WEDNESDAY--HAITI--Report from the capital

HAITI WEDNESDAY REPORT—By Mike Taliaferro

150 still missing. Church plans relocation to Mirebalais.

Dr Mark Ottenweller reports by phone that it went well in Haiti distributing food, water, and medicine to the disciples who are suffering in Port-au-Prince. Mark Ottenweller and Stanley Dumornay have now left Haiti and drove across the border to the Dominican Republic. They will be flying home to the USA on Wednesday.

The situation in Port-au-Prince is still desperate. Roads are blocked. There is no communication. So far 9 disciples and 12 family members are dead. The number of missing in the church is about 150. Some of those may have gone to be with family or relatives. Others may simply be stuck in a neighborhood with no mobility. Certainly some have perished. We may not know the number who perished for a few more weeks.

The disciples are in shock. Their city is in ruins. Mark said that folks hold it in, but it is overwhelming. Most are just numb. The church is providing lots of encouragement. They sing in the morning and evening. There is lots of crying. During the night, as they camp out on the property of their collapsed church building, they are startled by aftershocks, nearby screams, or even gunfire. Still, somehow, the brothers and sisters continue to press forward with their lives.

Mark has set up with HOPEworldwide a ‘pipeline’ for aid to continue to flow into the capital. Food and medicine can come in from next-door Dominican Republic. Some good news is that the banks are starting to open. Wilner Cornerly will be arriving this weekend with more food and medical stuffs. Mark left some money behind so that they could buy more food and water this week.

The plan that the church is considering is to relocate many of the disciples on the property to a town one hour away called Mirebalais. Families could start over there. Kids could go to school. It is outside the damage zone. Others will go to other cities to be with their families or relatives. Some will remain in the capital. We have 8 churches in Haiti. Only Port-au-Prince was devastated. The other churches are said to be fine.

When contributions come in from other churches, the disciples will be able to restart their lives. The local disciples are preparing a budget for the relocation of some of the members to Mirebalais. Stage one is to relocate. Stage two will be on-going support for the next 2 or 3 months as they purchase basic items like clothes, a bed, kitchen stuff, etc. Stage 3 would be to help the community with a project of some kind in the weeks and months to come. Disciples around the world will be able to help with all these needs.

Churches around the world are eager to assist. Churches from literally every continent are preparing to take up special contributions. In the midst of such appalling suffering, the church will continue to shine brightly as we help our brothers and sisters in their greatest hour of need.

Contribute right now at www.HOPEww.org.

TUESDAY: HOPEww Helps the Disciples in Port-au-Prince

Supplies arrive in Port-au-Prince. 200 disciples still unaccounted for.

See the pictures on the right...

Haiti (Monday) from www.icochotnews.com: We are happy to report the answered prayer that Dr. Mark Ottenweller (HOPEww) and Stanley Dumornay (NYC) were able to fly into the Dominican Republic on Saturday and drive across the border into Haiti on Sunday. Although the border was officially closed, they managed permission to cross, and in spite of thieves and growing chaos, they arrived in Port-au-Prince. They are there to help the disciples in the Port-au-Prince church, as well as survey the situation in general. Big thanks to HOPEww, Angel Martinez in the DR church, and our ICOC congregation in San Francisco for financing the flight and basic relief items. It is very encouraging for the disciples to be linked up with the outside world.

Mark set up a clinic and began to treat people on the spot at the church property. About 110 people are camping out on the property, roughly half of them members of our church. 200 disciples are still unaccounted for. 12 have died. People are still in shock by the chain of events. They have endured broken limbs and collapsed houses. A few of the children have lost most of their family. It is a heavy time, but also a time of hope. The church was very excited to see the food and medicine. Some wept openly when they saw the boxes of supplies. Mark and Stanley arrived on Sunday, right as the existing food stores were running out at the church property.

One plan being discussed is the evacuation of the Port-au-Prince church to another city unharmed by the earthquake. Banks, stores, and electricity still function there. We have a medium size church there also.

Nadia and Joseph Ojo are setting up a network so that Haitians in the USA can contact the disciples there to check up on their relatives. Watch www.icochotnews.com and www.disciplestoday.com for more details on Tuesday. Thanks Nadia & Joseph!

The two big dangers facing the disciples there are 1. The spread of disease. Sanitation is terrible right now, and many people are too weak to fight off the flu, not to mention cholera or typhoid. Also 2. Crime and looting are on the rise. It could become very dangerous in Port-au-Prince. Especially for people with supplies. WE ALL NEED TO BE PRAYING!

While it is almost impossible to get supplies shipped in from the states, we can all donate cash to HOPEworldwide. Please give, either to a church wide special, or personally at their website. www.hopeww.org.

Mike Taliaferro

Our Latest Video from Friday

Video from last Friday before Dr Ottenweller arrived (See below)

En ESPAÑOL tambien... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6i8uESc1Dg