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Jan 28, 2010
As we drove through Port-au-Prince, Haiti the wide-spread destruction and damage was unbelievable and overwhelming! It was heart wrenching to see the Haitian people in such dire need of water, food, and shelter. In every direction there were thousands living outside under sheets stretched as tarps for shade. The sound of helicopters flying out the injured and the smell of death helped us face the reality of it all.
We were traveling with two supply trucks. One was loaded with 1250 gallons of water provided by the "Renewable Haiti Water Project." The Community Restoration Church in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Free Methodist Conference, and the Davison Michigan FM Church have been joined by the Petersburg Alaska Bible Church, and several others, along with many N.E.T. supporters. Continued support of this project is needed. The other truck (top right) was loaded with gifts of food, medicine, supplies, & clothing sent from the Dominican FM churches.
On Sunday morning, after the outdoor service at one FM church, each family was given water (from our "Renewable water project") as well as eggs and a loaf of bread provided by a local Haitian man. It reminded me of the parable of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. It was a touching scene to observe their gratitude. We will continue to bring water to this FMC distribution point every few days as long as our resources last.
   
We met a friend of our Haitian translator named Francina (standing next to me in top left photo). Her home was destroyed and her husband had been killed in the quake. He was an accountant at Hotel Montana. She and her 10 year old daughter, had a large fenced yard they had allowed refugees to use to escape the dangers on the streets. There were 125 families living in her yard under sheets to protect them from the sun. They had received no aid from any organizations.
We had the strong impression that the Lord led us to this place. We went to work making a list of the families and organizing a leadership team (bottom right photo) within the camp. This leadership team will focus on organizing issues like designated locations for sanitation until latrines can be built. It was hard to see so many people dehydrated and hungry. They were delighted to learn that we could supply them with drinking water. We wish to continue to help this group, located at Delmas 6. It will be necesary to obtain plastic tarps for shelter, dig latrines for sanitation, and help them find adequate food from aid distribution points. We desire to bring spiritual strength & the light of Jesus to this camp.
 
On Sunday, as we drove to the Cite Absolom FM church, the tarps across the narrow streets had to be lifted so we could drive underneath them. The service was held outdoors under a tarp as the church structure suffered severe damage. There was a sense of hope mixed with sadness as many members were missing. Dr Delia Nuesch-Olver preached an excellent message on Gratitude for what we DO have, Generosity with what we DO have, and Guts to make it in difficult times. Many requested prayer for healing and two young people came to know Christ.
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Thanks to the generosity of many who contributed to NET, we were able to purchase $1000 worth of critically needed antibiotics, pain meds, IV solutions, and casting materials. We passed these critically needed supplies into the hands of a University of Michigan medical trauma team that had just arrived to work at the Dessalines hospital. God is so good at connecting His people!!
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Dominican FM Bishop Cecilio Osorio commissioned Samuel to meet with the Haitian church leaders on his behalf. We had a good time of sharing, praying and strategizing about how the Dominican church can assist the Haitian church in relief and recovery. How beautiful to see the Dominican and Haitian church working together!
If you would like to see more photos, I have put an album on facebook.
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1.) Pray for Kendra and Samuel to have extra strength even with not enough sleep the past 16 nights.
2.) Please continue to pray that the weather would cooperate with the rescue efforts. (no rain so far)
3.) Pray for the safety of the many medical and development teams that are currently in Haiti delivering supplies and doing relief.
4.) Pray for God's peace to be felt by the Haitian people, especially the orphans and widows, in the midst of their desperate situation.
We will be procuring and purchasing much needed supplies for future trips into Haiti. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward Haiti relief through "Nacion en Transformacion" please send checks made out to NET earmarked "Haiti relief". Send your check to NET, PO Box 123, Spring Arbor Michigan 49283. When you give would you please make us aware of your donation at hola5smith@comcast.net
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