Missionaries know that in order to reach people with the gospel, they must be willing and able to speak their language. This applies to reaching and equipping the upcoming generation as well. […]
1. More medical teams are arriving in Dikini, and our team has been asked to move inside the Adventist hospital, where the sickest patients are being referred, in order to help care for the growing patient population. This will enable the team to be more effective since they will be able both to work and to sleep inside the hospital compound, avoiding two hours of driving time each day.
2. Team member David Hilmers received a phone call today to say that his father passed away. David”s father had been ill and David had seen him before leaving for Haiti. David wants to remain in Haiti with the team and leave with them on Saturday. Please pray for him and his family.
3. The Haitian government is continuing to ship refugees out of Port-au-Prince, and areas in the north are receiving them without resources to care for them. It has been estimated that 55,000 people are being located to Goinaives to the north. This is the area in which Pastor Etienne pastors churches and works with a network of other churches. So the present team has recommended that the next team relocate to Goinaives. This would allow our teams to fall into line with how we normally work through the local church and targeting an under served population. Church members in the area would also be able to become more involved. Our method is always to work with and through the local church wherever possible so that the church gets the credit, God gets the glory, and the kingdom is expanded.
4. Please pray for a flight out of Haiti on Saturday for our team and a flight in for the next team. Ideally, this will be a turn around that will serve both teams. Hoping to hear by today or early tomorrow.
5. Continue to pray for Erin Pettengill’s long term health after accidental exposure to contaminated scalpel. Test results for hepatitis C are still pending.
This is an interview between MTW missionary Esaie Etienne and the Advance Needs Assessment Team when they were in Haiti following the earthquake. It is both heart-wrenching and encouraging to hear Esaie describe the situation and needs. Pray for Haiti!
MTW’s Advance Needs Assessment Team arrived back in the US yesterday afternoon. The need is tremendous. If you’ve watched the Twitter feed (posted on the left of this blog) you know that medical teams are preparing to go in. The challenges are mounting for these teams. Not only are there many medical needs among wounded Haitians, there is growing desperation which may endanger relief workers. People are hurting and hungry. And thirsty. Pray for safety for these teams. And pray that God would bolster their courage and faith in Him. They are going to witness horrible things. They are going to see death over and over. One recent report came back, “Tell the teams to be ready to see dead bodies.”
One of the many needs right now is for tents. People have no shelter and tents, although temporary, can be immediate. Rather than have tent drives and have to work out logistically how to get them there, consider supporting MTW which can get these and other supplies into Haiti quickly.
On Sunday, they were able to assess Dikini Camp, a tent city outside of Port-au-Prince. With this new information, they feel that medical teams should serve there. At Dikini Camp, team will run a full-fledged clinic rather than wound care only. Therefore, there is a need for a full team of 14. Recommend for first team to stay 9 days followed by a second team for 9 days. The first team will be led by Dennis Hamilton, the second team leader will be Dan Jenny.
The team will be based at Quisqueya School, which is now the Quisqueya Earthquake Crisis Center (QCS). They will most likely sleep in tents and eat meals there. Because of safety, they cannot stay overnight in the unofficial refugee camp. Tom was able to make a contact with American Airlines, who are helping get medical teams into Haiti. There is room for a 14-person medical team on a relief flight out of Chicago at 7 am on January 29 that the office is researching for a possibility.
Please pray for the team that they can get a flight out of Port-au-Prince today, for safe travel, and continued logistical planning.
Please also pray for the DRM staff as they coordinates the logistics, travel, and medical supply procurement for the medical teams.
ANAT Team is healthy and well and progressing with their assessment. They repaired Esaie’s truck and assessed his home, which is not livable. They also assessed Notre Dame del Lourdes hospital; there is some surgical capacity and a dental clinic there. Another hospital they assessed had been completely destroyed. The team has had to wear masks; removal of the deceased still happening.
They have determined a need for a first medical team of approximately 8 people, hopefully departing on January 29 for nine days in Haiti. Team Leader will be Dennis Hamilton, with a focus on post-op wound care. The ANAT team will discuss with personnel at the Quisqueya School to finalize recommendations for how to best staff and focus the clinic.
The team will stay at Quisqueya School, where the ANAT team has been located. Unsure yet if team will stay in tents or if there will be room in buildings. Quisqueya School has become more than just school grounds. It is now the Christian coordination center, being run by people who know Haiti very well and almost every mission group in the country sends their children here or has in the past. Teams will need to fly into Port-au-Prince.
Please pray for the team as they meet with Charles Amicy in Caberet on Sunday, January 24 after church and for their final assessment as to how to best implement DRM teams and how to best use the Minutemen resources. Please also pray for their continued safety and health,
and for safe departure as the ANAT team hopes to fly home on January 25.
The first report is in from the assessment team. They are struggling jjto avoid being drawn directly into ministry rather than assessment so that ministry can be far more effective. Please pray for clear direction.
Team made all flights with baggage to Florida. Slept 2 hours in Palm Beach airport. Have not had a real meal since Thursday noon. Thrilled to finally eat PB&J on arrival.
Trip from Cape Haitian airport took 6 1/2 hours with one 20 minute stop in Gonaives to look at hospital and a 15 minute repair stop. Currently staying at Quisqueya School which does have electricity, water, and sanitation. There is no electricity or water in the city. Cell phones work to send texts. 90% of hospitals, 80% of schools are closed. Esaie and another pastor are currently leading worship services at 6 am and 4 pm.
The team is on the ground. Flight plan was for Cape Hatien rather than Port-au-Prince. Now it begins. Pray for Tom, John, Dennis, and Greg. Also for Esaie Etienne and Charles Amicy. A grateful shout out to King’s Wings and pilot Tim. Also to MTW missionary pilot Craig Gahagen who helped arrange the flight.
Mission to the World is responding to the recent earthquake in Haiti by mobilizing an Advanced Needs Assessment Team (to get in ASAP) and issuing a Minuteman Appeal for assistance. Our missionary there, national pastor Esaie Etienne and his wife Natacha and children are safe. But as we all know by now, the country is devastated. More will come, but for now the best place to connect and give is www.mtw.org.
“I want to give praise and glory to God for saving my life with my family and to express my words of gratitude to everyone who lifted us up before the throne of God while we were in extreme danger… It was the darkest night of my life.”
These are the words of Charles Amicy, long-time MTW national partner in Haiti, following the assault of Hurricane Ike. Pastor Amicy reports that only the buildings remain in the compound that serves as his ministry’s hub. Gone are all the medicines in the pharmacy, all the vehicles, a 40-foot container of materials for the orphanage, his library, and some of the compound walls. Some church members lost loved ones while others barely escaped with their lives. And the devastation in Caberet where Pastor Amicy ministers may not be the worst. (continue reading this article and find out more about the needs in Haiti)
