**********************************
News:
*********************************************************
Announcing Project: Haiti
4-27-2010
For Questions, Please refer to current FAQs on "Work Team Info" page
*******************************************************************
**********************************************
Due to the generous outpouring of compassion and mercy by the Vineyard community, Vineyard USA Mercy Response is pleased and excited to announce plans for a building project to aid the people of Haiti. The Haitian people continue to suffer the effects of the devastating earthquake that occurred on 1-12-10. Our hope is that this project will be of long term benefit in providing a foundation from which other beneficial ministries may begin.
The Vineyard Community, in partnership with Convoy of Hope and the Global Aid Network (“GAiN”, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ) will be coming alongside a local Haitian church to construct a facility to house and feed relief workers. The facility will be located just outside of Port au Prince on a 40 acre site owned by the local church. When the construction phase is complete, the camp will be staffed and operated by GAiN and Convoy in conjunction with the local church. The camp will include facilities to house 150 relief workers, bathroom facilities, dining hall, kitchen, and staff housing.
The camp will be self sufficient, with its own electrical, water and waste water systems. The construction of the camp will be a closed-end project for Mercy Response. The local church pastor, Esperandieu Pierre, GAiN and Convoy are committed to a long-term ministry plan based at the site. That plan includes enlarging the church, and the construction of a school, hospital/clinic, warehouses, and an orphanage.
There will be an opportunity for teams to travel to Haiti to participate in the construction phase of this project and we anticipate starting construction in late June. For detailed information on how to sign up as an individual or as a team please visit the Mercy Response website www.mercyresponse.com.
There is still an opportunity to support this project by sending donations to Vineyard USA with Mercy Response in the memo line, or by making a donation online at either the Mercy Response or Vineyard USA websites. We also ask for your continued prayers as we work through the logistics to make this project a reality.
Blessings,
Phil Schissler
Director
Vineyard USA Mercy Response
*************************************************
Haiti Update 3-10-10
After visiting Haiti last week, it has become clear that the need for assistance is great and will be for many years into the future. Currently, there is just about every need imaginable. The streets of Port Au Prince are filled with people and cars but there is little, if any, permanent housing available. There are tents set up on any available open space, even on the median strips between the streets. “Tent Cities” of displaced people are springing up in the rural areas outside of Port Au Prince. Tens of thousands of people have relocated hundreds of miles to the north and east of Port Au Prince. Those that have relocated are overtaxing the infrastructure of the already impoverished communities in other parts of the country.
I toured several cities, villages and rural areas with the Convoy of Hope staff that accompanied me. The information we gathered will be very helpful as we continue to move forward with the relief effort. At this time, I would still caution against anyone traveling to Haiti, unless you have absolutely confirmed that whoever you are going to work with has a secure place for you to stay and access to food. I would also recommend not traveling alone.
Listed below is what our partner, Convoy of Hope, has accomplished to date through their work on the frontlines in Port Au Prince and surrounding areas:
· 6.5 Million Meals distributed. The total number of people helped exceeds 750,000.
We ask for your continued prayers and support as we seek guidance for the best way to serve the many needs in Haiti at this time.
Blessings,
Phil Schissler
Director
Vineyard USA Mercy Response
Haiti Update 3-2-10
On Wednesday 3-3-10 a small team of Mercy Response and Convoy of Hope staff will be on the ground in Haiti performing an assessment of Port Au Prince and the surrounding areas. Later in the week they will be assessing other areas of Haiti. When the assessment is complete we hope to be able to narrow our options for helping in Haiti and determine the feasibility of sending work teams. We plan to post updates over the next several days as we receive information from our team in Haiti. Listed below is what our partner Convoy of Hope has accomplished to date through their work on the frontline in Port Au Prince:
- 3,159,719 meals distributed. The total number of people helped is 241,269
- Two main points of distribution are Quisqueya Chapel and Cite Soleil along with utilizing 3 orphanages and several other locations
- Multiple containers in the pipeline with food, water, drinks, snack, hygiene kits, etc.
- 30 Sawyer water filters installed and people trained to date, 1,700 more en route. Culligan is donating 3 large water purification units capable of purifying 15,000 gallons per day.
Blessings,
Phil Schissler
DirectorVineyard USA Mercy Response
.
**************************************************************
|
