In normal times, we in World Team focus our work on transformation.  By making disciples and establishing multiplying churches, we invest in the kind of long-term change that can only come through the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  That is our normal focus.

At the same time, we also are helping in ways we are uniquely prepared for.

Because of that, when crisis strikes, we are stricken.  We are thankful that none of our WT members were killed.   Nevertheless, our friends — people we loved and knew well and worked with — were killed.  Most of our Haitian friends grieve.  

I'm sure there are many stories like this.  Our World Team missionaries know and love and share life with those who now grieve and suffer.  Our hearts are broken, our tears flow till there are none left.  More stories will come, but for now the stories can wait.  World Team missionaries in Haiti are busy.  They are busy mending, feeding, praying, and caring.  The stories will be told in due time.  Here is a list of some of the things World Team missionaries have been doing to help during this crisis in Haiti:

1. 1. Within 36 hours of the earthquake we had discussed, written, and agreed upon a
       plan for quick, initial response .
   

2. 2. Our US, Canadian, and Australian staff immediately went to work notifying people
       about how we are responding to the crisis.
   

3.  We also notified other churches World Team has established, including the
        Evangelical Church of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent, St Lucia,
        and Grenada as an aid to them as they organize their own response.

4.  We continue to notify people of developments in Haiti and have a page on our website
        where people can donate to the Haiti Recovery Project.

5.  From the moment the earthquake struck, our World Team missionaries in Haiti have
        been doing the following things, in coordination with leaders of the MEBSH churches:

         --Distributing food.

         --Preparing and serving food.

         --Providing drinking water.

         --Repairing radio broadcast equipment that is helping the entire nation

            communicate.

         --Counseling and comforting the broken hearted.

         --Organizing long-term refugee camps (up to three months for now).

         --Providing resources for refugee camps, including buildings, tents, sanitary

            services, bedding, clothing, food, food preparation, potable water, and more.

         --Operating and staffing medical clinics.

         --Sustaining orphanages that now will need to receive many more children.

         --Coordinating doctors and nurses who have volunteered for temporary duty at

            clinics and hospitals in Haiti.

         --Operating an advanced nursing school for nurse practitioners, some of whom

            have graduated and are caring for the injured.

         --Assisting MEBSH leaders with communications and transportation when needed.

         --Preparing to respond to plans being made by MEBSH leaders to organize twelve

            tent cities for MEBSH members who have lost their homes.

         --Providing temporary financial assistance to Radio Lumiere and MEBSH churches

            so they can care for the emergency needs of their staff and church members.

         --Making plans to continue with the education of children through MEBSH church-

            related schools.

         --Translating for doctors who have come to provide emergency medical care.

You can see photos that document all of this and more at my photo gallery:

Karry's Haiti Photo Gallery.

Photos by Rod Wray