As If They Haven't Suffered Enough...

Haiti needs immediate prayer!

As if an earthquake, cholera and governmental and bureaucratic bungling isn't enough for this poor country...

...Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier returned to Haiti today.

Some people actually welcomed him--a sure sign of desperation. They should have run him and his girl friend right back up the jet way. Hopefully, his presence will not create more problems for the country. Here's the news from the Miami Herald, from which this screen grab was made.

Earthquake in Haiti: Just One Link for You

U.S. Navy chopper transfers patients from field hospital in the Dominican Republic to more advanced care. (WCAX photo/still)

Television station WCAX out of Burlington VT is one of New England's oldest TV stations; it is family owned. When you watch WCAX's news broadcast, you are struck by how competent, but "unslick" it is. WCAX sent a reporter and camera man along with the team from Fletcher Allen Healthcare when they went to Haiti. They have been airing the reports this week. Check out all the videos at this link here, for a special look at Haiti and the work going on there. Hat tip to Vermont Tiger blog for bringing this to attention.

Earthquake in Haiti: An Afternoon at Heart to Heart International

I decided to volunteer some time to help Heart to Heart International get things ready to ship to Haiti during this week. They need help collating the donated materials and getting them ready to ship. Mainly they need help making the hygiene kits for the people in Haiti to use. They have a warehouse in Kansas City, KS and this is where all the donations are taken. Some donations are kits ready to go, others are kits that were made to different specs and need to be checked and modified and some were the raw materials of the kits: soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, small towels and wash clothes, wide toothed combs and small bottles of shampoo. It's not a hard job to make the kits, and many hands make light work.

Volunteers make hygiene kits and also organize supplies. The lady at left is putting together baggies of band-aids for the kits.
Some of the raw materials for kits: soaps, soap dishes, baggies of band-aids.
Making the band-aid baggies, trying to assemble useful sizes of band-aids, not those tiny ones!
The raw material of a hygiene kit: most of these items will go in a kit, except for the toothbrush holder. The kits have a very specific recipe. Shipping overseas means that every i must be dotted and every t crossed, so the kits have to be pretty uniform in content.
Finished kits, double bagged in strong zip lock freezer bags, ready to be put in shipping boxes.
A Heart to Heart employee does the final check and seals the boxes for shipping.
More donated hygiene kits that will be readied for shipping in the coming days.

Here's Heart to Heart's founder, Dr. Gary Morsch, in Haiti.

If you are interested in donating or volunteering, go to www.heartoheart.org. This was a great way to spend an afternoon, and I plan on going back for more!

Earthquake in Haiti: A Little Bit of History

An excellent article published in the New York Times provided a short concise history course on the nation of Haiti. Written by Mark Danner, a writer who has been exploring politics and history for many years and the author of five books, as well as numerous articles. I did not know many of the things Mr. Danner mentions in his article and I will try to hit some highlights for you. The link is available here so that you might read the article yourself.

Haiti started as a French colony, called Saint-Domingue. It became a very large source of wealth for the French, the wealth coming from the sugar cane harvested there. The harvest was done by people from Africa--captured people serving as slaves. Life in the cane fields was nasty, brutish and short, and it was required that French plantation owners go to Africa regularly and retrieve more labor. In 1791, slaves began to fight the system, taking up arms against the French. It took until 1804, when revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines created the Haiti flag by ripping out the white middle from the French tri-color. During the long conflict, most plantation owners and Whites were killed or driven from the land. The war was vicious and destructive, wounding the land and infrastructure. However, the people were free.

However, the world did not rejoice. The U.S., newly freed itself from colonial rule, refused to recognize the new nation, and with much of the first world, embargoed Haiti,and enforced the payment of reparations to the French for the lost of the colony. Danner notes that part of this was the fear that the slaves held in America would revolt too, disrupting commerce and life. The United States did not recognize Haiti as a nation until Abraham Lincoln's presidency, in 1862.

Large blocks of property were broken up. The people became small land owners, but taxes and bills for the reparations were a huge burden for the new country. There was little wealth to control, but the government, handling the taxes and money, became the center of power and the control of the government became the goal of the wanna be powerful. In this was the beginning of the countless power struggles over the leadership of Haiti's central government; it started in 1806 with the assassination of it's first leader, Dessalines. Danner describes the dysfunctional bent of the government: "...the colonial philosophy endured: ruling had to do not with building or developing the country but with extracting its wealth." It continued on in this way for years, one group taking over and reaping the benefits, then the next. In 1915, the United States nervous about German intentions in the Caribbean region imposed its will militarily on Haiti. Contributions were made to Haitian infrastructure, but the fundamental center being the government and its exploitation remained. In addition, more reparations were required by Haiti. When the Marines left, the Duvaliers took over. Making nice-nice with the U.S. during the Cold War, the Duvaliers, father and son, were able to hold power from 1957 until 1986. Since then, the government has been unstable, until the United Nations began to work to maintain order since the early 2000s. Now, the wealth that is extracted by the Haitian government is aid wealth. The land is worn out, as it has not been cared for. There are still trade barriers between First World nations, especially the U.S. and Haiti. Now, we have the earthquake, and in a way, an opportunity to produce real change.

The challenge is to make Haiti truly productive on its own, and then have the results of that productivity go not into some official's pocket, but into the country, and into the hands of the people. I'll give you Mark Danner's last three very hopeful but realistic paragraphs:

America could start by throwing open its markets to Haitian agricultural produce and manufactured goods, broadening and making permanent the provisions of a promising trade bill negotiated in 2008. Such a step would not be glamorous; it would not “remake Haiti.” But it would require a lasting commitment by American farmers and manufacturers and, as the country heals, it would actually bring permanent jobs, investment and income to Haiti. Second, the United States and other donors could make a formal undertaking to ensure that the vast amounts that will soon pour into the country for reconstruction go not to foreigners but to Haitians — and not only to Haitian contractors and builders but to Haitian workers, at reasonable wages. This would put real money in the hands of many Haitians, not just a few, and begin to shift power away from both the rapacious government and the well-meaning and too often ineffectual charities that seek to circumvent it. The world’s greatest gift would be to make it possible, and necessary, for Haitians — all Haitians — to rebuild Haiti. Putting money in people’s hands will not make Haiti’s predatory state disappear. But in time, with rising incomes and a concomitant decentralization of power, it might evolve. In coming days much grander ambitions are sure to be declared, just as more scenes of disaster and disorder will transfix us, more stunning and colorful images of irresistible calamity. We will see if the present catastrophe, on a scale that dwarfs all that have come before, can do anything truly to alter the reality of Haiti.

I have known and met people from Haiti. Freed from the constant governmental hand in the pocket, Haitian people who immigrate to other countries are productive, enterprising and innovative. The culture is family oriented and community oriented. Communities with large Haitian populations, such as Miami and New York find them to be an asset. We should, as a country ignore the cries of some of our more isolationist people and industries and open up our economy to the people of Haiti. Allowing their agricultural products into the U.S., and opening up factories and other commercial enterprises would be a start. The reparations bill, if it is still around, should be torn up and forgotten. Haiti should finally be allowed to be a real country, freed from colonial exploitation of any type, including that imposed by their own government. Now is as good a time as any to create a real and lasting change in Haiti. History should be a teacher as we look to do this. How many people, especially younger people, know that Haiti was not recognized by the U.S. for sixty years? That Haiti was forced to pay money to rich first world colonial powers after its liberation--something the United States was not forced to do? It is time to treat Haiti the way it should be treated, not as an ongoing charity case or a theater of drama, but as a full fledged grown up country.

Earthquake in Haiti: Can You Hear Me Now?

It's Wednesday, January 20, a week and a day since the earthquake in Haiti. Amazingly, people are still being found under the rubble of buildings alive. Aid is starting to get around to the people. Looting is happening without a doubt, some born of desperation, some born of greed and power, but does not seem out of control. Things are sort of stable, sort of slogging along. As help gets out, people will get less desperate. However, everything is hard. Moving is hard, through the rubble, cars and people. Communicating is hard due to the cell towers, land lines and phone lines being down. One may think this to be small compared to the need for food, drink and shelter, but we humans are social connected creatures, and I think--no, I know--we go slightly bonkers if we cannot communicate well. Also think of all the practical aspects. For example, I have read of a Haitian nursing home that is in a neighborhood populated by rough characters. The old people, outside, are surrounded by a hoard of unsavory characters, who are not just a threat to them, but hid them, until recently, from help and goods. Thankfully, someone thought to look in on them, or maybe was drawn by a text or tweet. But the NH folks could not just pick up a phone and call someone and say, "Hi, we could use some water, food, medicine and armed police down here." Part of the problem is that the government of Haiti runs/ran the phone system, instead of having a private company, whether home grown, or a branch of Verizon/AT&T/Sprint; my guess is that a private enterprise would do a better job. I would also wager that the system would be working better now with portable towers up, and repairs in progress under a private system. I hope that the Haitian government gives permission for private phone companies to help them get the system back up and rebuilt. In the meantime, like everything else, folks improvise and make do.

Can you hear me now? Now? How about now? (in Port-au-Prince)

A person with access to electricity creates a pay charge station for cell phones in Port-au-Prince. Epically great kludge!

This working land line near a destroyed church in Leogane became an impromptu pay phone.

Photos from Time magazine gallery "Haiti's Lines of Communication"

Earthquake in Haiti: Let Me Make This Perfectly Clear...

Memo to both political poles--left and right:

Do not politicize the earthquake in Haiti--period.

It is not a demonstration of how much better President Obama is at disaster relief.

It is not something the democrats concocted to make President Obama look good.

It may be a demonstration of the failures of heavily centralized government, but this is not the time for that!

It not the time for any political discussion; it is time to get busy, get the hands dirty, and do what has to be done to help people who have an immediate need for life saving aid!

Are we clear on this now? Good.

And I am not the only one to feel this way.

And one more thing: There has been and will be mistakes, snafu's, bad judgment calls, failures to communicate and just plain Murphy's Law stuff during the course of the rescue and aid effort, because that is how it is during this type of operation--there is always something that could be better. Trust me, rescuers, medical personnel and givers of aid don't like the mistakes, are greatly annoyed by the problems, and will work hard to solve them. NONE of the problems, mistakes, snafu's etc are political; they are part of the nature of a large, complex rescue operation. So don't make them political. They are problems for the rescue agencies, the relief agencies, the military and the governments to solve, not weapons to use against the other political party.

There I feel better now.

Earthquake in Haiti: A Way To Pray

Christian traditions differ on the use of written prayers. Some traditions have almost exclusively written prayers and rarely do clergy or people pray extemporaneously. Some are the exact opposite; prayers are rarely written and offered "as the Spirit leads" without script. Churches in the Wesleyan tradition often walk the middle way, offering both written and free prayers. The church that I have been attending of late, the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection gave the congregation today some written prayers for Haiti, to use throughout the week. I thought I would share them with you on this rare Sunday blogging session:

Monday--Today I pray for those who are still searching through the rubble, seeking survivors in Haiti. Help them. O God, in their work. Give them strength and protection, I pray. Use them as instruments of help and salvation for those still buried in the debris. Loving God, hear this prayer...

Tuesday--Today I pray for the medical relief workers who are even now caring for the injured, sick and dying in Haiti. Be their strength, O Lord; use their hands to bring healing in your world. Compassionate God, hear this prayer...

Wednesday--Today I pray for those who have lost loved ones in the rubble of Haiti. Comfort and sustain them, O God, in this time of overwhelming sorrow. Bind up their broken heart. I pray especially for Haiti's children. Help them to feel your presence as a parent's hand, holding them safe. Grant all those who grieve the assurance of the resurrection. Bring your hope to Haiti. Saving Lord, hear this prayer...

Thursday--Today I pray for those who are laboring to clear away debris, to build shelters, to haul food and water. Sustain all those who are at this moment shouldering such heavy burdens, carrying heavy hearts. Merciful God, hear this prayer...

Friday--Today I pray for the leaders who are called to make decisions in the face of disaster. Give them your wisdom, O God. Guide them with your vision. Bring good from this terrible tragedy. Divine Wisdom, hear this prayer...

Saturday--Today I pray for your world, O Lord: For peace to reign in every land; for hope to spread from person to person, and nation to nation; and for love to rule in every heart. Show us how to work for your kingdom here on earth. Holy God, hear this prayer...

Sunday--Today I pray for the people of Haiti who will gather for worship today. I pray for Christian relief workers and missionaries and their families in Haiti. Bring them rest and hope on this Sabbath, Lord. Help them to feel your very presence with them. Everlasting God, hear this prayer...

This material was not copyrighted by the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS, but if you want to pass it on, just give credit back to the church. Their web site is www.cor.org. Sunday's prayer was altered to make it universal to all Christian denominations working in Haiti, with the substitution of "Christian" for "United Methodist" I doubt that either Church of the Resurrection or God minds!

Earthquake in Haiti: Some Good News

There is a long, long way to go, but slowly, some good news and images are coming out of Haiti.

A young boy cradles his treasure of biscuits distributed by the UN.

A child is rescued by a Spanish rescue team. He is reunited with his mother later.

The US military passes out water.

Virgina rescuers free a woman trapped in a collapsed building for several days.

Photos from the Kansas City Star gallery of January 17, 2010

Earthquake in Haiti: People Are Generous, Obstacles Are Many

I think we in Kansas City think of Heart to Heart International as our very own charity, even though their work is national and international in scope. Founded by a Johnson County physician, Heart to Heart has worked with intensity, efficiency and well, heart on behalf of people all around the world in medical need. Since about Wednesday, the Kansas City metro and Heart to Heart International have been working to gather what is needed to help Haiti. Some links from local newsies:

Heart to Heart, KCTV5 Event Raises $100,000

A chance to get "hands on": Event to Make Care Packages. Folks will be getting together at Scion Labs at 18th and Oak from 3 pm to 6 pm on Sunday, January 18th to make Heart to Heart hygiene packs.

Heart to Heart International spokesman visits with KSHB

Heart to Heart's mobile medical unit prepares to go to Haiti and Heart to Heart prepares aid for Haiti

KPRS Hot 103 JAMS is having a radiothon fund raiser at the Blue Ridge Crossing Wal-Mart on Monday from 06-18 (6a-6p). Check the link for more info.

This report from two Haitian members of the Church of the Nazarene is short but compelling. One of the men states that it is very difficult to find food: "If we find a sweet potato or a banana we eat it." and in the simple manner of one for whom English is a second or third language, "The smell of death is a major problem now."

Let a professional address some of the issues that are keeping aid from the people thus far; Capt. Schmoe teaches us about search and rescue, and reminds us about logistics here and here.

I know it is profoundly dismaying to people that aid is not getting through. Of course, the victims of the earthquake are hurting; they are hungry and thirsty and wondering where everybody is. We, as ones who want to help, are frustrated by the lack of results of our efforts to give to those with such urgent need. However the reality is that the airport was damaged, and air and ground traffic control was nil for several days until the Haitian government gave permission for the United States to take over the whole thing. The ports will require extensive repair. All land routes from the Dominican Republic are traffic jammed. The streets of the urban areas in and around Port-au-Prince are full of obstacles--bodies, damaged buildings, people living in the spaces, damaged cars. We cannot just fly over in helicopters and drop stuff--looting, rioting and fighting, already occurring over damaged food and fuel assets in the country would be even worse. Don't listen to those who would politicize this rescue effort; with the possible exception of expecting more out of the Port-au-Prince airport than it was ready to give within the first few days after the quake, this effort was quick, smart and timely. Pray that there will be solutions and miracles as more experts get on the ground, and begin to work in earnest. Meantime, keep making plans to give. The need will be great for several months.

Earthquake in Haiti: The Moment It Happened

I figured that even in a country that is not terribly advanced that, somewhere, there was a camera on--a camera that eventually would end up capturing the very first moments of the temblor. Here it is from CBS via YouTube.



What would you have been thinking as you waited in your truck at the side road to turn, or were walking somewhere? Also, note the cloud of dust from the buildings across the road. My personal opinion is that earthquakes are the most terrifying of natural disasters.

Earthquake in Haiti: Links I Like

Rescuers use hand tools to get at trapped survivors in a collapsed building (AP via Kansas City Star)

The blogosphere just blew up with stuff about Haiti, more stuff than any one person could take in. Here are a number of links to posts and news that I found helpful and informative:

KCPD's Chief Corwin reminds us that there are nasty people who would take advantage of this tragedy to steal a buck.

Firefighter/paramedic Happy Medic gives us a brief course in the mind boggling logistics involved in the rescue effort.

The Kansas City Star assembled a gallery of images from the quake zone. Prepare to be touched.

My good friend and former pastor John takes a spiritual look at the disaster.

Blog bud Ann T. has more good commentary and links here and here.

Tony of TKC assembles more Kansas City blogger reaction and KC newsy links here and here.

The Church of the Nazarene has updated its news service and has also created a slide show. The distruction shown in these photos is mind-blowing. (If the slide show's direct link doesn't result in pictures for you, please use the news service link, and then go to the slide show. It is worth the trip.)

Lord knows there is lots more: If you know of a good story, source, or bloggy commentary, pass it on in the comment section.

Peace out.

Earthquake in Haiti: How to Help

A survivor stands on the rubble of his collapsed home. (AP via the Kansas City Star)

Many ways to help the relief effort in Haiti have been started, and I would encourage everyone to take part in those efforts with a contribution, even a small one, to a reputable charity. Here is a list of three charities who handle money well, have networks in place in Haiti, and are already working now to help the people.

•The American Red Cross has pledged $1 million and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation. The American Red Cross has made available all of the relief supplies from its warehouse in Panama, which would provide for basic needs for approximately 5,000 families. In addition, it is deploying a disaster management specialist to Haiti, and has additional disaster specialists on standby if needed. “Our phones have been very busy from people wanting to donate,” Almitra Buzan, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City chapter of the Red Cross, told the Kansas City Star. She said people can donate using their cell phone by texting the word “Haiti” and sending it to 90999. That will trigger a $10 donation for Haiti response. People can also donate at www.redcross.org or by calling 800-REDCROSS (800-733-2767). Checks can be sent locally to the chapter at 211 W. Armour Blvd., Kansas City MO 64111.

• Heart to Heart International, based in Olathe KS, regularly sends humanitarian aid to Haiti and just this week shipped $2 million worth of medicines and other supplies to the country. The organization expects to send more aid in the coming days. “Haiti is a nation of tremendous need, even before the earthquake struck,” Jon D. North, the organization’s chief executive officer told The Star. “We’re planning to send medicines and supplies that address waterborne and airborne illnesses, as well as minor injuries.” People can donate financially to Heart to Heart online at www.hearttoheart.org or by phone at 913-764-5200. The organization is also asking groups or businesses to assemble care kits made up of personal hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, bandages, washcloths and hand towels. ( More on these below.) Blogger comment: Heart to Heart was founded by a Christian physician, Dr. Gary Morsch, after he saw the bad shape the Russian health care system was in after the fall of the Soviet Union. Heart to Heart is very well respected, among Forbes top 200 charities, and uses 98% of every dollar donated to help people with only 2% going to administration. Please read more at their website, address above, if you are not familiar with this wonderful organization.

•The Salvation Army operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children’s homes and church-related activities in Haiti. The organization through a spokesman said it was committing $50,000 to the relief effort and was preparing for a greater financial commitment along with providing food, water and other emergency supplies. Amanda Waters, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army in Kansas City, told the newspaper that people have been calling the local office in Kansas City wanting to help. She said trained volunteers from the Kansas City area may be asked to travel to Haiti in the coming months to assist in the relief effort, which could last for many months or even years. The organization is accepting donations for the relief effort at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769).

Money goes a long way in these types of situations, usually farther than material donations, especially at first when moving material is a logistical nightmare. There may well be needs for specific materials to be donated in the future, but what is needed now is funds to buy from neighboring countries and in bulk in distant countries the things that people and rescuers need now. However, the urge to do something more concrete then writing a check or putting a donation on your debit/credit card is very strong (and very human!). Heart to Heart International has a way for you and your church/office/team/troop to help more concretely. They have been doing for years, and find that these donations of items for personal hygiene kits are really helpful for people in the disaster zone. Here is a link directly to the pdf file that will give you directions on how to put these kits together, and where to send them. Heart to Heart will take it from there.

Of course, if you are a person of faith, continue in your prayers for the people of Haiti and the rescuers coming to their aid. Some say prayer is the least you can do. In reality it is the most you can do, and the first thing to do, and the last thing to do.

Earthquake in Haiti

At about 4:53 pm CST, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the country of Haiti, followed by several stiff aftershocks. The quake was centered quite close to the capitol city, Port-au-Prince. Haiti is in the Caribbean on the west side of the island of Hispanola. The country is very poor, and the infrastructure strength is questionable. There have been issues of corruption in inspecting buildings in Haiti. Most electricity and communication is down as well, so news is sporadic, plus it is after dark when the quake struck. There could be quite a loss of life in Haiti.

The Church of the Nazarene has a good number of congregations in Haiti, and their news service has a short report. They happened to be in district meetings at the time, with many of the country's Nazarene pastors gathered together. It's not a lot of information, but it's from folks with their boots on the ground.

A major earthquake measuring over 7.0 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Haiti Tuesday evening at 5:53 Eastern Standard Time. The initial quake lasted about a minute, followed by strong 5.9 and 5.5 aftershocks. The epicenter of Haiti's earthquake was six miles west of Carrefour, just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti has been holding district assemblies for its 11 districts this week. General Superintendent J.K. Warrick flew into Haiti Tuesday afternoon for those assemblies. Communication with personnel in Haiti has been difficult due to phone lines being down, but Warrick was able to get a text message out from the Nazarene Seminary campus in Petion-ville, outside of Port-au-Prince, to say he and other church leaders on campus are safe.

What is not known is the full extent of loss of life or property damage beyond the campus walls. Bill Dawson, French Field Strategy coordinator, Emailed the Caribbean Communications Office to say the situation "is grave and urgent."

"There are many injured all over the city," said Dawson. "Major buildings, three and four stories, are down. ... Neighbors who work for the United Nations report many injured, people carrying wounded through the streets."

Here is a link to an AP story about the quake. They report that a hospital collapsed, among the many buildings that fell down. Some witnesses reported a cloud of dust over the city from the buildings falling down. There are other news reports, but info is still quite sketchy.

If you are inclined to prayer, remember the people of Haiti. No doubt there will be calls for financial aid. Only give to churches or charities you trust, that will use your money well. There will be great need.

Here is a first hand report from someone on the ground, from Fox News.