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Previous Haiti Updates
Saturday, Jan. 23rd Today we were at it for 14 hours (all of the good daylight after a morning fog lifted). Our first flight was to Port-de-Paix as we discussed yesterday. The landing and take-off were not as “on the edge” as we now knew what to expect. Refugees are leaving Port-au-Prince and it appeared to us that the missionaries we met again today were pretty stretched as this community that has nothing is rapidly growing with people from Port-au-Prince. They asked for medical supplies, diapers, and baby food. We had none. So the other plane we have been working with flew back to Fort Lauderdale today and landed tonight back in Santiago with us. They now have 1600 lbs of medical supplies along with diapers and baby food. Tomorrow we are both going back again for our first flight (we’re bringing tarps and food). Both planes are filled with cargo and fuel ready to go as soon as is possible in the morning. Read More
Friday, Jan. 22nd After speaking to numerous people in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida this morning we felt like we had a workable plan and left for Santiago in the Dominican Republic. We took on an additional 100 lbs of supplies that included some filters to keep the generators running in a Leogane clinic. We had some names of people to see once we got there and hoped that we could make a small difference for someone. We also knew that we could not deliver the 600lbs of medical supplies for Partners-in-Health to Port-au-Prince until Friday at 11:40am. By now I trust you all have seen the news on the problems of getting supplies into the Port-au-Prince airport. The US Army has worked with the US FAA and there is a reservation system, and that was the best reservation time we could get. Read More
Thursday, Jan. 21st Den and Scott arrived in FL at 9:00 last night (Wednesday). They will be leaving this morning for Santiago in the Dominican Republic. They were able to team up with another group and will take on another 100 pounds of medical equipment with them to the DR. There they will off-load and store everything and run trips back and forth to Jacmel and Leogane. They also have a 11:40am time slot to get into Port-au-Prince tomorrow so they will load everything on the plane again for that run. Basically they are working with and helping anybody they can. Please pray that things will continue to come together in order for them to be effective.
Wednesday, Jan. 20th Events have been moving pretty quickly since Sunday. Throughout the day yesterday things began to come together to meet the criteria for a flight into Haiti to bring medical supplies. There are physicians from Lifespan (the RI hospitals) that are in Haiti that need supplies. They traveled to Haiti in connection with "Partners in Health" (the Dr. Paul Farmer organization). The Lifespan community donated medical supplies of all types (600 lbs) and this afternoon Scott Martin and Pastor Dennis will leave with these supplies for Haiti. The first leg will be to FL and then probably into the Dominican Republic before going to Haiti tomorrow. They hope to stay in country and offer shuttle service around the island of Hispaniola if possible and necessary. Several members of our church have worked to make this happen – we all should feel very proud of their efforts and willingness. Pastor Dennis will e-mail updates when possible and they will be posted on the church website: www.communitycovenant.org Channel 10 and 12 will be covering the plane’s departure to Haiti. It will be shown on tonight’s News. Please keep our team in your prayers for an effective and safe trip. Also, the "Conversation on Haiti" scheduled for tonight at 7PM here at Community Covenant Church will proceed and be led by Ron Ware and Phil Pitzer.
Sunday, 2:00pm We have established criteria for a relief flight to Haiti:
In addition, we are pleased to report and ask your prayers for a member of our team, Pierre Brunache, who is traveling today to Haiti, as part of a contractor force with USAID. Below is an e-mail from him as he was leaving. Read More
Friday, 9:00am Yesterday, we were able receive some fragmented information from our friends in Haiti. The information is horrifying, and the need is overwhelming. Pastor Jeanty informs us that at the STEP seminary there are 2000 refugees. The airport at Jacmel is a refugee camp and unusable. Late yesterday we received a report that a hospital in Les Cayes collapsed from aftershocks. Les Cayes is Haiti’s 3rd largest city. This is the first report we have heard from a location extending to the west of the epicenter. One of the things that we believe may be misleading is the news reports. Watching the reports we recognize the locations and virtually everything that is “on-the-ground” reporting is within a short distance of the Port-au-Prince airport. Our concern is that this is a long way from the epicenter of the earthquake. We found this Map and all that we are seeing reported is close to the star at Port-au-Prince. As you can see the epicenter and strongest shock waves are to the south and west. Most of these areas are as heavily populated or even more populated than the areas around the airport. Read More
Thursday, 9:00am We have some good news to report this morning as we have gotten word that Esperandieu Pierre’s wife and daughters are doing fine and they are safely at home. Also, Pastor Jeanty (who helps lead the Global Leadership Summit in Haiti) and his family are also okay and their home was not damaged. We are thankful to report that everyone we have been involved with personally through the Haiti Summit has survived. However, there are members of Pastor Jeanty’s church that are still missing. Please pray for these people, and continue to pray for all those in Haiti who are now dealing with the losses of family members, friends, homes, and community.
Wednesday, 9:00pm Dennis spoke with Esperandieu Pierre this afternoon and unfortunately the airports are shut down and he has still not heard from his wife and daughters. Please continue to pray for them during this very difficult time. Throughout the day we have received numerous phone calls and e-mails from people wanting to help. We are humbled and grateful by your prayers and desire to support our Haitian "neighbors" during this horrific time. This Sunday we will take a special offering that will go in the "Hope in Action" fund for the relief efforts in Haiti. In the meantime if you would like to donate to this fund, please do so at Hope in Action - Haiti Relief. (Visa or MasterCard only please) Thanks and God bless.
Wednesday, 1:00pm Esperandieu Pierre and his son are on their way to Miami in an effort to get back to Haiti. But there are no flights in or out of Haiti. As yet he has not been able to contact his wife to find out if she and their daughters are safe. Please pray for this family.
Letter from Pastor Dennis - Wednesday, 8:30am Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Haiti during this time. The impact of a 7.0 earthquake on the city of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area is unimaginable. Last night we were able to speak with Pierre Leger (our business friend and presidential candidate), he is in Petionville and survived the initial quake. We also have heard from Esperandieu Pierre (our friend who ministers in Chambrun) he is in Trinidad attending a conference with his son. He has not been able to make contact with his wife and two daughters in Port-au-Prince and is trying to return today. As the initial assessment proceeds over the next few days we will determine how to respond from Community Covenant Church. Please check back to this page for additional updates. Lord help the people of Haiti. Pastor Dennis |
