Download full reports

Show Pictures

I just finished compiling the list of institutions and refugee camps that we visited in these past few days and hope tomorrow to go to see Dr. Alonso of the United Nations at 9 am in order to give him the report of what is needed. 

We went back to the UN’s offices, where at 4 pm they have a cloistered health meeting every afternoon with all of the different participants of the medical teams from the big organizations. I noted the distinct lack of Haitians and missionaries. I mentioned how difficult it was to obtain medication and they took my request very seriously. I feel that God put me exactly in the right place to be the most effective, networking with others and speaking for those who do not have a voice so that their work will be easier.

In the second phase of the work there are various factors to be considered. STEP’s CHE program has lost two of their community health evangelists/workers. Others that have survived from that program have lost close family members and their homes and belongings. I would like to focus the immediate support on these brothers and sisters while we prepare Miguel Ovalle, a Dominican missionary, over the long run in a rehabilitation program focused on spiritual and emotional support of the victims, training them in participatory lessons and community ownership.

I’m back in the United States on my way to Canada where I’ll be until February 2. At that time my husband and I will travel to Cap Haitian to talk with our team of local leaders. Together we will be preparing a new ministry plan in light of the pressing needs that the earthquake has created throughout the country as a whole. The survivors continue to flow from the capital city to the provinces. There is a need to reinforce the local healthcare systems and have a broader program. I thank God for our Dominican brothers and sisters who have supplied us with medications and are so willing to serve as a channel for help from all of Latin America.

What is most needed now is good coordination beginning with nationals’ decisions – the Haitian leaders are truly my heroes of this past week. I saw so much effort: from the rescue of the victims, to transportation, to home visits, to medical care by volunteer professionals in spite of their personal losses, that I am truly encouraged to begin to think of a completely new Haiti that will arise from the strength of its people and teamwork with foreigners.

We truly feel that the greatest strength is in the Haitians themselves, a resource that has not been fully appreciated. We must pray for those who have decision-making power, that they would include the many nationals who want to be a part of the solution.

There are now 600 temporary shelters just in the city of Port-au-Prince. They are looking for places to establish approximately 19 long-term shelters.

Letter from Cap Haitian CHE team, 1/23/10

The tragedy of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince opened into a new chapter of the history of Haiti. It’s a test to tell who our neighbors are.  Amazingly, the world has responded graciously to the needs of the poorest country of the hemisphere. Beside the grief left by the chaos in the Republic of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian people will never forget the love that accompanied them through this trial. Actually, life is almost impossible in Port-au-Prince.  Massively the residents are moving toward the countrysides in search of a shelter to breath, drink, eat and sleep.

Yesterday afternoon, we visited with some of the 150 victims at Milot hospital who did not have relatives nearby. We distributed some of the items, encouraged them through the Bible. It was so hard to listen to their stories; they all acknowledge that God is good all the time. There is a need for psychologists in the country now.

To you all who contribute in word, action and gift to help the victims, we thank from the bottom of our heart. Bibi, thanks for offering your helping hands in Port.

Continue to pray for a better tomorrow in Haiti. 

Enoch, Osse, Mme Grimard and Evelyn of AMDH (Medical Ambassadors Haiti)

Our mission continues to be the same: awakening in community leaders a vision of holistic transformation and accompanying them in the process, either directly or via other Christian institutions so that the local church takes ownership of the vision.

In light of the earthquake we will concentrate on certain tasks which will be key in the next few months:

1. The team recognized the need to support the healthcare work of the clinics and hospitals that are related to CHE programs. We identified at least ten healthcare institutions in the north besides the six that are already receiving donations of medications in the Port-au-Prince area. The team will visit them to learn what their needs are and in what way your support can best benefit these groups, which are overwhelmed with both the patients that keep arriving from the capital as well as financial needs which are so great that the personnel don’t know how they will be sustained financially at this time.
2. SODIS: This is a system of solar disinfection to make water potable. The method is taught to community groups and schools. In addition, a survey must be carried out to determine the number of cases of diarrhea in the communities where they will be working, as well as meetings with the local leadership and follow-up of those that want to adopt this method of water disinfection which consists of simply putting plastic bottles filled with water in the sun.
3. Counseling: We recognize that there are two stages or needs. Firstly, the emotional support of the leaders of different groups, be they spiritual, community, or other types of groups, and secondly to train those leaders to counsel others.   Many outside professionals have offered their services and we are already preparing lessons that we trust will help the many cases of post-traumatic stress disorder that we are seeing.
4. Funds: We have been planning all of this without the necessary funds to accomplish it. We just barely have the money needed to function as a ministry in February and March. We thank God for so many of you who, by giving offerings, have made possible for us to have these two months covered. God is teaching us to depend on Him in everything, and I believe that this is a process in which the Haitians are growing in their faith. We are sure that God is guiding us and the plans are already underway. The SODIS program is already covered for 2010. For the rest, we trust in God that it will arrive each month.

If you feel the desire to support these efforts either with your presence or in your professional capacity, please feel free to contact us. The commitment with Haiti must be something that goes beyond the first week of emotion. The country is in ruins, every inch has been affected by the earthquake. The families around us all have eight to ten more people to feed in their houses for who knows how long. The refugee camps will be moved to specific locations, but in the provinces the exodus is having a tremendous impact on both the family economy and local economy. We believe that CHE is a very valuable tool to contribute to the solution of the problem. We will need $50,000 to cover April through December of 2010. This amount includes transportation, meetings with key people, trainings, community visits, partial salaries for seven people, and communication and office costs. 

With affection and appreciation for all of you who have been giving ideas, sending support, praying, and offering help.