February 12, 2010
The following newsletter information has been received verbally from Kendra via phone while driving the 12 hours between Haiti and their home in the DR.
"We were looking for food again for 1500+ hungry people.
(200 families in the Delmas #6 refugee camp and 90 families in FM refugee camps) We drove our truck to World Vision, World Food Program, UNICEF, and the UN with no results. We then drove back to the PAP airport area where we had been successful a few days earlier finding supplies from the Jamaican Military. (See our last newsletter) Then we made a "wrong" turn - God's right turn - and I noticed an airplane hanger that said "MAF/MFI". (Missionary Aviation Fellowship & Missionary Flights International). Since we are members of MFI's bi-weekly mail service to the DR, I was welcomed at the hanger. We were able to get 4 truckloads of supplies from them including wheel chairs, crutches, walkers, medicines, clothing and food. The food included cases of "manna-packs". (a high protein mix with rice and vitamins) The most amazing items we were given were 300 deluxe water filters from a Baptist Men's Ministry in Texas.
These water filters were perfect for the next phase of our "Renewable Water Project". We have purchased two large tinocos (500 gallon water storage tanks) that are on site at the Delmas #6 camp. They are filled two or three times a week by a PAP water truck using your water project contributions. Refugees can now "filter" this water (using these new filters) for drinking. This revised water plan will involve no transportation cost for the water except the three times a-week filling of 1000 gallons into the tinocos.
We were also able to locate a German company who is giving away free drinking water, just a few miles from the FM refugee camp. The FM refugees will be using the 5 gallon jugs you provided for them to get refills of the German provided drinking water. One of the FM pastors is attempting to arrange vehicle transportation between the camp and German water supplier.
Another water provision may be coming to Haitians through the work of two FM well drillers now in Haiti from "ClearBlue". Kevin Kate & Curt King are hoping to get the US Army to transport their new well drilling equipment that is waiting in Florida for delivery to Haiti. Please pray that this transport will take place very soon.
The next crisis, after food & water, for the displaced Haitians is the need for SHELTER. With the rainy season beginning, they need better shelter than their current tarps and sheets. This need will be the focus of our next trip back to Haiti. Please pray that we can find the right connections to a tent supplier. We know there is far more demand for tents than there is supply. We are investigating all possible leads.
I, Kendra, was invited by Haitian General Superintendent Clovis to a meeting of all the Free Methodist pastors in the PAP area. Of the 33 pastors present, 32 of them have lost their homes in the quake and most are still living under sheets without tarps or tents. None of them have the convenience of a vehicle or even a camera to take the needed pictures of their damaged homes. I brought greetings from the Dominican church and shared promises and truths from Psalms 46. Please keep this group of men in your prayers as they help their families and congregations rebuild their lives with very few resources."
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A VISA work team from Arlington Washington is flying into Santo Domingo DR next Wednesday, Feb 17th. Sami and I will transport this team of 18 plus 50 pieces of luggage, the 8 hour trip into Haiti. We will then spend a week in Haiti trying to encourage & supply the refugees in the Delmas#6 camp & FM camps. We will greatly appreciate your prayers while in Haiti.(Feb 17 - 24)
In a couple of days we hope to share with you some pictures of the past ten days we have spent in Haiti along with more updates.
If you desire to help us with additional expenses we have incurred in our response to this disaster, feel free to send any contributions to Davison Free Methodist Church, 502 Church St, Davison, Mich.48423 (note:Dominican/Luna)
Thank you so much for your prayers during the last month. Please do not forget to keep praying that we will find effective ways to minister to the poorest of the poor in this crisis.
God bless you.
Kendra Luna (transcribed by Cheryl Trepus, Kendra's mom)
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1.) Pray for Kendra and Samuel to have extra strength & grace to deal with the many and changing demands for their assistance by others.
2.) Pray for safety from disease and illness for Kendra & Samuel while working in Haiti in the hot dusty conditions surrounded by many flies & mosquitos.
3.) Pray for the well drillers to get their needed equipment & for the Arlington Washington VISA team.
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.
5.) Pray for wisdom to locate the best "tent house" structures for the displaced Haitian families.
6.) Pray for God's continued direction in locating relief supplies in PAP. |
