FM Pastor Jean Marc Zamor and family in front of the tent which has been their home since the quake.
It hardly seems possible that over six months have already passed since shocking news of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti began to reach us. We remember the stunning photos of devastation. Our disbelief as the death toll mounted to more than 225,000 who had perished in mere moments (including 3 FM missionaries). Our tears as we watched on TV the desperate efforts to find those trapped by debris. Our sense of helplessness for more than one million homeless.
HOW ARE FREE METHODISTS RESPONDING?
PRAISE the Lord for what has been accomplished since January by the Haiti Free Methodist Church, partnering with the FMCs in Canada, USA and other countries and relief agencies.
Financial assistance and now construction teams have been making a difference!
After January 12 the FMC in Canada stepped to the plate IMMEDIATELY. Substantial Canadian donations enabled compassionate support to the most needy during the early Relief phase and are being productively used during the longer-term Recovery efforts now underway and continuing into 2011 and beyond.
Canadian donations for Haiti have come through three channels:
- World Relief Canada
- FMCiC Bishop’s Relief Fund
- International Child Care Ministries (Canada)
1) WORLD RELIEF CANADA
WRC is our partner in responding to emergencies globally, and is well-connected in Haiti. We were able to move funds quickly to help with early Relief before the Free Methodist Church could mobilize its own program. Within one month of the quake, Canadian FMs donated $91,500 to WRC – a level 13% higher than by any other denomination! The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) matched these gifts, for a total of $183,000. In Port au Prince, World Relief has used funds for medical attention to hundreds of injured at Kings Hospital; and set up feeding centers with local churches for daily hot meals, water, non-food items and psychological support to thousands of people. Thank you for your early passionate response!!
2) BISHOP’S RELIEF FUND
Canadian FMs have contributed to date nearly $80,000 through this channel. Portions of this amount have been disbursed or allocated for the following, working also with leaders of the FMC in Haiti and the US to ensure that needs are prioritized and funds are handled in an accountable manner:
i) US$20,000 (allocated in late July) for the Free Methodist community in Morne a Bateau, near the quake’s epicentre. They lost the 2-story structure housing both its sanctuary and primary and secondary schools. Our donation will purchase a nearby building which withstood the quake [photos #1 and #2]. After repairs and upgrading, the school’s operations should fully resume by year’s end. Slots for work teams here are available for Sept 14-24 & Oct 16-26.
