Yesterday, along with churches all around the world, our congregation took up a special contribution to help our brothers and sisters in Port au Prince. A little over $3200 was collected and has been sent to HOPEworldwide who are directly sending the money to aid in the disaster relief. I received the following email from ICOChotnews...aka, Mike Taliaferro...early this morning and wanted to share it immediatly with everyone:
Subject: Haiti Update: Relief for the Disciples arrives. Looting growing.
Supplies arrive in Port-au-Prince. 200 disciples still unaccounted for.
We are happy to report the answered prayer that Dr. Mark Ottenweller
(HOPEww) and Stanley Dumornay (NYC) were able to fly into the Dominican Republic
on Saturday and drive across the border into Haiti on Sunday. Although
the border was officially closed, they managed permission to cross, and
in spite of thieves and growing chaos, they arrived in Port-au-Prince.
They are there to help the disciples in the Port-au-Prince church, as
well as survey the situation in general. Big thanks to HOPEww, Angel
Martinez in the DR church, and our ICOC congregation in San Francisco
for financing the flight and basic relief items. It is very
encouraging for the disciples to be linked up with the outside world.
Mark
set up a clinic and began to treat people on the spot at the church
property. About 110 people are camping out on the property, roughly
half of them members of our church. 200 disciples are still
unaccounted for. 12 have died. People are still in shock by the chain
of events. They have endured broken limbs and collapsed houses. A few
of the children have lost most of their family. It is a heavy time,
but also a time of hope.
The church was very excited to see the food and medicine. Some wept
openly when they saw the boxes of supplies. Mark and Stanley arrived
on Sunday, right as the existing food stores were running out at the
church property.
One plan being discussed is the evacuation
of the Port-au-Prince church to another city unharmed by the
earthquake. Banks, stores, and electricity still function there. We
have a medium size church there also.
Nadia and Joseph Ojo are setting up a network so that Haitians in the USA can contact the disciples there to check up on their relatives. Thanks Nadia!
The
two big dangers facing the disciples there are 1. The spread of
disease. Sanitation is terrible right now, and many people are too
weak to fight off the flu, not to mention cholera
or typhoid. Also 2. Crime and looting are on the rise. It could
become very dangerous in Port-au-Prince. Especially for people with
supplies. WE ALL NEED TO BE PRAYING!
While it is almost
impossible to get supplies shipped in from the states, we can all
donate cash to HOPEworldwide. Please give, either to a church wide
special, or personally at their website. http://www.facebook.com/l/51c3b;www.hopeww.org.
Mike Taliaferro
