HAITI EARTHQUAKE UPDATE

Wednesday 2-2-10

Clark Shepherd, Disaster Relief Coordinator and Josh Grill, F2F Coordinator have returned from World Compassion Network's second trip down to Haiti.  Thank you all for your love and prayers for Haiti and for World Compassion Network. We have started our relief efforts for the victims of the earthquake, providing food, water and the love of Jesus.  Through your donations and prayers we have fed over 26,000 people.  This video will allow you to see the families you are helping and the impact of the earthquake on Haiti.  WCN will leave soon to continue our new relationships with the churches and to distribute food to the needy.  Please continue to pray for Haiti and  consider supporting  continued efforts through the Haiti Relief Fund.

WEDNESDAY 1-27-10

During the week of January 18-23, World Compassion Network and two members of Feed the Hungry started what will be a long relief effort.  LOVE A CHILD was the location where Clark Shepherd, Disaster Relief Coordinator, was based.  They were able to distribute food and water to over 5000 people.  Some of the children had not eaten for nearly nine days since the earthquake.  Distributions were made in Petion-ville, Port-au-Prince, Carrefour and Cite Coleil.  It was understood that this was the first distribution of food and water to Cite Soleil area by any relief organization.  Additionally Clark worked with Pastor Yves Regaillard thanks to Ryan Hesler of Touch of Life Church in Warsaw.  We also purchased more food and water for Pastor Yves to distribute in the 'tent cities' established in the community.  We are also partnering with other local churches to help with the distributions and sharing the gospel.  World Compassion Network is thankful for each of our donors.  We could not reach the poor and suffering without your prayers and support.  Together we are putting action to our faith and living out the command to love your neighbor. Prayerfully consider donating to the Haiti fund and help continue the efforts we have begun.

WEDNESDAY 1-20-10

Clark Shepherd, WCN Disaster Relief Coordinator, contacted Joe Wilkey Tuesday evening to report that he was able to buy 20,000 bottles of water and a load of supplies listed in our earlier report for distribution.  We did distribute most of the supplies on Tuesday and expect to purchase and distribute more on Wednesday.  We are working to secure a compound and use it as a base of operation with local churches.  The Touch of Life Church in Warsaw, Indiana has connected us with a mission they support in Haiti.  This will be very valuable for continuing our work in Port au Prince.

Clark reports that there is a surprising calmness in most places he went today.  There are still bodies visible along the street.  He said the UN Peace Keepers and some US military are beginning to help with security at distribution sites.  There are several IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps popping up around the city.  It is our hope that WCN can adopt one of these IDP camps and help the local churches in ministering to the camps.  Please continue to pray for Clark and the Feed The Hungry team he is traveling with.  Remember that we need your financial support and prayer.  Please click on the donation tab on this site.  God bless you as you help us help others through the compassion of Christ. 

MONDAY 1-18-10

WCN Executive Director, Joe Wilkey, reports that Clark Shepherd our Disaster Relief Coordinator arrived on the Dominican Republic-Haiti border at 2:30 AM, Monday morning.  Clark said they expect to arrive in Haiti around 2:00 PM Monday afternoon and begin distribution of supplies.  Clark will be making contact with mission organization already working in Haiti to develop a relief plan that will allow their local ministries to reach as many victims as possible.  We continue to monitor the aid distribution situation and will work through the system as soon as possible.  For now, we are doing what has opened to us.

Continue to pray for Clark, the other team members, and the people of Haiti.  We are continuing to accept donations to the Haiti Relief Fund through the web-site.

FRIDAY 1-15-10

WCN is dispatching our Disaster Relief Coordinator, Clark Shepherd, to Haiti through the Dominican Republic.  Clark will depart with two assessment team members from Feed The Hungry in South Bend, Indiana.  They will depart on the 17th of January and purchase relief supplies in the Dominican Republic.  Items such as bottled water, ready to eat food, rolls of plastic sheet for shelter, rolls of twine, blankets, medical gauze, candles, soap and other supplies as needed will be purchased.  The supplies will be trucked to a secure compound across the border in

Haiti and distribute in small amount to secure areas operated by church sponsored schools and orphanages.  Clark will also conduct an assessment to determine what WCN can do to help supply the relief camps that will be set up in the next few days and weeks. WCN will possibly assist with teams helping in the camps after they are established.  Please consider a donation to help WCN relief to Haiti by clicking on the donation tab or mail a check to WCN at PO Box 1152, Warsaw, IN  46581.  Please continue to pray for Haiti.

THURSDAY 1-14-10:  Here is the situation. We are trying to get in, but options are limited.  CNN and Fox may be there but if you notice, they are not doing anything but talking.  That is because the PROTOCOL for this kind of disaster has not yet been established.  Even the big relief organizations are not doing anything regardless of what you see on the news.

HERE IS THE PROTOCOL:

1.  ESTABLISH SECURITY.  It would be suicide to drive down the streets with food and water.

2.  OPEN THE ROADS FOR ACCESS TO THE VICTIMS.  No heavy equipment available to do that yet.  It is on the way.

3.  SEARCH AND RESCUE.  Limited amount being done because of #1 and #2, not much yet.

4.  ESTABLISH HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS.  

5.  SET UP DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND ESTABLISH CAMPS FOR THE VICTIMS.  This is where we really are able to work.

We are working around the clock to get a small assessment team in as soon as possible.  Commercial flights are not available yet.  We ask for your prayers and financial support.  This will be a long process.  After the media has gone home, we will still be there.

WEDNESDAY 1-13-10

World Compassion Network is in contact with several partners working in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic to assess the situation and establish a plan to help. We currently do not have plans to put people on the ground in Haiti.  It is a logistical nightmare.   The only airport runway in the country will be inundated with multi-national military relief planes.  We are exploring a mission from the Dominican Republic, perhaps purchasing supplies there and delivering them by truck from Dominican Republic.  Be assured we will have an appropriate response that will help many victims of the earthquake and make the best use of our resources.  The situation is fluid and

we must be the same.  Please consider a donation to our Haiti relief fund.  You may donate by clicking on our donation tab on our web site. You do not have to have a PayPal account to donate.  Please continue to pray for Haiti.