Faith and Love in Action Updates

Faith and Love in Action is the organization that runs the orphanages that I typically work with when I'm in Haiti. Their website is: http://www.faithandloveinaction.org/. In addition to working in the orphanages (doing construction and running children's programs etc), we take teams down through Branch Creek Community Church to run mobile medical clinics in a couple of different rural locations. Here are all of the e-mail updates that we have received thus far regarding the orphanages (which are located in Jacmel) and Marbielle, one of the areas in which we hold the mobile clinics.

1/12/10 6:40pm

Dear Friends and Families,

I get inform that a major earthquake struck just off the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince this afternoon. I have little information about the extent of damage from the quake, which had a reported magnitude of 7.0. I have told that houses had crumbled both sides of the streets. It seems that the suffering inflicted on the nation is likely to be "catastrophic. The only thing we can do now is pray and believe God for His help.

Thanks for your urgent prayer!

Marlaine

1/12/10 10:56pm

I just hear that Jacmel was hit, just like everywhere else. There is no electricity, no communication, so we are still trying to get in touch with everyone. We are trying to see what we can do. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Thank you,

Marlaine

1/13/09 8:19am

Good morning Family & Friends,

Daniel was finally able to reach an Assistant Pastor in Les Cayes who then contacted Jacmel. Our kids in the Homes are safe and uninjured, except for Renel Juste who was injured when the college he is attending collapsed. We are not sure of the extent of his injuries, but pray that we will be able to get to him in time. We continue to call in hopes of speaking to one of the house-mothers or staff members as soon as possible to get directly informed about the state of the children and the Homes. What the assistant pastor was able to share with us is that the part of the walls for the 2^nd floor of the Girl’s Home crumbled, there is no electricity, and the kids are scared. But by the Grace of God, they are safe.

We have heard that Jacmel was hit very hard. Many buildings have collapsed and many lives have been lost. We continue to hear of the screaming and crying for help that continued throughout the night and until now. Vanessa has been in touch with one of her old teachers currently in Petion-Ville (a few miles outside of Port-au-Prince) and she reports aftershocks until 3am, continued screaming and crying, complete power outage, and more buildings collapsing.

The situation will intensify the needs for food, medical care, and shelter. We invite our friends to please stand with us to bring assistance to a people already in extreme suffering. If you are able to donate any amount to help provide food, medical care, and other immediate needs, please do so as soon as possible. We do not have details on the extent of damages throughout the country, but Daniel and I are flying back as soon as air travel is cleared.

Opportunities to help:

· Teams: If you are interested in being part of a team to go down immediately, please let us know!!! We will need the manpower to reach as many people as possible.

· Materials: If you can raise funds for the purchase of food, medicine, shelter---please do so! This will be crucial to relief efforts.

I will continue to send updates as we get them but ask everyone to please please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers.

Through Christ who Strengthens us,

Marlaine

1/13/10 10:53am

We are putting together as many containers as possible to have sent to Haiti. I am in contact with some shipping services and will have more information soon on the first date we will be able to ship out materials. We have started to buy what we can and encourage everyone to help us by donating or sending supplies to the address below, as soon as possible.

Based on news reports and contact with some in Haiti, these are some of the immediate needs:

· Water

· Food

· Medical Supplies

· Clothes

Address:

1299 SW Kalevala Dr

Port St Lucie, FL 34953

We plan to bring teams in as soon as possible, but we cannot send teams down until we have more information and know people can get in. Right now the focus is getting supplies and immediate aid to the people. We don't have details yet on transportation (air or road), but we will keep anyone interested in going down updated.

We are purchasing as much supplies as quickly as possible and if you can help immediately, please contact me for Direct Transfer information.

We continue to call Haiti constantly and will let you know as soon as we've gotten through to the people in Jacmel, Carrefour and other cities.

Please keep praying,


Marlaine

1/13/10 9:47 pm

We spent the day trying and still cannot communicate with anyone at the children's homes, but we continue to rely on the information that Daniel got last night from Pastor Quenolt. We want so much to thank all our friends for their love and prayers and for standing with us. We have started getting news of really close friends that have lost their homes, family members, and even their lives. A longtime pastor friend in Carrefour whose wife used to be my prayer partner died in his house along with 5 family members. We don't know if his wife was there. We have heard of other ministers, like Pastor Benite Jeune, who have lost their churches and school buildings, but thankfully made it out alive.

I have attached a few pictures of Jacmel (taken earlier today) that Laura Griffies led us to.

I am flying out this Saturday to Haiti. I do not know what I will see or if I will be able to get through Port-au-Prince to visit Carrefour and then Jacmel, but please keep me in your prayers.

God Bless,

Marlaine

This is what we have just received from a friend in Jacmel.

Things are bad in Jacmel. Hospital fell. Three hotels have fallen. Many schools, churches and businesses. Many dead. One of our Nannies mom lost her house. Jacmel airport is closed. UN has set up temporary shelter for 1,000's of people. PAP is closed to commercial traffic. The airport terminal was damage. The control tower is inoperational. It's really bad. The new hotel by the airport fell in. It was called "Peace of Mind". Jo and I ate at the Montana at 7:00 AM the day of the quake. The road to Jacmel is crashed in at least one place. Just tell everyone to keep Haiti in their prayers!

1/15/10 12:36am

Daniel was able to speak to Jacmel and confirm that the kids and staff are okay!!! They have been camping outside for the past few days and are running low on food and water. Daniel and I have also heard from most of our brothers and sisters and they are also alive and well! In need of supplies but safe! We were able to speak to Ernst's family and they are safe as well! So is Jean Baptiste Meme and his family!
Please continue to keep Henri and his family in your prayers. We have not been able to reach him but will continue to call!

Praying,

Marlaine

1/15/10 3:15pm

It was a time of Praise to the Lord this morning when I was able to speak with the children in Jacmel. Despite living and sleeping outside the buildings, they have found refuge in prayer and are safe. They need food and many other conditions need to be improved right away, but they tell me they have not lost hope.

Renel was in school downtown when the building collapsed. He is one of the 3 students who made it out alive. He is injured, but doing much better now. Fafane, our niece that we have raised as our own child, is a student at a university in Port au Prince that collapsed. She is alive, she was able to borrow a phone and call us this morning. We are still praying and waiting to hear from Henry and his family.

In addition to the damage to the Girl’s Home in Jacmel, we just got news through the school principal that the church and school building in Marbial collapsed. We haven’t heard anything yet of the 340 school children and the rest of the school staff. We have not heard from the other schools or churches either.

Please continue to pray!!!

Marlaine