Ekip Kreol - Helping the plight of the Haitian people in Haiti and the Dominician Republic

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. The second largest island of the Greater Antilles, Hispaniola lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica. Its western third is the nation of Haiti, and Eastern two thirds is the nation of the Dominican Republic, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries.

Haiti is a country caught in a time lapse, being the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It is the only nation to win its own independence from slavery. Haiti has a violent history with frustrations that surface in the form of violence even today. The education level is between second and third grade. Estimates are that Haitians make from $200 to $400 per family per year, with supplies and food costing as much and more than in the United States. Jobs are very rare, with hundreds of people for each available job. Infant mortality is extremely high, so Haitians have many children, hoping that some will make it to be adults in order to have someone to take care of them in their old age. Tuberculosis, AIDS, Malaria, and Typhoid take the lives of people of all ages. Malnutrition is prevalent with most people

There is an estimate of more than 2,000,000 Haitians of either transient workers or individuals who have settled in the Dominican Republic, looking for work and a better way of life. Generally, they take the basest jobs, doing whatever they are able at a minimum salary, and are employed for the majority of unskilled jobs. Haitians are often mistrusted and live with prejudice. Some live in worse housing conditions that they did in Haiti, trying to make enough money to live and if there is any left over, to send back to family in Haiti. Language barriers due to not speaking Spanish well or due to accent can also contribute to misunderstandings and prejudices. Haitians generally live in communities of Haitians and often live in groups, depending where they came from in Haiti. The Dominican Republic was under Haitian rule at one time, which is a major contributor to prejudices against Haitians in the Dominican Republic.

To help with Haiti Earthquake Relief, please email haitiresponse@imb.org or visit http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/new/

News Update

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I need to start sharing some of the stories that are begging to be told. They will help you to pray more specifically. We had aftershocks in Jimani that were not even felt in Port-au-Prince. The first one, which we told you about, scared people so bad that they started jumping off balconies. Already injured patients added more injuries, but they did not want to buried alive again. I cannot describe to you the fear that was on the faces and the tears that streamed down as the ones in ICU and recovery begged to be dragged outside. Some had chest tubes. Some were badly burned. Some were new amputees. Some were spinal injuries. They couldn't be moved out on the grass and dirt. I went from room to room, telling them that God has brought them out from under the rubble and spared their lives for a purpose and that purpose is to serve Him for the rest of their lives. Heads slowly began to nod and the trickle of tears slowed. I told them that I was there with them and God was with them. We bowed our heads and prayed, "Father, God, send your angels to hold up these walls. You have saved these people for a purpose - to serve You and tell of Your love for the Haitian people. Give us courage. Give us faith. Calm our fears. Help us to feel your presence. Keep us safe, even when our feet tell us to run. Complete Your plan in each of us."

The next aftershock was a 5.1 and it was significant. By that time, any Haitian able to sleep outdoors was doing so. As people ran out of the ICU and recovery, I ran against the flow of traffic, towards the patients. As family member saw me, they turned to go back in with me. Again, we prayed, and slowly, calm came. I told the patients and their families that I had a bed upstairs, but that I would stay downstairs and sleep with them, if they wanted. By this time, I was exhausted and could have slept on a lumpy rock, if needed. After about an hour, a man smiled and told me I could go to my bed to sleep. He said he knew that in my heart I would be with them, and that God was there with them. Others nodded and smiled, so I went to bed.

The third aftershock came in the middle of the night. I jumped up and ran downstairs to the ICU and recovery. I was amazed that there were only two patients scared, so I prayed with them and they calmed down. The man who had told me to go to my own bed previously, smiled, and held up three fingers. He said that this was the third time and God had proved that He was holding on to them. A nurse told me I shouldn't be down there without shoes. This was true, but when I looked down, I realized that I was standing there in my nightgown! (Thank you, Casandra, for helping me find one that wasn't flimsy.) Pray that God will continue to send angels to hold the walls and ceiling. Pray that lives will be changed and tears will turn to smiles.

Today is Sunday and we have the moving truck coming this afternoon to load our things. We will arrive in Jimani tomorrow (Monday). Pray that we will have a safe and wise transition, that supplies needed in order to house volunteers with arrive and all construction/adaptation/etc. Will go smoothly and quickly. Pray for communications, travel on treacherous roads, open border crossings, and God to be glorified. Pray for time to share some of the wonderful stories.

Volunteers, register with: Haitiresponse@imb.org.
Donations: http://WWW.Facebook.Com/l/bd645;ow.ly/WP9O or you can go to the IMB site or Baptist Global Response website.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

An item and need of prayer...






U.S. News
Doctor: Quake victims dying without US airlifts
JENNIFER KAY
From Associated Press
January 30, 2010 6:37 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. military has halted flights carrying Haitian earthquake victims to the United States because of an apparent cost dispute, though a doctor warned that some injured patients faced imminent death if the flights don't resume.
The evacuations were temporarily suspended Wednesday, said Capt. Kevin Aandahl, spokesman for U.S. Transportation Command. The flights were halted a day after Florida Gov. Charlie Crist asked the federal government to help pay for care.
However, Dr. Barth Green, a doctor involved in the relief effort in Port-au-Prince, warned that his patients needed to get to better hospitals.
"We have 100 critically ill patients who will die in the next day or two if we don't Medevac them," said Green, chairman of the University of Miami's Global Institute for Community Health and Development.
At a temporary field hospital at Haiti's international airport, set up with donations to Green's institute, two men had already died of tetanus. Doctors said 5-year-old Betina Joseph faced a similar fate within 24 hours unless evacuated to a U.S. hospital where she can be put on a respirator.
The girl — infected with tetanus through a two-inch cut on her thigh — weakly shooed a fly buzzing around her face as her mother caressed her corn rows, apparently unaware that getting the girl out could mean life or death.
"If we can't save her by getting her out right away, we won't save her," said Dr. David Pitcher, one of 34 surgeons staffing the field hospital.
"If we can't save her by getting her out right away, we won't save her," said Dr. David Pitcher, one of 34 surgeons staffing the field hospital.
There were some states that would not accept patients who needed care in the U.S., and they could not be transported without a hospital to accept them, Aandahl said.
Aandahl declined to specify which states declined to accept patients, and he referred further questions to a Pentagon press office, where an after-hours answering service could not accept incoming messages Saturday.
Florida officials said Saturday that they were not aware of any hospital in the state refusing to take in the patients. However, in a letter Tuesday to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the governor said "Florida's health care system is quickly reaching saturation, especially in the area of high level trauma care."
Crist asked Sebelius to activate the National Disaster Medical System, which is typically used in domestic disasters and pays for victims' care. His letter noted the state's health care system was already stretched by the winter tourism season and annual "snowbird" migration. South Florida hospitals also were preparing for a surge in visitors for the NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday and the Super Bowl next weekend.
While in Tampa on Saturday, Crist said Florida's Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon estimated the state's costs had reached about $7 million.
Poor coordination and limited resources, not medical care costs, drove the governor's request, said John Cherry, spokesman for the state Division of Emergency Management.
"We've made it clear that (the cost) is an issue we'll deal with down the road," he said.
Health officials say the medical flights landed without any advance notice, and the poor coordination may be keeping some survivors from getting the help they need, Cherry said. He cited the case of a burn victim flown earlier this week into Tampa, which is not equipped to treat those injuries.
Crist said his state remains committed to caring for injured earthquake victims and reuniting families, though he was reaching out to other states to help care for them as well.
As of Friday, the Florida Department of Health reported that 526 patients had been received at hospitals in the state: more than 400 in South Florida, 76 in the Orlando area and 37 in the Tampa area. Four burn victims were transported to North Carolina, Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey said.
"Recently we learned that federal planning is underway to move between 30-50 critically ill patients per day for an indefinite period of time," Crist told Sebelius, saying Florida could not handle so many patients.
More than 135 patients remain hospitalized in South Florida, said Jeanne Eckes-Roper, the health and medical chairwoman of a state domestic security task force for the South Florida region.
She requested on Monday that new patients be taken elsewhere in Florida.
"We had to make sure we did not overwhelm our capacity," she said. "We stand ready to take whatever the government wants to give us."
Aandahl said no evacuation requests have been made by U.S. military medical facilities in Haiti, including the hospital ship the USNS Comfort, since the flights were suspended Wednesday.
There were only about a dozen medical evacuations by the U.S. military after the Jan. 12 earthquake, he said.
___
Associated Press writer Frank Bajak contributed to this report from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Friday, January 29, 2010

The world as we have known it has been turned upside down, shaken, and is in constant flux. Please, pray for sanity, wisdom, energy, and for us to follow Christ each step that he leads on this journey. It has become abundantly clear that what was, is no more. If you were coming to stay with us at our house, please make other arrangements, as we will be locking up the house in a couple of days and will not be back for about six months, if we come back here. OK, I've got your attention, now. We are moving to a staging area for mission volunteers staying in Jimani, Dominican Republic, where we will be assisting with volunteer teams, along with housing and feeding them, as they come and go out of Haiti, as well a ministering to Haitians in Jimani and Haiti. Eventually the airports will open in Port and more traffic will be directly into Haiti, but this is an immediate entrypoint. God doesn't give us floodlights - only flashlights. So we don't know beyond the immediate future, but this definitely feels like God's leading.

Sam had said that he felt like he was treading water. Life has been just too easy. Santiago is beautiful. There's electricity, running water, paved roads, wonderful grocery stores and malls, and even theater and good schools. We've had a beautiful home - twice already and wonderful missionary family. The ocean isn't far. But serving the Lord is not about how comfortable we can get. We now believe that God has given us a little rest in a beautiful part of his world, so that we would have the needed energy to run THIS specific race after the earthquake. He did it in the old testament with the prophets. Well, we didn't have birds feeding us, but we are ready and eager to be about the Father's business in the Haiti earthquake. (Thank you God for this phase of our missionary journey.)

This trip, we are going in with the Mindset of staying longer and going where He leads. We are taking a camera and computer, hoping that we will be able to better give you our prayer needs. I hope to share many of the stories of the things we have seen and heard in the coming weeks and months. I regret, but I now realize that there is absolutely no way to answer all the e-mails. I am sorry, but I'm pretty sure I will not even be able to read all of the e-mails. At least for right now, we are getting from 25 to 200 an hour. There is a process for donations and for coming to help. Doug Roberts will be setting up all volunteer individuals and teams, then communicating with us. If you want to volunteer with disaster relief, register with: Haitiresponse@imb.org. For those who would like to get involved with financial contributions for the Baptist work in the earthquake in Haiti, here is the site: "http://WWW.Facebook.Com/l/bd645;ow.ly/WP9O or you can go to the IMB site. Don't forget Haiti! Lives are being change. Haiti has had a wake-up call. The aftershocks continue and the death toll has not ended. Keep holding the ropes and thank you!!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Prayer Warriors,

We continue serving at a hospital in the Dominican Republic city of Jimani. It is east of Port-Au-Prince and on the border of Haiti. Many of the injured and dying are being brought out of Haiti to this area. Ten days after the initial earthquake, we are still having major aftershocks or perhaps more earthquakes. This causes considerable distress to those that had been trapped under buildings by the original temblor. In fact, in the last few days when the building begins to shake, several frightened patients have jumped from the second floor of the hospital. So, already injured patients are suffering more injuries in their efforts to get away, in their fear of being buried again. Many patients have moved their hospital bedding out onto the lawn where they feel safer. Those that are critical don't have that option.

Delores is working with the medical staff that has been reinforced by volunteer medical professionals from around the globe. Her main job has been that of translation and communication for those of a different language, but her background as a registered nurse has come into play many, many times. Sam is busy working as a builder, electrician, moving supplies and transporting the injured or dead. Both are taking time daily to pray with the relief teams, the injured and dying.

A stream of Haitians continue to arrive in Jamani, many having been trapped in buildings without food or water for up to eight days. News of those found alive in the debris that was once a building is fading, as more and more bodies are recovered. Those that have been rescued from the rubble, go medically untreated until workers find them and assist them to medical safety. Most arrive with broken bones and backs caused by the fallen buildings. They have lost families and possessions, arriving with only the bloody clothes that they wear. An amputation is necessary for many crushing injuries that have gone days without medical attention. Maggots have besieged those with open wounds. The smells are rancid.

Those in Port-Au-Prince are being helped by the many rescuers from the United States and other countries. However, because of the lack of infrastructure outside the city, most in the countryside go unaided. The relief supplies that do get outside of the city are fought over in an attempt to gain power over those less able. In Haiti, the main roads are primarily dirt with potholes the size of your living room. Parts of Haiti are mountainous and the limited roads wind around with only room for one vehicle a time. Some areas are not passable at all. One could look down the sides of many of these mountain roads and see the wreckages of vehicles that did not fair well.

Communication is largely by word of mouth. The nationally endorsed religion is Voodoo. And yet in these worst of times for the Haitian people, you can find families with nothing more than a bottle of water, willing to share that water with another family that is going without. Babies are still being born. Life, in the shadow of death, is continuing for these people.

Many offers of help have been forthcoming from you, our Prayer Partners. Our advice to those of you wishing to come to Haiti and help is this: Wait, be patient! The IMB assessment team is still working on ways to BEST utilize assets and volunteers to help the Haitian people. Give the team time to develop a plan. Right now, the national community is busy helping. As you know, as time continues aide will diminish, workers there now will go home. The earthquake has made national headlines and the world is seeing a glimpse of the problems Haitians face daily. The problems in Haiti started years ago and it will take years to fix. Within a few weeks the global concern for Haiti will cease. It is then the Haitians people will need our help the most.

We strongly encourage you to donate through the Baptist Global Response (BGR). BGR is the Hunger and Relief branch of International Missionary Board (IMB), which is the foreign missions branch of the Southern Baptist Churches. When you donate to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Funds, 100% of those funds are used for relief of victims. Or, you may also donate directly to the Ministry Account of Sam and Delores York through the IMB. The bottom line is there is not a better place in the world to donate than through BGR.

To make the donations go to the following website: http://WWW.baptistglobalresponse.Com

If you are interested in volunteering or have a volunteer team please send an e-mail to: HaitiResponse@imb.org

Every person who writes to this email address will get a response and be entered into a database that we will use to share volunteer possibilities. Once the assessments come in, we will be able to share quickly the needs to those who are interested. Remember, these problems will take YEARS to fix. We are in it for the long haul. You and your group will have plenty to do when you get here.

Sam and Delores York
Phil. 4:13
Southern Baptist Missionaries working with Haitians

Monday, January 18, 2010

Prayer Warriors,

Sam and Delores York are currently working with the medical staff of a Hospital located in Jimani. The Haitian wounded are being brought to this hospital from many areas of Haiti. If you have a map, or Google earth, you can find Jimani directly east (and just a bit south) of Port-Au-Prince at the Haiti/Dominican Republic border. Jimani is located next to Malpasse. Malpasse is a border crossing at and on the Haitian side of the border.

"Jimaní is the capital and the second largest city of the Independencia Province of the Dominican Republic. It serves as one of the two main thoroughfares to Haiti (with Dajabón), with a duty free open air marketplace operating on the border with the Haitian town ofMalpasse. Half of the town was completely washed away in the flash flood of May 25, 2004, killing many of the citizens during the night. It is still in the process of rebuilding."

This information is sent to you so you may be specific with your prayers as we fight the battle on this side of heaven. These medical professionals are making life saving decisions on their patients. Please pray for wisdom and strength for the staff, and that the medicines will hold out or be replenished!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

SPECIFIC PRAYER;

Your prayers are needed now more than ever. Please do not grow weary in your efforts! The battle continues and your prayers are strategic in this war. Pray for the Haitian people. Pray for the safety of our teams. Pray for the judgement of our leaders. What can you do? First and foremost is PRAY!

Things are changing moment by moment in and around Haiti and with the relief efforts. We will make the best effort to keep you updated on the ongoing's as we see them. However, please be patient as we are busy and not always available to communicate back to you. We are overwhelmed with all of the messages sent our way. Please forgive us for not responding to all of the e-mails, notes of Facebook or messages through the website. But, thank you for your prayers and concern!

Most of the media coverage you are getting is dealing specifically in Port-A-Prince, partially because of the lack of travelable roads. The entire nation of Haiti is hurting and will be long after the news camera's leave for their next story. The country is dangerous and a lot of misinformation is traveling word of mouth throughout the countryside. What limited communications that Haiti had are now non-existent. Many roads are closed and several of the few airports are closed.

The IMB is and will be working with and along side other relief agencies to provide the best possible aid to the people of Haiti.

Many of you are asking how to help the relief effort. We strongly encourage you to donate through the Baptist Global Response (BGR). BGR is the Hunger and Relief branch of International Missionary Board (IMB). When you donate to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Funds, 100% of those funds are used for relief of victims. These funds cannot even be used for travel, lodging and food of our IMB Personnel (unless specifically requested by the donor). You may also donate directly to the Ministry Account of Sam and Delores York through the IMB. The bottom line is that I do not believe there is any better place in the world to donate than through BGR. To make the donations go to the following website:

http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com


If you are interested in volunteering or have a volunteer team please send an email to:

HaitiResponse@imb.org

Every person who writes into this email address will get a response and be entered into a database that we will use to share volunteer possibilities. Once the assessments come in, we will be able to share quickly the needs to those who are interested.

Sam and Delores York
Phil. 4:13
Southern Baptist Missionaries working with Haitians

Saturday, January 16, 2010

From: Pierre Emmanuel
Date: January 15, 2010 5:11:55 PM EST
To: Mary Speidel
Subject: Re: Trying to reach Pastor Gedeon

Mary Speidel

Thank you for your aid. The situation is really difficult now in Port au Prince. But, we also have the internal refugees to consider. Even a lot of organizations are trying to help in Port au Prince, many people keep moving to the regional cities or the villages where they have relatives. Our anxiety is the possibility that the international organizations are forgetting those people. They are internal refugees. They move with their health problems. According to what I hear in the Medias, there is not now any help for those people.
In Haitian Baptist Convention, not only we are focusing on the people in Port au Prince, but also we have a network pastors and Christian leaders all over the country so that we can help those people where they are.
Even our hospital is not finished yet, the Regional Public Health Director asks us to open its doors to receive a part of those people who shall come in Cap-Haitien. Now everything is in place to receive them.
the Regional Public Health Director will provide physicians, nurses and some meds. But Haitian Baptist Convention is in charge to give food, drinks and other meds, to provide all accomodation (electricity, water, beds, sheets, staff for cleaning). We shall need much money to help the internal refugees in different parts of the country.
We can buy food and other materials in Cap-Haitien or in Dominican Republic to help those people.
Pastors Emmanuel, Dorsinvil, Paul Hill and Carwyn are now in Port au prince. They are visiting some survivors - brothers and sisters- from our churches, encouraging those whose parents, children, husbands, wives died in the disaster, giving a hopfful word to the homeless. They are also preparing an assessment of the situation. On their way to the Capital, they stopped at Montrouis to give first aid to some victims that have moved to there. HBC has a church there.
Yesterday, by 6:00 P.M., the Rev Cardichon and four other pastors have burried the body of Pastor LAMERIQUE without coffin. For, the body was spoiling. Pastor Amos Gabeau and Dr Charles Poisset Romain are well. The rest of LAMERIQUE Family is now in safe place.
Another young pastor from our Convention died, as well. His body is still under the trash. Pastor Cardichon told me that they will try to take it out yhis afternoon.
Keep praying and supporting us.

Pastor Gedeon EUGENE
VP of Haitian Baptist Convention