Help Haiti - Information & Updates
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April 23, 2010
Update from Valerie Dickson
Our fourth medical team returned from Haiti this past Saturday late in the evening. Thank you to all those who prayed for us. It was an amazing week seeing the team pour out all they had! We spent most of the week in tent cities, clinics and hospitals seeing patients suffering from some earthquake-related issues, general primary care conditions, and general emergency care. The first day alone one of our teams saw 581 patients! It was a truly impacting experience to interact with the Haitian people who are still reeling from the crisis that rocked their already poverty-stricken country.
Two of our team members set up blogs to share their experience during the week and are even now posting some post-trip thoughts as they process everything. Check them out - http://wongojack.blogspot.com/ and http://francesinhaiti.blogspot.com/
One thing that personally rang true for me was that education and development are the key as Haiti moves forward. As the rescue and recovery efforts have given way now to a new reality of life, the next phase of rebuilding begins. To quote from an recent article written by Bob Lupton, "As the bleeding has stopped and basic food and shelter has been provided, emergency assistance must now begin to shift toward enabling the Haitians to regain control of their own lives." It is crucial in this reconstruction effort to invest in creating jobs for the Haitians, building their capacity to develop skills to provide for their families, and educating the future generation to lead their country. In this I am excited and hopeful for what God can and is doing in Haiti, despite the overwheleming needs we were heartbroken over.
I love being a part of this church (and the greater church body we are working with) and I'm so grateful for the compassion and concern so many have shown as we try to respond to that which God has put before us. Please pray as we continue to seek the way forward on how we continue responding as a church body.
April 14, 2010
Check out the IWitness testimony of Chris Dias who went to Haiti in March on the IT team that helped install a Satellite Internet system. Click HERE to read about his experience.
April 12, 2010
Our 4th team has arrived in Haiti yesterday! This is third medical team since the earthquake and they are prepared to be working in medical clinics in Port-au-Prince or setting up mobile clinics in tent cities. Valerie Dickson is leading the team which includes 2 primary care physicians, a lay counselor and IT expert, a French speaker, a former registered nurse, 2 support people. They have landed safely and had a smooth trip so far. Please continue to pray for their safety. And also pray that the team is infused with the Holy Spirit so that God can use them in big ways.
An Update from Rod
March 26, 2010
Friends,
Our third team arrived home from Haiti last Saturday. This was primarily an IT team which helped set up an IP over Satellite system for the Quisqueya Crisis Relief Center. Communication has been a huge need as Quisqueya has worked to coordinate the efforts of hundreds of doctors and other medical personnel in Haiti. They have done an extraordinary job in the face of overwhelming circumstances. In addition to the Satellite system we have been able to provide 15 cell phones, a closed network for the cell phones, internet service for a year and general IT support.
To date we have sent three teams to Haiti. These teams have included 10 doctors, 4 Physician's Assistant/Nurses/First Responders, 2 IT experts, 3 interpreters and 4 persons providing general support. Our medical teams have provided care for approximately 1,000 patients. This medical care has included emergency surgery and triage, post-operative care, treatment of infectious diseases, primary care and the establishment of a temporary pharmacy. They have worked in surgical centers, hospitals, rural clinics and tent cities.
God has allowed Fairfax Community Church to be an instrument of healing in the midst of tremendous loss and pain. This has been made possible by the unreasonable generosity you have shown in response to the needs in Haiti. Just over $50,000 has been given to the Help Haiti fund. The value of donated supplies, equipment and professional services is incalculable.
We are sending our fourth team down on April 11. This will primarily be another medical team but will also include additional IT support. We are presently assessing what the next phase of our support will look like after this team returns. The needs in Haiti remain great. However, they are shifting as the county moves from crisis response to providing sustainable care. Not only are we committed to being good stewards with the resources God has entrusted to our care, we want to help in a way that does not undermine the sustainable systems that are so desperately needed in Haiti.
This next phase will last at least 6 months. We will keep you informed of opportunities to serve and skill-sets required as we move forward. We will keep the Help Haiti fund open during this next phase. If you would like to give, you can do so by clicking here. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and for our church as we embrace Jesus’ call to love God and love neighbor.
A fellow servant,
Rod
March 10, 2010
Haiti team #3 is getting ready to leave this Sunday morning, March 14th! This is a small team: Sara Pearce will be leading a team of two IT experts to help the crisis center at QCS set up there new IP over satellite system. This will help tremendously with their ability to communicate outside of Haiti, as well as within. A chiropractic physician/physical therapist is also coming with us and will be joining another medical team on the ground. There is serious need for physical therapy due to the serious number of injuries. So she is a huge blessing!
Please remember us in your prayers as we prepare physically and spiritually to travel there. The news is reporting that the situation is actually only getting worse as tent cities are turning into slums and rainy season looms ahead. So also keep the Haitian people in your prayers as well as our brothers and sisters serving over there full-time.
February 26, 2010
Update from Rod
I wanted to personally update you on our efforts in Haiti. Last Saturday our second medical team returned from Haiti. This incredible team consisting of doctors, French speaking interpreters, a nurse and a person trained in crisis response were able to treat OVER 500 patients in four days! We rejoice at the impact that our teams are having in the midst of this devastating crisis.
As I have mentioned before, we are committed to an ongoing response to the overwhelming need in Haiti. The humanitarian crisis that Haiti is experiencing no longer dominates the news, but the reality on the ground has not fundamentally changed. The medical needs are different but still profound.
OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP HAITI
1. JOIN A TEAM - We are committed to sending an average of a team a month during the first 12 months post-earthquake. The next team is scheduled for March 13-20. We desire to take a team of 6-7 people comprised of doctors, nurses, EMTs, someone who speaks French and at least one “hands on” IT person. Tentative dates for the next three teams have been set for April 10-17, May 15-22 and June 19-26. The make-up of these teams will be determined as we continue to assess the needs on the ground. They will likely continue to focus on medical and IT support, but teams may need other skills and areas of expertise as needs arise and as the field enters new phases of care.
2. ATTEND THE “HELP HAITI” INFORMATIONAL MEETING THIS SUNDAY - This Sunday, Feb. 28th at 1:00pm in Room 141 (God’s Big Backyard) we will have an Informational Meeting to share with you in more detail what has been happening in Haiti, what our strategy is in moving forward, and the various opportunities to serve both in Haiti and locally. You will also get to hear from some team members who have already been down. So whether you are a medical, IT, or other professional, or just have a heart to serve in some way, we encourage you to attend.
3. GIVE TO THE “HELP HAITI” FUND – There has been an outpouring of unreasonable generosity to Help Haiti. These funds have been instrumental in helping us to respond quickly and strategically to the needs in Haiti. These funds will be essential as we continue to respond over the next 12 months. If you would like to give to the “HELP HAITI” Fund you may do so by clicking here.
If you are interested in joining a team or attending the Informational Meeting this Sunday, you can contact Sara Pearce at sarapearce@fairfax.cc.
Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti, for Quisqueya Christian School, for our teams traveling to Haiti and for our staff and volunteers as they respond to these profound needs.
Grace and peace,
Rod
February 24, 2010
Haiti Team #2 made it home safely and soundly on Saturday evening. We will update you with more detail soon, but for now we can say that helped almost 650 patients in just 4 days. They worked long hours and served God with everything they had. Stay tuned for more details and photos of their time there!!
And our prayers have been answered! Commercial air is back in Port-au-Prince and the airport has been reopened! The airport reopened the day that our team was scheduled to come home. God really did surround them and protect them on this journey.
Upcoming Trips to Haiti - Informational Meeting on Feb. 28
Next Sunday, Feb. 28th at 1:00pm we will have an Informational Meeting to share what has been happening in Haiti, what our strategy is in moving forward, and the various opportunities to serve both in Haiti and locally from here. Whether you are a medical, IT, or other professional, or just have a heart to serve in some way, we encourage you to attend.
It has been 5 weeks since the devastating earthquake hit, and the wake of suffering it created has been overwhelming. God has provided amazing human and financial resources to us as a church to be able to respond. It is our plan to have an ongoing mobilization effort for the foreseeable future to continue to support these relief efforts and help in whatever ways we can in the rebuilding process.
4 tentative trips and dates are planned for the coming months:
March 13-20
April 10-17
May 15-22
June 19-26
The make-up of these teams will be determined as we continue to assess the needs on the ground. They will likely continue to focus on medical and IT support, but teams may need other skills and areas of expertise as needs arise and as the field enters new phases of care.
At the meeting we will get to hear from some team members who have already been down. Alan MacDonald will also share vision and strategy in moving forward. And we will discuss skill sets and roles that are needed at this point. The meeting will be in Room 141 (God’s Big Backyard) at 1:00pm. Light snacks will be available. RSVP to valeriedickson@fairfax.cc if you can come.
February 17, 2010
We heard from our second medical team that they made it to Port au Prince safely and started work yesterday. They are doing well – getting settled into their work at the hospitals and clinics and digging in for the week ahead! We continue to pray that God will use them in strategic and compassionate ways to bring healing and hope to the people of Haiti.
In the last two weeks, the medical relief effort at the Quisqueya Christian School has moved from a phase characterized by a high volume of critical surgeries and untreated earthquake injuries into a new phase of more post-operative care with a renewed emphasis on public health and infectious disease prevention. Their nightly medical team meetings are no longer centering around crisis care (utilizing the surgeons and operating rooms in the most effective way), but instead on the public health situation.
A primary concern is alleviating future health problems associated with contaminated water due to rain and inadequate toilet facilities in many tent cities. They recently had a special guest doctor speak to the medical teams on preparing to battle infectious diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria in this season. Dr. Libby Higgs, the leader of the current team on the ground, is an infectious disease doctor positioned perfectly to provide leadership and support in this area during this week and in the months to come.
QCS is continuing to coordinate patient transfer around Port-au-Prince and greater Haiti to get patients to the facility and specialists that best suit their needs. New operating medical facilities are continuing to be added to their network, including a just-established German Red Cross facility set up at a soccer stadium near Carrefour. They are also continuing to work to overcome challenges such as a lack of x-ray, ventilator, and CAT scan capabilities at many hospitals.
We are so encouraged by this developing partnership with QCS and how God has positioned us as a church to support them in this critical time. Praise God for all those willing and able to use their skills and passion to serve in these ways!
February 10, 2010
Our second medical team is getting ready to head out to Haiti this Saturday. God has pulled together another amazing team! We have one infectious disease doctor, two primary care doctors, two resident nurses, and two French speakers. The two primary care doctors are coming from Arkansas and Ohio, so our network is moving across the country! Watching God work continues to amaze us all. We are praying for the travel details to work out, as we find it is actually harder to get to Haiti now than it was two weeks ago. As of now, the team will fly to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and take a 6-hour bus ride to Port-au-Prince. We are on the waiting list for some other options that would make the trip much smoother. Thanks for praying with us and trusting God to pave the way forward for this team.
February 2, 2010
An Update from Alan MacDonald
Our weary but thankful team returned home last Friday afternoon after five very intense days in Haiti. So many people played a part in getting the team there and home again. I am so thankful for each of you who gave and prayed us on our way. God went before us to overcome the challenges of transportation, communication, food, a place to stay and more importantly, finding places where our team could serve effectively. Our team did an amazing job responding to the arduous conditions. In the face of overwhelming needs we were not discouraged but did what we could do. My prayer is that everyone will do whatever God asks of them in response to this crisis. While in Haiti we met a number of “grizzled veterans” of global disaster response. To a person they said that the aftermath of the earthquake was worst than anything they had ever experienced. I am grateful for your faithful prayers for our team. God’s answers to your prayers were very evident. Many times we faced situations that were far beyond are ability to solve. At those places God showed Himself so faithful to us. The time in Haiti was also vitally important for gaining a better understanding of how we can continue to play our part in responding to the needs there. There will be continued opportunities to give, pray and go.
January 29, 2010
An Update from Rod
Friends,
I want to give you an update on Fairfax Community Church’s response to the crisis in Haiti.
FIRST MEDICAL TEAM
Our first medical team returns from Haiti this afternoon. Two of our doctors worked at a field hospital that was set up by the University of Miami at the Port-au-Prince airport. The rest of the team worked at a rural location outside of Port-au-Prince where people had no access to the city “hospitals.” During the week, the team performed surgery, provided primary care, and served in whatever way was needed. They witnessed overwhelming suffering and glimpses of profound hope. Please pray for them as they return, re-enter their normal routines and process what they have experienced.
QUISQUEYA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
The Christian school that we are working with to respond to this crisis has become one of the most robust medical operations in Haiti. They are now servicing 8 medical centers and are deploying teams of doctors and nurses to rural areas to set up small clinics for those who do not have access to facilities in the city. The Crisis Center at the school has been working around the clock coordinating the work of doctors and other medical personnel. In addition they have become a distribution center for other forms of compassionate care. You can check out their website at http://quisqueya.org/.
TWO NEW TEAMS
We are in the process of forming two new teams to send down to Haiti.
- Medical Team – The needs on the ground are shifting from surgery to primary care. We are putting together a team of doctors and nurses who can provide primary care and deal with infectious disease.
- IT Team – The Crisis Center at Quisqueya Christian School is in desperate need of personnel and equipment that can help them better communicate on the ground in Haiti and with the outside world. We need persons with “hands-on” experience with networking and IT who can meet this need.
If you are interested in serving on either of these two teams, or have connections with IT or mobile communications companies who can donate equipment, contact sarapearce@fairfax.cc for more information.
HELP HAITI FUND
Because of the generous response of people both within our congregation and outside our congregation, we have been able to respond quickly and strategically to the need in Haiti. We are committed to continuing to respond to these profound needs, even after it is no longer the top story in the news. If you want to give to the Help Haiti Fund, you can do so by clicking here.
Thank-you for your prayers and practical expressions of God’s love as we seek to be the Body of Christ in Haiti.
Rod
January 28, 2010
The team will be making their way home soon. They are preparing for a flight at 3:30am tonight and will be arriving back into the D.C. area tomorrow afternoon. It has been a whirlwind of a week and we realize what a difficult transition this will be to leave such a state of devastation and come home.
We learned more and more each day about the situation on the ground, but yet only have a glimpse right now. We look forward to debriefing with the team and with greater understanding build a strategy for the next steps and the way forward in our effort for a sustained mobilization and response effort. Our focus will be on sending medical teams of surgeons, primary care physicans and nurses, and IT professionals. Rod will be sending out an update regarding some of these opportunities shortly and we will post that here.
As we continue building these next teams, we would love to hear from you if you are a doctor or nurse; IT professional with network/systems experience; or have connections with IT or communication companies who could donate supplies. Email sarapearce@fairfax.cc.
January 27, 2010
Amidst streams of texting, brief phone calls, and intermittent email access, we are hearing from the team and they are doing well. Two of the doctors are currently performing surgeries at a field hospital being run by the University of Miami near the airport. The other team members are doing primary patient care at the Quisqueya Relief Coordination Centers, which are currently operating eight centers in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas. There are some challenges in coordinating the medical care among these eight centers, but in spite of this, the centers are having a huge impact - praise God! Check out their website at http://quisqueya.org/ where they are providing very informative updates.
The team is coming home on Friday. We have plans to send more medical teams and IT teams in the near future.
Thank you for your prayers and support! We are humbled at the spirit in which people are investing in responding to this crisis.
January 25, 2010
The team has arrived! We were able to have phone connectivity with the team last night and received word that their flights were very smooth. Despite a busy flightline upon arrival, all went well and they were picked up within an hour of arrival and brought to the school - with all 16 bags full of medical supplies in tow! We are grateful for these answered prayers and look forward to hearing from them again.
January 23, 2010
Praise God! Our medical team was able to secure a plane that will take them from Florida to Port-au-Prince Sunday night. They are flying out of Reagan National Sunday morning at 10am. This means their trip was moved up a full day and requires some last minute scrambling. But the team has been so flexible and filled with such a willing spirit to do whatever it takes to get there!
The team has expanded to 7 people now and is again a testament to God's perfect work. The chairman of the Orthopedics Department at INOVA Fairfax and the INOVA's disaster response specialist is joining this team.
Please keep praying. The details have now fallen into place and we just need to keep praying that everything is executed smoothly and these amazing doctors and can get to work. We will try to update this page daily as we receive updates from our team on the ground.
Also be praying as we prepare to send more teams in the near future. We are continuing to gather our list of medical personnel, supplies and equipment that we can send to Haiti. If you have contacts in this area who are willing to help, let us know. You can contact Sara Pearce at sarapearce@fairfax.cc.
January 20, 2010
We have been in consistent contact with the Murphys and they have informed us the greatest need at this point is orthopedic surgeons. In response to this we have pulled together a medical team from within our church and our network to delploy to Port-au-Prince this Monday, January 25. The team will be led by Alan MacDonald and will include a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, a general surgeon, a physician's assistant, and an anesthesiologist. What an amazing thing to see unfold this week - finding people with the specific skills needed willing to go, finding air transportation to get them there, and watching God orchestrate it all! The team will be working at the center of operations for Crisis Response International, currently set up at a school 20 minutes from the airport in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.
They will be transported by CARE (Corporate Aircraft Responding to Emergencies). This has all been made possible by the grace of God and your generous giving! The donations we have received so far will allow this team to purchase the medical supplies needed. Donations will also help the ground personnel buy necessary survial supplies such as food, gasoline for generators, items to provide shelter, clean water, and much more. The center is currently serving as a food and water distribution center for survivors. You can continue to make financial donations by clicking here.
We truly desire your prayers as this team makes preparations to leave on Monday. We have seen God's hand in every detail so far and are incredibly grateful. Thank you for continuing to pray with us.
- Pray the logistics would continue to be worked out and the flight arrangements will be smooth.
- Pray the doctors can get on the ground quickly and get to work as soon as possible.
- Pray for safety and strength for those on the team as they will be in a difficult and dangerous area.
- Pray for peace - spiritually, emotionally, and physically for each person as they walk into a horrifying humanitarian crisis.
January 15, 2010
We have all witnessed the heart-breaking scenes of devastation in Haiti. Fairfax Community Church has had a long relationship with the Church of God in Haiti. We have also supported the work of Phillip and Lonnie Murphy who founded House of Blessings more than 20 years ago to care for orphans. We have relationships with people who make this tragedy more than just nameless faces on the news. We ask that you join with us in praying for those who are experiencing immense suffering.
We also want to respond in tangible ways to the overwhelming needs. We are seeking to channel funds to those we know who are involved in ministry on the ground in Haiti. If you feel led to give through Fairfax Community Church, you can do so electronically by clicking here, or by placing a check in the weekly offering (simply write Haiti in the memo line). We will seek to get these funds to trusted ministries with which we are in relationship as quickly as possible.
Should you want to respond beyond what we are doing as a congregation here are some additional ministries that are responding to the immediate needs and worthy of support: