March 4, 2010
Greetings,
 
Here is the latest from Haiti via Tim Wylie of Parakletos International (CC Costa Mesa): 

Greetings Gentleman:
>> We have been on the ground for one week.  Since that time, our team
>> has:
>> 1.  Built four homes from the ground up
>> 2.  Became the administrators at a clinic seeing 500-700 patients
 daily.
>> 3.  Organized and restocked medical supplies for a large warehouse
 of incoming medical supplies
>> 4.  Renovated a birthing clinic
>> 5.  Conducted week long vacation bible schools at two locations
>> 6.  New construction on a security wall in the mountains for a local
 school
>> 7.  Developed the site plan for our acquired property/staking out
>> all potential temp structure sites
>> 8.  Met with UN officials and NGO's on the ground to coordinate our
 efforts
>> 9.  Developed a child welfare plan of action with local Christian
orphanages
>> 10.  Met with leading pastors in area to coordinate Christian effort
>> 11.  Worked in severely injured clinic of small children
 (malnourished and injuries) taking care of their needs
>> 12.  Moved and restocked the medical depot of relief supplies for
 all medical NGO's on the ground in Jacmel
>> 13.  Asked for approval to conduct chaplain service for Canadian
 Army on the ground in Jacmel
>> 14.  Secured housing for incoming teams/built bunk beds/internet in
 house, etc
>> 15.  Flying into inacessible areas next week to conduct assesments
>> of feasiblity for us to work in
>> 16.  Meeting with kenny isaacs of Samaritans' Purse next week to
>> deepen partnerships.
>> 17.  Flying in Tom Kim of Churches Helping Churches (James
>> MacDonald's church) rep to deepen partnership with James MacDonald's
 church.

 Need lots of prayer!  Heat is glorious!

 
There is a new web site specifically set up for all the Calvary Chapels who will be responding to Haiti:
 
 
Blessings,
 
Scott

 

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February 13, 2010

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Just a short note to let you know what is happening. After another short trip to Haiti, Tim Wylie from CC Costa Mesa informed me that they have leased a piece of property near the airport in Jacmel. They are working on obtaining supplies needed to construct the camp; plywood, chain-link fencing, etc. We are in the process of shipping the "big top" tent we used in Mississippi, another tent donated by CC Long Beach and 2 quonset huts also from Mississippi to CC Ft. Lauderdale, where they will be temporarily stored until shipping is worked out.
 
Tim says that in 6-8 weeks they hope to have the camp set up and ready to receive servants.  I know that it sounds like a long time, but the preparations we are making now will pay off in the long run. As each day post-earthquake arrives, the terrible loss of life and complete damage seem to fade from the news reports. Many resuce teams have pulled out, and other agencies are packing up. This is the time that God moves in and stays! This is the time that Christ's servants put on their armor and move forward.
 
Please pray about what God is calling you and your church to do. To sign up as a servant, we are directing everyone to go to www.parakletosinternational.com  (CC Costa Mesa's ministry) and fill out the application. This way we have an accurate count all at one place. This may shift to CC Ft. Lauderdale when it gets closer to the camp opening.
 
God Bless you all and thank you for your prior service in all the places Committed Relief has responded.
 
Scott

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February 5th, 2010

Our team from CC Costa Mesa arrived in Florida this evening. Tomorrow we will be flying out with a team from CC Ft Lauderdale to Jacmel, Haiti. Our plans are to meet with the Mayor and offer him our assistance. We will then meet with Franatz to finalize an agreement for the land lease. Once we have a property we will need to acquire and ship the materials that will be needed to secure and build a base camp. This will be a huge undertaking in a country that was difficult to work in prior to this disaster.

I thank all of you for your prayers and patience. The logistics and security issues are very different then anything we had seen in our response to hurricane Katrina. In spite of these obstacles a number of organizations and ministries are looking to partnership with us as soon as we get a base camp operational.

Please continue to pray for God's leading, His wisdom, and provision. I am convinced that we, the Body of Christ, are being given an opportunity to lead many to a saving knowledge of our Lord, through the relationships we will build in the coming years. Let's all be praying for His faith and love as we move ahead.

Lord Bless

Tim Wylie

Parakletos International CCCM

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February 1st, 2010

                                                                                                                                                                             Greetings,
 
Below is the latest update from the team that just arrived back from Haiti. It looks like we have possibly found a site for the relief camp.............
 
Friday evening January 30, both the Calvary Chapel Old Bridge and CC Costa Mesa teams arrived back home in the USA.  Our teams left Jacmel Friday morning at 12:00 AM for the drive back to Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic.  It ended up being about a 15 hour journey.  Although the road that connects Jacmel to Port Au Prince is open about, half of it is a small two lane road through the mountains.  The earthquake and following aftershocks triggered a number of landslides that have been cleared enough to allow single vehicles to pass. 
 
 Between the mountain pass and Port Au Prince lies the city of Leogane.  Leogane was all but completely destroyed.  We spoke to both Canadian and American troops we met that night who were stationed at two food storage sites.  The death toll in Leogane alone was estimated at 20,000 to 30,000.  Driving through Port Au Prince at night was both eerie and heartbreaking.  The city lay in ruin with only the dim glow of an occasional street light.  The streets were lined with the survivors, who either had no home left or were too afraid to sleep inside.  Traffic lanes were blocked off with furniture and disabled vehicles to prevent the thousands that were sleeping in the streets from being run over by the occasional vehicle that passed by. 
 
 At the Haitian/Dominican border there was a convoy of vehicles that must have been close to a mile long trying to get into Haiti from the Dominican side.  Our drive into Jacmel, from the DR a week earlier, had been a very difficult drive do to road conditions and traffic.  We could only imagine what it was going to be like this day.  A FEMA representative we met at the airport told us that things in Port Au Prince were still very chaotic.  He said there was still little in the way of a centralize command, a lot of confusion, and no real plans for the future. 
 
 Based on all we have seen we still believe that we could best serve the people of Haiti by setting up a command base in the city of Jacmel.  The team from CC Ft Lauderdale has confirmed our original assessment and is looking to partnership with us.  We have also been contacted by a number of Calvaries, and other ministries that are interested in working together on this endeavor.  We are negotiating a lease on a piece of property and are preparing teams as well as gathering needed materials.  We hope, by God’s grace, to have an operational base camp in Jacmel ASAP. 
 
 Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti, that God would open their eyes and hearts to His boundless love for them.  Then pray that He would send the laborers and resources we will need to impact this nation for Christ. 
 
 
Blessings,
 
Scott

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January 28, 2010

CC Fort Lauderdale flew a team into Jacmel today.  The team was led by Chet Lowe.  We have found a 2.5 acre piece of property adjacent to the airport on the main highway, that has been cleared and could be used as a base camp within a couple weeks of receiving supplies.  The property belongs to the Mayor's chief assistant, who has offered it to us for $8000 a year, with a one to three year lease option.  We would do improvements to the property such as fencing,  electrical, water, and installing a septic system.  These improvements would be left behind when we closed the camp.  CCFL is working closely with a shipping company, Cross International, and has 8 containers at the church ready to ship.  Chet has asked us to try and find a rental home to house work crews until the camp is up and running.  Houses rent for around $6000 to $8000 US a year, but have no land around them.   
 
Currently we have a 20,000 sq ft circus tent, (2) 20 X 50 foot Quonset huts, and a 40 X 60 foot sided tent available for shipping from the US.  CCFL said they could have them shipped within days of receiving them.  Another ministry working with us has a kitchen, with staff and a new 28 foot diesel stake bed truck ready to ship.  We have received offers for donations of water purifiers, mattresses, food, and medical supplies, just to name a few.
 
Current figures from Jacmel are that over 7500 families are homeless (20,000 to 30,000), and close to 50% of downtown Jacmel was destroyed.  The main hospital was destroyed along with dozens of schools and churches.  There are an estimated 6,000 refugees living in a number of camps with scores of victims sleeping in tents and make shift shelters on the streets.  The rainy season begins in about two months and it is going to be critical that temporary structures be supplied to the thousands that have been left homeless.
 
From Jacmel it is a 1 1/2 hour drive to the city of Leogane.  This city is almost 100% destroyed.  A young girl was rescued alive from the rubble of Leogane today and a woman was pulled alive from the rubble of Port Au Prince yesterday.  Port Au Prince is about 1/2 hours drive past Leogane. 
 
We are still convinced that the city of Jacmel is where the Lord has led us to begin this work of reaching the lost of Haiti.  Logistically, it has an operational runway, a deep water port, is relatively safe, and in great need.  We have established a working relationship with the mayor's office, and it affords us the opportunity to reach other locations like Leogane and Port Au Prince.  
 
We have met a number of NGO's in the area with recon teams trying to find a location suitible for housing teams, equipment, and supplies.  This camp would provide a base of operation for our Calvary Chapels as well as other organizations looking to help the people of Haiti.  I really believe that this is Haiti's hour.  Through the death and destruction God has once again opened a window of opportunity for us, the Body of Christ, to demonstrate those things we preach.  I pray that we will respond with the heart and mind of Christ and bring glory to Him in these last days.

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January 27, 2010

Today we drove from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Jacmel, Haiti. The drive took us through Port Au Prince and took us almost 10 hours. The level of destruction coupled with the poverty we witnessed through Port Au Prince and out lying areas was beyond description. Although large portions of the city lay ruined, food seems to be making it's way to the people. Once in Jacmel we contacted members of the Canadian army that had set up a field hospital next to the port. They assured us the port was open and operational. We then met with staff at the Hands and Feet orphanage. They told us that members of their staff were in the city passing out food with the mayor. We visited a soccer stadium which is currently home to over 3500 refugees and attended a meeting hosted by the Red Cross and UN. The meeting was to discus co-ordinating efforts to provide medical attention to the victims. Tomorrow morning I have a meeting, at the airport,
with the medical logistics director to discuss current and projected needs for medical supplies and personal. This is the second trip to Jacmel for one of our team members. On the last trip he met with the mayor's assistant who offered him a piece of property to use for a base camp. We inspected that property today. It is about 2.5 acres and located just down the road from the airport. We will try and schedule an appointment with the Mayor to determine if this property is still available and see if we are in a position to assist his office, while serving the people of Jacmel. Along with the meetings, one team member, a doctor, will be heading off to assist at one of the hospitals, while other team members will either visit one of the refugee camps or assist ministries that are delivering food. We plan to prayerfully meet with as many officials, ministries and relief organizations as we can prior to the scheduled meeting with the team from CC Ft Lauderale on Thursday.
Please pray for God's continued safety, His direction, and His hand of protection for our families as we continue to seek His will.

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January 25, 2010

Our "West Coast Crew" arrived in DR on Saturday, and flew into Jacmel yesterday. Here are excerpts from the CCOB team:

In Jacmel the Lord seems to be directing very clearly, and we are cautiously optimistic that several CC's will be coming together to establish a long-term base camp from which to minister not only to the immediate community but also to the surrounding area.  A piece of land has been tentatively set aside for this purpose, and team members are meeting with the mayor today to discuss next steps.  Lord willing, representatives from CC Ft. Lauderdale will hook up with the team already on the ground later this week to look at ways to integrate their efforts as well.

With most of our first team back in the US, we are beginning to hear many great "God stories" they didn't have time to convey last week.  Here's just one: One of our missionaries went up to a little 12 year old boy who had both his feet amputated and said to him, "I would like to pray for you." The boys earnestly responded," No, don't pray for me, I have Jesus in my heart.  Pray for all of them" as he pointed to the other victims.  He pointed to the space where his feet once where, "I have Jesus in my heart, I know where I am going, pray for them they have no hope!" God has His people everywhere!  May He continue to pour out His love and the hope of Jesus Christ upon Haiti!

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January 22, 2010

Today the Lord landed a Jewish airplane pilot in Barahone, D.R. with a 4-seater Cesna, who flew in alone, just wanting to help. The team hooked up with him and soon one Calvary guy and the pilot were ferrying several trips with 100 lbs of critical medical supplies each time; morphine, antibiotics, screws to set broken bones, and precision saws to Jacmel, to the area where the need was so great. It seems that having the screws will allow the doctors to set damaged limbs, rather than amputating. 
The team has been purchasing these goods in Santo Domingo. The team was able to get permission to use an airstrip in Barahone. The military is taking charge of the airstrip in Pacmel, Haiti. The team, however, has secured permission to continue using it.
 
Aid is beginning to reach areas like Jacmel that were not receiving assistance early this week.  However, there are widespread reports (and firsthand observations by our team) that much of the food and medicine being trucked in is being "diverted" and is not reaching everyone in need.  Our team had resources it arranged to be brought to one location "secured" in a warehouse and only after much effort were they able to obtain their own supplies.

The team's mobility has been greatly enhanced by relationships formed with pilots helping them get around in small planes.  However, the number of people flying into small airports in Haiti from other countries has led to a crackdown at several airports including one our team was using that is now under the control of the Canadian army.

Prayer changes things!  One of our teams spent much of the day attempting to obtain and deliver surgical equipment and pain medication so a team of doctors could perform urgent amputations on more than forty patients.  From communication breakdowns, mechanical problems, misdirection, aftershocks, and attempts to confiscate the supplies, it seemed that the supplies would never arrive and the doctors would be forced to perform amputations with no pain medication and improvised tools.  With people around the world praying, however, the resources ultimately arrived just in time.

Attempts to identify a suitable location for a large-scale "basecamp" are progressing slowly.  Many buildings are obviously destroyed, and continuing aftershocks make the use of many remaining buildings unwise.  We may be looking at a "tent city" scenario.

Doctors and nurses are showing up throughout the country in increasing numbers, but most medical personnel our team has encountered are underutilized due to lack of logistical support and profound lack of surgical equipment and medicine.  "Don't send any more tylenol" was a comment made by more than one team member as they searched frantically for stronger pain medicine.

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January 19th, 2010

Teams from Calvary Chapel Old Bridge and others are on the ground in Haiti! It appears that the Lord is guiding us to the hard-hit town of Jacmel, fifty miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. The this town of 40,000 was also devastated, and is without food or water. The relief team was able to truck over some supplies to a port in the Dominican Republic, and were negotiating with local ships captains for passage to Jacmel. While the captains argued among themselves, the local naval commander found out what was happening, and offered to carry the supplies and team to Jacmel for free!

The missionaries with "Hands & Feet" in Jacmel are looking forward to a time when teams can safely arrive and start the physical and spiritual rebuilding. Keep checking back from time to time to see when these opportunites are opened up. Meanwhile, please continue to pray for the team members on the ground and the folks who have been ministering there for years.

Committed Relief

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January 18th, 2010

Greetings,
 
Committed Relief and other relief organizations continue to lift up the survivors and rescue personnel that are in Haiti. We are praying where God wants us to respond to, and at the same time have personnel currently en route to Haiti and some missionaries on scene. While Port-au-Prince continues to be the only focus of the relief effort due to the large numbers of dead and dying, there are other areas that were hit just as bad, but have so far been overlooked or forgotten. God has not forgotten!
 
One of these places is a town called Jacmel. It is on the Caribbean side of the island, about 50 southwest of Port-au-Prince. The town has a population of 40,000, and 4,000 of it's buildings are either partially or completely destroyed. They too have the dead lying by the side of the road, and the associated sad stories that go along with them. Unlike Port-au-Prince, the residents have not turned to looting or killing each other over food and water. There is a small UN force in town, but they have not been able to do much due to lack of supplies. There is a 3,300 ft. runway and a port that can handle medium-sized ships (these assets are still intact).
 
A brother from CC Long Beach has been to Jacmel many times, and his in-laws run an orphanage called "Hand & Feet" just outside of town, They are on good terms with the city government, and are looking for ways to house relief teams. Unlike Katrina, we cannot load up with supplies a hundred miles away and drive in; everything must be flown or shipped. We have to be fully self-contained - food, water, tools, diesel fuel - everything must be brought.
 
Some men from CC Old Bridge are trying to get into Haiti from the DR, but we have not heard if they have been successful. They will be able to assess where and when we can respond on a larger basis.
 
Pray for God's protection on those serving presently; on our search for where He wants us to go, and for salvation for the millions of Haitians that have relied on their popular Catholic/Voodoo religious mix to help them in the past; Only God can truly save them.
 
We will meet again this Thursday at CC Costa Mesa and should have a better idea of what will be happening. 

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January 16th, 2010

We are currently unable to accept food and other supplies at Calvary Chapel La Habra due to not being able to ship any items into Haiti at this time. At this time monetary donations are preferred. All donations will be used towards Haiti relief efforts.

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January 15th, 2010

Committed Relief met yesterday, January 14th, with representatives of other relief teams to pray about where and when to respond to this terrible disaster. There were many in the meeting who have been to Haiti numerous times, and have relationships with missions teams currently there. The borders are still closed, and the airport is not allowing anymore flights in. The port has been compromised, so no relief by sea can be made yet. Any donations coming in will be used to purchase food and other supplies to take when we are allowed to go in.

This will be a combined effort of many Calvary Chapels from all over the United States, as the situation is estimated to continue for at least 2 years, similar to the Hurricane Katrina response. There will be plenty of opportunities in the near future, so please check back on the web site every few days. If you want to serve, please fill out the contact form, and click on the donations page for further info on how to donate.

Pray for the survivors; they are desperate for food and water; pray for the safety of the aid workers; they are in a very volatile situation; pray for God to guide us to where He wants us to serve.

Committed Relief

Calvary Chapel La Habra - 714.446.6222

email scottleecrawford@gmail.com

 

 

To assist in the relief efforts

Visit the new website @

Calvary Chapel Haiti Initiative

 

 

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Committed Relief

Calvary Chapel La Habra - 714.446.6222

email scottleecrawford@gmail.com

 

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