Report from HAITI
How Your Funds and Prayers Are Helping
February 24, 2010
Dear Friend, A big thank you to those of you who sent funds to the LDM Haiti Relief Fund. As promised, we have sent 100% on to Youth With A Mission Haiti for relief efforts. The media is reporting since the earthquake that 500,000 are homeless and there are about a million new orphans.1 As you can imagine, with such large estimates...the help Haiti needs is immense.
Feet on the Ground: Chuck's Report
is on left in red, with his other team members
On January 22nd, Chuck flew to the Dominican Republic, where he met up with his team of 20, loaded many needed medical and relief supplies, then drove into earthquake ravaged Haiti.
Once in Port-au-Prince, the team began working with the YWAM Medical Team who had set up a Clinic at the Police Headquarters across from the crumbled President's Palace.
As days progressed, Chuck’s team worked at the main clinic and also took Mobile Clinics into more isolated areas. Chuck estimates that in just a few weeks, their small team had hands-on involvement with 2500-3500 patients needing some sort of care. When possible, the team prayed with patients after treating them. The people were very grateful for both.
YWAM HAITI Playing Central Roles
YWAM HAITI has been in Haiti for 23 years, and has gained the trust of the Haitian government. The Haitian officials asked YWAM to run an Internally Displaced Persons Camp -- registering every earthquake victim, and giving each one an ID Card they need to officially qualify for relief.
As YWAM prepares for the next few months, they are planning both spiritual and physical care -- mobilizing teams to serve as evangelistic and pastoral teams, and working with the local churches.
New Openness To Jesus
Haitian pastors meet each week at the YWAM HAITI base to pray together asking God to give them strategies to best seize the new openness to Jesus surfacing among the Haitian people.
Recently the son of a Voodoo Witchdoctor gave his heart to Jesus and is out preaching and leading people to the Lord! And CNN news often shows people praising Jesus in the streets.
And when a YWAMer felt the urge to start preaching at a clinic, 30 people around him responded with genuine repentance. Obviously hearts are open in a new way.
“So Many Families Devastated”
"Parents are reporting kids eating dirt, as their nutrition-starved bodies crave minerals..."
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Chuck said: “The long term emotional damage is still yet to seen The majority of earthquake related injuries has diminished but nutritional and poor hygiene related ailments are major needs now. In temporary “tent-cities” most people have become anemic and parents are reporting kids eating dirt, as their nutrition-starved bodies crave minerals. And strangers who’ve lost everything are living side by side, scrambling for bits of assistance as it comes.“I am so grateful that you’ve been a part of sending me to be of some help. Thank you for making it possible with your love, prayers, support for our family, and for your giving to LDM/YWAM and other organizations.” Chuck
The Big Task Ahead
It has rained a few times in the past week and the "rainy season" is near. More than just tarps over peoples heads are needed to prevent outbreaks of disease and other complications.
Life on the street is returning to “normal” with lots of activity, street vendors selling their goods, right in the midst of the destruction. No doubt people need and want things to return to normal.
Opportunity for Spiritual Change
Last weekend the HAITI government called for three days of prayer and fasting which replaced the first three days of the annual mardi-gras. This is a huge landmark in Haiti’s history!
YWAM was amazed to see the town square packed full of people. The entire crowd was singing and dancing in worship to Jesus with hands lifted high, as the church is using this time to repent before God for their nation’s and their own sins.
Long-term missionaries in Haiti say the spiritual climate has changed! That people are responding in different ways to the crisis and even the aid given. They say that rather than a sense of entitlement or a demanding nature, there seems to be more openness and gratitude.
Almost everyone is open to pray when asked. There is a tremendous opportunity for true spiritual transformation. A moment in time where the nation as a whole can embrace a new attitude toward God and reject false beliefs that have held them in bondage.
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If You Can Still Help...
YWAM still needs our financial support, particularly as they endeavors to provide housing for thousands of people as the rainy season begins. If you can help, please visit their site directly and give...www.ywamhaiti.org. They also will be posting regular updates on their site to keep us all informed.* Urgently needed are 8-10 person tents that will give shelter for 1-2 years during the recovery and rebuilding phases. Even as you receive this, the rains have begun. Can you contribute towards one?
* Also your gifts will buy food and medical supplies. As the media coverage for Haiti diminishes and moves on to other stories, we cannot forget these who God loves and wants to reach.