WFR Relief Ministries

                 the needs of the oppressed,  then your light will rise in the darkness,

                                    and your night will become like the noonday

Pleasant Valley

I spoke with Emmanuel Alexandre last night. There are many volunteer MD’s in Gonaives now, and most of the medications are free during their mission. That help will be temporary, and we are thankful for that. Mosquitoes and other pests/infections persist in the muddy surroundings. Attempts will be made to clear the mud from the church building next week. The people are working hard to recover.

Pleasant Valley’s generous donations are already helping the people, and will prevent starvation and debilitation for so many over the next many weeks. Recovery will be slow. Both Pacius and Emmanuel are soooooooo thankful for the sacrificial giving during their dark hour of need.

Mia Farrow’s article just appeared on CNN web site – http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/29/farrow.haiti/index.html#cnnSTCText

“During that first week of September, water, some nine feet high, tore through the coastal city of Gonaives, sweeping people and their possessions away, shredding houses and shops. Gonaives was home to more than 350,000 people. . . .”

“While the tsunami prompted a generous and immediate response from the international community, the situation in Haiti has largely gone unnoticed. Haiti and its people urgently need our help - especially the most vulnerable, the children. The enormity of this catastrophe has overwhelmed the impoverished Haitian government and the UN agencies that are struggling to sustain human life there. . . . “

“International and local aid workers on the ground have made a remarkable commitment to provide humanitarian assistance. But they cannot do it alone. I realize these are not easy times for Americans. But a small donation goes a very long way. For many of these families, who are, after all, our neighbors, it will mean the difference between life and death. . . .” 

Again, thank you Pleasant Valley c of C for your love and your help.

David E. Smith, MD

Haiti Christian Development Project

10100 Kanis Road

Little Rock, AR 72205

Haiti, Struck and Struck Again, Stunned by New Suffering

Times Article & Video

10 September 2008 - Please watch the video and follow the threads to other news articles about the damage tropical storms are doing in Haiti.  Maybe we can't help all the needy people in the world, but we can help just one more.  DY

09 September 2008 - Video taken in Gonaives, Haiti where Christians have lost homes and everything poverty could buy.

Emails from Haiti - Latest on top

 19Sep08- Mission South Haiti

Delmas 43 Church of Christ, Port-au-Prince Haiti

P.O. Box 407139, Ft. Lauderdale FL. 33340

Second Hurricane update

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Good evening.

We hope you, your families and our family in the Lord’s Church are fine in the precious name of Jesus.

2 weeks ago I was in the Dominican Republic in a missionary journey spending the whole week, visiting 4 congregations, encouraging our Haitian brothers over there and reaching out. By that time, several regions of Haiti were devastated by the Hurricane Gustav (especially in the South). Many of our church’s members loose their houses, plantations and their animals. The Haitian Government records 326 deaths and 50 disappeared, 1872 of our church’s members are homeless!

In Gonaives (L’Artibonite Valley), Fonds-Verettes, Leogane, St. Marc, Jacmel, Central Plateau, Grand Goave, Cabaret, Miragoane, Masseillan, Brocozelle, Petite Riviere (l’Artibonite), Desile, Pont Joux, Gros Cheval are places of greatest disaster – Two weeks after sending Haitian families scrambling onto rooftops to avoid flooding, Tropical Storm Hanna and Ike were meandering off the country's northern coast, dumping heavy rain on much of Hispaniola. But Hanna was expected to begin moving over the Bahamas and Ike to the Golf of Mexico later on. A day earlier, Hanna added to the misery in Haiti, a country still recovering from drenching by Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Fay in the past two weeks. In all, floods and mudslides from the three storms have killed more than 326 people; 50 others disappeared in the water from my knowledge before the official count as Haiti's deforested hills melted away in torrential rains.

‘They are screaming for help’
Families screamed for reliefs of all kind, in flooded cities as U.N. peacekeepers and rescue convoys try to bring food, water, medications, tarps and hygiene supplies to the victims. We claim your prayers on their behalf. Most of our congregations converted in the L’Artibonite Valley: Lambert – Haute Feuille – Desil – Pont Joux – Marchand Dessaline – Saline Gonaives – Brocozelle – Petite Riviere – Hennery – St Michel de l’Attalaye – Bas St.Marc are flooded. In the South we have: Leogane  – Miragoane and Masseilan Church building flooded, our garden field destroyed, church members lost their houses. In Fond Verette and Gros Cheval 1586 houses have been collapsed, Church building roofs are gone by the strong wind; our lovely preacher in Fond Verette Joseph Jean is vicitme by disasters.

Gustav, Hanna and Ike claimed many lives in Haiti, including 111 dead in the state containing the cutoff city of Gonaives, said Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste of the country's civil protection office in Port-au-Prince, the capital. Charles Cetiel and Ojeste Joseph 2 of our preachers have been hurted in Gonaives on Haiti's western shore and told The Associated Press people there were isolated by muddy floodwaters as evening fell, seeking refuge on rooftops as wind gusts drove horizontal sheets of rain. "They are begging for help," Norsil said as a U.N. aid convoy tried unsuccessfully to drive into Gonaives, surrounded by a virtual lake of floodwaters, several of these places are almost destroyed.

Rising waters
Floodwaters rose rapidly outside Gonaives, where Norsil and scores of other residents who abandoned the low-lying city shivered violently in soaked clothing, nervously eying the rushing, debris-clogged waters. "The situation was as bad as it could be," in Gonaives and many other regions. "The wind was ripping up trees. Houses were flooded with water. Cars couldn't drive on the street. You couldn't rescue anyone, wherever they have been."

Those who could move clutched mattresses, chairs and other belongings as they slogged through waist-high floodwaters. We’ve promised to send much more updates soon. Please pray for Haiti as several other storms are on the way while we’ve had a 2 weeks prayer’s campaign to prepare the celebration of the Ministry 20^th. Anniversary. We’re very thankful to those who are coming from the United States to attend this event like Rod Myers Elder & pulpit Minister of the Central Church of Christ in Sarasota FL., my daughter Naomie and her husband Jacques Eloisin from Lakeworth FL.; and several old members of the Delmas church who are living in the United States, France and Canada. After so much disasters causing by Gustav, Hanna and Ike, Haiti really need your help of all kind.

Please pray and ask God what part He would like you to play in helping. You will be sowing a seed into fertile ground. You can make a one-time gift or a monthly pledge here. The seed you plant will bear much fruit. It is being planted in good soil. As you read this, may you be greatly encouraged to continue to stand with us in the battle through your fervent prayers to the Lord of the harvest. You are making a difference…Thank you so much for your faithfulness.

Please send even your one time contribution to our Elders at the:

Northeast Church of Christ 2217 Beechnut Dr. Kingsport TN. 37660

Or write to our Mission Deacons at these following e-mail addresses:

Sam Ross: sam@securemoneymasters.com; skross@chartertn.net;

Darrell Riley: driley44@chartertn.net

Again, many thanks for this work well done! We count on you and may God bless you all.

Yours in Christ,

Jean Robert St. Hiliary: Evangelist / Delmas Church of Christ.

21Sep08-"After 25 years spent working in Haiti and having grown up in Florida, I can honestly say that I have never seen anything as painful as what I just witnessed in Gonaives.“

Paul Farmer, MD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_farmer)

Today was a great day for the people of Gonaives/Poteau.

About development (Haiti Christian Development Project) and the impact on our people:

First, we borrowed money from the Micro-loan program to give to the people!!! (They keep the principle of their loans in the FONKOZE (http://www.fonkoze.org/) bank). With all of the banks in Gonaives still closed until next week, we have struggled to find money. Then, I remembered this source. Pacius and some men of the church traveled about an hour away and returned with the money last night. Today, several hundred church members of Gonaives, Poteau and Bayonaisse received enough money to buy a meal of rice for about 10 days. We will send more money for about 20 days soon. For those members of the micro-loan program, the forced savings account will be distributed to the participants within the next week or two. What a blessing. I just wish that we had even more people involved. I am sure the demand for this opportunity will soar as others see what a lift it will be giving to those folks.

Many ask “what are the government and relief agencies doing.” Pacius said that they have a crazy way of giving aid out. It is given out at 11 p.m. He said most people are afraid to go then. Only the strongest get the food. He said that if he went then, thugs will hurt him and steal the food. He is not strong enough to withstand their strikes. Tickets are handed out at 2 a.m. in the morning. Again, only the strongest get the tickets.

Secondly, potable water has been plentiful in the city (Gonaives)—less so in the villages. Pacius goes about gathering up the empty bottles. He then takes them to the people of Poteau and Bayonaisse. Oneal Tankersley (development teacher at Harding who created the videos using Haitians speaking Creole as the actors) taught them how to put water in the plastic bottles, paint the bottom black, and then use solar energy by leaving them in the sun for several hours. Even water that was muddy settles, and then the water is OK to drink  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_disinfection) Solar water disinfection, also known as SODIS^[1] is a method of disinfecting water using only sunlight and plastic PET bottles . Oneal’s wonderful video’s have been shown many times, and the people have learned!!!! Praise God. They will be using the teaching regarding basic hygiene, first aid, oral rehydration therapy, and a number of other concepts over the next few months.

Charity and relief funds are such a blessing when you lose everything. But let no one think that the people are not positioning themselves with God’s help to recover and be able to be a strong people again in the near future. They are taking intentional and decisive steps to recover and be even stronger, as a people, and as a church. Praise God for compassionate and understanding hearts.

David E. Smith, MD

Heart Clinic Arkansas

10100 Kanis Road

Little Rock, AR 72205

1.       16Sep08-Church in Poteau on Sunday – long discussion about how to distribute food aid. With the price of rice $133/bag (6 times US cost), it appeared as though the money that comes out of the (waterlogged, previously closed) bank tomorrow would buy food for  about 1 week. Although the strongest wrestle the food out of the hands of the weakest, with more food coming to town, prices have dropped almost 50% ($75/bag), and perhaps this may provide 2 weeks worth of food—only beans, rice, and oil—nothing else). Money  will be given to the church committees in Gonaives and in Poteau.

a.       What a beautiful Acts 2 story of churches working together to care for each other during this time of crisis.

2.       Aid from the north (Cap Haitien) is being planned, but they are limited by fuel and the roads. The CASCO (shipping company) president said, “I hear the U.N is bringing in prefab bridges (for the Passe Reine bridge and others).” We really pray that is the case. That will allow food and supplies.

3.   The government and the UN have worked harder than 2004 (do not have to contend with gang violence as then). Drainage has progressed much faster. Still, there is about 2+ feet of sludge on everything. Farm land will be unsuitable for planting crops for months, and hunger will persist.

4.   Pacius is out of money (hopefully, he can get from the bank or Fonkoze tomorrow). He is eating only one meal each day. Of course, he had the choice of going back to Port au Prince, but he said “the people need me.”He is looking for new housing. The old apartment has sustained so much damage that it leaks all of the time. He is encouraging and organizing so many people in their efforts to survive and recover. (They need counselors and psychiatrists – yes, they, too, have depression and post-traumatic stress disorder!)

a.   Linda and Benedicte’s clothes were all ruined. Pacius lost all of his precious books – French Bible commentaries, farming books, etc., etc. He is planning to try to get a new Bible when he goes back to PaP next week. Floods are awful. Not only do you lose things, but the smell, potential for disease, etc., persists.

5.   Pacius

a.   Went back on Saturday after a few hours of sleep to meet the Gonaives mayor at the farm – to try to identify the dead bodies on the farm and then bury them.

b.   Farm – house OK. A couple of walls fell. Animals all drowned. Ground is covered with sludge. Banana orchard destroyed. Water well works and stills serves the community. (Water wells we drilled in Poteau and Bayonaisse (Living Water—Nashville donated)—great service to the people).

c.    Pacius told me of a boat load of people who drowned in an overturned canoe similar to the one he used to cross the rivers en route to Gonaives.

d.   When I asked about his swimming ability, he said, “Oh, yes. And I am going to have to swim across the river to get to Poteau for church service on Sunday morning since the bridge is out.”

e.   He also told me about the chaos on Tuesday a.m. when people were climbing and screaming to get onto their roofs. He had to swim out and rescue several people from drowning.”

f.    I asked about the BoGo lights (solar powered flash light—see little boy below) (www.bogolight.com) that the Central AR Christian students had donated last spring– again, they were wonderful. It was Pacius’ only light for two nights as he endured the wind and rain on the roof. One man told how he felt some water coming into his very dark house. With his BoGo light that was given to his micro-loan participating wife, he could see to rescue his children and pull them up on to the roof.

--thanks to Jim Dockery, Rick Templeton, Hervey Madden, and several other special supporters who made this tractor purchase and transport possible.

 6.   I had an encouraging note from Tony Marcelli, the president of the reliable Caribbean American Shipping Corp.

a.     (As you may know, we were so disappointed with the delay of getting our recently shipped tractor out of port – now it is consistent with the Providence of God that we didn’t get it out – it might have been ruined)  Hallelujah for late paperwork….saves the tractor from the flood !!!   David, I am so relieved the tractor is Aok  ………you can’t believe…………..Maybeline and I have been thinking so much about it…. I was also thinking how much MORE a tractor is worth there today than just a few weeks ago.   I remember being in Gonaives 2 weeks after the flood in 2004 and seeing that some farmers’ fields, waters receded,  were covered with up to 2 feet of dried, hard sludge. God only knows of many of them were able to remove all that sludge by hand to return to their “topsoil” to replant.

b.    Pacius’ hardship and rescue efforts are both pitiful and wonderful…that he was able to swim and help others, and awful that he lost so much.

c.    I will check out food price and availability in Cap Haitien and email you from my gmail account as it’s easier for me to access in Haiti. You can also reach me at  . . . . At present there is no road passable from Cap Haitien to Gonaives, but I’m sure it will somehow be passable soon.  I hear the U.N is bringing in prefab bridges. 

d.    Another very helpful for of aid is hand tools....hoes, shovels, picks, sledgehammers, wheelbarrows. We are seeking funds here to buy tools.  A guy with a tool will always have work, especially now!  (I hope that we can obtain some of these tools for our men. It will be one of the few ways that they could earn money during this crisis).

7.    Please continue to pray for these destitute people. One meal or less/day is “no picnic.” The world (and local) economy has driven the price of food up so much that the poor suffer the most. Until the people can refurbish and have dry, suitable soil, they will require $12-25/week for food to survive. Please pray for tender and compassionate hearts. Please pray that our appeal to the churches for assistance will be effective. This is temporary assistance. The people want to provide for themselves. Let us lift them up until they can help themselves.

David E. Smith, MD

Haiti Christian Development Project

10100 Kanis Road

Little Rock, AR 72205

06Sep2008-reply to David Dirrim:

David,

Thanks.  David Smith was the first to email me with info about Pacius who I know and who helped me a bunch during a trip into the interior of Haiti.  I have asked our committee for $5,000 to help you guys get started.  We will send those funds to wherever he directs and, at this moment, I forget where he wanted them to go.  Fastest is what we are working on and I hope to have a decision by Monday morning.

We have sent an appeal letter out, but it must cover all the storms and a famine in Ethiopia as well.  We will see what God and His people say.

Thank you for keeping me informed.  That is vital at this point.  We will do the best we can to continue help all of you brothers in Haiti.

God bless you and all who are rescuing the suffering people.  Because of the Global nature of oil, gas, food, and the storms, etc., poor people will just suffer more.  It is terrible sad.

Don

From: David & Sarah Dirrim [mailto:cswampdog@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 8:54 AM
To: C J Vires; Tommy Paul; Steve 2 Parker; dalehuff@gmail.com; tim-m@carolina.rr.com; Brett Pharr; Roddy Roberts; Tom Conklin; Brad Gautney; Steve Brooks; Bruce Dennis; Sheri Dennis; acullers@att.net; Bruce Dennis; Bart Crisman; Sheri Dennis; Brett Pharr; Charles Harrell; dalehuff@gmail.com; doloresflatt@sbcglobal.net; Abiline HCF; Jimmy Huff; jpainter2@comcast.net; Linda Randall; Marion Bush; Milton Eckhart; Nancy Pharr; roachusmc6@hotmail.com; Sam Aikin; tim-m@carolina.rr.com
Cc: Don Yelton; Sarah Dirrim
Subject: Haiti Pictures

The web link below and bottom of this email give you an idea of some of what Hannah left behind in Haiti. We have graduates working in Gonaives, Hinche and some other places that were affected. The school and orphanage are in good shape and people around Cap Haitien do not have as serious of problems although there was some minor flooding. We have an account set up through our office if anyone wants to send funds to help some of the Christians affected. Please remember these good people in your prayers. Sorry if some of you got this twice. I couldn't remember just who all was on one of my lists so I may have doubled up.

Don Y. I know Bob Valerius has written you as well. If your organization wants to do something through him that is great or if you have ability to do something through us that would be fine too. This email is more just to inform. We are not competing for funds by any means.

David Dirrim
Haitian Christian Foundation
580-279-8012

http://www.missionaryflights.org/Latest.htm

Haitian Christian Foundation
402 Cypress
Suite #511
Abilene, TX  79601

Emails about Christians in Haiti

Sept 3, 2008-I have not heard anymore this a.m. He has been on the roof in the rain, dark, no power, wet and cold. The torrential river on the north prevents access from Cap Haitien. The flooding on the south prevents the government from getting through. I hope to have more news later. Pacius has no way now to charge his battery. The city is quite isolated. Awful circumstance – probably worse than 2004—and there is another storm coming. We need prayers.

Thank you so much for caring.

David E. Smith, MD

Note: Gueston Pacius is the Haiti Development Director of the Haiti Christian Development Project

Sept 02, 2008:

Don

I am a bit confused about what to do or think. Pacius said that the water was higher than 2004. I know that he cannot see anything in the dark. We just shipped a tractor and were still working to get it out of customs. Pacius’ truck and all of his possessions will have been destroyed. Our farm animals will be so vulnerable. We have a wall around the farm to stop the immediate flooding, but with something this large, nothing protects. There is no way to assess this. I am just rambling. Please be prayerful for us. I know that we will be asking for help and direction. I am just so sad.  

David E. Smith, MD

Sep 02, 2008 (first email) - I just spoke to Pacius. He was able to get to a neighbor house who allowed him in out of the rain. He had no clothes, but someone loaned him a T-shirt and pants. He finally dried out some today. His voice sounded strong. They have been able to collect and drink some rain water. There is no food. A neighbor had a battery that allowed cell phone use. He saw the UN boats, but there is no help that they can give now. Hopefully, over the next three weeks, they will be distributing some food.

The magnitude of the flood apparently is greater than 2004. It will take weeks for an adequate assessment. The bridge to the north was washed out (worse event than 2004). To the south is the new big lake. There can be no travel, and he has no alternative but to remain in Gonaives. The next few days will become even more miserable with no food, water, sanitation, and dead animals and people. But at least Pacius is safe for the moment.

We still need to pray for his health. In such a cesspool environment, diseases can easily communicate and become a major problem for all. Even the common easily communicated gastroenteritis can dehydrate and become a major problem. SO, PLEASE, continue to pray for all of these people, for their freedom from accidents, for health, for water, food, and, if possible, escape.

I am sure that as soon as possible and while they wait for outside assistance, the men of the church and the large network of microloan people will work together. They will begin to lay the groundwork to investigate needs for a large relief work that will need to be done. These brothers and sisters have worked together for the past four years, and they will be such a great blessing to our brotherhood who will want to help. Please pray for their health and wisdom.

LINDA PACIUS sounded much better and stronger, and she indicated that her pain was better. Again, we are so thankful that she and daughter, Benedicte, are in Port au Prince.

I still could not reach Emmauel Alexander. I am less concerned about him since he lives at a higher elevation, and his living quarters of his house are on the second floor. I think that he should be OK.

David E. Smith, MD