Haiti Earthquake

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FAIR Haiti
Amount received as of July 6, 2010:  $573,222.

May 2010

UPDATE

FAIR (Fellowship Agency for International Relief) has partnered together with Emmanuel International Canada (EICanada) for decades in a number of key areas around the world, seeking to channel donations raised for relief, rehabilitation, and development into the hands of local believers to assist churches worldwide in meeting the needs of the poorest of the poor in their own communities. Most recent projects included:  providing food relief in Malawi during the 2002 drought, providing care and aid for those displaced by violence in Sudan, and most recently to provide rehabilitation projects in the Philippines after the devastating typhoons in the Fall of 2009.

Now, with $600,000 raised so far for the relief and rehabilitation of Haiti, FAIR and EICanada have an exciting opportunity for our largest partnership together—but we are faced with the reality that the work of responding to the earthquake in Haiti has only just begun.

Our immediate response to the disaster was to meet the need for food, water, medical aid, and temporary shelter.  Organizing around 10 churches of our local Haitian partner, the Bethesda Baptist Gospel Work Association (OEBB), we reached out to the surrounding communities and registered 15,000 people affected by the devastating earthquake.  Teams were sent to assess the situation, coordinate the response, and provide emergency medical aid.  Food was purchased in the neighbouring Dominican Republic and shipped across the border for distribution.  GlobalMedic provided medical supplies and water filtration systems, and tanks were erected to hold water for some of the tent communities which sprung up.  Tarps and temporary shelter materials were brought, to provide better protection from the rains. With the stabilization of the situation we are now ready to move towards phase two.

While immediate survival needs are still a concern, Haitians are beginning to think about the future of their country and our shared vision for the future is to lay a new foundation for the church in Haiti.  The infrastructure and ministries of the OEBB have been damaged and in some cases destroyed, with many churches, schools, and clinics needing repair or rebuilding.  One of the ministries, which the OEBB believes is a key piece of the foundation which needs immediate attention, is education.  Education is one of the surest paths out of poverty, and represents a return to normality for children traumatized by the earthquake, but many schools are damaged beyond repair and children face losing a year of school.

Moving forward it is our goal to rebuild the churches of the OEBB, to restore the 8 primary schools with which we are affiliated and to provide tuition support to students who would otherwise have to drop out this year, to support teacher salaries and provide three meals a week to all the students, to organize SafePlay areas for children traumatized by the earthquake to assist a return to a normal life, and to rehabilitate communities through the rebuilding of homes and improving of services.  Western donors and governments have generously set aside considerable sums of money for the relief and rehabilitation of Haiti, and we are pursuing funding from them for parts of our work. 

The reality, however, is that most donors do not allow their funds to go towards religious purposes making the task of rebuilding the foundation of the church in Haiti much more difficult and dependent on the support of Christians around the world.  To that end, it is our hope that churches across Canada will commit to giving 3-5% of their missions budget towards Haiti over the next 5 years.

Thank you for the funds you have already given, and we hope that you will continue to join us on this journey as we seek to rebuild the church in Haiti.  It will be a long journey, and at times a tough one, but in the end there is nothing more satisfying than the building of God’s Kingdom, and it is our prayer that you would join us in this journey.

UPDATE

Not Forgotten

Over the past week and a half I’ve found myself at times wondering what it must have been like the first several hours after the Haiti earthquake for those people trapped in buildings or spending the night on the street. And the next day when the nightmare continued with no help in sight, devastation and destruction everywhere. “Surely someone from somewhere will know what happened and will come to our rescue.”

Unknown to them, the world had heard of the earthquake and were mobilizing to come to the aid of the Haitian people.

In spite of all that has happened over the past 10 days, we have seen God’s hand of mercy in the midst of turmoil.  FAIR (Fellowship Agency for International Relief), in partnership with EI (Emmanuel International), is making a difference in the lives of many and we provide you with this update to keep you current.

What is being done?

In the last update, we reported that relief had arrived in Port-au-Prince and was being distributed. EI’s, International Director, Andy Atkins, arrived with a team, including a paramedic from Toronto, to begin relief distribution, to assess the situation and begin the road in planning for the future.

Aid is being distributed on the ground through the churches of Bethesda Baptist Gospel Work Association (OEBB) with whom EI has worked for many years. We received word yesterday afternoon (Thursday, January 21^st) that arrangements were being made for the delivery of four truckloads of supplies—water, beans, rice, fish and oil as well as tents and tarps for shelter. These loads will arrive at the distribution point where we are working over the next several days.

How is aid being distributed?

Relief is being distributed by Pastor Martinez, an EI representative and leader in the OEBB who works in a very poor community within Port-au-Prince. Immediately following the earthquake, Pastor Martinez began using what resources he had available to provide relief to those who were in such need. Once those resources were depleted, he continued to provide hope to those still hurting. When word finally reached Pastor Martinez that a team from Canada was en route to Haiti to bring supplies and help in relief efforts, he immediately held a community meeting to encourage the people to hang on just a bit longer and to let them know they had not been forgotten.

Pastor Martinez has set up 7 stations in Port-au-Prince where each day a small ration of food and water is being distributed. We will be targeting 10-14,000 people in these areas and also in other towns—Cabaret, Casale and Fond Blanc, Haiti.

Andy writes, “The spirit and heart of the people has been amazing. Everyone shares what little they have. Rich and poor are together, sleeping in the street, sharing their meagre rations.” By working alongside the OEBB, relationships are being developed within the community which provides opportunity to share the Gospel now and in the future. In addition to this, aid is getting into the hands of people who are not receiving assistance from other aid groups working in the area. Pray that God would create a hunger for Truth in the hearts of those in Haiti who do not yet know Him.

Canadian Government’s Matching Funds

As mentioned in the last update, every dollar given to FAIR for relief efforts in Haiti is eligible for the matching program set up by the Canadian government. Note that donations must be received in the FAIR office by February 12^th to be eligible. Cheques should be made payable to FAIR and clearly indicate “Haiti” on the cheque.

Video

Also in my last update I mentioned that a video was being prepared to outline FAIR’s involvement in relief efforts in Haiti. The video, which is 1:55 minutes in length, is now ready in both French and English. For more information, contact: international@fellowship.ca .

Thank You!

We want to thank you again for partnering with us in meeting the needs of Haitians. Indeed, the people of Haiti have not been forgotten and we thank you for the part you as a church are playing in providing for the physical and spiritual needs of those who have lost so much. Please continue to pray for wisdom as planning for long term involvement in Haiti is worked through.

Wendy MacDonell
Media Coordinator
on behalf of Norman Nielsen
FAIR Coordinator

January 20, 2010

UPDATE

Today I heard the news reports of the 6.1 magnitude “aftershock” that struck Haiti earlier this morning. With recovery efforts still underway this newest quake has ignited a renewed sense of urgency to rescue as many trapped people as possible. For those who have been living on the streets and in parks for the past week, the nightmare continues as relief aid continues to trickle in.

We want to take this opportunity to provide you an update on FAIR’s involvement in Haiti since our last communication on Friday of last week.

On the Ground in Haiti

FAIR, in partnership with Emmanuel International, is on the ground getting aid into the hands of those in greatest need. On Monday of this week EI personnel from Canada were headed to Haiti via the Dominican Republic. A UN escort was arranged to meet the group at the border and escort them into Port-au-Prince.

The Haitian pastor giving leadership to relief distribution on behalf of EI and FAIR reports that well over 1,000 people are lined up at his door seeking medical aid, food and water. He works in a very poor area of the city and was at the end of his resources, unable to provide further aid. What an encouragement to hear that relief from Canada would be arriving within the day.

The church he pastors has a school and orphanage ministry and, praise the Lord, the only damage to these buildings was one wall between the church and school which came down. These buildings will be instrumental as relief is distributed.

FAIR Focus

Initial relief funds are being used to provide for the physical needs of the Haitian people—clean water, food, clothing, medical attention and shelter. Because of the widespread and extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, a long term plan is being worked through for the months and, potentially, years ahead, which will involve rebuilding.

Matching Dollars

We’ve received numerous calls from individuals and churches asking if FAIR funds will be matched by the Canadian government. Please note that every dollar given to FAIR for relief efforts in Haiti is eligible for the matching program set up by the government. (The government’s matching funds program is being made available for donations received January 12 to February 12.)

A brief 1 ½ to 2 minute video which encapsulates FAIR’s involvement in relief efforts is being prepared which we hope to have available to our churches by Friday of this week. We will send you a link to an on-line site from where you can download a copy. We encourage you to share this with your congregation in your upcoming weekend worship service(s).

Together we are making a difference in the lives of those in Haiti who have been so traumatically impacted. On behalf of those receiving assistance....thank you!

Wendy MacDonell
Media Coordinator
on behalf of Norman Nielsen, FAIR Coordinator

January 13, 2010

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN HAITI

On the afternoon of January 12, a 7.0 strength earthquake ripped through Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. One British geologist reported that the power of the quake was equal to the simultaneous detonation of several nuclear bombs. Thirty seconds of horror decimated the city of Port-au-Prince and rocked other areas of the country. None were spared. Strong aftershocks continue to keep nerves tense as recovery efforts continue.

Many key landmarks were impacted by the quake. The presidential palace partly collapsed along with the headquarters of the UN mission to Haiti and the Catholic Basilica. Less structurally-sound buildings such as schools, hospitals and apartment buildings, didn't stand a chance. Thousands—both rich and poor—are dead and a third of Haiti's nine million people have been impacted. Early reports indicate that 50-100,000 people may have been killed.

FAIR Response
FAIR, Fellowship Agency for International Relief, in partnership with Emmanuel International, sends out a call to you to partner with us to help Haitians rebuild their lives.

Relief supplies from many nations are flooding into Haiti from other countries and larger relief organizations, but it will be years before many people are able to recover from this terrible blow. It is here that FAIR and Fellowship Baptist's from across Canada can and will make a positive impact.

Emmanuel International already has people on the ground in Haiti to coordinate efforts and to assess the status within the country. An advance on relief funds is already on the way, and a plan is being put into place to not only make an initial impact on the immediate needs but to help in the rebuilding of people's lives after the rest of the world has moved on. FAIR, through EI, will provide assistance to some of those who receive little or no aid from other agencies. Initial relief will most likely come in the provision of water, food, clothing and shelter although, as stated, the situation is being assessed in order to provide the greatest lasting impact.

Fellowship Connection
Any natural disaster taking human lives is painful, but Haiti is special to our Fellowship churches in that we have congregations of Haitians who are part of our Fellowship—a connection even more intimate than most that pulls at our heart. Reports have been shared from Haitian believers in Montreal who have lost loved ones in the quake and others who are anxiously awaiting word on the status of family members. This is a painful time for them especially.

Will you prayerfully consider how the Lord would have you respond to the devastation in Haiti?

Tax receiptable donations can be made towards: Haiti Earthquake Relief by donating on-line at:  www.fellowship.ca or by mailing your donation cheque, payable to FAIR, to:
 
FAIR, P.O. Box 457, Guelph, ON  N1H 6K9