Dear friends,

First of all, thank you for the incredible outpouring of love and donations in the aftermath of this tragedy. Thank you for your generous donations, concern and prayers! We have received so many calls, upwards of five thousand dollars and pledges for the supplies listed in the last update.  Many of you have posted Hope in Haiti updates at work and are doing mini-drives to help us as we respond to the need.  100% of all funds and supplies will be going directly to Haitians  – all our administrative and travel costs are covered by volunteers.  Your giving will make difference!

We have heard from Pastor Louinet and now have confirmed that Hope in Haiti’s schools, churches and sponsor children and families are ok!  They did feel the shaking and we are still waiting for word on family members that where in Port-au-Prince during the earthquake.

As originally planned, we are unable to get a team into Haiti this week because of the extreme chaos at the airport and the need to prioritize military and international aid organizations planes first.  As I’m sure you have seen in the news, getting planes in and out of the Port-au-Prince airport right now has been extremely difficult and there are lines of planes waiting both to land and take-off from the only airport in Port-au-Prince. So now the plan is for Dixie to personally take qualified individuals, medical and construction professionals with experience working in Haiti, to Port-au-Prince in the third week of February.  Some tickets have been bought and we are continueing to raise funds and gather supplies for this trip.  As the days go by, the most urgent needs will become apparent and we will keep you updated and of course prioritize the trip’s efforts and funds for those most in need.

On a personal note, we are watching with you as this story of tragedy and heartbreak unfolds in Haiti.  As many predicted, the death tolls are rising and the road ahead for many Haitians is long and hard. I have found myself in prayer many times a day for a people and a country that I know and love.  My heart breaks for those that have lost everything – parents that have lost children, children now without parents, Haitians in great physical pain even now as limbs must be amputated and wounds treated.  I think of those that are still trapped beneath the rubble and pray for miraculous rescues.  Even in the midst of this unspeakable pain, stories of hope are emerging. Stories of Haitians rising up and helping each other, individuals that have been rescued alive and the world coming together to aid Haiti are all glimmers of hope I see.

Our very close friends who live and work in Port-au-Prince, Bryon and Shelley Tlucek, have been able to reunite with 4 of their 5 children and Bryon was just able to fly back into Haiti this am to reunite with their darling 2 year old daughter, Isabelle. Bryon was also able to bring doctors and supplies with him. With the current difficulty of even getting ino the country right now, this was truly a miracle. Bryon and Shelley are a part of Heartline Ministries –http://heartlineministries.org/default.aspx – which serves Port-au-Prince Haiti with an orphanage, a women’s medical clinic and other programs. They are in the epicenter of the crisis and  Bryon and Shelly oversee Heartline’s orphanage. The needs of this orphanage will be a focus for Dixie and her team in February.  See http://heartlineministries.org/default.aspx for additional information.

CNN has recently covered the orphans living in Haiti during this crisis.  The article highlights their specials needs and vulnerability during this time. Here is the link of the full article –http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/16/griffith.haskell.haiti.adoptions/index.html

What can you do?  Well, again you can donate funds that will be used to purchase food, water, medical supplies and rebuild Heartline’s orphanage in Port-au-Prince.  Also, again below is the list of supplies we are gathering to take with us in February.

And of course you can pray. Pray for coordination and cooperation between international aid organizations and governments so the rescue and medical efforts will reach those in need.  Pray for the Haitian government to approve adoptions immediately for orphans in Haiti.  The normal process to adopt from Haiti is one to two years of processing time so at this moment there are hundreds of Haitian orphans in Port-au-Prince that have parents whom have already submitted the paperwork and are simply waiting for approval from the Haitian government.  Pray for emergency approval of all Haitian orphans so the children can be placed with families immediately.  Pray for strength, grace and wisdom for Shelley and Bryon Tlucek and the entire Heartline Ministry staff as they face the devastation and despair.  Pray for wisdom for the board of Hope in Haiti as we prioritize and respond to needs.  Pray for God to take this tragedy and turn it for good and for people to continue to give towards the many needs in Haiti.

God bless you and thank you.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

Supplies needed:

• Tuna Fish
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Meat
• Beef Jerky
• Water Filters/Filtration Systems
• Nuts
• Vitamin C
• Raisins
• Dried Fruit
• Healthy Granola Bars w/no Chocolate (it melts)