NCM-Caribbean: The beginnings of our response

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

One week after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Port au Prince, Haitian pastor Franckel Formétus describes the scene on the city streets: "Since the earthquake, the street is the home of all Haitians-that is to say their room and also their living room. What can we do to overcome this situation? We should think of another way in Haiti."

Finding Another Way

Just as Franckel is thinking of "another way" to overcome the overwhelming devastation and minister to members of his flock, the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Petionville is already being used in another way. Although the spring semester was about to start, classes are being postponed as the 33-acre campus is now being used to house refugees. Theological education is on hold as the ministers and students there live out theological beliefs.

According to the most recent count, 373 adults are camping out on the grounds-a number that does not include the many children accompanying the adults. On campus this week is Field Strategy Coordinator Bill Dawson, along with the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) coordinator for the Caribbean Region, Beth Luthye. They continue to survey the situation and further develop a plan for extensive distribution of aid. NCM is providing for the basic needs of those without anywhere to go.

Solving Seemingly Insurmountable Challenges

Thankfully, the buildings on campus suffered minor damage from the quake, but the perimeter walls were destroyed in many places. This posed a problem for distributing aid to people in an organized manner and from a secure location. Since usable block and mortar for repairs are in short supply, Caribbean Work & Witness Coordinator Curt Luthye started looking for alternate solutions. He determined that a diesel-powered cinder block maker would best accomplish the goal. Because repairs needed to start immediately, the search began in the U.S. to find and ship a block making machine.

This seemed an impossible task on such short notice, but nothing is impossible with God. Through the efforts of Jason Evoy, youth minister at the Olive Knolls Church of the Nazarene in Bakersfield, California, and a partner with Nazarene ministries in Haiti, a block maker was found, purchased, and prepared to ship.

The next challenge was finding a way to transport this 1,100-pound piece of equipment to Haiti. Planes were either too small or too full. But through a remarkable series of connections, a U.S. Navy ship headed to Haiti agreed to load the block maker if it could be delivered and loaded on board before the ship left. Time was short.

"Our block maker was delivered two minutes before the ramp was lifted on the USNS 1st LT Jack Lummus," Envoy reported. "Praise the Lord! The guy came down and received the item himself and it's supposed to be on the ship right now!"

The block maker will arrive in Port-au-Prince via a U.S. Navy ship on Friday, January 22.

January 21 Update

Your generosity and hard work are already making a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Just today a Heart to Heart* mobile clinic was put onto a ship to be transported to Port-au-Prince to provide needed medical care. Donations from churches, groups, and individuals of everything from peanut butter to latex gloves to flip flops have started to pour into Miami, which we will be shipping to Haiti as soon as possible.

Our work is not done though! According to the U.S. government, up to 1 million people living in Port-au-Prince have been displaced because of the earthquake. Many are injured. Millions are affected. It has been nine days since the disastrous earthquake struck Haiti and we must continue to reach out in love and let our friends know that we are in this with them for the long haul.  And please, don't stop praying.


Responding to the Need

There are many other stories emerging of God moving people to action and making connections where there were none before. People are responding to the overwhelming needs with creative solutions and great generosity. But there is more to do.

NCM has provided a list of ways to provide for those affected by the quake. A cargo container in Miami, Florida, is currently being filled for shipment to Haiti. Individuals wishing to purchase some of the needed items online and have them directly shipped to Hialeah (Miami) can click here to access the store specifically set up for NCM purchases. Follow the shipping instructions. When the container is full, it will ship. NCM hopes it can be sent to Haiti at the end of this week.

The needs are great, but God is working in powerful ways. In the words of Pastor Pierre Walliere, coordinator of NCM for Haiti: "This is my responsibility to serve the people if God gave me life. Because when the earthquake happened I was in a very difficult zone."

There are many difficulties still ahead for the nation of Haiti. Continue to pray for those affected, the individuals and families at the campus, the Nazarene pastors, and all who are working diligently to provide aid. 
--Nazarene Compassionate Ministries-Caribbean

Haiti: How to help

* = Heart to Heart International is one of the aid organizations that is partnering with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries to provide relief to the people of Haiti. They are working from the STNH campus in Petionville.

 

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