Child Sponsorship Update from Haiti
Several have called with concerns about the children in the Child Sponsorship Program. We appreciate the outpouring of love and concern to the office in Morton. We will continue to provide updates on this page as we learn more, so check back regularly. Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti in this terrible disaster. If you would like to learn how you can help, please scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
While it has been some time since an update has been posted, much has been happening. The current effort is centered around helping the students and schools affected by a major exodus from Port au Prince. Several Brothers from the Child Sponsorship Committee are going to Haiti for an evaluation trip from March 20 - 29. We ask for your prayers that the trip can be effective, safe, and spirit led. Letters were sent to sponsors of students/schools in Haiti giving an opportunity to contribute. Anyone else who would like to contribute is also encouraged to do so by giving to the "Haiti Earthquake" through the Morton Office (PO Box 36, Morton, IL 61550). We appreciate the outpouring of love and support for the people of Haiti and will share an update after the evaluation trip is completed.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
As mentioned in the last posting, we have sent some initial funds to both MEBSH and HCH for the most urgent needs. It has become clear in the last week that the Child Sponsorship response to the disaster should be primarily in 3 areas:
1) Provide an opportunity for existing sponsors to provide a love gift directly to their student / school. A letter has been prepared and sent out providing for this opportunity. Donations for this purpose are intended to help the students through immediate difficulties and is limited to $50 per student (or $250 where we sponsor the entire school rather than individual students). Correspondence forms are also being enclosed to provide an opportunity for the sponsors to include a note that will be translated and delivered with the donation. It is our prayer that this can help establish a closer bond between the sponsor and their student / school.
2) Provide an opportunity to assist students who were not sponsored at the time of the earthquake, or who were sponsored and have special hardship cases. Many students who were attending school in Port Au Prince have moved away and are now attending school in an area covered by MEBSH or HCH. The intent is the donation will be used for food, books, uniforms, or other items destroyed in the earthquake that are essential to attend school. This is an immediate need that will run into tens of thousands of dollars. Donations for this purpose can be sent to our Morton Office (ACWR Child Sponsorship, PO Box 36, Morton, IL 61550) with a notation “Haiti Disaster Where Needed” or online by clicking here. Please be sure to select “Child Sponsorship” in the box “How do you want your donation used?”. Donations sent to Morton are the preferred method, but we appreciate your assistance in either manner.
3) Provide additional sponsorships for those who either have not had a sponsorship in Haiti, or would like to sponsor additional students or schools. We have received many inquiries for this purpose and believe that the need will continue for many years. So this area is serving the long term need rather than only the immediate disaster assistance.
Brothers from World Relief have recently returned from an evaluation trip to Haiti. The needs are overwhelming and the opportunities for sharing the love of Jesus are many. We ask for your continued prayers for the people of Haiti in their hour of need.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Child Sponsorship Committee made the decision to release immediate funds to both MEBSH and HCH to be used for food and basic necessities of those sponsored students/schools with the greatest need. We will also be providing a means for sponsors of Haitian students/school to donate directly to those they sponsor. Stay tuned...more details will be provided in the next few days. If you don't currently sponsor a child in Haiti and would like to help, please send an email to childspocomm@acwr.org with your thoughts and we will work to provide an open way for you to help. Thanks to all for the tremendous outpouring of love and interest in this disaster of mind-numbing scale.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
MEBSH Update
From Marie Lucie: I am continuing the report about the students who go to school in Port-au-Prince and the sponsored schools that have been affected by the earthquake.
Rodney Cherestin was done at school at 4:00 PM. The house where he lives has collapsed but he was not home yet during the earthquake. He lost everything he had. He is asking for food, clothes and shoes. I gave him some money from his pledge. He is heading to his parents.
Port-Salut school has some cracks.
Philippe David was in Cayes the day of the earthquake. He had come to pick up his support money since he had only $6 US left in his hands, that would not be enough to keep him for the week. His school did collapse; thank God he was in Cayes.
La Ferme school has cracks in three classrooms.
Raymond Yadlie was out of school during the earthquake. The house where she lives collapsed but she was not hurt.
Jean Mere Augustin was done with school. The earthquake happened while he was at the gate of his house. The house has lot of cracks but it did not collapse. Her cousin who got married on Saturday had moved to Port the day of the earthquake. She died with her husband. A total of 8 close relatives died.
Fond-des-Negres school was already in bad shape. Some blocks fell and there are cracks in some rooms.
Chardonnieres school has cracks in some rooms. The cistern where the kids get water to drink has cracks also. Some of the students’ parents died in Port-au-Prince.
Remogie school is completely destroyed. It’s the only school reported so far as being destroyed. The parsonage has collapsed also. The Pastor and his family are now living in the outside kitchen. This is a very remote area in the mountain, I have not been there. It’s in the area of Cote de fer (Puits sale, Zabo). A strange thing happened in this area. There were two mountains, a valley with a ravine in the middle, during the earthquake the soil slid and the two mountains are now together. Unfortunately, there were three kids feeding some animals down in the valley that are missing.
Colse school has some damage.
Charpentier school building has not been affected. The school buiding was just recently completed. Some student's parents died in Port-au-Prince.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
For those of you who know Patrick and Barb Lataillaide of Living Word Ministries, we have just received an update on their condition. As noted before, Patrick has lost an arm and Barb part of a leg. For more information, see patrickbarb.blogspot.com. Please continue to remember them in prayer. While there has been good progress, they still have a ways to go.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Child Sponsorship Committee met last night and has made a specific request to both the MEBSH and HCH programs to let us know how we can best help. Our first objective is to provide an opportunity for sponsors to give directly to their sponsored children/schools. We are also looking at ways we can provide help to the schools (repairs, replace damaged materials, food, etc) working in concert with the Caribbean Committee. Please pray that God can open up a way that will not put too much of a burden on the MEBSH and HCH staff. We expect to be able to firm up a plan of action within the next week or two. We are not well suited to be the first responders, but we will continue to be committed to these ministries long after the first responders go back home.
Another email was received from Marie Lucie today. She shared heartbreaking stories of sponsored students and schools:
Ketia Dormeil (sponsored by a Brother in Kansas) was already back from school when the earthquake happened. She was at home by herself. Two houses fell on the one she lives. She fainted. Fortunately the neighbhours remember that she was inside, they came in and got her. She lost everything she had, she said. She’s been sleeping in the streets but she is back to her village Labeillie.
Slove Lyna Cayemite who had called earlier called again to say that she is in the streets and has nothing to eat. I told her that if she wants to go to her village, I will give her money for transportation. She is from Marfranc, 5 hours from Cayes. But she does not want to go home because her mother won’t have food to feed her.
Allin Aine had not called since last week. He called this morning to tell me that he will be coming at the office but he needed some clothes. He had been wearing the same clothes since the earthquake. He washes the t-shirt at night and wears it in the morning. I did bring him some of my son’s clothes and Connie gave him some also. He was in a car that flipped over with him during the earthquake. He is not injured. He was living with his cousin who died with her son when the house collapsed. Now he is heading to his village in Beaumont.
Mahotiere school lost four walls and there are cracks on the other walls.
Claudinette Dumas was at the office today. She was in school in Port-au-Prince. She was on her way home during the earthquake. The house has collapsed but nobody was injured.
The Pastor of Boyer church has lost a daughter. She was not home and they have not found her.
Vieux-Bourg d’Aquin school has cracks. The pastor was at church during the earthquake. He thought it was the rapture. The church has some damage but the school is fine.
Chatry school has three walls that fell. One student has lost her mother who went to sell charcoal in Port-au-Prince.
Pestel school has cracks and some blocks fell.
Wilson Joseph’s parents are farmers but nowadays they can’t produce anything. He sees himself as an orphan with living parents. However he thinks that if the parents would have some money they could butcher animals to sell or do some commerce.
Monday, January 25, 2010
MEBSH
Received this email from Marie Lucie (Director of MEBSH Child Care). It is a powerful message and worth reading through to the end.
"The Lord reigneth, let the people tremble." Psalm 99:4
Since Friday morning I have been thinking about the earthquake and I have learned three major lessons that I would like to share with you. I have shared it with my family and coworkers but I would like to share them also with you who have been praying for me, my family and my dear country.
1. God is sovereign. There is no question about God's sovereignty. We all know it but this earthquake is a real proof for me. Chavannes had a meeting with the staff at Universite Lumiere on Monday the 11th that lasted until after 6PM. If the meeting had taken place on the 12th Chavannes and all the staff members would have been dead. Now they have only two people from the personnel who have moved to heaven: Pastor Desplumes, a Radio Lumiere employee who was teaching and another doctor who was teaching also.
Around 30 students died from the approximately 900 registered. The earthquake did not take place in the morning when many students are in school, many people at work but at 4:53 when most kids are at home, when employees and employers are either at home or close to home. God in his love knew the exact time to send the eartquake.
People close to Chavannes know that he always leaves Port late to go to Cayes. Because God wanted to spare him Chavannes had planned a meeting at 6PM in Cayes. Because of that we had to leave early to get to Cayes at 5:35PM. I heard that they are vehicles on the road who turned over or hit other vehicle during the earthquake but we were driving toward Cayes and did not even notice the hurricane. I have so many proofs of his sovereignty that the only thing I want to do now is bow down and say: "How great thou art"
2. God is no respecter of person. Dear ones, it is true. Wealthy people, poor people have been affected. Everybody is affected. I don't think there is one haitian family that is not affected one way or another. Yesterday Chavannes went to visit a vacant place where many people are staying and you know what some of them are saying, the "gran neg" (the big guys) are encouraging us to go in country so they can take all the food that will be distributed. You know what, both the "gran neg" and the poor are waiting for some help.
I have a relative who is a poor girl who was living in Port. She came back yesterday and she told me that rich people and poor are sleeping together on the open field where they were staying. God is telling me and everyone that we are all the same, dust. All of them sleep on the ground or on a sheet if someone gives them one, or on a piece of board. What a lesson of humility. I am thrilled.
3. Do not be attached with wealth. Around 10:00 o'clock AM I was by my father's home, at 4:53 PM no more home. In less than 2 minutes no more home. My father bought a new vehicle less than two months a go, now no vehicle. I don't even ask for his 4 stories building that he has on Delmas or another house on Delmas 31. In less than two minutes no more wealth. My mother would not stay at my house for a week, she wants to be sure everything is in order, my father is well fed. Now someone has to give her a dress to wear or a pair of shoes. Can you imagine? Do not store wealth, they won't serve you in the days of trouble.
I tell you, I have learned my lessons. They are more lessons but I capitalize on those three. I hear so many testimonies. Haitian would never be the same if they have learned the lessons God has given during this time. Yesterday as I walked to church I ask everyone I met, how are you, do you hear from your folks in Port. Everyone had a story about how God escaped someone and let someone else die. At church one lady would start crying and when I approach her, she has not heard from any of her relative in Port. Another one was crying, she is not from Cayes but she came with other people and she has lost her house. Oh ,the people need comfort.
My Mom has lot of pain, her body aches for being underneath the gravel for 5 hours but I think she is suffering mentally as well as many haitians. A lady at church was taking care of her husband at St Francois de Salles hospital, died together with her husband and and a brother, a sister who were visiting. The husband had an accident on November 16th, he did not die, it was not the time appointed by God. Oh, too many examples!!! Chavannes's driver has lost 13 people from his family. The surviving ones are in the street. Pasteur Vilcnor at my office has 26 people sleeping in the streets, Past Amorce lost 12 people and 3 houses collapsed. Everyone is affected. Sometimes I say it's like when the angel passed over in Egypt.
I feel like telling about so many stories, but I need to go. God is good. Last night I barely sleep. Chavannes came home last night and he would receive calls all night. One called I don't know at what time and I would be talking in order for Chavannes to sleep. That pastor lives in Leogane, he lost everything. He said that he is in the streets with his wife and kids. At 2:38 I gave chavannes the phone. Another one called from Gonaives. These affected people need someone to talk and from midnight to six AM, calls are free. At 3:45 AM I turned off Chavannes phone and I slept until 6: 30. The situation is terrible, people need everything.
Many have been asking what to send, you can send everything but they won't get the people now. For me I think now it's better to send money. Today one Western Union was open in Cayes, I don't know about POrt-au-Prince. Cayes was not affected but loads of people from Port arrived every day. On Saturday there were 192 people on the main soccer field. Plus General hospital is full, Brenda is full, Cite Lumiere and Bonnefin also. On the Radio I heard that they were transferring the orthopedic cases to Bonnefin. Several committes had been formed in the city to accomodate all these people from Port and to receive help to distribute. They come from everywhere, they want to flee from Port. In the mean time food prices, fuel prices have increased. God knows why, we cannot question him. May His name be blessed!
Thank you for all your prayers and your support!
Because of His love,
Marie Lucie
Saturday, January 23, 2010
We regret that more frequent updates have not been available and are attempting to contact our organizations in Haiti. We believe that nearly all of the sponsored children are ok, and are working to assess what our most effective response can be. Your continued prayers for the people of Haiti and wisdom for those who are trying to respond to the needs quickly and effectively are appreciated.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
MEBSH
Email update received from Marie Lucie:
Diory Deye sponsored by ACC sunday school class of 2006 and 2007 woke me up at 5:00 AM to say that he is alive. He is home now at his village but he lost one cousin and three others are injured. He said that he takes courage when he sees what's happenning around him and other families who are worse.
The pastor of Calbassier's school called also. He is alive and well. The roof of the church or the school has been damaged. Many people from the area living in Port are returning home. When he said that, immediately I thought about the jews returning home. He said that everywhere they are people crying, even in the mountains. He prayed with me over the phone, that was nice of him.
Alain Emmanuel sponsored by a German organization was at the office today. He came from Port on the 12th, the same day of the earthquake. He was here on the 13th and he got his support. He said that when he left Port he expected that he was going back . He did not bring any of his belongings. When he heard that the house cracked but did not collapse he asked others to get his things for him. They took a rebar to pull his bag from a window and the house fell. He lost everything.
We contiune to give support money to the students who show up. When I question them they all have members of their families who have been affected by the earthquake.
Once again thanks for your loving concern and prayers.
In Christ,
Marie Lucie
Monday, January 18, 2010
HCH
Note from Adline (with some minor edits):
We give grace to the Lord that our HCH kids are not affected by the quake, for it just shook their villages a little. Contrarily with the 7.3 in Port-au-Prince. We are so thankful about that. Charly and family (assistants with HCH), are doing fine, but he has lost his property in Port-au-Prince. It was his own house. Our family was renting. Joel is doing fine too, but he needed to evacuate his rented house since it was completely destroyed with everything he possessed. I cannot get a hold on Pastor Malval unfortunately. We are hoping the best for him and his family, our prayers are with them. I still have the feeling that I will soon wake up and find that all of this is just a dream. But I know that it isn't.
Thank you all for your prayers! My family is doing fine, though sometimes confused and anxious, we find peace in knowing that God is control: Psalms 29:10,11 The Lord sitteth upon the flood yea, the Lord sitteth King forever. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
Thank you for your continuous prayers!
Adline
MEBSH
Update from Marie Lucie (MEBSH Child Sponsorship Director): "The Lord has been merciful and we can only thank Him." She shared updates on individual students who were in University at Port:
I have received word from Marc Gerard Lorcy. He was in Cayes and is safe.
I heard also from Dimy Escange. The house where he lives has been destroyed but he is fine.
I heard also from Allin Aine. He was living with his cousin who died with one of her children. He is in the streets without anything. When it is possible he will come to the office and then go to his village.
I heard also from Slove Lyna Caymite. She had already left her school that has collapsed. We have three or four students in this school but she doesn't know about them.
Jose Geneve was in Port. His uncle's home where he lives is cracked. They are all sleeping in the street.
Rose Myrtha Raymond is the only student we heard who died. They came with her body in Cayes on Saturday.
Some students who are not from Port came today for their support. Most of them had relatives in Port who have lost some loved ones or houses. Because we don't have cash we gave them checks but we don't know when they will be able to cash their checks because all the banks in town are closed.
As we hear from other students we will share with you.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Living Word
When Patrick & Barb were airlifted to Florida doctors determined that both needed immediate surgery. Barb's right foot was amputated halfway between the ankle and knee. She has been upbeat but is still in a state of shock. Patrick's condition turned out to be much worse than first thought. He remains in critical condition. His right arm had to be taken at the shoulder and he, too, is in shock. He is on a ventilator and having dialysis for his kidneys which have failed. Please pray that they are able to keep him stable through this critical time. They will both be in the hospital for an unspecified period of time.
Living Word
Some sobering news: Barb did have her foot / lower leg amputated. Patrick has also come out of surgery and it is confirmed that they had to amputate his right arm. He is in ICU and remains on a ventilator (possibly post-op or something to do with his collapsed lung) he is also heavily sedated. They are also suspecting some kidney failure that may require dialysis. We continue to pray for the sponsored students as well as all of Haiti. We do not have any further details available regarding the students at this time.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Help a Child in Haiti (HCH)
Update from Adline Cameus brings a sigh of relief:
Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Lord has been merciful to all of us in my family. We have survived the quake! We have evacuated the city last night. We are in my home village, at my mom's place. The grace of the Lord has once again overflooded!!! We appreciate your prayers toward us and toward our people! Thank you all!
MEBSH
MEBSH is in Southern Haiti, 120 miles or more from Port. As mentioned in other areas of the web site, this area was shaken, but did not sustain major damage. We believe that the younger children are safe. However, many of the sponsored students who are in University programs are located in Port Au Prince. Marie Lucie, director of the program, emailed to say that they have sent text messages to every sponsored student in Port without receiving a single response. Please pray for these student's safety. For those of you who know Marie Lucie, you may know that her husband, Chavannes, spends much time in Port. He returned with Marie Lucie to Les Cayes on Monday before the quake and is fine.
Help a Child in Haiti (HCH)
This organization recently took over sponsorships from Living Word with schools in Zabo, Puits Sales, Hatte Jolibois, Boucan Moran, Mexy, and Jove. These schools are quite a distance from Port and should not be majorly affected. However, the director of the program, Adline Cameus lives in Port and we only have very sketchy information regarding her condition. We received an email saying "Adline is ok. We are assuming her family is ok."
Living Word
While we are no longer actively working with Patrick and Barb, we had a long relationship with them. Please pray for them. Their home was demolished and Patrick was trapped for over 17 hours. Barb sustained serious injury to her leg/foot and is hopefully in the Dominican Republic at this time waiting for or recovering from surgery. Pray that she was actually able to get out and receive care. Word from her son was that she would likely lose part of her leg without surgery.
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An Opportunity to Give Hope to a Child in Haiti
Life for the children of Haiti was extremely difficult prior to the earthquake. Their world collapsed around them last week. Try to imagine their day to day challenges as they attempt to deal with the devastating impact of this massive earthquake.
- The emotional stress of losing loved ones and the fear of tomorrow.
- Supply lines disrupted… with food, water and fuel shortages.
- Higher costs for basic necessities, when available.
- The strain of accommodating the flow of injured and displaced people moving out of Port au Prince into already overcrowded villages and countryside.
The children of Haiti need your help today.
Please consider the opportunity of lifting a child up and giving them hope through child sponsorship for only $25.00 per month.
To learn more or request a sponsorship, visit the Child Sponsorship page on the World Relief website. Click here. Applications are also available at your church.
Contact for more information:
Child Sponsorship Office
P. O. Box 36
Morton, IL 61550
309/266-6080 phone
390/266-5281 fax
childsponsorship@acwr.org