Haiti Quake

Hope in a Shaken Country

First Load of medical supplies for Haiti!

Phone Call with Greg Schuenke
January 22

Phones are sporadic, but the banks reopened yesterday, and the long lines of people wanting to get cash are beyond servicing in a day. Cash is now the only means of doing anything: purchase food, get supplies or rent a car. The central government is not functioning. Locally, officials are trying to hold it together. Any function equated to a government is being performed by outsiders.

Streets are grid-locked, and the people are still seeing buildings crumble with the aftershocks. There have been some 51 of them and they could continue even for years.

But the stories of "God at work" are mounting. In the north, Vision of Hope Ministries (VOHM) welcomed its first medical team this week of 4 doctors, 2 nurses and one pastor from Texas. They arrived through the efforts of TouchGlobal of the national EFCA. Additionally, Joe Moore, VOHM board member and a doctor from Jacksonville, FL and his wife arrived. They all were engaged with the injured who were brought to the Milot hospital, housed at the VOHM Ministry Center about 5 miles away and will be on the ground through the weekend in this life saving effort.

Medical supplies will be going to Haiti from our Florida location shortly, and continue to do so as they are received to assist at Milot and Pignon hospitals where supplies are quickly going to care for the quake victims.

It looks like there might also be an influx of babies arriving soon. A orphanage south of Cap-Haitien collapsed where 2 nurses had been caring for some 150 babies before the quake. One nurse was killed and some 75 babies have survived. They were given water and formula for a week and that supply will run out in a few days. Henoc Lucien, our missionary, is willing to take them all.

Now the "After Care" that will be required is going to include helping the homeless, the injured who have lost limbs and those traumatized by the Quake. To do this will take food, clothing, housing and medical care and supplies.

God has already provided well-qualified people with translators, this medical team who have started the health care process for the refugees coming to the north and a ministry willing and equipped to help those who need helped. Will you join with us in prayer and funds to aid VOHM in this great effort for a great need?

VOHM Focus:
√ Medical supplies into Haiti, particularly to Milot
√ Help refugees to Cap-Haitien from Port-au-Prince
√ House medical staff who come to serve at the Milot hospital
√ Set up a field hospital next to the Berard church for the "After Care"
    of patients who do not need to stay in the hospital
√ Finish construction of the building next to the Ministry barracks, for
    housing additional volunteers at the end of January, which was
    scheduled for mid-January prior to the Quake

Update from Greg Schuenke, VOHM President

Greg Schuenke

Eve, January 19, 2010

WOW! What a day!
    We arrived in Milot (pronounced Me-Low), a small town about 5 miles from the Vision of Hope Ministries (VOHM) ministry center and Henoc's house, where a small hospital is located. As we were talking with the hospital staff U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard helicopters started arriving with the injured from Port-au-Prince. In a matter of several hours the hospital has received 4 trauma victims every 15 minutes by helicopter. The hospital is now overwhelmed.
    We are working out housing and lodging at Henoc's ministry house and barracks. We are planning to send the orphans to Pignon (Pea-Own) for a time who have been living on the property, attending the College Susan Schuenke school and supported through VOHM since the flooding in 2007. We may use the church there in Berard and/or our school in Cap-Haitien as a temporary clinic. It is becoming more and more apparent that Port-au-Prince cannot handle the victims and they are sending the injured and others that can get out north.
    We met late afternoon with some government officials in Cap-Haitien. They are desperately trying to keep some sense of central control in the country. The thinking is Cap-Haitien will play a prominent role in this disaster, as Port-au-Prince is mostly gone.
    We are sending our first medical team to the small hospital in Milot on Thursday. VOHM and its structure will play a prominent role, both now with compassionate care, and in the future with sustained ministry from our churches and possibly new churches we will be planting. In the midst of this tragedy, the hope of the gospel will be spread.
    We are in immediate need of medical supplies for the hospitals in the north, particularly Milot, as well as the one in Pignon. They could use another anesthesiologist.
    It is now 7 PM and we are planning to head out south to Pignon in the mountains of northern Haiti. Then on south to Port-au-Prince tomorrow, Wednesday, January 20th.

Needed Medical Supplies

List of URGENT NEEDS:
Local and general anesthetics
Antibiotic meds
external splints
I.V. fluids, fluids D5W
sterile surgical gowns
4x4's
surgical gloves
basic surgical packs
suture tips
surgical masks
hat and shoe covers
peel packs for sterilizing
anesthesia machine
2 operating tables
NS LRingers
IV sets
needles

All these donated items should be sent to:
Greg Schuenke
3027 NE 58th Street
Ft Lauderdale FL 33308-2821

We'll send them on to Haiti from there.

"After care" for patients will be provided by Vision of Hope Ministries at our CSS school in Cap-Haitien and/or in the church building in Berard.

NOTE TO DONORS:
It takes time for charities to mobilize, to assess the problems that need to be addressed and to develop effective solutions.
Donors need to be patient so charities will not feel pressured to plunge in and offer ineffective aid, simply to placate impatient donors. That doesn't mean donors shouldn't hold the charities accountable for delivering on their promises!
Follow up with the charity in a few months to find out (a) how your donation was put to use and (b) if the organization needs additional support to complete the recovery effort if you have not heard or seen information.

Aftermath Situation at One Week Article

1st Medical Team and Crisis Response Team heading for Milot hospital

U.S. delivery of injured to Milot hospital

Airlift from PAP to Milot hospital

Patient from airlift to Milot

Milot hospital

Medical Team briefing before starting surgeries

Christ Community Fellowship will be gathering funds from the region and sending them regularly to minister to the victims of the earthquake.
    Can you help?
         $25
        $50
       $100
       $200
       or more:

Send your Check or Money Order to:
Christ Community Fellowship
160 Singleton Road
Sarver PA 16055

Mark the envelope in upper left corner:
"Haiti Relief"

OR

Your gift can be dropped off at our location:
Monday through Thursday
10 AM - 2 PM

A gift of any size will be a welcome relief to those who receive it.