| February 2010 Earthquake Relief Efforts |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
CBT
News
News
THANK YOU HAITI DONORS!!! – SPECIAL REPORT - North Haiti Trip –
1/30/10
Tim Mastenbrook, Haitian Christian Foundation Chairman
1. Overview
2. Trip report
3. Going forward
4. Some survival stories
5. Closing thoughts
OVERVIEW Northern Haiti is not a quake catastrophe like Port au Prince, although it is and has been a
catastrophe from several other views. The needs escalating quickly there now are a result of tens of
thousands of refugees coming to their families and friends in the north. I heard the mayor of Cap sends 6-
8 buses to PaP daily to transport them for free. These people arrive with NOTHING but the clothes they
had on their backs when they ran into the street as the quake began. If they have family or friends in the
north, they go to them. Many get “checked in” at a local Cap gymnasium so they are known as surviving,
are given some food and clothing, and sent on their way or to the Cap government hospital if seriously
injured. I did not see any tent cities yet, but will not be surprised if they appear. There is no question
that the Haitians in the north are opening their homes and lives to the refugees. It is not unusual to find
10-20 family members now living in a small room or two or hut. Essentially everyone has relatives or
friends in PaP, and many families had sent their children there for education. Sadly, all too many of them
perished.
In PaP, items from out-of-country are critical because they were lost or cannot be distributed. For a while
in Cap there were supply shortages of food, meds, and fuel. However, these things are all available
again. Semi trucks haul food in from the DR. Meds have arrived from relief groups. Fuel is coming from
the south (Gonaives?), and prices are coming back down. This may be temporary and the situation must
be monitored. Cap electricity can be shut down any time reportedly to save fuel. Banks are open again,
but resisting cashing checks. Security is very good, as the UN has greatly increased their presence. The
Cap government hospital has a lot of US/foreign doctors for now. Food for the injured refugees,
unbelievably, is not provided.
Trip Report – North Haiti – Jan 22 to 29, 2010, TM
Here are some bullets of how God used us (a combined team of 12 people).
My thoughts on where we go from here and for the next year --
I strongly recommend helping with the needs below with cash rather than sending in goods from the US.
In addition to bypassing customs, shipping, and distribution issues, using cash to procure items in Haiti
has the advantage of lifting their economy. Distribution of funds to congregations should be to leadership
groups and not just the preacher. The situation is obviously long term (a year MINIMUM).
Needs (all items currently available in Haiti)
Food funds (100# sack of rice approx $80. 100# sack of beans approx $100. Recommended
mix: 2 rice to 1 beans. $300 will help the needy of a typical congregation for 2 weeks)
Medical funds (some surgery/injury services now being provided by UN/US doctors, but for
how long???) Follow up for amputees, broken limbs, etc. will be long term.
Clothing/shoe funds
Housing ($1K per refugee family will rent a small place for a year and buy some mattresses,
utensils, etc. This is a “starter package” to allow them to get back on their feet.)
Spiritual encouragement (Visit there! Incredible impact on their spirits.)
Orphan Relief (all of the above, but for children. E.g., formula, diapers, infant/child meds.)
Water wells at congregations, orphanages, schools (approx $8K ea)
Repair/improve existing church/school buildings and roofs (approx $2K - $10K ea)
Latrines for congregations, orphanages, schools (approx $2K ea)
Small business startups (training, containers of prepared startup items)
40-ft shipping containers placed on church property (secure storage, approx $2K ea)
Survival Stories –
Alain (CBT graduate): The earthquake began and he no idea at first what was happening. When he
realized the danger he ran into the street. His church met in a room over his carpentry shop. Everything
collapsed and all was gone. He came to us at with NOTHING but the dusty clothes on his back. We
hugged long and hard. We gave him $1,000 to help him get back on his feet. We asked him what he
would do now. He was eager to get back ASAP to help his church and friends.
Nicholas: We met this 14 year old boy in an orphanage where he had recently arrived. His face was
empty of emotion. We asked him his story. He said his mother had pushed him out a window onto the
street when the quake first began. She went back for his brothers and sisters. Just then he saw the
house collapse and kill his mother and entire family. He didn’t cry as we hugged him. I still worry about
the blank look on his face, and on countless others.
Fedson (CBT graduate): He ran into the street, but could not stand for the shaking. All around him
people were shrieking, crying, screaming. On his knees on the street, he held his arms up to God and
shouted, “God, I am ready to come to you!”. He was away from where he lived with some others. He
described with great drama his walk home and coming around a corner to see the building flat. He
described with great joy seeing his friends standing in the street. He came half way to us on a bus, but
had NOTHING but the clothes on his back and could find no one to bring him the rest of the way. He still
had his cell phone on his belt, so he offered it to a driver for a ride. Upon arriving at a fellow CBT graduate’
s home (Richard), Richard paid the driver and got the phone back. We gave him $1,000, also. And he also
was eager to get back to his congregation and friends in the quake area.
Frandtzy: a student who had gone to PaP for higher education. He was in computer class when the
quake hit. All the students were told to run outside, which he did. After the quake, the building was gone
along with the teacher and all but a few of the dozens of students. He wondered why he had been
allowed to survive, and wants to be a preacher of the gospel.
David: asked why God had done this to Haiti. We asked him if God had put PaP on an earthquake fault
line, and if God had built the buildings so weak that they would fall down, and wasn’t God there now in
the spirits of the international helpers and missionaries and support now pouring in. He thought, and
then said he no longer blamed God.
Closing thoughts –
We are incapable of expressing our thanks to all efforts to relieve the physical suffering of the quake
survivors, and are and will continue to help them ourselves WITH YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT. We have
a great advantage with our years of experience in Haiti and with a proven network already on the
ground. NO RELIEF DONATION will go to administration costs. There is nothing worse than the horrific
condition of PaP. Except not to be a Christian and be in the horrific condition of PaP. This is why the
Haitian Christian Foundation remains steadfast in our mission to train Haitian nationals to spread the
gospel of Jesus Christ when it would be easy right now to change focus from the spiritual and eternal to
the physical and temporary. Those that perished, we hope they were Christians. Those still living, we
hope are also Christians, or that our mission and donors will have the opportunity to bring them to the
feet of Jesus. Yes, we will continue to help the survivors and refugees, but always with a focus on their
souls. Pray for them and for us as we continue to partner with YOU in the Lord’s true work in behalf of the
lost and needy of Haiti. “It is all, and always, about salvation.” Amen.
1/30/10
Tim Mastenbrook, Haitian Christian Foundation Chairman
1. Overview
2. Trip report
3. Going forward
4. Some survival stories
5. Closing thoughts
OVERVIEW Northern Haiti is not a quake catastrophe like Port au Prince, although it is and has been a
catastrophe from several other views. The needs escalating quickly there now are a result of tens of
thousands of refugees coming to their families and friends in the north. I heard the mayor of Cap sends 6-
8 buses to PaP daily to transport them for free. These people arrive with NOTHING but the clothes they
had on their backs when they ran into the street as the quake began. If they have family or friends in the
north, they go to them. Many get “checked in” at a local Cap gymnasium so they are known as surviving,
are given some food and clothing, and sent on their way or to the Cap government hospital if seriously
injured. I did not see any tent cities yet, but will not be surprised if they appear. There is no question
that the Haitians in the north are opening their homes and lives to the refugees. It is not unusual to find
10-20 family members now living in a small room or two or hut. Essentially everyone has relatives or
friends in PaP, and many families had sent their children there for education. Sadly, all too many of them
perished.
In PaP, items from out-of-country are critical because they were lost or cannot be distributed. For a while
in Cap there were supply shortages of food, meds, and fuel. However, these things are all available
again. Semi trucks haul food in from the DR. Meds have arrived from relief groups. Fuel is coming from
the south (Gonaives?), and prices are coming back down. This may be temporary and the situation must
be monitored. Cap electricity can be shut down any time reportedly to save fuel. Banks are open again,
but resisting cashing checks. Security is very good, as the UN has greatly increased their presence. The
Cap government hospital has a lot of US/foreign doctors for now. Food for the injured refugees,
unbelievably, is not provided.
Trip Report – North Haiti – Jan 22 to 29, 2010, TM
Here are some bullets of how God used us (a combined team of 12 people).
- The biggest thing accomplished was spiritual in the form of the encouragement given by our visits.
The worst part was the hopeLESSness in the eyes of the refugees and the families of the dead and
dying. The best part was seeing it restored to hopeFULness as a result of our prayers, presence,
and provisions for which we give God all the glory and give OUR DONORS HUGE THANKS !!! Figuring
the average congregation has 150 people and that we gave food or funds to at least 50, and
including the orphanages and hospital, your donations “touched the souls” of 8,000 needy people.
- Prayed with all the graduates of the Center for Biblical Training (CBT, our brotherhood’s preacher
training school), and many others we helped. Worshipped with the Gabart Street congregation in
Cap. Several baptisms during the week, including one on the team!
- As planned before the quake, examined the eyes of 50 CBT graduates and staff, and will now
provide free glasses for 30 in need of them. Amazing to see the expressions of some seeing clearly
for the first time in a long while (eyeglasses can cost $1,200 in Haiti, so are unaffordable for most).
- Advance purchase of approx 6,000 pounds of rice and beans. Distributed ALL the food, including
taking it ourselves to 20 congregations and orphanages.
- Distributed $25,000 in cash (usually $300 each unless specific other needs were urgent) to
preachers for the refugee and refugee families, as well as to others. Amazingly, 43 of the 44 in-
country CBT graduates made it to us. This included Alain and Fedson (PaP survivors) who came
with only the clothes on their backs, each getting $1,000 to start over. Provided rents for one year
for several.
- Distributed $10,000 in cash earmarked to keep various missions going until the banks reopened.
- Had several large tubs of meds (adult/child/infant pain relievers and first aid, etc.) Distributed
packets of it to all the graduates along with written instructions for use. Treated some with quake
injuries, etc. Some trauma counseling for survivors was done.
- Took prepared meals and sacks of food to Azile in Grande Riviere. “Azile” is Creole for Asylum and it
houses the mentally ill and other outcasts of society. Went with a Haitian group organized by our
friend Tabitha. Due to food shortages, they were extremely joyous to see us. Also visited Tabitha’s
orphanage with food and encouragement.
- Prepared and served 300 meals of rice with meat sauce to the PaP survivors and other patients at
the Cap government hospital (they do not provide food). The doctors were overjoyed as they
worried the refugees would not heal without food.
- Team Members: Brian Marron, Dave Heath, Ed Cullers, Julie Hallman, Kent Wilson, Kevin and Kathy
Frank, Luke Guthrie, Malcom Dawson, Nolan Davis, Vicki Castellucci, yours truly.
- Places visited: Robillard, Haut-du-Cap, Desmangues, Laurier, Lucner Orphanage, Azile Grande
Riviere, Grangile, Dondon, Ravine des Roches, Limbe, Cap-Haitien and Tabitha’s Orphanages, Acul-
du-Nord, Mathone, Labruyere, Plaisance, Plaisance “Natufa”, Ste. Philomene, Gabart Street, 1st
Street, Fort Liberty, Cap-Haitien Government Hospital, Cap-Haitien Refugee Gymnasium.
My thoughts on where we go from here and for the next year --
I strongly recommend helping with the needs below with cash rather than sending in goods from the US.
In addition to bypassing customs, shipping, and distribution issues, using cash to procure items in Haiti
has the advantage of lifting their economy. Distribution of funds to congregations should be to leadership
groups and not just the preacher. The situation is obviously long term (a year MINIMUM).
Needs (all items currently available in Haiti)
Food funds (100# sack of rice approx $80. 100# sack of beans approx $100. Recommended
mix: 2 rice to 1 beans. $300 will help the needy of a typical congregation for 2 weeks)
Medical funds (some surgery/injury services now being provided by UN/US doctors, but for
how long???) Follow up for amputees, broken limbs, etc. will be long term.
Clothing/shoe funds
Housing ($1K per refugee family will rent a small place for a year and buy some mattresses,
utensils, etc. This is a “starter package” to allow them to get back on their feet.)
Spiritual encouragement (Visit there! Incredible impact on their spirits.)
Orphan Relief (all of the above, but for children. E.g., formula, diapers, infant/child meds.)
Water wells at congregations, orphanages, schools (approx $8K ea)
Repair/improve existing church/school buildings and roofs (approx $2K - $10K ea)
Latrines for congregations, orphanages, schools (approx $2K ea)
Small business startups (training, containers of prepared startup items)
40-ft shipping containers placed on church property (secure storage, approx $2K ea)
Survival Stories –
Alain (CBT graduate): The earthquake began and he no idea at first what was happening. When he
realized the danger he ran into the street. His church met in a room over his carpentry shop. Everything
collapsed and all was gone. He came to us at with NOTHING but the dusty clothes on his back. We
hugged long and hard. We gave him $1,000 to help him get back on his feet. We asked him what he
would do now. He was eager to get back ASAP to help his church and friends.
Nicholas: We met this 14 year old boy in an orphanage where he had recently arrived. His face was
empty of emotion. We asked him his story. He said his mother had pushed him out a window onto the
street when the quake first began. She went back for his brothers and sisters. Just then he saw the
house collapse and kill his mother and entire family. He didn’t cry as we hugged him. I still worry about
the blank look on his face, and on countless others.
Fedson (CBT graduate): He ran into the street, but could not stand for the shaking. All around him
people were shrieking, crying, screaming. On his knees on the street, he held his arms up to God and
shouted, “God, I am ready to come to you!”. He was away from where he lived with some others. He
described with great drama his walk home and coming around a corner to see the building flat. He
described with great joy seeing his friends standing in the street. He came half way to us on a bus, but
had NOTHING but the clothes on his back and could find no one to bring him the rest of the way. He still
had his cell phone on his belt, so he offered it to a driver for a ride. Upon arriving at a fellow CBT graduate’
s home (Richard), Richard paid the driver and got the phone back. We gave him $1,000, also. And he also
was eager to get back to his congregation and friends in the quake area.
Frandtzy: a student who had gone to PaP for higher education. He was in computer class when the
quake hit. All the students were told to run outside, which he did. After the quake, the building was gone
along with the teacher and all but a few of the dozens of students. He wondered why he had been
allowed to survive, and wants to be a preacher of the gospel.
David: asked why God had done this to Haiti. We asked him if God had put PaP on an earthquake fault
line, and if God had built the buildings so weak that they would fall down, and wasn’t God there now in
the spirits of the international helpers and missionaries and support now pouring in. He thought, and
then said he no longer blamed God.
Closing thoughts –
We are incapable of expressing our thanks to all efforts to relieve the physical suffering of the quake
survivors, and are and will continue to help them ourselves WITH YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT. We have
a great advantage with our years of experience in Haiti and with a proven network already on the
ground. NO RELIEF DONATION will go to administration costs. There is nothing worse than the horrific
condition of PaP. Except not to be a Christian and be in the horrific condition of PaP. This is why the
Haitian Christian Foundation remains steadfast in our mission to train Haitian nationals to spread the
gospel of Jesus Christ when it would be easy right now to change focus from the spiritual and eternal to
the physical and temporary. Those that perished, we hope they were Christians. Those still living, we
hope are also Christians, or that our mission and donors will have the opportunity to bring them to the
feet of Jesus. Yes, we will continue to help the survivors and refugees, but always with a focus on their
souls. Pray for them and for us as we continue to partner with YOU in the Lord’s true work in behalf of the
lost and needy of Haiti. “It is all, and always, about salvation.” Amen.
