Updates from YWAM Haiti
La Grange Feeding Project *NEW
*REGULAR VIDEO UPDATES*
New Beginnings: Hospital Transformation!
See YWAM Haiti's Photostream on Flickr
Older Email Updates from YWAM Haiti
Updates can also be seen on ywamhaiti.org
2/12/2010 Update (Containers arrive & ambulance surprise!)
1/29/2010 AM Update (16 days out, Death Toll, Tent Help)
1/24/2010 PM Update (Rest, Prayer for Staff & Victims, Transition
1/24/2010 AM Update (Angels from Trinidad & Tobago)
1/23/2010 PM Update (Food Found & Victim Registration)
1/23/2010 AM Update (Child Healed & A Cry for Teachers)
1/22/2010 Update (Man Rescued After 11 Days!)
1/20/2010 Update (Strong Aftershock, Helping & Feeding Refugees)
1/19/2010 Update (Mother & Child Rescued, Medical Response)
1/17/2010 PM Update (Port is Ready, City Organizing, Refugee Plan)
1/17/2010 PM Update (Port is Cleared, Supplies & Help Needed)
1/15/2010 Update (Food is Scarce, Containers Needed)
1/14/2010 PM Update (The Plan Develops, Much Help Needed)
1/14/2010 AM Update (Sobering Realities & Assembling a Response)
1/13/2010 Update (Shock & Aftershocks)
1/13/2010 Update (Initial Report)
2/12/2010 Update (Containers arrive, ambulance surprise)
Yesterday, after four days of working with the Haitian government to learn their systems and new formula to release shipments of aid for the earth quake victims, we saw our first delivery of trailers full of supplies and one ambulance released into our care.
Seven trailers were delivered to our campus full of medical supplies, food, tents, mattresses, clothing etc. Many of these supplies will be delivered to various locations with partnering ministries and orphanages beginning today and this weekend. Others will need to be sorted and organized for distribution amongst the volunteers currently working at our mission campus.
The ship carrying these supplies arrived Sunday. Although the government expressed that these items would roll off the ship and be released immediately to meet the need of the earth quake victims, this was not the case. Yet, after four days of working the fine details, this aid was released in record speed compared to past experiences.
An ambulance donated by YWAM Mercy Truck Ministries was also with the trailers. We were all shocked when we first heard of it on the ship as we had not received updated information of its coming. Yet today it sits inside our YWAM St. Marc campus.
As soon as insurance and a license are purchased, it will be deployed to be used short term in PAP. It will then be used in St. Marc with the new hospital that is being restored and the clinic being built in the 5th section this summer. This ambulance is sending a message of hope and love to all Haitians!
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
1/29/2010 AM Update (16 days out, Death toll, Tent Help)
16 days since the earthquake! Has it been that long? Days run together with short nights and little sleep. First there was the numbing reality of the situation, almost like a nightmarish dream you couldn't wake up from. I think I had a bit of denial of the reality that the earthquake really happened. Yet there was no escape from the shocking reality that it was true. The destruction and death was everywhere and reported death totals were grossly under estimated. The death totals are much higher than realized. For the people who ask me how I know this, my response is simple; "Where are all the people?" There were approximately 3 million people in PAP before the earthquake, 60 to 70% were left homeless, I ask again. Where are all those people now?
By the approach of the second week I was asked to serve on a committee for the organization of the refugees that were expected to flood into the city of St. Marc. We planned, we prepared but no one came. Again, where are all the people? Refugees are reported to be in big numbers in Cap Haitien, Gonaives, but in St. Marc, which is actually located closer to Port Au Prince than either of these two cities, we've had no massive wave of refugees. After a week of registering victims in St. Marc that are staying in homes and churches, we have located 3000. We are still registering refugees and feel there maybe as many as 4000 to 6000 currently in the city. With over 2.5 million people left homeless, where are all the people?
We are finding in PAP groupings of people in fields, streets, and city parks. They are lost; no shelter, no supplies, still trying to figure out what to do. Thank God it is the dry season. Left out in the elements during rainy season would only have led to more deaths! These victims don't know where to go or how to get anywhere. Many are too fearful to enter their homes to retrieve precious goods, money, or legal documents due to the continued after shocks that are still felt, yes even today.
We have been scrambling to formulate plans and preparations to receive these victims that are left in PAP but with no leadership or structure, it has been difficult to accomplish a lot quickly. Yet, help is on the way! Some would be content to let the need go unanswered, but we feel a call to proclaim that this is the hour for change and we must respond! In St. Marc, YWAM has linked with the local administration, non- governmental organizations, private foundations, churches and the UN to ready the local schools as temporary housing for those who are still sleeping in parks and streets in PAP. Currently there is a ship scheduled to arrive Monday, Feb. 1st, at the St. Marc port. This shipment brings 43,000lbs of rice, a 40' trailer of assorted food and equipment and two 20' trailers to assist an orphanage with food and materials to make repairs. Currently, in St. Marc, churches are being funded to feed hundreds of people daily. A once gutted and retired hospital has been re-enforced and repaired and our first medical team aided the sick just this past week.
In PAP we have located land to develop temporary communities that we will be ministering in for many days to come until the city is rebuilt and they are back on their feet. Our YWAM medical teams are treating 300 plus a day in front of the National Palace. They are also strategizing on the lay out temporary communities and ways to further assist as they transfer from a crisis team to a relief team. By this weekend we will have
130 plus volunteers working in PAP, St. Marc, and Gonaives!
Right now we are assembling tents, 16x14ft., to be shipped in. We have 200 ordered and a team of people coming to set them up. Each tent will cost approximately $300 USD which includes shipping. The first batch of tents could arrive as early as Feb. 10th. We plan to house people in schools and churches until then. The plan is to ship another order of tents directly following this first order. We need your help to get these tents here as quickly as possible. The order was placed in faith as we know they are needed and God will hold back the rains for only so long. By giving to YWAM Haiti "Relief" you will be contributing to see these tents purchased, delivered, and set up to provide temporary shelter for one to two years!
Let us know today if you can help make this possible! Below is the information on where you could send your funds to see this effort advanced.
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
If you would like to help you could send a US Dollar contribution payable to YWAM Haiti "Relief: and mail to:
YWAM Haiti
PO Box 236
Akron, PA 17501
If you would like to send funds through the internet you may give through this link;
https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
For more information of what God has done in Haiti I would like to invite you to read my book, "Taking the
High Places"
1/24/2010 PM Update (Rest, Prayer for Staff & Victims, Transition)
All of our full time staff have been working nonstop for two weeks now. When the earthquake hit and we realized we were all safe here in St. Marc we kind of laughed and thought, wow! Then in minutes phones rang telling us of the devastation in PAP. For the first week those of us who were on the ground were stunned, numb emotionally and simply lost. We began to rally but it was so enormous we were all lost as to how to respond and as days went by it only got bigger and worse.
By the second week we were non stop busy implementing assistance, coordinating teams, and doing the job! Nights were long, going to bed at 1-2am and waking up at 5am unable to sleep, needing the time to do all the work.
As we enter the third week, I see a lot more groups coming together, plans formulating, long term and short term. I believe this coming week will be a week of transition. We want to move from crisis rescue to systems and goals based in long term recovery. Our frontline people need healing but they will still feel the need to get back out there and deal with the challenges and there still will be some. I believe things will slowly stabilize this week and routines leading to recovery will be seen and implemented. Many people will find this difficult as it will feel like jumping off a train that is moving 100 mph.
Please pray for all our staff and the many victims that need surgery and medical attention as it will be a crucial week, a difficult week when we will all need the wisdom, mercy and grace of God.
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/24/2010 AM Update (Angels from Trinidad & Tobago)
IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? Drove up in a large bus to our gates yesterday afternoon unannounced, ready to serve and be a blessing. Avonelle Hector Joseph ran up to me saying; “Hello Terry we are here to be a blessing. We have 41 people soup and medical personnel. Do you have a need?” Shocked but sense the spirit of God on them I quickly put them into action. They maneuvered their large bus into our campus and began cooking soup for over 150 people who were still waiting to be registered as victims of the earth quake.
The medical team quickly found their way to our gym floor where laid all the broken and wounded. After connecting with the local Haitian Doctor who was on call they quickly began passing through the people giving them special attention and added medical care. They also prayed with those who desired and sang songs to lift the spirits of all.
Debbie Dowlath began to explain to me how their group mobilized as soon as they heard of the earth quake. It seemed nothing was an obstacle as this all Trinidadian Team from Trinidad and Tobago booked their flights rapidly through Dominican Republic and caught a bus directly to the border.
IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? began in 2002 in Trinidad after a youth meeting captured a glimpse of God’s heart for the needy of the world. As they began to strategies and pray the youth meetings grew and grew. Since this time they have assisted in disasters all over the world such as; hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Gonaives, Haiti flood 2008, Hurricane relief to Grenada and St. Lucia and even India. Trinidad and Tobago are making their presences known to the world in times of need!
Before leaving Avonelle shaking my hand placed a bundle of USA hundred dollar bills in it. “Let me give you a Pentecostal hand shake!” she said with a smile!” $5000 USD was in that handshake and with cash hard to find these days these funds will be put into action quickly. We have two young boys in need of operations and churches filled with victims hungry!
As I said good bye and went into a meeting they still were not done and I was handed a check from Pastor Joel Ali for an additional $1000 USD to be sent to Jacmel for helping victims they were not able to reach on this trip. However, they said; “Don’t worry we want to come back!” What an incredible expression and no nonsense approach in reaching peoples immediate needs!
Thank you citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and youth of IS THERE NOT A CAUSE for your incredible response! A special thank you to Avonelle Hector Joseph (www.itnactt.com), Pastor Joel Ali (Heavenfishgold@yahoo.com), Raymond Ockille, Rickie Alexander, Andrew Innocent and the other 36 members who worked till 9pm that night to load on the bus and head on down the road to PAP looking, helping and ministering to all in need!
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/23/2010 PM Update (Food Found & Victim Registration)
Food found! Yesterday we found 300 sacks of rice and 50 sacks of beans for sale! We are distributing some of it to an orphanage that had none left! Food is hard to find and very expensive. We have also shipped sacks of rice and other food items through the Dominican Republic on vehicles and with Agape Flights, a mission air service flying in to Port Au Prince (PAP). Yesterday we located 900+ refuges through the local church. These refuges have been sleeping in churches or with church members since the day after the earthquake. They have also depleted all their resources and they are hungry. We are beginning our program of giving funds to local pastors to hire cooks and purchase food in the market. This program will allow us to offer faster help and assist in keeping the economy cash flow moving, but we wonder if they will even find enough food at this time.
Cash flow is a big problem as the banks of St. Marc have not yet opened but they have been able to assist Western Union where there are lines of people waiting a block to two blocks long at every location. Many people are hungry and they have no money to purchase anything. The good news is that we saw one station receive fuel yesterday.
Victim Registration Begins in St. Marc! We have been asked by the local Haitian Administration to operate the Earthquake Victim Registration program for all earthquake victims currently living in or coming to St. Marc as refuges. We are systematically registering people by zones/neighborhoods. Currently there is an estimated 3000 refuges in the city with hundreds still in PAP calling relatives seeking food and shelter. With this registration program we will be able to locate, track, and distribute aid as it arrives or is made available. Our list will be passed to the Haitian Administration, UN and NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) to assist their efforts to offer assistance as they can.
In churches alone, we have located 900+ earthquake victims that have no resources. Our assistance to these churches begins today. This is just one project that YWAM relief funds are contribution too.
We want to thank all of you for your prayers and giving. The need is even greater than we thought. Every day new things are being discovered and it is overwhelming. If you would like to help in a practical way through a financial contribution please make your US checks payable to YWAM Haiti and mail to; YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501 or give online at https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
Time is short and the crisis is still very real! Thank you for your contribution that is enabling the love of Jesus Christ to be felt through YWAM Haiti.
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/23/2010 AM Update (Child Healed & A Cry for Teachers)
Child Healed! Yesterday a young boy with serious head and leg injuries began to cry as he lay on a straw mat at our YWAM arena gym floor. He is just one of 76 others trying to find medical assistance. As our YWAM volunteers tried to comfort and understand what was wrong they became worried. You see, this young boy had not cried since the earthquake hit, even from his injuries or while getting treated. Now he was holding his stomach and crying very hard. The medical people began preparations to send him back to the main hospital but a group of YWAM volunteers began to pray for him. They refused to give up as they cried out to God for the fourth time! Suddenly the boy stopped crying and proclaimed he had no more pain and soon after fell asleep peacefully. He continues to be doing well in his recovery today. We need nurses to help here in St. Marc for the next two months. Write to relief if you’re a nurse or health worker, have a passport and can come so we can start your application and coordinate travel plans.
We have felt that all Christians from around the world that believe our God can heal should cry out for miraculous healings for the Haitian people at this time. While CNN and Fox News reports that the injuries and need for health care is too great and many are dying for the lack of it, we know our God can do the impossible and heal them all!
A CRY FOR TEACHERS! Due to the destruction of many schools and homes in PAP we are now getting request from English speaking Haitians to accept their children in our functioning educational school. These children were attending English speaking schools in PAP before the earthquake and are now in need to continue with their education to finish the year. All schools in PAP have been closed for the remaining of the year. We need English speaking teachers interested in volunteering to contact us today. If you are interested please email at LibertyAcademy@ywamhaiti.org.
We want to thank all of you for your prayers and giving. The need is even greater than we thought. Every day new things are being discovered and it is overwhelming. If you would like to help in a practical way through a financial contribution please make your US checks payable to YWAM Haiti and mail to; YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501 or give online at https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
Time is short and the crisis is still very real! Thank you for your contribution that is enabling the love of Jesus Christ to be felt through YWAM Haiti.
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/22/2010 Update (Man Rescued After 11 Days!)
Just an hour ago I received a phone call from Rodney who is working with YWAMers seeking rescue opportunities in PAP. They just pulled a man who had been buried under a building for 11 days. His vitals are bad, but they think he has a chance. Let’s pray for him. I don’t know his name but God does!
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/20/2010 Update (Strong Aftershock, Helping & Feeding Refugees)
We just had another earthquake hit and hit hard. Our house shook so hard even our kids woke up and started making for the door, but then it stopped about as quick as it started. Thank you God!
Monday and Tuesday many Christians did a march through the streets of the city of St. Marc declaring their thankfulness to God for keeping St. Marc safe through this terrible season in Haiti.
YWAMers in PAP yesterday gave medical assistance. A new group from YWAM Texas kicked in and increased our number of volunteers from 14 to 26. Today their goal is search and rescue!
They will send a team out to pick up some of the huge number of people laying on the sides of the road bleeding, broken and suffering from infections. This team will bring them back to the National Police station, located directly in front of the National Palace where YWAMers have claimed ground for assisting people. They will then triage them and direct them to clinics and hospitals as needed.
We have prepared a city plan for receiving refuges from PAP to St. Marc. The plan has been accepted by the current Haitian Administration and UN. It involves placement in government schools, churches and private homes. The program is scheduled to be announced today and the beginning stages will be implemented this morning. It has the potential of assisting 8000 plus refuges.
I would like to ask everyone to join us as we need $252,000 USD to see this program work effectively. It has a starting point and an exit strategy. The program will last three weeks. Could you help us house, feed and assist 8000 refuges for three weeks?
Please send your contributions payable to YWAM Haiti “Relief” and mail to; YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501 or give online at https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/19/2010 Update (Mother & Child Rescued, Medical Response)
Yesterday our YWAM’ers in PAP came upon people seeking help and a four month old child was discovered pinned under a building. Our rescue team from YWAM sprang into action. After some time the child was removed from the rubble and rushed to a make shift hospital with a large cut on her head. Once there everyone tried to find a responsible person. After asking where the baby’s mother was, the people with them said she is still under the building. The YWAMers rushed back to hear people saying that she was under the building, dead. Our YWAMers began to dig to find her. To everyone’s surprise they found her ALIVE! She was extremely dehydrated and will need hospital care but it seems she will recover!
YWAM St. Marc Gym has become a make shift recovery ward for the overflowing hospital. Yesterday a Doctor asked one of our YWAMers “What are they going to do with all these orphans.” He claimed that none of the children at our center had known living parents and the orphanage caretaker is not in the country. “Would YWAM take these children?” he asked. One of our volunteers spoke with one young boy that was actually thought to be dead! He had already been placed in the morgue in a closed room with the dead. After placed there and the door closed, morgue workers heard a knocking on the closed door and was shocked to see that this young boy was still alive!
Strategies are forming on how to best cope and minister during this situation. It is very intense and difficult, but let us all pray for the children of Haiti.
I want to thank everyone for your giving and your prayers. They have been a source of strength and encouragement along with the presence of God with us.
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
The greatest need at the moment is money. Please send your contributions payable to YWAM Haiti “Relief” and mail to; YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501 or give online at https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
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1/17/2010 PM Update (Port is Ready, City Organizing, Refugee Plan)
City is beginning to Organize; Today I meet with various leaders to begin organize refugee centers. YWAM has been asked to chair the logistical support of the schools that will be transformed into temporary shelter for refuges. As a result we need a lot of management type people and maintenance volunteers.
Port of St. Marc update! I also spoke with the port today as they were sitting in front of the gate waiting to see if any ships would come. They looked pretty discouraged as the port is cleaned and empty and still no aid. They were a little encouraged when I told them a ship is soon to be loaded and come. Is it? I spoke with Caribbean Transport and today Bill Coleman, owner, suggested I do a charter of a smaller ship that could carry 20 trailers. It could be loaded quicker and move faster. He is to give me an estimated cost of shipment tonight or tomorrow. So, who would like to send a trailer of AID? We would suggest sending canned or bulk food items, wood, tin, generators, work lights, these kinds of things. If you are interested or are already in the process of putting together a trailer, you can contact Bill Coleman at cartrans@myacc.net or 888-763-2999. We would suggest emailing a short note of what you want to ship and questions you may have first.
Strategy to shelter and feed 6000 through the churches! Today I believe God gave us, YWAM and a core group of Pastors, some real solution to the potential large number of refuges coming from PAP. Each church believes they could take in 50 to 60 refuges in homes or within their church buildings. They can provide the shelter but the cost for food? Yet, if we could hire cooks to come in and make food daily doing all their own purchasing of food etc in the local market, it would be very efficient and creative. This would also bring healing to the economic infrastructure of Haiti while minimizing security risk yet providing a healthier living environment for recovery. With the church members contribution of providing housing it would only cost $2 USD per person per day or $120 USD per 60 people per day.
This program is a short term solution that would end for the first wave of refuges three weeks after they arrive. At the end of the three weeks the people should have the ability to return to PAP to begin again or integrate within the city of St. Marc through job creation by some other work opportunities.
I love this program as it shares the burden with the Haitian church while also reviving the economic infrastructure that is so fragile especially with all the free aid coming in. In addition we would like to introduce medical outreach teams to the different churches to minister to the physical needs of the refuges and the church would offer invitations to uplifting song services and messages by local or missions groups.
6000 people could be impacted through this three week program with the cost of only $252,000 USD. We would like to invite people from all over the world to participate in this program. How many people could you help get back on their feet emotionally, physically and economically? One person would cost $42 USD for 3 weeks of food and housing.
If you would like to help you can send your contribution payable to YWAM Haiti marked “Relief” to YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501 or send through the internet by the following link https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/17/2010 PM Update (Port is Cleared, Supplies & Help Needed)
Please forgive my poor typing or grammar here as I am trying to quickly get news out and things are speeding up even faster.
St. Marc Port – Yesterday Port Officials cleared all wrecked cars, trucks, and abandoned trailers from the port dock to make way for aid. Last night I met with City leaders and the Vice Delegate, Jean Rony Duvilesaint, told me face to face. “Terry, if you have any aid trailers or ships that come into the port of St. Marc they will be released immediately and without delay.” Port Security told me the same thing the day before. There are a lot of trailers and vehicles that still fill the holding lots, but we, Youth With A Mission, have a walled property that could receive trailers for temporary holding until processed or organized for distribution.
For shipping I would recommend Caribbean Transport Line, www.cartraps.net at carstrans@myacc.net or phone 888-763-2999. I understand from the owner, Bill Coleman, that he is working out the possibility of two additional ships besides the one he already has. I also believe that these ships will be leaving from the Miami area.
St. Marc Organizing – Due to the lack of supplies and dwelling space from the devastation of the earthquake in PAP, people are quickly moving to St. Marc and Goniaves. Last night I was a part of a meeting at Minustah (UN) with the Administration of St. Marc and other NGO groups. Organization to meet this new demand is underway. Schools are soon to be transformed into shelters. (NOTE: SCHOOLS ARE CANCELED FOR THE REMAINING OF THE YEAR all throughout Haiti, exceptions are some private school such as Liberty Academy of YWAM – NEED ENGLISH TEACHERS). We have been asked to be head of Logistics for these camps and also offer civil education to help people.
Our Hospital is in great need as it only has 150 beds and currently occupies 310 people in need of Surgeries and Orthopedic care. Supplies are gone and specialists are not available or even in the country. I have been asked by Martime Bernier, Director of PALIH to call for help as they are in critical need of Surgeons, Orthopedics, Anesthesiologists and Nurses.
Current Conditions
-Communications – cell phones work about 20% of the time, Radios would be nice now. Land lines are dead.
-Banking – No Banks open but some Western Unions are making transfers happen.
-Supplies – Word is that there may be some supplies being uncovered or found to help business service the people. AID is trickling in but we must get the business infrastructure up and function again to have real systems and social recovery.
-Fuel – It appeared yesterday that some PAP stations may have received gas but lines were long. St. Marc has gas but no one knows when we will get more so it is very difficult and supplies are very low.
-Other needs – Pastoral care and counseling.
Thought for the day; When I am weak He is strong! If we help others within our ability we have done an awesome thing, but when we help others beyond our ability that is acts of faith that causes men to glorify GOD!
Needs;
-People
-Administrative (Managers, Book keepers
-Trained medical workers
-Mechanics
-Construction/Maintenance people (Build and maintain shelters) Electric, Plumbers, Carpenters
-Needs
-Cash to purchase
-food/water/fuel
-generator
-building supplies
-vehicles
-Haitian workers (This will help get money back into the hands of the victims and infrastructure)
How to send contributions; Mail USD contributions payable to YWAM Haiti, marked “Haiti Relief” to; YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501 or give through the internet at this link; https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
We want to thank everyone for your help and prayers! To God be the glory!
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/15/2010 Update (Food is Scarce, Containers Needed)
Today we bought 15 25lb bags of rice in St. Marc. To our knowledge it was the last available rice in all of St. Marc city and province! This is getting serious friends. What the UN and Government people may not be taking into thought is the mass number of people that are evacuating PAP. This is devasting the supplies in the province. One of the largest wholesalers in St. Marc has empty depots tonight with no word on when he might be able to get more bulk food!
Victims of PAP are now beginning to fill churches in St. Marc and we are looking at potentially staging two additional camps here in this city as well as our staging points in PAP.
FUEL is gone, vehicles are being parked! We have to have fuel if we are going to survive, much less help the victims!
I have worked most of the day on the opening of the port of St. Marc. US Coast Guard has come and inspected the port. I have spoken to the person in charge of security and we are close to having green lights from the customs office to open the port to allow aid supplies to pass through for little to no charge!
If you have a container of food or building supplies that is ready to send, please contact us or Bill Colman at cartrans@myacc.net. Bill has done much shipping into the port of St. Marc and is assembling three small vessels that can quickly load and offload at the port of St. Marc. However we need 40 containers to fill the ship for it to be able to leave. The ships are located in the Miami / Everglades Florida area. 888-763-2999.
We need Rice, Beans, Cooking oil, Tomato paste, spagetti, soap, tarps, tents, wood, tin roofing, foam matress of sleep cots etc. Please contact us for an updated list!
We still have no communication worth mentioning with cell phones.
As I prayed today I felt God speak that a new beginning is coming to Haiti. Decisons for their future hang in the balance. Let's pray that the Haitian people will respond to God's love and make the right choices that will bring them healing and blessing!
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
For contributions in the US you may mail your tax deductible gift payable to YWAM Haiti marked "Relief" and mail to;
YWAM Haiti
PO Box 236
Akron, PA 17501
or you may also make a contribution online at this link
https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10.
Thank you for your gift!
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
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1/14/2010 PM Update (The Plan Develops, Much Help Needed)
Just a quick update,
We have been very busy and have made great headway in developing a plan to begin assistance. We would like to begin preparing food and passing out sacks of purified water very soon! Instead of doing this today we focused on staging points to host teams, connect with the US Embassy and develop the infrustructure needed to assist in a positve way! We have located two potential staging points and we are appreciative to our very large Youth With A Mission family world wide.
Saturday we will see a YWAM team from D.R. (Boardering nation) drive in with supplies. We have two other teams, one from YWAM Tyler Mercy Works and the other from Lancaster PA, New Danville Mennonite, that will be here Sunday. One team will be building a home in the St.Marc area the other will be setting up for medical relief.
We have begun to make arrangements for getting a hold of finances. Please understand that all the banking systems have collapsed due to communications and the main offices destroyed in the capital. Hopefully tomorrow we will see our Haitian bank begin to open or release some funds for our use. We are finding other ways to obtain funds as well. YWAM International is receiving funds from around the world at a internet link
https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10. Others are responding through email making commitments and sending funds to our YWAM Haiti, PO Box 236, Akron, PA 17501.
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
The Haitian government is not funtioning and we have a team working to try and find a way to get the port of St. Marc opened for humanitarian supplies. Our YWAM base has 3 acres of land that we could make available to park containers for unloading, organizing and then shipping on to PAP.
We have placed a call to YWAM Volunteers to come and assist in administrative ways to help in organization of the many teams that have already written ready to come. As mentioned we have currently found two staging points that could provide housing for these teams. We have a possibility of up to 10 additional places as well.
Airplanes were seen flying in and the US Embassy was still very packed with people trying to leave. The smell of dead bodies is growing stronger and there seemed to be a spirit of dispair crying out through out the city.
This is our time to demonstrate the power of the love of God. There is a deep stirring within many Haitians. Especially amongst our staff. Our Haitian staff are proclaiming it is time for change!
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/14/2010 AM Update (Sobering Realities & Assembling a Response)
Dead lay in the streets, possibilities of mass burial sights talked about on the radio. People wandering the streets, city parks now filled with people camping out in them. The situation is more worse than dreamed!
Yesterday we sent an investigative team to Port-au-Prince (PAP) to take a first hand look at the situation. I will not easily forget what Rodney Gephart and Wayne Snow said when they had returned; "The situation is worse than it has appeared on TV!" My heart sank and instead of crying I felt a numbness come over me as they began telling me of the dead, the buildings that had colapsed and then to hear that they could not find any information on who is doing what as far as cordinated efforts for immediate response and longterm recovery.
Our Leadership Team went late into the night trying to assemble all the data and strategies on how to begin with assisting the victims of the earthquake of 1/12/10. Praying for strength and wisdom from God! We know He has a plan. We have seen him take us through many floods and other situations that were greater than we could bare in the past and by GOD's grace, mercy and power we will see this through! How ummeasurable is His love! Nothing is impossible concerning Him!
Today's goals are;
-Establish Communication Hub- Focus (Connect with US Embassy, cordinate with any known releief teams, communicate with volunteer teams and individuals that are emailing)
-Establish routes to recieve and send aid (Money, Supplies and Volunteers)
-Check out and establish staging points to House and feed Volunteers (Probably need portable housing)
-Immediate Response - Look for opportunities to run street soup kitchens (Use street vendors to make hot meals to give to anyone who needs them, buy purified water for distro)
-Prepare for Security concerns (Yesterday the people were stund, today they will be starving!)
The ground underneath me just trembled once more as I close this email and I am 60 miles away! Many people have asked how they can help. We need funds to kick in quickly. Until the shipments of additional releif supplies get open money is all we can work with. We have connections to food whole salers in St. Marc that can assist us, but we also need to purchase vehicles to get mobile. Many vehicles were destroyed so we need to find and purchase quickly!
If you would like to get involved you may make a contribution over the internet and the following link
https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10. If you would like to send a USA Check you may make it payable to YWAM Haiti, designate it to "Haiti Relief" and mail to;
YWAM Haiti
PO Box 236
Akron, PA 17501
(NOTE: Donating through this link or through Akron, PA will get support to YWAM Haiti, just not through the "Haiti Relief Train". We encourage you to support their work however you are led.)
If you are sending in a contribution we would like to hear from you immediately so we can put those funds into affect before they arrive. Please reply to this email with the amount you are sending.
Thank you!
Taking the High Places!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/13/2010 Update (Shock & Aftershocks)
Every 30 minutes to an hour the house rumbled and shook from the after shocks of the earthquake that has divested the capital, Port-au-Prince. It was hard to sleep wondering if you should run, wait or ignore it. All I could think about was the thousands that had no where to sleep in Port-au-Prince 60 miles away from our city, St. Marc.
We were up early to see the video footage and pictures of the Presidential Palace destroyed and so many other buildings we once knew. We feel in some ways as helpless as the victims in Port-au-Prince in the since of shock and not knowing what to do or where to start. Communications are still down, airport is closed for today so we have decided to send in a observation team to see what connections they could make.
Haiti has no infrastructure much less a crisis management team. I suspect that PAP is crying even louder this morning as the reality of their situation tumbles on them.
We are thinking through how this impact will affect St. Marc and the population here. Fuel, electric communications, food and construction supplies all route through PAP. Today we are ok, but what about in a few days or week. Where are the refugees going to be going since there is little living space in PAP?
Pray for us and our observation team!
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
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1/13/2010 Update (Initial Report)
At 5:05pm I was sitting with our leadership team when the room began to tremble. EARTHQUAKE! We quickly realized that this was an abnormal rumbling. We have experienced minor trembles in times past but not like this one. We all bolted to the exit. Soon we saw everyone out in the center of our campus field as the earth continued to tremble. One of our walls had some plaster begin to shack loose, but then it stopped. Thank God!
The city erupted with screams and shouts! Most of our cell companies were down, electric went off, but then one of our new DTS student’s cell phone rings. People are telling him that many buildings have fallen. There is much destruction in the capital Port-au-Prince!
Due to phone communication we are unable to reach our YWAM Center in Gonaives north of us, but we feel they are most likely ok as the earthquake’s center was 10 miles south south west of Port-au-Prince.
Our survey teams we sent through St. Marc have reported back in with the good report that all looks safe in our city, St. Marc!
Let’s pray for the many people in the capital. We have received word that many housing units have collapsed and government buildings as well, but still no clear reports. Everyone only had 45 minutes before the sun set and now they are pretty well in the darkness.
Terry W. Snow
National Director
YWAM Haiti
