The Disaster in Haiti and the UCC Response

The Christ Church Board of World Fellowship is well aware of the disaster in Haiti and they are working to see how they can help. They also know that although some things are urgent in the country this will be an ongoing situation so they have time to consider long-term support.
For years, they have been supporting the Lambi Fund. http://www.lambifund.org/
Bre Reiber the ex wife of our former minister Tom Martinez used to work for this organization. I contacted her yesterday and here is what she said:
"As of today (1/13), no one in the U.S. has heard from the Lambi Fund staff in Haiti, so we do not know if they are okay or not.  All phone and internet service is down throughout the country, so we may not hear from them for several days.  The Lambi Fund office is a small, one story building so it may have been less damaged than other buildings (unless a neighboring building fell on to it.)  I do not know how badly Lambi Fund projects in the countryside were damaged.  A Haitian art website mentioned that some Lambi Fund supported grain silos have been completely destroyed, but it is unclear to me how they know that for certain.  Someone would have to call by satellite phone to get that info to the U.S. " 
Latest news about the Lambi Fund Director: "The website news scroll says that Karen has heard that Haiti Director Josette Perard was seen walking home after the earthquake. That is great news. I know that Josette has medications she needs, though, so I hope she was able to get to them. I have no doubt she has been helping people through this. She is always there! "

The UCC has sent out and appeal for funds:
"The United Church of Christ has launched an emergency appeal for Haiti after a major earthquake struck the country. Thousands of people are feared dead and countless have been left homeless.


 The quake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale, struck 10 miles southwest of the capital just before 5pm local time yesterday, January 12.

It is still too early to know the full extent of the damage, but One Great Hour of Sharing is expecting very high loss of life, widespread destruction of homes, schools and other buildings, and major damage to key water, electricity and road systems.
 Global Ministries personnel, Kim, Patrick and Solomon Bentrott have reported in that they are safe.

One Great Hour of Sharing funds are being rushed to our Haitian partners to support their initial emergency response. As damage assessments are made and plans for relief, recovery and rehabilitation are developed, additional support will be shared. The need is massive."

One of the UCC churches in Baltimore, part of the Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC used to have an ongoing relationship with Haiti. They would send work groups out every year. I do not know if they are still doing this.

Years ago, I spent a week in Haiti with my friend who is a physician. We witnessed the poverty first hand. We were tourist staying in a hotel and we could see from our hotel window the shacks that the people were living in. I watched them carry buckets to the water spigot so that they could have water in their home. We went to the town of Jacquemel by one of few paved roads in the county that had been built by the French army before they left. It was so bad my friend said she never wanted to return to Haiti. I did bring home some of Haitian art and have three paintings hanging in my living room.

I am happy that the United State government is mounting resources to help the Haitian people. I am sure some of the search and rescue teams that worked so hard here in New York after 911 are now in the air enroute to Haiti. I hope the summer intern that worked with me at Merck who was Haitian has now become a physician and is back working in Haiti, as was his goal.

The Prayer Chain is praying for the Haitian people. So shall we all.

Jeannette