The Free Methodist Church in Canada

It has been just over a week since the earthquake in Port-au-Prince that has impacted more than 3 million people. Another serious quake yesterday added more damage and lives taken.

Most of us are getting updates via our regular news sources. It is the unique connections we have with Haiti, however, which keep us searching for the right moves forward as the FMC in Canada. At Asbury FMC in Perth, ON, a member of the church was a personal friend of Yvonne Martin, the Ontario nurse who died in Haiti; the Perth church sent that brief connection report along with their offering of more than $3,000 for Haiti relief, from this past Sunday. We know that there are many other such stories and donations on their way.

I am continually monitoring news from our US FM leadership, and in dialogue with them as they make plans leading into the future. At the present moment, an exploratory team led by Dr Delia Neusch-Olver (Latin America Area Director) is on the ground in Haiti, meeting with national leaders seeking to discern together an action plan for re-development. This is a significant moment in Haiti’s struggling history – there is a great opportunity to build a new country, almost. FM leaders want to be listening to God and the wisdom of the people of God.

Bishop Keith Elford will be joining a team going to Haiti in two weeks to specifically engage with FM church leaders regarding the renewal of Christian community in the aftermath of so much death and destruction. The 3 US FM personnel who were buried during the quake have not been recovered and memorial services have been conducted in their respective communities.

Some Canadian FMs are asking about participating in re-build teams. That’s a good intention! We feel, however, that we need to hold on a bit longer before we start to talk about possibilities. A coordinated effort is always a good idea in times like these – we don’t want to be reinventing the wheel, duplicating efforts, or stepping on each other’s toes! As possible responses emerge we will continue to keep you informed.

WHERE TO GIVE

Short-term emergency relief – needs right now! Our partner World Relief Canada is releasing funds to their people on the ground in Haiti, on our behalf. World Relief is qualified to receive CIDA matching grants, doubling the value of your dollars donated.

http://www.wrcanada.org/news/quick-news

Medium to long-term rebuilding – needs in the weeks & months to come! The Bishop’s Famine and Relief Fund is our Free Methodist Church in Canada vehicle for Haiti rebuilding. Donations to FMCiC are not matched by the Canadian government. Keep up to date with info on our national website. Online donations are also possible via the website.

http://www.fmc-canada.org/

International Child Care Ministries – if you are a sponsor of a child in Haiti, you may want to direct your donations in this area. Paula Moriarity, our ICCM Canada Director is passing on as much information as is available.

http://www.childcareministries.net/

World Relief Canada is an affiliated ministry of The Free Methodist Church in Canada. Here is their latest release:

On January 12  an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale hit a highly populated area in Ouest Province of Haiti (population 2.2 million), 17 km south-west of Port-au-Prince. Two hundred thousand are feared dead and many more injured. Unknown numbers are still buried under the rubble.

World Relief Canada is assessing the situation daily and will be responding with our Integral Partners, such as World Relief US and several other agencies, with assistance to the victims. We received the following update on Sunday from one of the World Relief US staff members in Haiti:

We continue to provide food and water to hundreds of people every day at a local church as well as Kings Hospital in Port-au-Prince. The plan is to set up feeding centres in two additional churches and provide food and water to an additional 1,200 people per day. We are also providing urgent medical care to hundreds of people a day at Kings Hospital as a team of doctors and nurses from Medical Teams International (MTI) arrived on Saturday. We are working on shipping in medical supplies and more doctors into the hospital. We are also providing funding to support the operational costs and are close to setting up three operating theatres for orthopedic surgery."

“There are reports that people are scared and many remain in the streets as aftershocks are still being felt and damage to buildings and infrastructure is widespread and considerable.” says Laurie Cook, CEO of World Relief Canada, “ Many thousands of people are going to be left in a desperate situation and in great need of our assistance. In addition to what we are currently doing, we will also respond through non-medical basic survival needs by the distribution of essential food items, tarpaulins and blankets for shelter, water, and other essential supplies which will be determined on a community by community basis."

The Canadian Minister of International Cooperation announced that Canada will match individual donations made between January 12 and February 12, 2010 to registered Canadian charitable organizations, such as World Relief Canada, to support humanitarian and early recovery assistance to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

“Many Canadians are deeply concerned about the suffering and loss of life as a result of this catastrophe in Haiti,” said Minister Beverly Oda. “Canadian citizens have shown time and again their generosity with countries in urgent need, and our government is prepared to match their contributions dollar for dollar.”

To donate  to World Relief Canada online click here or call them at 1-800-567-8190 toll-free.

Until yesterday, communication with our ICCM teams in Haiti had been barely trickling in with all phone and internet lines down. One of our ICCM contacts was able to leave the U.S. only hours after the quake to bring clean water and medicine supplies, but unfortunately due to the severe damage, he is still in the Dominican Republic, trying to get across the border. It has only been since yesterday that we received any word directly concerning International Child Care Ministries, and what we know we will share with you.

Our field coordinator Mondale Perkins and his family are alive, sustaining only non life threatening injuries. Also to our knowledge, the only building that has collapsed is the FOHO (Friends Of Haiti Organization) building. Within that block's radius, our office, the Parc Chretien FM Church and ICCM School (HA500), are still intact.

As of right now, our immediate concern lies with the 405 children in 16 schools directly in the Port-au-Prince area. If your child has a number that begins with HA500 through HA550, we will pass on any information as we learn it.  If you partner with a child whose number begins with HA600 through HA700, your child lives further up into the mountains; outside the area directly affected by the earthquake.

If you or your church is looking for ways to help, donations can be sent by cheque or via our ICCM website, made out to International Child Care Ministries; indicating the funds are for the "Haiti Quake Relief Fund".

As we see the next few days, weeks and months unfold, we ask that you partner with us in prayer on the following:

• Unaccounted ICCM staff (about 20)
• Children (1,867 Canada & US) directly affected around the Port au Prince area
• Our Free Methodist churches
• Protection for teams who are on the ground

Though times may seem dark, let us be encouraged that God's light will still shine.

Serving Christ together,

Paula Moriarity