Haiti Earthquake Trip 1 2010
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Relief endeavors often take on many twists and turns as situations change from
one moment to another, and this was no exception on this trip.
We began monitoring the earthquake immediately after it occurred and began
communicating with other relief ministries throughout the country. I
immediately went on stand by to deploy as we prayed for the Lord to direct our
steps.
Our major contact in the country was a missionary couple, Patrick and Barb
Lataillade. Patrick is Haitian and Barb is American. They had a home in Port
Au Prince and oversee 5 churches in the coastal area with several schools, clinics
and a conference center where many Haitian pastors attend and receive verse by
verse teaching of God’s Word several times a year. Our church has been actively
supporting the ministry, Living Word Ministries, for years.
We immediately found out that their home had collapsed with them in it. Barb
was able to be pulled out of the rubble and had a lot of damage to her foot.
Patrick was trapped, but they were able to get him some water. The next
morning he was freed, but he was in bad shape. Both of them needed to get back
to the states for medical attention.
We were in contact with a Dominican pastor/friend who has a church in Miami
and works with a ministry in the DR. He offered us a vehicle to get into Haiti if
needed.
Patrick and Barb’s son, Agape and daughter, Rachel, both in their early 20’s
decided to go in and help get their parents back to the states. We determined
that we would do all we could to help them in this endeavor and I booked a flight
and headed to Miami on Thursday to fly in with Agape and his long time, also
Haitian raised friend, Mike.
When we arrived in the DR, we found out that friends in Haiti had managed to go
through the rubble at their home and found the necessary documents that would
allow them to be identified as being able to get out of Haiti and into the US! The
US military then airlifted them to Miami and transferred them to a local
hospital. Over the next several days, part of Barb’s leg and Patrick’s arm had to
be amputated. Patrick also had some broken ribs and a collapsed lung along with
some kidney problems. They are both safe and alive in the US, but still have a
long road of recovery ahead of them. Please keep this family in your prayers.
In the mean time it was determined that we needed to get the kids back to Miami
to be with their parents so off to the airport we went and through much ado, we
secured seats for them and they headed out.
This left me in the DR with no Haitian people/plans. Agape’s in-laws, Jim and
Theresa, are missionaries in the DR, which was where we were staying. Another
DR missionary friend of theirs, Daryl was taking a team into Haiti as they have
several churches there that he oversees. They are part of Pentecostal Holiness
Church and their ministry is called People to People, a great bunch of guys! He
offered to take me along for the ride, so I accepted, packed my things and got on
a bus to Santa Domingo. I took a taxi to a hotel and arrived just before the team
got in from the airport.
We settled in for the night and took off for another bus station early in the
morning. We booked a round trip bus ticket into Port Au Prince and began our
journey!
The trip wasn’t bad, there was virtually no traffic. The roads were safe, but the
borders were crowded. The Lord put a US Army sergeant on our bus that was
Haitian. He took care of us along the way and made us feel a lot safer! There
were mostly Haitian people on the bus who had moved to other countries and
were coming in to find their families and friends. We talked with and
encouraged as many as we could, it was a somber experience.
Once in PAP, we quickly headed out of the main area to a secure compound,
Mission of Hope, where they readily took us in. Almost immediately the ground
was shaking from an after shock!
We got up the next morning, went to the church service on the grounds and then
took off for the first church compound that the guys needed to get to. The
buildings seemed fine, but the security wall had collapsed on one side. We talked
to some of the people and then headed across the street to the neighborhood next
to the compound that the church served. Every house was either on the ground
or severely damaged, yet the church was untouched! God’s Sanctuary had
become the sanctuary! We talked to many people and prayed with them and let
them know that we would do our best to get help for them.
From there we headed into the heart of the city, looking for the next church. We
could only go so far and had to finish the journey by foot. We didn’t have any
problems with any of the people, but they were tired, hungry and thirsty, having
spent the last few days in the streets with no form of relief at all. Many people
said that someone just needed to start doing something, anything! Most of the
dead bodies had already been removed from the streets and we passed the mass
burial site on our way into town. As we walked along, we came across one home
where a back hoe was in the process of sifting through the rubble in hopes to find
the bodies of family members. One lie dead, covered by a sheet beside the rubble
and one was still missing. When we were returning, they had found the second
body and were working on getting it out so that they could be buried.
We finally made it to the church and once again, found the church in great
condition, being the refuge for the local people. We were able to offer some pain
killers to a couple of hurting people that one of the guys had in his back pack.
There was no way we could carry any type of relief aid to them, as we would be
mobbed and attacked and the items would never reach the church.
We headed out and then proceeded to several huge tent cities in the downtown
area where all the government buildings were located. Many, many people with
no aid yet to be received and this was Sunday!
We made it back to the compound just after dark and in time for supper. We
had to make a room change, I spent some time on line as I had limited internet
service, and then hit the sack.
The next morning we got up early. We had brought in a lot of medical supplies
and we gave them to the mission to use in the clinics that they had set up in the
city. Mission of Hope gave us enough food to feed over 2000 people, 10 cases in
all. We then headed a little farther out of town to another church. Most
everything was fine in this village, though the people were afraid to go back in
their homes and were living in the streets. We left them with a case of food to
prepare.
We then headed to another church, closer to town, but up on a mountain. There
was very little damage in this area, but the pastor’s home was not safe to live in.
From there we went back to the church with the compound that we had visited
the day before. We unloaded all the rest of the food and the People to People
team had a meeting with the pastors as to what could be done, what they needed
and they provided some funds to get the ball rolling.
From there we headed back in time for a shower and dinner. While at the
compound I met a lot of different people from different countries and ministries,
all coming together to share their gifts as they bring the love of Jesus to this
hurting country. I even ran into some friends from previous responses and of
course made some new ones!
The next morning we got up early, packed and headed back to the bus station.
What a mess! People were everywhere trying to get permission from the US
Embassy to get to the US, which was next door to the bus station, and then trying
to get one of the few tickets out of town if they didn’t have another means.
While standing in line I recognized a young man who had traveled in with us. I
asked him how it went and he happily responded that all his family was fine and
their house was still standing. He had taken them some food and water and they
had 5 families staying in the home at this time. His father and a few friends had
come with him to the bus stop.
I had been carrying a water filtration system with me and was praying about what
to do with it. The Lord had not told me yet so I was taking it back with me to use
on a future trip. I began praying if this family was what I was to do with the kit
and the Lord confirmed my choice, but there was a problem. If I tried to give
him something I would either get mobbed or he would never get back to his home
with it and we were surrounded by people. The son, Joversky quickly got his
friends to surround me so no one could see what we were doing. I quickly filled a
small blue tote bag with the kit, a first aid kit, some hand sanitizer, a few snacks,
etc. We were able to make the transition without anyone seeing us and then
took some pictures!
Getting on the bus was a mess. I was trying to help Joversky get a ticket and
there were 6 of us. Supposedly there were only 6 tickets left, but they took all of
our prepaid tickets and passports. Once at the bus, when we realized the
mistake, we had to go back to the table and try to figure things out. I knew God
wanted me to help Joversky so I just prayed and out they came with another
ticket, and on the bus we went.
There were many Haitians on the bus again and we heard many different stories,
some good and some bad. Some of the people were living in Haiti and had
obtained Visas to go to the US and live; others were already staying out of the
country and had come in to find their families and friends. Besides the border
crossing the trip went well, but was rather long!
Once back in Santa Domingo, I immediately said my goodbyes and headed to the
airport where I was supposed to meet with a pastor friend Vic and discuss what
we each found and what plans could be made to further the efforts. CC Old
Bridge from NJ was already forging forward with things on the border and Vic
along with CC Delta from PA and their ministry in Baharona were providing
logistic support. Unfortunately, plans changed and I got on the plane alone
before I found out and headed back to the states which at the time I thought was
a mistake!
Our plane was delayed, but I made it safe and sound. Rachel and Mike picked
me up at the airport and took me to my Jeep. I filled them in quickly and
headed home. Stopped for a couple hours rest at a rest area and made it home
around 7 AM. I then received and email asking me to be on a jobsite the next
day and then had a part come in to finish another job I had been working on and
waiting for. God knew I needed to be on the plane and home to take care of a
few things. I then found out my son was coming home for the weekend from
college, so I also get to spend some much needed time with my family!
Things have been continuing with the DR border operation and I’ll be going back
in on Sunday to meet up with Pastor Doug from Delta CC and we will figure out
what all we can do to bring in people and supplies to help continue the efforts.
At this point what we need is doctors, especially ER and Trauma surgeons. Most
things can be purchased in the DR and taken into the country from there.
Medical supplies are what we need most from the US.
We are working on several ways and situations to get more supplies from the US
to the DR. A plane has been provided to take supplies in from the DR as well as
vehicles on the ground. The mission has a small area to house people. Most of
the people go in during the day and back out at night.
What Haiti does not need is a bunch of Americans running in to “save the day.”
This needs to be an organized effort that realistically will require very little in the
way of US people at a time. When we go in, we also can clog the system, taking
up vehicles that can be used to get others and supplies in and out, using valuable
resources like food, water and fuel, etc.
There are many Dominicans and Haitians who have been being discipled by going
verse by verse through the Bible for such a time as this. They are ready to step
up and minister to their fallen countrymen.
Haiti has very little resources of its own, with its people being its biggest asset. If
we go in and build for them, cook for them, take care of them, all we will do is
put them out of work and create yet another “welfare” system, dependant on the
good ole USA. And these people want to do things for themselves as most of
them are hard working if given the chance.
As far as construction teams, get them the supplies, a couple of supervisors and
hire the locals, let them rebuild for themselves and help pump up their economy!
Most of what I saw will have to be completely bull dozed and rebuilt. I’m no
expert but I think they’ll have to evacuate everyone in PAP and start over, the
same with other areas that have been devastated like PAP.
What they need is supplies and we need the money to get the supplies to them.
It costs at least $1500 for one person to go in and stay for 7-10 days. That money
would be better put to use to purchase supplies for them and allows us all to be
better stewards of what God has given us.
If you plan on just going anyway, then consider the following: make sure you
have a plan, not a just go and see what happens. Haiti was an unsafe place to
visit before the quake, and it is only getting worse. You must team up with a
church/ministry that was already in place before the quake hit and one that is a
good steward of God’s things, you don’t want someone taking what you do and
using it for personal gain! You can only do a distribution for two hours max and
then you are mobbed and have to get out and then it is unwise to go back to the
same area over and over again as they figure that out. Even the military is
struggling with distribution and they have big guns!!
We will need people to go in and help. This will be a long term project. They will
need help both financially and physically for a long time. Due to the number of
people that can safely go in and be affective, think about splitting your team up
into several smaller teams. As many, many want to come in; it will be easier if
we all work together a couple from here and a couple from there.
Check your egos at the door, we need to be affective and come in with humble
hearts and do what we’re asked to do by those who are seasoned responders and
those who have ministered in these areas for years. God can always do anything
with whatever we throw at Him, He has for years and will continue to do so, but
just think what more He could do if we were all humble servants and served
together instead of apart! If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot
stand (Mark 3:25), God said it, not me!
We will continue to keep everyone posted via email and our website. I know
many of you have already expressed interest in joining the efforts and are
patiently standing by and for this I thank you.
Doctors and medical supplies we need now! Keep praying and thanks!
To read our newsletters from our trip click here.
one moment to another, and this was no exception on this trip.
We began monitoring the earthquake immediately after it occurred and began
communicating with other relief ministries throughout the country. I
immediately went on stand by to deploy as we prayed for the Lord to direct our
steps.
Our major contact in the country was a missionary couple, Patrick and Barb
Lataillade. Patrick is Haitian and Barb is American. They had a home in Port
Au Prince and oversee 5 churches in the coastal area with several schools, clinics
and a conference center where many Haitian pastors attend and receive verse by
verse teaching of God’s Word several times a year. Our church has been actively
supporting the ministry, Living Word Ministries, for years.
We immediately found out that their home had collapsed with them in it. Barb
was able to be pulled out of the rubble and had a lot of damage to her foot.
Patrick was trapped, but they were able to get him some water. The next
morning he was freed, but he was in bad shape. Both of them needed to get back
to the states for medical attention.
We were in contact with a Dominican pastor/friend who has a church in Miami
and works with a ministry in the DR. He offered us a vehicle to get into Haiti if
needed.
Patrick and Barb’s son, Agape and daughter, Rachel, both in their early 20’s
decided to go in and help get their parents back to the states. We determined
that we would do all we could to help them in this endeavor and I booked a flight
and headed to Miami on Thursday to fly in with Agape and his long time, also
Haitian raised friend, Mike.
When we arrived in the DR, we found out that friends in Haiti had managed to go
through the rubble at their home and found the necessary documents that would
allow them to be identified as being able to get out of Haiti and into the US! The
US military then airlifted them to Miami and transferred them to a local
hospital. Over the next several days, part of Barb’s leg and Patrick’s arm had to
be amputated. Patrick also had some broken ribs and a collapsed lung along with
some kidney problems. They are both safe and alive in the US, but still have a
long road of recovery ahead of them. Please keep this family in your prayers.
In the mean time it was determined that we needed to get the kids back to Miami
to be with their parents so off to the airport we went and through much ado, we
secured seats for them and they headed out.
This left me in the DR with no Haitian people/plans. Agape’s in-laws, Jim and
Theresa, are missionaries in the DR, which was where we were staying. Another
DR missionary friend of theirs, Daryl was taking a team into Haiti as they have
several churches there that he oversees. They are part of Pentecostal Holiness
Church and their ministry is called People to People, a great bunch of guys! He
offered to take me along for the ride, so I accepted, packed my things and got on
a bus to Santa Domingo. I took a taxi to a hotel and arrived just before the team
got in from the airport.
We settled in for the night and took off for another bus station early in the
morning. We booked a round trip bus ticket into Port Au Prince and began our
journey!
The trip wasn’t bad, there was virtually no traffic. The roads were safe, but the
borders were crowded. The Lord put a US Army sergeant on our bus that was
Haitian. He took care of us along the way and made us feel a lot safer! There
were mostly Haitian people on the bus who had moved to other countries and
were coming in to find their families and friends. We talked with and
encouraged as many as we could, it was a somber experience.
Once in PAP, we quickly headed out of the main area to a secure compound,
Mission of Hope, where they readily took us in. Almost immediately the ground
was shaking from an after shock!
We got up the next morning, went to the church service on the grounds and then
took off for the first church compound that the guys needed to get to. The
buildings seemed fine, but the security wall had collapsed on one side. We talked
to some of the people and then headed across the street to the neighborhood next
to the compound that the church served. Every house was either on the ground
or severely damaged, yet the church was untouched! God’s Sanctuary had
become the sanctuary! We talked to many people and prayed with them and let
them know that we would do our best to get help for them.
From there we headed into the heart of the city, looking for the next church. We
could only go so far and had to finish the journey by foot. We didn’t have any
problems with any of the people, but they were tired, hungry and thirsty, having
spent the last few days in the streets with no form of relief at all. Many people
said that someone just needed to start doing something, anything! Most of the
dead bodies had already been removed from the streets and we passed the mass
burial site on our way into town. As we walked along, we came across one home
where a back hoe was in the process of sifting through the rubble in hopes to find
the bodies of family members. One lie dead, covered by a sheet beside the rubble
and one was still missing. When we were returning, they had found the second
body and were working on getting it out so that they could be buried.
We finally made it to the church and once again, found the church in great
condition, being the refuge for the local people. We were able to offer some pain
killers to a couple of hurting people that one of the guys had in his back pack.
There was no way we could carry any type of relief aid to them, as we would be
mobbed and attacked and the items would never reach the church.
We headed out and then proceeded to several huge tent cities in the downtown
area where all the government buildings were located. Many, many people with
no aid yet to be received and this was Sunday!
We made it back to the compound just after dark and in time for supper. We
had to make a room change, I spent some time on line as I had limited internet
service, and then hit the sack.
The next morning we got up early. We had brought in a lot of medical supplies
and we gave them to the mission to use in the clinics that they had set up in the
city. Mission of Hope gave us enough food to feed over 2000 people, 10 cases in
all. We then headed a little farther out of town to another church. Most
everything was fine in this village, though the people were afraid to go back in
their homes and were living in the streets. We left them with a case of food to
prepare.
We then headed to another church, closer to town, but up on a mountain. There
was very little damage in this area, but the pastor’s home was not safe to live in.
From there we went back to the church with the compound that we had visited
the day before. We unloaded all the rest of the food and the People to People
team had a meeting with the pastors as to what could be done, what they needed
and they provided some funds to get the ball rolling.
From there we headed back in time for a shower and dinner. While at the
compound I met a lot of different people from different countries and ministries,
all coming together to share their gifts as they bring the love of Jesus to this
hurting country. I even ran into some friends from previous responses and of
course made some new ones!
The next morning we got up early, packed and headed back to the bus station.
What a mess! People were everywhere trying to get permission from the US
Embassy to get to the US, which was next door to the bus station, and then trying
to get one of the few tickets out of town if they didn’t have another means.
While standing in line I recognized a young man who had traveled in with us. I
asked him how it went and he happily responded that all his family was fine and
their house was still standing. He had taken them some food and water and they
had 5 families staying in the home at this time. His father and a few friends had
come with him to the bus stop.
I had been carrying a water filtration system with me and was praying about what
to do with it. The Lord had not told me yet so I was taking it back with me to use
on a future trip. I began praying if this family was what I was to do with the kit
and the Lord confirmed my choice, but there was a problem. If I tried to give
him something I would either get mobbed or he would never get back to his home
with it and we were surrounded by people. The son, Joversky quickly got his
friends to surround me so no one could see what we were doing. I quickly filled a
small blue tote bag with the kit, a first aid kit, some hand sanitizer, a few snacks,
etc. We were able to make the transition without anyone seeing us and then
took some pictures!
Getting on the bus was a mess. I was trying to help Joversky get a ticket and
there were 6 of us. Supposedly there were only 6 tickets left, but they took all of
our prepaid tickets and passports. Once at the bus, when we realized the
mistake, we had to go back to the table and try to figure things out. I knew God
wanted me to help Joversky so I just prayed and out they came with another
ticket, and on the bus we went.
There were many Haitians on the bus again and we heard many different stories,
some good and some bad. Some of the people were living in Haiti and had
obtained Visas to go to the US and live; others were already staying out of the
country and had come in to find their families and friends. Besides the border
crossing the trip went well, but was rather long!
Once back in Santa Domingo, I immediately said my goodbyes and headed to the
airport where I was supposed to meet with a pastor friend Vic and discuss what
we each found and what plans could be made to further the efforts. CC Old
Bridge from NJ was already forging forward with things on the border and Vic
along with CC Delta from PA and their ministry in Baharona were providing
logistic support. Unfortunately, plans changed and I got on the plane alone
before I found out and headed back to the states which at the time I thought was
a mistake!
Our plane was delayed, but I made it safe and sound. Rachel and Mike picked
me up at the airport and took me to my Jeep. I filled them in quickly and
headed home. Stopped for a couple hours rest at a rest area and made it home
around 7 AM. I then received and email asking me to be on a jobsite the next
day and then had a part come in to finish another job I had been working on and
waiting for. God knew I needed to be on the plane and home to take care of a
few things. I then found out my son was coming home for the weekend from
college, so I also get to spend some much needed time with my family!
Things have been continuing with the DR border operation and I’ll be going back
in on Sunday to meet up with Pastor Doug from Delta CC and we will figure out
what all we can do to bring in people and supplies to help continue the efforts.
At this point what we need is doctors, especially ER and Trauma surgeons. Most
things can be purchased in the DR and taken into the country from there.
Medical supplies are what we need most from the US.
We are working on several ways and situations to get more supplies from the US
to the DR. A plane has been provided to take supplies in from the DR as well as
vehicles on the ground. The mission has a small area to house people. Most of
the people go in during the day and back out at night.
What Haiti does not need is a bunch of Americans running in to “save the day.”
This needs to be an organized effort that realistically will require very little in the
way of US people at a time. When we go in, we also can clog the system, taking
up vehicles that can be used to get others and supplies in and out, using valuable
resources like food, water and fuel, etc.
There are many Dominicans and Haitians who have been being discipled by going
verse by verse through the Bible for such a time as this. They are ready to step
up and minister to their fallen countrymen.
Haiti has very little resources of its own, with its people being its biggest asset. If
we go in and build for them, cook for them, take care of them, all we will do is
put them out of work and create yet another “welfare” system, dependant on the
good ole USA. And these people want to do things for themselves as most of
them are hard working if given the chance.
As far as construction teams, get them the supplies, a couple of supervisors and
hire the locals, let them rebuild for themselves and help pump up their economy!
Most of what I saw will have to be completely bull dozed and rebuilt. I’m no
expert but I think they’ll have to evacuate everyone in PAP and start over, the
same with other areas that have been devastated like PAP.
What they need is supplies and we need the money to get the supplies to them.
It costs at least $1500 for one person to go in and stay for 7-10 days. That money
would be better put to use to purchase supplies for them and allows us all to be
better stewards of what God has given us.
If you plan on just going anyway, then consider the following: make sure you
have a plan, not a just go and see what happens. Haiti was an unsafe place to
visit before the quake, and it is only getting worse. You must team up with a
church/ministry that was already in place before the quake hit and one that is a
good steward of God’s things, you don’t want someone taking what you do and
using it for personal gain! You can only do a distribution for two hours max and
then you are mobbed and have to get out and then it is unwise to go back to the
same area over and over again as they figure that out. Even the military is
struggling with distribution and they have big guns!!
We will need people to go in and help. This will be a long term project. They will
need help both financially and physically for a long time. Due to the number of
people that can safely go in and be affective, think about splitting your team up
into several smaller teams. As many, many want to come in; it will be easier if
we all work together a couple from here and a couple from there.
Check your egos at the door, we need to be affective and come in with humble
hearts and do what we’re asked to do by those who are seasoned responders and
those who have ministered in these areas for years. God can always do anything
with whatever we throw at Him, He has for years and will continue to do so, but
just think what more He could do if we were all humble servants and served
together instead of apart! If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot
stand (Mark 3:25), God said it, not me!
We will continue to keep everyone posted via email and our website. I know
many of you have already expressed interest in joining the efforts and are
patiently standing by and for this I thank you.
Doctors and medical supplies we need now! Keep praying and thanks!
To read our newsletters from our trip click here.
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the
darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10
darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10
