Haiti Earthquake Recovery   

Many of us want to help the people of Haiti, following the devastating earthquake of January 12.  The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working on the ground in Haiti to assess needs and to establish a recovery plan.  If you would like to volunteer with the United Methodist Church's efforts in Haiti, there is now an online database for all medical personnel and construction volunteers.  Register here and you will be informed of volunteer opportunities as the days progress.  All HPUMC efforts will be posted here as they are available.

Excerpts of a letter from the Rev. Gesner Paul, President of the Methodist Church of Haiti

January 28, 2010

On behalf of the Methodist Church of Haiti and the Haitian people, we thank you for your outpouring of love, support, and Christian brotherhood in our great hour of need.  Haiti has suffered a great tragedy, and to rebuild, recover, and strengthen, it will take us all.

In the coming weeks, the Methodist Church in Haiti will complete an assessment of the damage and communitieis impacted by the earthquake, and will prioritize areas for relief and rehabilitation in partnership with UMCOR.  Teams of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission will be integral in the long-term recovery of the church and communitieis in Haiti, and opportunities will soon be available to come and help in meaningful ways.

In the short-term, the immediate needs of providing emergency aid of food, water, shelter, and medical care are being addressed by UMCOR and a host of national and itnernational relief organizations and technical specialists.  Soon, the work of clearing debris in preparation for rebuilding will be done by teams of locals in cash-for-work programs led by these same aid groups and local community groups, including the Methodist Church in Haiti. 

The Methodist Church in Haiti, in partnership with UMCOR, requests that volunteer teams consider delaying their arrival into Haiti in light of the following:

We thank you again for standing by us in this time of great need, and look forward to working in Christian partnership to build a better Haiti. 

Blessings,

Rev. Gesner Paul
President, Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti

***HPUMC had a mission team working in Haiti when the earthquake hit on January 12.  11 of our team members made it home safely, with minor injuries, and sadly, one of our team members, Jane Arnwine passed away from injuries she received when the clinic the team was working in collapsed.  Jean is an extraordinary witness to the call of service to those in need.  We are devastated by the loss, but certain that her legacy will live on through the missions and outreach of HPUMC.  

A link to photos of our team in Haiti can be found here.

Haiti Eye Care Clinic 

The Haiti Eye Clinic represents HPUMC's longest-running, global partnership. HPUMC took its first medical mission trip to Haiti in 1976. Stricken by the extreme need and utter lack of supplies and expertise in Haiti, U.S. doctors volunteered time, money and supplies to the many trips that HPUMC led over the years. An Eye Clinic was built in 1985, and a Surgery Building completed in 1999. The Clinic and Surgery are now staffed by Haitian doctors supported in part by HPUMC Global Outreach. These facilities provide special eye care weekly instead of semi-annually or whenever our medical teams were able to go. A new building containing hospital beds for post-op patients, a workroom for eyeglasses, and living quarters for the grounds-keeper and his family have expanded the operations of the clinic. This medical complex has become a model for other missions in Haiti.

HPUMC members Dr. Kenneth & Lila Foree have led the charge for the Haiti mission for more than 30 years.  For more info, contact Rachael Faubion at faubionr@hpumc.org

Please consider making a financial donation below. If you would like to assist with other donations please click here.