Church of God Facilities Housing Haitian Refugees
HAITI–Over 6,000 people are packed on the national Church of God campground with 250 injured and more than 100 dead. Food is being cooked and distributed to the crowd.
In the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake, Haitian authorities have confirmed at least 70,000 fatalities, and estimate the final toll may be over 200,000. Hundreds of thousands have been injured, and over 3 million persons are in need of water, food and shelter. More than 50 percent of the buildings in Port-au-Prince have been destroyed. One reporter said it looks like Tokyo at the end of World War II. The city of Leogana has more than 90 percent of its buildings destroyed. Relief efforts are difficult because of logistics. There is a severe shortage of fuel and all basic utilities are damaged. At least eight hospitals in Port-au-Prince have collapsed.
As Faith News reported in an earlier release, former Church of God World Missions Director Lovell and Ginny Cary and former Haitian missionary Lloyd Frazier arrived home safely to Cleveland, Tenn. on Saturday, January 16. They will under go medical tests this week. When a wall fell on them in Haiti, the roof of the car in which they were riding crashed on to them. They worked themselves out of the car, but the overseer of Haiti died from the crash.
Dr. Elysee Joseph, national overseer, was removed from the car when the top was cut off, and they could reach him. His body is currently being held in a mortuary until a proper funeral can be prepared.
A Church of God group of four from Canada ministering in Haiti at the time of the quake were scheduled to arrive home today. Another group from Potter’s House church in Columbus, Ohio arrived home on Saturday. The team was ministering to the children at Destiny Village orphanage. Their names are Rick and Brenda Alford, Jeff and Jacob Kreig, Lisa Troyer, Greg Frances, Georgina Gaddy, Toni Schultz, Barbara McGeehan, and Dawn Cotton. A third group from Southern New England, which included regional overseer Jonathan Ramsey, was also close to returning home.
The first relief team, led by Church of God Caribbean Field Director Fedlyn Beason, is scheduled to go into Haiti from the Dominican Republic on Thursday, January 21. They will take food and medical supplies. Some of Brother Joseph’s family from the United States will go with the group. They will meet with what ministers they can, and have a brief memorial service in honor of Overseer Joseph.
The Church Church of God and its partnering agencies, such as Operation Compassion, have been working non-stop to assist in the quake. If you would like to donate securely through Church of God World Missions, please visit the Church of God Web site and click on the Haiti Earthquake Relief graphic. Here you will find the latest video update from Church of God World Missions Director Douglas LeRoy and Assistant General Overseer Tim Hill. Updates are also avaialble on the Church of God World Missions Web site, www.cogwm.org. The World Missions Haiti project number is 7650042
