What the church does is amazing. Since the earthquake, we have held a daily coordination meeting with Church Humanitarian Services. They ask what is needed and then pull all of the strings to make it happen.
Here locally our Area Welfare Manager is working all hours coordinating all kinds of aid that is being offered. Because of congestion at the airport in Port au Prince people are having to land in the DR and then drive over land to Haiti. Bennie is coordinating doctors and others asking to volunteer and then flying in to help. There will continue to be shipments going over land from here. Like Kim mentioned, we transferred 2 good brothers to the border today with two pickup trucks, 40 gallons of diesel and as many hygiene kits, first aid kits, tarps water and other things as we could get into the pickups. After about a 6 hour drive we met a couple of key priesthood leaders at the border, transferred everything from one of the pickups into his vehicle and then sent the other pickup with our two good brethren on into Port au Prince. These two brothers will help assess buildings, member needs, help coordinate the massive church shipments that are coming in and anything else that is needed.
I was amazed and touched at the amazing amount of Heavy trucks, equipment etc that we saw at the border. There had to be 100 semi-trucks, apparently full of supplies, waiting to cross over. Most of that had to be coming from the already impoverished Dominican Republic. On both our way there and back we passed many other trucks, cranes, trucks with bleach, large tank trucks, and people and everything else between. A very touching show of support and solidarity for the Haitians.
As we put our arms around our Stake President/Facilities Manager at the border today we saw the shock, sadness, and stress in his eyes as he told us that he already knew of 15 deaths in his stake. We said goodbye to our friends, knowing that they will be sleeping on a hard floor tonight and doing without all of lifes conveniences. For food they took two 72 hour kits, two boxes of granola bars, 6 cases of water (for others) and one filter water bottle between them (these things will filter anything including urine, mud, you name it, so that it is drinkable). I got back home a couple of hours ago. Please pray, pray, pray for these people. Haiti was already extremely impoverished before.
Thanks. Kevin
A Long Overdue Update
5 years ago
5 comments:
It is difficult to even comprehend the feelings of devastation that must be felt there. How hard it must have been to witness it first hand in the Stake President today.
Wow, our hearts go out to these people. We will pray for them. Words cannot explain the devastation they must be feeling. Thanks, Kevin for sharing. We are grateful that you are being watched over. Mom
Wow! I can only imagine what the devastation is like. I found some pictures online of some of it and it is just unimaginable. We have been including all of them in our prayers and will continue to do so. Thanks for sharing your story with us...I was thinking about you and wondering what you were going through.
Thanks so much for sharing, and allowing us to see into your lives through this blog.
Pleae be safe, and we will keep these people in our prayers.
Hey guys! Found your blog thru Flandro's-great to say hi on Facebook but now I can blogstalk you! LOL
Haiti has been on my mind-my heart is broken for those people. Thank you so much for sharing your story-so neat to be able to hear your perspective and know what the church is doing. What a blessing to be able to be a part of this amazing church-it's true AND it makes a huge difference in the lives of others. I will be adding $ for the Humanitarian Center. Good luck. You and those people are in our prayers!!!
Hi Mom, please post again!
With Love,
Kierstin
:)
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