HAITIAN RELIEF

The Team

From June 11-18, 2010, we had a team of seven health professional volunteers that went to Haiti and provided care through different mobile clinics in St-Marc and surroundings.  The team had the opportunity to meet with different hospitals’ directors, medical staff, and other community leaders who welcomed the team throughout the week.

 

The entire day of Saturday was spent packing goods and making bags for the outreach clinics. On Saturday afternoon, the team visited the departments of Maternity and Pediatrics at St-Nicolas Hospital. On Sunday morning, we went to Nazarene Church of Pont-Tambour where Pastor Samuel was invited to preach.  On Sunday afternoon, we turned up to ”Lycee Stenio Vincent” at “Portail des Guepes”, the older public high school of the two in St-Marc.  We met with the youth in the neighborhood and gave them a ball to continue to play for the summer.  On Sunday night we assisted the children concert at Eben-Ezer Baptist Church.  From there, we adopted a busy schedule until it was time to leave Haiti.  Instead of scattering the team, we worked together every day in various locations.

 

Clinical Activities

The mission met the goals that we set which were to establish health clinics for the displaced people from the earthquake.  Our first, a mobile clinic at Pont Tambour Church of the Nazarene on Monday, where we served more than 250 patients who confessed they have not seen doctors for years.  In Haiti, there is no public health insurance; people have to pay out of pocket for healthcare and prescriptions.  Since the earthquake, there are many organizations that provide free care in many areas in the country, but most of the time they can only work with the emergency cases.  Late in the afternoon the flow of patients waiting to see doctors was still growing, God provided help through three locals medically trained; one doctor and two nurses who came to join the team.  Two members of the team escorted a mother with her sick child to be hospitalized at St-Nicolas Hospital.  The work was overall outstanding and highly appreciated by the community.

 

On Tuesday we headed to Capoteau, about 20 miles from St-Marc in the mountains, where again the team was well received.  Before the day was over members of the team distributed goods and provided care for about 200 patients, including children and senior adults.  Added to the supplies brought from the States and with our latest shipment still in the customs at Port-au-prince, we purchased medicines from local pharmacies in order to continue to serve the population.  The local pastor and his staff did not hide their satisfaction and reminded us that we needed to not forget the work that we started; to bring life to the community.  “You are life savers sent by God for this entire population.”  Members of the team share the need to go back and join the effort of the community to establish a stable clinic in this area.   

 

On Wednesday, we headed to Charles Colimon Hospital.  With the current overwhelming state of the hospital, the medical director and the staff did not hide their enthusiasm to see the team.  We were quickly put at work dividing in four groups:  general consultation, Emergency clinic and Rehabilitation, and Lab support.  The team distributed goods and kits to hospitalized patients, and some of the hospital staff could finally take a break.

 

Our previous plan for Thursday was to work at St-Nicolas Hospital on Thursday morning, but after making the tour of the hospital and finding a big delegation from Canada working in the outpatient clinic, we felt more obligated to go to the site once again.  So the team went to Frecyneau Community Church, not too far from Bethany Medical Center, where again the team provided care and distributed goods to about 100 patients.

 

After one week of hard work, the afternoon of Thursday was dedicated to relax.  After one hour driving to the hills, we discovered the Paradise Beach of Amanii where the team enjoyed the good nature of Haiti.  Friday morning was the day to return to the US.  After meeting with the hosts and other facilitators, we headed to the airport where we later traveled to Nashville via Miami.

 

The Distribution

Throughout our visit, we distributed first aids kits, flashes and other supplies to four local elementary schools, one scouts group and one vocational school.  We also distributed clothes to children and other church leaders.  We are grateful for Nashville First Church of the Nazarene, Capital One in Washington DC, National Association Chain of Drugs, Madison Family Healthcare, and Arrow Cargo that facilitated us with the supplies and medicines to serve in Haiti.

 

The Meetings

We had evaluation meetings and devotion time every morning and night.  Each team member had the opportunity to lead us in the particular word of the day.  Sometimes the theological discussions were so deep that we had to leave and come back the next day in order to catch up.

 

Our Connections

Throughout our visit, we had the opportunity to meet with the director of St-Nicolas Hospital,  Charles Colimon Hospital, local pastors and local schools directors, and other community leaders where we promised to work together to follow up on other potential projects that will continue to serve and to sustain the inhabitants of the region.

 

Next Steps:

1.     Collect toys and other games for kids to distribute in December 2010.

2.     Recruit volunteers for our next trip in May 2011.

3.     Collect supplies and medicines from different providers for the trip of May 2011.

4.     Ship a container to Haiti 3-4 months prior to our mission.

 

Long Term Project:

1.     Open Bethany Medical Clinic in Capoteau.

2.     Establish a vocational school.

3.     Establish a Micro-credit project to empower women victims.

4.     Partnering with a local community school to facilitate sponsorship to the youths.

5.     Encourage the use of alternative energy in order to supplement the cutting of trees which is the major destruction of the country.

6.     Strengthen commerce and other interchanges in agricultural and artisanal between Haiti and USA.

 

 

 

On May 18th the Work and Witness Team from Nashville First arrived safely home after 10 days in Haiti.  In our short time in Haiti we had the opportunity of witnessing the devastation of this small country while also receiving the blessing of meeting, worshipping, and interacting with many of its people while working on a number of projects.  Here is  a short re-cap of the work that was accomplished while in Haiti:  for picture of this trip, click here.

May 8

Group arrives and settles in

May 9

Church and a little site-seeing/second part of group arrives

May 10-11

Savanette Church of the Nazarene (In Bassin Bleu, near Jacmel):

Exterior Painting

Interior Painting

30 pews assembled

Trusses assembled and put in place

Tin roof put on

May 12-17  (May 16—worship at Tabar Church of the Nazarene)

Return to Petion-ville—Nazarene Campus

Wire-brushed , and painted 19 bed frames to be added as bunks to beds in the Guest house/dorm)

Assembled the new bunk beds

Built forms and poured columns for exterior wall

Laid concrete block for approx 125 feet of wall

Repaired and welded basketball goals

Repaired and welded Soccer Goals

Built the chair assembly parts for approximately 70 more pews for other Nazarene churches (to be assembled by other groups)

Varnished 150 boards for new pews

Welded 15 windows and 4 doors for church repairs or rebuilds

Ground and sanded iron windows and doors that were made

Painted primer on all iron windows and doors that were made.

Repaired toilet in Compassionate Ministries office

Replaced 4 door handles and locks for security in Compassionate Ministries office

Built a new metal “cage” for the back or the work and witness pick-up to safely store tools and equipment on work-sites.

Build a new metal rack for the top of the Long-bed truck to hold luggage and tools to be taken to work-sites.

 

All of this work was done alongside our Haitian brothers and sisters who mixed all the concrete by hand, prepared the iron-work for our welders, painters.  Special thanks needs to be made to Franz Lojoune (Haiti Work and Witness Coordinator), Curt Luthye (Caribbean Work and Witness Coordinator), Jennifer (Curt’s assistant), Beth Luthye, (Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Coordinator for the Caribbean), and Elyse (The best Haitian cook ever)!  Their ability to provide a safe environment and great hospitality while also providing sufficient work for our hands to accomplish was phenomenal.  You can be proud of the Church of the Nazarene and its work in Haiti, and you can be especially proud of your work and witness team.  In 3 weeks our Medical Team will leave to do medical work in St. Marc.  Please  be in prayer for them as they prepare for the work God has for them, and be sure to join us next week for the special fun-raiser they will be having right here at NFCN.

 

OnOn Sunday evening, January 24 at 7:30 PM, Verlyn Steward and Pastor Dale departed Nashville headed for Miami with a truck packed full of over 1800 crisis care kits and over 250 boxes of food, medical supplies, tarps and blankets.  Before moving on, VERY SPECIAL THANKS needs to be given to Ben and Dee Kaney, Roger and Carol Costa, Bob and Jamie Walker, and Verlyn and Kelly Steward for all of their help packing up boxes and getting things prepared to be shipped througout the week.  We also need to thank the office team at NFCN for their help taking time away from their usual duties to assist throughout the week as boxes and bags arrived throughout the week!  Finally, thanks to Pastor JP for putting up with the loss of the 7th grade girls class and 9th grade class as they were utilized for storage, and to Pastor Brent and the MANY college students who arrived Sunday afternoon around 4 to help finish the boxing, loading, and "cataloging" of what we were carrying to Miami.  News coverage on channel two that day showed a morning worship service gathered in prayer, a Haitian congregation gathered for worship and a Missionary mall full of "worker bees" getting things ready for Haiti.  What an awesome testimony to our city and to our world of the church worshiping in a variety of fashions all for the glory of God.

 

At present we are awaiting word from the Caribbean Region office regarding when we can begin to get both medical and work teams safely into the country to assist Haiti in the rebuilding process.  Thanks to all who have volunteered.  Know that we will get word to you regarding these trips as soon as we are given the okay to begin planning. 

 

Finally, please continue to pray for those who remain in Haiti as they will now begin to battle the disease and illness that comes following such death and devastation.  Please remember the members of our congregation who are still experiencing the severity of the losses they have suffered in their families and frienships.

 

 

MORE ITEMS NEEDED - Along with crisis care kits we are asking that you bring any/all items on the following LIST to NFCN for additional shipments to Haiti.  Those delivered by this evening' service will be transported on the truck that leaves tonight.

 

Truck set to leave this Evening following service to take supplies to Miami for shipment to Haiti.  Please pray for Pastor Dale and Verlyn Steward who will be taking the much needed supplies for our first shipment to Haiti. 

 

Dr. Samuel Requests Medical Help - Dr. Maromy Samuel is requesting that anyone interested in being part of a short-term medical team to Haiti contact him at msamuel@nfcn.org.  Dr. Samuel is working with the United Nations, The University of Miami, Nazarene Compassionate Minsitries and Heart to Heart to determine the best way for our team to get into Haiti with both the personnel and the supplies to assis the victims of the earthquake.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Maromy Samuel To Return to Nashville This Week. - After 5 days in Haiti, Dr. Samuel is attempting to get back to Miami where we can assist him in his return to Nashville.  As of this morning, he had not yet spoken to his family but was confident that they had made it out with other relatives in the countryside of Haiti.  While Dr. Samuel was frustrated at not being able to perform medical tasks as he had hoped due to lack of medical supplies, he was able to be a part of the search and rescue efforts that resulted in the saving of many lives.

 

This evening our Haitian Congregation will gather for their weekly prayer meeting which will take on a most decidedly different focus this evening.  Sister Nahomie Samuel and Pastor Thervy Damassi will lead this time together and would welcome any anglo members wish to stop by and pray with them, they would be very welcomed.  There is not a family in our Haitian congregation that has not been touched by this tragedy.  Some have lost as many as 7 or 8 family members in this tragedy and need out continued love, support and prayers.

 

There is nothing to report as of yet.  Curently there are no commercial flights in and out of Haiti and there is no infrastructure at this time to handle a work and witness team from a  local church at this time.  Preliminary plans at this time will be to have a trip in the next month or two to help with continued clean-up and temporary structures to as a first wave.  Later this summer we should plan to take another trip to continue the clean-up process and assist with building projects for homes and churches.

 

The last three days have been a whirlwind of activity at Nashville First as news crews have descended upon our facilities and other orgranizations have asked to partner with us in our efforts to help in Haiti.  Below are a few short snippets of what has been going on.

 

Nashville First Church is receiving donations for Doctors Without Borders.  This is an organization that gathers doctors from around the world to assist in crisis situation and in countries where medical assitance is well below the needed standards.  Dr. Maromy Samuel, one of the pastors of our Haitian congregation is a member of this organization.  You can give to Doctors without Borders through the NFCN giving portion of our web-site.

 

Throughout the week Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, and The Tennessean have been in and out of our church covering the stories of our Haitian brothers and sisters and our work to assist with the relief effort through the Tennessee District.

 

Press Conference - all four stations were present for the Haitian Community press conference that was held at Nashville First.  To see the article, click the Tennessean link at the top of the page.

 

Dr. Samuel has been on Channel 5 in an interview.  Channel 4 was at the Church this past Sunday as we collected crisis care kits and interviewed Pastor Jeff.  The Tennessean will be at church tonight to get pictures of the crisis care kits being delivered.  Channel 4 news will return to First Church Sunday evening as we prepare to finish packing and preparing to send a truck to Miami where our gifts will be flown to Haiti.

 

NUVO BURRITO Partnering with NFCN - Nuvo Burrito is hosting a "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" acoustic benefit concert for Haitian Earthquake Victims.  The proceeds from this event will be given to the Haiti Relief Fund of Nashville First Church of the Nazarene.  More information to come on this event that is happening January 28 at 6:30 Pm at Nuvo Burrito.

Citywide Haitian Prayer Service - to be hosted at NFCN Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the Heritage Chapel.  The four protestant Haitian congregations will be gathering with the Haitian community for a time of prayer and worship.  All are invited.

 

Thanks to the many churches and civic organizations that are putting together crisis care kits and bringing them to NFCN.  We look forward to seeing how God uses our faithfulness to reach out into our commmunity and into the Caribbean as we pray and assist those in Haiti. 

 

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CRISIS CARE KITS BEING RECEIVED THROUGH SUNDAY!!!  Put some together with your family and friends today.  Help your children be a part of the relief effort.

 

Reminder Of How You Can Be Involved

 

1. PRAY- Pray for those in Haiti and pray for the families who are here in the States. Pray for smooth avenues by which the aid may get to its needed destinations and people.

2. GIVE - If you would like to give, we have set-up a special Haiti Relief Fund here at the church. You may give by sending a check, dropping money by the church, or going on-line to www.nfcn.org, clicking the “giving” tab and following the instructions to register. You may then give to the “Haiti Relief Fund.”

3. GO - Some of you may wish to be involved personally in a hands-on fashion to assist with the clean-up. Plans are in the works through the people listed above to provide an avenue through which WE can go help. If you would be interested in being a part of this trip, click here.

4. SEND - There will be others who may not wish to go on this trip but would be willing to make it possible for a member of our Haitian congregation to be a part of the work and witness team from Nashville First. We are uniquely poised as a congregation to be a self-sufficient team with our own translators if this ministry done jointly with our Haitian congregation. What a witness that would be to all involved. If you would like to participate in sending someone from our Haitian congregation, click here.

5. PACK CRISIS CARE KITS are a tangible way the Church of the Nazarene meets immediate needs of those “on the ground” immediately following a disaster. The instructions for these kits must be followed to a “T.” This is a great idea for you to do at home as a family as you pray for those who have literally lost everything. Here is the link for Crisis Care Kits. These kits will be collected this Sunday at the lower missionary Mall.

 

May God bless you as you respond to this need in our world, and in our own congregation.