Presbytery

We want to take this opportunity to thank you and your congregations for having opened your hearts and your resources to reach out to the Nation of Haiti. You have contributed to the relief efforts in Haiti through direct donations, One Great Hour of Sharing and many other creative ways, for that we are thankful.

Enclosed please find a message from Linda Valentine from the General Assembly Mission Council, as an update on the work being done in Haiti. It will also be available on our website, so please share with your congregations and your communities.

Thank you, for extending the work of the Body of Christ far beyond the boundaries of Central Florida.

Paige

Paige M. McRight

Executive Presbyter

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Greetings to members of the General Assembly Mission Council, Middle Governing Body executives, and friends,

In the face of Haiti’s tremendous need, the Presbyterian response has been overwhelming.

Through the great outpouring of prayer, love and financial support by individuals, congregations, presbyteries, and synods, and thanks to the special appeals made by mission networks and organizations – like the Medical Benevolence Foundation, the Presbyterian Global Fellowship, and so many others, whose names are too many to include here – we are providing critical, on-the-ground support when and where it is needed the most. We thank God for you as we await the day described in the hymn, When a Poor One, “when at last all those who suffer find their comfort.”

In the past two weeks since the massive earthquake struck Haiti, we have accomplished – and thank you for – the following relief efforts:

Because of Presbyterians’ gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing last year, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) was able to immediately send funds to provide staff and supplies for rescue efforts through our ecumenical partnerships those first critical days. Within two days, thanks to Presbyterians’ quick response, we were able to more than double our contributions to that work.

We continue to carry out strategic and coordinated efforts with our ecumenical and international partners – Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance and Church World Service (CWS), as well as local partners in Haiti. Together, we have set up fifteen food and water distribution sites around Port-au-Prince. We are working with these partners to bring in about twenty thousand tents to help provide housing for the nearly one million people who are now homeless. PDA has also agreed to provide fuel, supplies and a generator to maintain medical services at one of the few working hospitals in the area.

Two weeks after the earthquake, we have received about $1.2 million in gifts to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Nearly half a million dollars has already been disbursed. In the coming weeks we will have a better assessment of the long range recovery needs and develop a comprehensive plan for using Presbyterian resources in the recovery efforts. PDA has a proven track record for demonstrating God’s steadfast love over the long road to recovery … and we need your help.

That earthquake would have been devastating in any city. Due to the fragile pre-existing infrastructure in Haiti, it has been absolutely overwhelming. With so many symbols of safety and security destroyed, people are looking for signs of hope.

PC(USA) PDA staff and mission co-worker, Carlos Cardenas, is in Port-au-Prince working with our ACT Alliance partners carrying out an initial assessment of the impact of the disaster and the needs of the people affected by the disaster and is helping initiate coordination of our work with our local partners. He reports that amid the tragedy and overwhelming work to be done, “Hope is alive.”

Additionally, our PC(USA) mission personnel and congregational mission teams are accounted for. Mission co-worker, Sharyn Babe, is now in Florida receiving medical treatment for back injuries sustained in the earthquake. Mark Hare continues to carry out his mission work in Papaye.

The infrastructure is fragile at this point, so there are no immediate plans for volunteer groups. People can register their interest to volunteer online. They will be contacted when it is appropriate to develop volunteer response teams. At this point it is not possible to send teams to provide medical services. Dr. Chip Lambert, Director of the Medical Benevolence Foundation Mission Service program, is preparing for teams to go when the way is clear and when we know for sure how to be helpful to our partners as they help those who are suffering. Contact them through their Web site. Limited specialized and experienced volunteers invited by other agencies to respond to Haiti are encouraged to let us know of their work by e-mailing KT Ockels.

Even as the people of Haiti look for signs of hope we are called to stand in the GAP –

GIVE. Financial support

ACT. Hygiene and baby kits

PRAY. Prayer and worship resources online

Mission co-worker, Mark Hare, writes, “We must now act out of hope. I don’t know what this means. But I know that our God is up for the task. Pray that we will also be up for the task.”

Or, again in the words of the hymn, When a Poor One, “when they hope though even hope seems hopelessness…then we know that God still goes that road with us.”
Yes, pray that we would all be up to the task. GIVE. ACT. PRAY.

Faithfully yours,
Linda