there is still a lot of work to be done, and a lot of lives to save in Haiti. We hope you will continue to follow these efforts with MBF News from the mission field.

[Click here to read MBF News]

Don't forget one special way to express love this Valentine's Day

If you're looking for that special gift this Valentine's Day that your loved one will never forget, why not consider alternative giving. While another trinket from a shopping mall might be what's expected, your gift can mean so much more. You can give a gift in your loved one's honor, and print out our special MBF Valentine's Day card to let them know of the special offering you have made in their name. These gifts through MBF are so important and do so much good for people living in the most impoverished areas of the world, what could be more touching and unique way to express your love than this?

To learn more about this quick and easy process, please see our Valentine's Day Page!

Dr. Tim Bristol provides video of situation in Haiti

Feb 1, 2010

Through his YouTube channel, Dr. Tim Bristol has been reporting the situation on the ground in Haiti, specifically at the Nursing School in Leogane, which MBF helps to support.

The following is a video report showing the operating room at the school:

 

This next clip shows people being treated on-site:

 

And here is a still-shot of our own Dr. Chip Lambert currently in Haiti helping to provide care and orchestrate delivery of much-needed supplies made possible through your support.

Many thanks to Dr. Bristol for taking the time to show people back here what things are like in video, and to Dr. Lambert for the work he is doind and sending us this picture! If you would like to view more of Dr. Bristol's videos, his YouTube channel is here.

Please consider donating to help continue this important work and help the people who have been so terribly effected by the recent earthquakes.

MBF sending amputation equipment to Haiti

Jan 30, 2010

he 250,000 people injured in the Haiti earthquake include thousands who have lost limbs in the tragedy. Doctors and nurses, without the necessary tools, had to use primitive measures for amputations in the first days after the quake. Gradually medical equipment is arriving and, as The St. Louis Dispatch reported on Sunday, MBF is one of the organizations sending what is needed.

“The Medical Benevolence Foundation, the Houston-based health care component of Presbyterian Church USA, is flying in walkers, crutches and orthopedic hardware such as nails, plates and screws, to address short-term needs... said Dr. Chip Lambert of Pittsburgh.”

The agency, which has operated in the Leogane area since the 1970s, will work with their partner the Episcopal Bishop of Haiti in developing plans to serve the needs of Haitians following the earthquake. Treatment of injuries continues as Haiti struggles to get back on its feet. MBF continues to accept donations for care of the injured. Please click here to offer your support for those in need.

 

Arrival of Engineer & Disaster Grant Encourages Nursing School & Hospital

Jan 28, 2010

A $200,000 grant from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has been sent to Hospital Ste. Croix and FSIL School of Nursing in Leogane, Haiti. The school and the hospital are ministries of The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, a PC(USA) partner.

According to a PC(USA) press release, the grant request was approved within two hours of its arrival by email at PDA headquarters on Friday.

On another note, at the request of MBF, Dick Stuber, an engineer well familiar with both the hospital and the nursing school buildings, will leave for Haiti Tuesday morning to help with the relief effort. Dick has made several previous trips to Haiti where his engineering talents were welcomed by both Hospital Ste. Croix and FSIL School of Nursing.

Dick is a long-time member of Haiti Medical Mission Task Force, and since the beginning of the disaster in Haiti, has been helping MBF coordinate relief efforts.

These efforts and more are made possible with the support of people like you. Much work is still needed. Please consider donating today.

 

More Supplies Arrive in Leogane

Jan 25, 2010

On Sunday, MBF’s Dr. Chip Lambert was able to secure another shipment of critically needed medical supplies for Leogane.

Word had come that an aircraft from Pittsburgh would be arriving in Port Au Prince carrying supplies and medical personnel arranged through a plan that had begun only 72 hours earlier. The mission involved a cooperative effort of hospitals, relief agencies, and drug companies in Pittsburgh.

Hilda Alcindor, Dean of FSIL Nursing School, was able to find a truck to pick up the supplies. The problem of traveling at night on the road between Leogane and Port Au Prince was solved when two armed Humvees manned by U.S. Marines offered to drive ahead and behind the truck on the way to the airport and back.

The truck returned with Chip, a good supply of pain medications, antibiotics, and anesthetic agents, and two anesthesiologists to join the medical team at the nursing school.

Another shipment of supplies is expected on Tuesday. These much needed supplies are reaching the people of Haiti because of the donations of people like you. There is still much work to be done in Haiti, so your continued support is very much appreciated and counted on.

 

How everyone can help beyond donations now

Jan 22, 2010

Please remember that while the people of Haiti are in need of supplies, personnel, and the transportation of such, and that takes money, you don't need to shoulder that alone. If you have given to help the people of Haiti, or even if you haven't, please remember that you can increase your impact by doing one more important thing - spread the word! If everyone got just one other person to give, then on average the level of support would double. Here's what you can do right now that can make a big impact in the lives of suffering people...

Write a new email to your friends and family, make a new post on your Facebook, MySpace, or other personal website, and tell your friends in person about Haiti and how they too can help. If it makes it easier, feel free to copy and paste the text below (the blue text) into your message...

To use the following text below, drag your cursor over it to select, then COPY (control + C). Go to your email or personal home page, and PASTE (control + V). Thank you so much for spreading the word!

MBF-shipment was approaching Haiti when quake hit

The Denver Business Journal recently reported that our shipping partner, Project CURE, was carrying a shipment of MBF-sponsored medical supplies and nearing port when the disaster struck and has since been diverted after the port closed. They are working to get their shipment of medical supplies where they need to go. You can read the article HERE.

 

Earth Shakes Again While Dr. Lambert in Surgery

Jan 20, 2010

Another aftershock came while Dr. Chip Lambert performed surgery at the FSIL Nursing School compound in Leogane, Haiti. Dr. Lambert, Director of Mission Services for MBF, arrived Tuesday with a shipment of medical supplies and joined the team of students and staff at the school where thousands of injured have been treated during the past week.

Hilda Alcindor, Dean of the nursing school, and her students have set up ten first aid stations around the town of Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake. It is estimated that 80% of the buildings in Leogane are cracked or completely collapsed.

Besides Dr. Lambert, a relief team of 27 people from Japan including four doctors and seven nurses have joined Dean Alcindor’s team and have brought with them radiology, sonography, and labs. Medical workers from Doctors Without Borders have also assisted with debridement and splinting. Now that the generator has been repaired at the school, the medical teams are waiting for repair of the water pump.

 

MBF's Dr. Chip Lambert Delivers Supplies to Haiti

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Dr. Chip Lambert, Director of Mission Services for MBF, spent all night Monday at the Port au Prince airport in Haiti guarding 4000 pounds of medical supplies on the tarmac worth over $680,000. The supplies, donated by MBF partner Brother's Brother Foundation, were delivered Tuesday to Leogane where the FSIL School of Nursing students and faculty have set up a temporary clinic on the grounds for more than 5,000 people.

In Pittsburgh, when Dr. Lambert tried to arrange for a carrier to Haiti for the supplies, he was offered a seat and cargo space for his supplies on a plane headed to Haiti with Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania. Rendell was planning to pick up 54 children orphaned by the earthquake and find homes for them in Pennsylvania. In the meantime, arrangements were made to transport the children by military plane instead and 1000 pounds of medical supplies intended for their possible use were added to Dr. Lambert’s truckload. One of the nurse practitioners who had flown in to help with the orphans offered to stay and assist Dr. Lambert.

The medical supplies arrived soon after Hilda Alcindor, Dean of the FSIL School of Nursing reported the critical need for them. She and her students and staff continue to treat the people of Leogane on the grounds of the school. Hospital Ste. Croix cannot be used until damage is determined.

While in Leogane, Dr. Lambert will assess the need and feasibility of bringing in volunteer medical help to work with Dean Alcindor and her team.

 

MBF-supported Nursing School in Leogane featured in UK news video

Jan 20, 2010

UK's Sky News recently featured an article and a video on Haiti that shows the FSIL Nursing School in Leogane with which MBF has a long working relationship. It was not long ago, before the earthquakes, that the school's director, Hilda Alcindor, visited the MBF offices in Houston, Texas to communicate and coordinate our support efforts. Although Sky News doesn't mention the name of the institution featured in this video or her name, Director Alcindor is interviewed at 1:36 in the clip below. The others helping there include students of the school. As they state in the video, surgeries are having to be performed on both children and adults without anesthetic. Please help us deliver these and other much-needed supplies to the suffering people of Haiti today by donating here. Thank you.

The Haiti Earthquake Medical Response Fund #530-453
will support our partners as they respond both in the immediate and long-term to the devastating January 12 earthquake. Please send checks noted for this fund to

The Medical Benevolence Foundation
3100 S Gessner, Ste 210
Houston, TX 77063

or donate here online.

 

Student Nurses in Haiti Saving Lives

Jan 19, 2010

While 5,000 homeless people camp out on the school grounds, students at FSIL School of Nursing are treating the injured of Leogane, Haiti in one of the few buildings still standing.

“The students are doing a wonderful job,” says the school’s Dean, Hilda Alcindor. “They are about the only medical workers in Leogane and they are working very hard.” Besides working around the clock to treat injuries, students have delivered four babies—three boys and one girl.

Dean Alcindor also reported that not one, but three students perished in the earthquake. “This is overwhelming,” she says, “but I am holding on.”

With medical supplies dwindling, encouragement came Sunday when a plane with some supplies landed on a Leogane road. More medical supplies and doctors were to arrive Monday.

 

A message from mission worker Suzi Parker, Hopital Ste Croix, Haiti

Jan 18, 2010

We have sent folks from HSC to the embassy without any problems. One group went out today and another day before yesterday. Military is evident along the way. Both groups went out early in the day to hopefully not spend the night in the airport or embassy. We have had some minor looting at the broken down guesthouse and in the storage depot in the back. Nothing serious, and have not heard of any problems with riots yet here on the ground in Haiti.

-Suzi Parker
Suzi Parker and her husband John are volunteer guest house managers at Hopital Ste Croix (HSC) and related to the University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas.

 

News from Hospital Ste. Croix in Haiti

Friends,

Hopital Ste. Croix is standing. John and I are fine. The administration collapsed under the guesthouse, and our apartment collapsed under the story above. We have nothing we brought with us to Haiti , but since we have done a lot of cleaning in the guesthouse and hospital, we can find what we really need. Someone who was here gave me some shoes, and I found another pair or reading glasses that will work, so I have what I need. John was caught under the wreckage for about 4 hours, but the roof above was supported by the lintel of the sliding glass door, which held up the second floor, so he was uninjured except for a small cut on the top of his head.

Everyone connected with the hospital is alive except that we
have not heard from Mario.. Several people lost members of extended family. Alber's daught was injured but is fine, will recover fully. He saddest news is tat Marie Yves has died. In the earthquake. Motr and Chrislet are fine. The Ste. Croix church is cracked, I don't know how badly. Eye clinic looks fine. Pere Kerouin's house looks OK, Pere FanFan's house looks OK with some damage, Pere Pierre's house is damaged, but still standing. Doctor's quarters and penthouse are fine. If we can get it open, John and I may try to move in there for a while.

At night we sleep in the yard behind the hospital where the bandstand was. It has fallen, as has the Episcopal school. Thee are 2-300 people who sleep in that field at night. Thy sing hymns until almost midnight, and we wake up to a church service, with hymns, a morning prayer, and the apostle's creed. The evening sky is glorious.  In the field there is a real sense of community. Of course, we are the only blancs there. A group from FondWa arrived in Leogane today and will sleep there tonight. Janine the head cook brought John and me spaghetti from her home in Darbonne 8 miles away. We shared with the group from FondWa. They have some money so they went out and bought rice, etc, and we will eat tonight. People have shared with us and we are getting a chance to feel how the Haitians really live.

The injuries we have seen at the hospital are enormous,
skulls exposed, one woman died in the yard. Another woman's leg was cut vertically to the bone, with muscles showing. Doctors worked and saw over 300 people with cuts, fractures, etc. Today they are not, but worked hard every day since the quake.

Of course, we have seen looting. The end wall of the guesthouse by the shared drugs fell and it was open to the outside. My friends can imagine how I shouted down about 20 looters in the guesthouse. Righteous indignation works wonders, as does a tiny bit of pushing people to get out.

John and I do not know our plans. We need to talk with the board, but have no phone. We have Joey's phone, with battery that needs charging. Our idea is to stay as long as we can be helpful, then get out of the way.

I have never understood joy in the midst of suffering, but
now I do. The caring I have seen, the help we have received from the Haitians, the evening songs and prayers. Are wonderful. The people will survive, though many will die. Please pray for us. And pray that we and the hospital can be of help to the people here.

Suzi
Hopital Ste. Croix

Thanks to Pix Mahler for passing this along to us.

Letter from Haiti Mission Worker

Jan 15, 2010

Dear Friends in Christ:

The good news is that yesterday evening, we were able to hear from two of our missionaries, Mallory Holding and Jude Harmon, and received news of Pere Oge Beauvoir, and his wife, Serette. All have been found and are alive. What happens next for them we don't know yet.

I have heard from one dear friend, Pere Kesner Ajax, who is attempting to drive from Les Cayes to Port au Prince today to help. We know that Bishop is alive, and that his wife was injured in the quake. They have lost their home. I do not know the fate of my other colleagues, my friends, my students, my parish or my home. I live and serve in Petion Ville, above Port au Prince. The area has been quite hard hit, but last night I received news that the hotel across the street from my parish is still standing, and that indeed, some visiting missionaries are there right now. But I have not been able to be in contact with those folks, so I've no more information on that front.


The Rev. Lauren R. Stanley
TEC Appointed Missionary in Haiti

 

Update on Rodney & Sharyn Babe

Jan 15, 2010

Here is a note from Rodney Babe re his wife Sharyn. Rodney and Sharyn are our partners is Haiti. They live (lived) in a 4 story apartment on a hillside in Port-au-Prince. Sharyn is a PCUSA missionary teaching at the Episcopal University in PAP. Rodney and Sharyn previously were PCUSA missionaries serving as the founding Directors of the CODEP project.
 
Please pray for Sharyn and Rodney.

From Rodney: Thank you for your prayers. The situation in Port-au-Prince is very dire. Our 4th story apartment was one of the casualties. Sharyn had returned from teaching yesterday and was in the apartment for about an hour when the quake struck. Details are still difficult to write, but a wall and the ceiling (concrete) collapsed simultaneously. As they collapsed, she was thrown from her computer station and high backed office chair. The concrete slabs hit the chair which caused them to slide to the side rather than crushing her. She began to crawl toward an open space. About that time, another wall fell partially crushing her. Again there was some room to wiggle and she managed to continue to crawl toward open spaces as the building collapsed totally.

Eventually the 4 stories became a single story of rubble. She continued to crawl and eventually made it to the street. All told, perhaps 3 minutes.

Neighbors carried/ dragged her away from other buildings and walls. Eventually she went to a hospital that was overflowing and was given a couple aspirin....all they had for medicine. The hospital was closed shortly afterwards due to damage.
She finally got to the U.S. embassy. She was on a backboard by this time and was examined by a missionary doctor and the embassy doctor, neither who had x-rays. They both fear she has a broken back.

The embassy arranged for helicopter evacuation to a U.S. military hospital in Guantanamo, Cuba. This seemed prudent because she was in intense pain and had significant swelling of the entire waist area. She also had increasing problems breathing. She had some cuts and many bruises developing and was unable to move her right leg, although she has feeling in it and can wiggle her toes.

She was medically evacuated about 2 p.m. today. I was not permitted to accompany her as only seriously injured people were put on the medivac helicopter.

I do not know when I will have computer access again as I am leaving the embassy soon. In Port-au-Prince, there still is no phone service or electricity.

Thank you,
Rodney

 

Links to Other News

Jan 15, 2010

A University of Michigan report/interview with HNF co-founder Ruth Barnard:
http://www.ur.umich.edu/update/archives/100114/haiti0114

This site has an enormous amount of information on what’s happening in Haiti:
http://www.creative-i.info/2010/01/14/haiti-report-for-january-13-2010-haiti-chief-says-thousands-may-be-dead/

Most of our Ann Arbor.com article is on Michael Moore's website:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/fate-haitian-nursing-school-ann-arbor-ties-uncertain-after-quake

With the original article at:
http://www.annarbor.com/news/fate-of-haitian-nursing-school-with-ann-arbor-ties-uncertain-after-quake/

An online article from Tim Bristol (Minnesota) that gives Haiti Nursing Foundation as a place to look for info and donate to:
https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/Satellite/Article/Haiti+Earthquake?cid=700000000627529&Audience=Faculty

This is the orphanage in Leogane where some of the students have helped.
http://www.baynews9.com/VideoPlayer/?Fort_Myers_Man_113

 

ENCOURAGING NEWS FROM HAITI SCHOOL OF NURSING

Jan 15, 2010 - After almost three days of waiting for word of the students and faculty at FSIL School of Nursing in Haiti, we can now report that Dean Hilda Alcindor and all but one of the students are safe.

Dr. Donna Martsolf, a Haiti Nursing School board member, was in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. She was finally able to get through to Dean Alcindor yesterday (1/14) and learned that the school buildings are standing and the students safe, except for one. As yet, there are no details about the death of that student.

According to Dr. Martsolf, within a half hour of the earthquake, people began arriving at the school’s compound, and Dean Alcindor and her students set up an emergency clinic on the grounds to treat the wounded.

Hospital Ste. Croix, a mile from FSIL School of Nursing, has not collapsed as reported earlier, says Dr. Martsolf. It is cracked, but still standing.

A message to all members of PCUSA Haiti Mission Network

Jan 14, 2010 - A professor at Kent State University and her husband are reportedly OK after surviving Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Donna Martsolf, a professor in the College of Nursing, and her husband, Rob, are under the care of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, according to a post from the couple’s son on Facebook.com. 

The couple reportedly arrived in Haiti hours before the earthquake struck on a mission trip. Martsolf is chairperson of the board of the Faculty of Nursing Science of the Episcopal University of Haiti and is a member of the Haiti Nursing Foundation Board, a non-profit organization which works to raise funds to support the faculty of nursing science. She also worked closely with the Holy Cross Hospital in Leogane, Haiti, which has reportedly collapsed.

 

A message to all members of PCUSA Haiti Mission Network
As sent by Nathan Michaels

Jan 13, 2010 - Report just in that Dr. Merisier and family are OK and so is Hilda. Dr. Merisier and Family Health Ministries clinic has significant damage and so does his home, but everyone is safe as far as I know.

 

Received from PC(USA) World Mission staff:

Jan 13, 2010 - The Episcopal Bishop is okay. His wife hurt her foot. I also got this message, "Heard from Bonnie Elem, of The Haiti Connection, New Bern, that Leon and Jacky Dolean are safe and that the Maison de Naissance is untouched.”

 

We pray for Haiti

Jan 13, 2010 - The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is responding to the recent earthquake throughPresbyterian Disaster Assistance and its partners. Presbyterian World Mission is gathering information on the safety and status of our mission personnel and ecumenical partners in the area. For updates on the earthquake and the church’s response, please visit PDA. Initial reports indicate a large number of casualties and widespread damage especially in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

You, too, can be part of God’s answer to prayer for those affected by this disaster. Information on the situation and prayers and worship resources are available through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Funds from One Great Hour of Sharing are already helping with the initial response. You can give to the ongoing relief through PDA account number DR000064.

A message to all members of PCUSA Haiti Mission Network

Statement regarding PC(USA) mission personnel and partners in Haiti:

Jan 13, 2010 - Our concern for our brothers and sisters in Haiti continues to grow as we hear news accounts and receive information from our partner church, the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. We have learned that four people were killed while worshiping in an Episcopal congregation in Trouin. Several major Diocesan buildings in Port-au-Prince were destroyed, including theHoly Trinity Cathedral, the bishop’s home, the Sisters of St. Margaret convent and College St. Pierre. The earthquake also destroyed church buildings in Grand Colline and St. Etienne. We anticipate additional reports of casualties.

Sharyn Babe, the PC(USA) mission worker closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, and her husband, Rodney, have communicated that Sharyn is hospitalized in Port-au-Prince. We are waiting for additional information from Rodney about her condition. Mark Hare, the other PC(USA) mission worker in Haiti, and his wife, Jenny, live in Papay, a town about 100 miles from the epicenter. The Hares have told Presbyterian World Mission that Papay did not receive major damage and that they are safe.

—Issued by the World Mission Security Team on January 13, 2010

 

From Kathy Walmer, Executive Director of Family health Ministries

Dear friends,

Jan 12, 2010 - We are having tremendous difficulty getting information out of Haiti regarding today’s events. We have been notified that contact has been made with Leon Dorleans and they are safe. Unfortunately, as we go south toward the epicenter and nearer to our Leogane community we are unable to get through. Please keep all of Haiti in your prayers, but selfishly we ask for prayers for our partners Leon and Jackie Dorlean’s, the community of Blanchard, the Blanchard staff, Dr. Merisier and his staff, Megan our US volunteer in Leogane, Jamalyn Willliamson our Fondwa project coordinator and the team she took to Haiti on Monday, The Sisters of Fondwa, all the children in the Fondwa school and orphanage. We have so many friends and family…please keep them in your prayers.

Feel free to give me a call or send me an email. We are happy to let you know what we know which unfortunately at this point is not much more than what you can watch on CNN.

Please pray for the people of Haiti,

Kathy Walmer, RN, MSN, CPNP
Executive Director
Family Health Ministries
2344 Operations Drive, Suite 201
Durham, NC 27705
919-382-5500
www.familyhm.org

 

From Notre Dame

Jan 12, 2010 - Notre Dame says that their folks working out of Hopital Ste. Croix are all safe and accounted for, but they were in Port au Prince at the time of the quake so that doesn’t give any solid news about Leogane.

Dear Friends in Christ:

We have devastating news to share with you from Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake yesterday. According to reports I have received here in Les Cayes, the damage in Port au Prince and areas around it is terrible.

There is no Cathedral. The entire Holy Trinity complex is gone. The convent for the Sisters of St. Margaret is gone. The Bishop's house is gone. College St. Pierre is gone. The apartment for College St. Pierre is still standing. Bishop no longer has a house in which to live.

In Trouin, four people were killed during a service.

In Grand Colline, the church is gone.

In St. Etienne Buteau the church, the rectory and the school are gone.

In Les Cayes, BTI is OK, but some people were injured trying to get out of the buildings during the quake. The rectory in Les Cayes is in very bad condition.

The Rev. Kesner Ajax
Executive Director, Bishop Tharp Institute (BTI)
Partnership Program Coordinator
Episcopal Diocese of Haiti

From Mission Aviation Fellowship

Dear Friends and Family,

Jan 12, 2010 - We have experienced a major earthquake in Port-au-Prince. Patricia, Nathan and I are okay.

At the time that I’m writing this.. I have not had the opportunity to hear what is being reported on the news. You may have more information about this disaster than we do. Our cell phones are not working, so we cannot communicate with many people we are wondering about here in Port-au-Prince. Here is our version of the story…

I had a long hard day of work at the airport, having flown a lot, and I had carpooled with my coworkers to my house. I took the Christmas tree down, and we were doing a little bit more cleanup in the house, expecting to meet our landlord for a discussion this evening. Patricia and I were in the living room talking, and watching Nathan as he was crawling around. With almost no warning the room began to shake violently, and continued for what seemed like a long time. I picked up Nathan, and the 3 of us were close together. All kinds of things in the house shook and slid and came tumbling to the floor. Bookcases and their contents, broken dishes and all sorts of things are strewn throughout the house.. but our house stood. All of the perimeter walls around our house stood, with only minor damage. We were shaken…literally… and now we are shaken emotionally.

There have been many aftershocks and tremors. They seem to be weakening.. but I doubt if it is over yet. Although our house did stand, we don’t know if it is compromised.. we are camping out in our driveway right now. Nathan is in his pac’n’play with a mosquito net over it next to our car. Our big perimeter gate, 18 feet wide by 10 feet tall, rattles and shakes ever time there is a tremor giving us warning to be on the alert. I’m not sure if we’ll get much sleep.

In the property next to us, the perimeter wall collapsed. In the next lot the entire 2nd story completely collapsed. The large supermarket we were in at this time yesterday, we heard that it has completely collapsed. Electric polls are down everywhere, and there will be no city power for some time I’m sure. We have some battery power, but are conserving all we can. We will be able to run our make-shift generator, but have little fuel. We don’t know how we will get food in the coming days.

There are 3 MAF missionaries living on our street, and 2 other American missionary families. On our street everyone is okay as far as we know. One other MAF family is a couple of blocks away, and we learned their large rear perimeter wall fell down. Our other 2 MAF families are separated geographically from us, and we can’t call them, but heard by email from 1 family that they are okay, though they sustained wall damage. We have another MAF volunteer couple that just arrived today and is staying at the other location.

Given the few facts we have, it seems probable that there has been extensive damage and loss of life. In spite of all the sorrow, this evening we heard a group from the nearby ravine singing songs of thanksgiving. Especially in these times, we recognize our need to turn to God. He is powerful, and the only sure One we can turn to. He is our Rock.

At this point we do not know what damage the airport and our airplanes may have sustained. We plan to have a meeting tomorrow morning at my bosses house down the street to gather information and plan our next steps. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. We have much to be thankful for.


Blessings- David, Patricia & Nathan
Port-au-Prince Haiti
Mission Aviation Fellowship

Statement from the World Mission Security Team regarding mission personnel in Haiti

Jan 12, 2010 - Sharyn Babe, the PC(USA) mission worker closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, and her husband, Rodney, have been located and we are continuing to monitor their situation. Mark Hare, the other PC(USA) mission worker in Haiti, and his wife, Jenny, live about 100 miles from the epicenter. We do not believe the Hares are in danger, but we are seeking to make contact with them.

Patrick L. Cole
Communications Specialist
Communications & Funds Development
General Assembly Mission Council


Apparently the folks who were already at the Kinam Hotel (including Rev. John Talbird) are O.K.

First Church in Atlanta has a mission team stranded on the island of La Gonave.

 

The Haiti Earthquake Medical Response Fund #530-453 will support our partners as they respond both in the immediate and long-term to the devastating January 12 earthquake. Please send checks noted for this fund to The Medical Benevolence Foundation, 3100 S Gessner, Ste 210, Houston, TX 77063 or donate online here...

While we thank you for responding to this crisis please, remember other people around the world whose urgent unmet need continues daily. Support for them can be given through a general donation to The Medical Benevolence Foundation.

Read other news in mission from MBF

 

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