So what has CURE been doing in Haiti since January 2010? We’re glad you asked. Here’s what our Haiti relief efforts look like today….
CURE counselors receive training in Haiti.
After mobilizing more than 230 volunteers for initial emergency relief efforts in Haiti, CURE has used its unique mission and presence on the island to transition its relief strategy to a longer-term focus serving the redevelopment efforts of a nation.
Phil Hudson, CURE’s Haiti relief director, is back in the U.S. for a few days. He took some time out of his schedule to talk with Mission Network News about the current situation in Haiti and what role CURE International continues to play in the recovery efforts…
Go here to read and listen. To listen to audio, click on The Story in Audio link at the upper right hand side of the page.
Anne Marie Colby is a Chicago nurse who spent a week volunteering with CURE International in Haiti. While there, she kept a daily journal. One of the most touching things she wrote about was the special relationship she formed with a Haitian patient named Daniel.
We’d like to share some excerpts from Anne Marie’s journal:
January 21 (Anne Marie’s first day in Haiti)
I have been up for the last 42 hours and could probably stay up more if needed. The only thing that really hurts is my feet. I still feel the adrenaline all throughout my body. There is so much that needs to be done. I feel guilty going to bed and closing my eyes for a couple of hours.
We are sleeping on the roof of the hospital in a tent with other women from our team. As I look up at the sky and the stars, all I can think is…Where am I?? I hear the sounds all around me. I hear the people outside in tents, sounds of pain, crying, singing, dogs barking, roosters crowing and people talking.
I was brought on this trip as a nurse to work in the OR, but ended up working in the ICU, which is where I would rather be. It is funny how things work themselves out.
In regard to food, I ate rice, beans and water (that was at 7 p.m.) with no lunch, no breaks, one bathroom visit. It was okay. I did not complain; in fact, I barely noticed because there was no time, and my body was not hungry. To tell you the truth, I can’t even keep track of the time, because it is going so fast. It is non-stop…people coming and going.
There are relief workers here from all around the world (Korea, Sweden, New York, etc.). Most of the patients have some sort of trauma, crush injuries, amputations, gangrene, infection. There is a mixture of adults and children.
The language barrier is not that bad. The Haitians speak both French and Creole, and we have some Haitian translators. Some people have families, and others are now orphans.
January 23 (The day Anne Marie first met Daniel)
Daniel, a 10-year-old boy, was playing outside his home when the 7.0 earthquake rumbled beneath the earth. He started running toward his house and tripped on an opening of the disheveled ground and broke his leg.
It just seems unfair that a young boy has to endure two surgeries with metal rods (external fixators) sticking out of his left leg. But, I guess nothing about this is fair. He will not smile and barely talks. He just lies in his bed, watching others around him. I was overwhelmed with compassion for him,and I am starting to work on his heart.
One of the relief teams that CURE sent to Haiti included medical professionals from the CURE Oasis hospital in the United Arab Emirates. There were a couple of news stories about the team in the U.A.E.
To watch a TV report about the team, go here. (The story starts at the 2:09 mark.)
And to read another story, go here.
Good morning from snowy Pennsylvania.
Here are a couple of inspiring testimonials from volunteers who served with CURE International in Haiti.
The first is from Dr. Michael Kwon. Dr. Kwon and his wife, Anna, were part of a team that flew in from Dallas on January 21. He shared his story with his church. You can watch it here. His story is on until the 5:35 mark.
Another volunteer who went with the Dallas team was a Chicago RN named Tiffany Cupp. She wrote a touching blog about her experience and how she met a girl named Yveline. Read it here.
The relief effort in Haiti continues. Another team of volunteers (including some from as far away as the United Arab Emirates) arrived in the country this week and are now hard at work giving medical care. The CURE hospital in the D.R. continues to care for Haitian patients as needed. We once again want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of the volunteers who have contributed so much to the relief efforts.
We also received an update from Rob Werner. Rob is one of the volunteers on the ground at the Haitian Community Hospital. In a nutshell, he’s the “go to guy” for many things at the hospital. Even in the midst of his busy days, he took the time to send us an update. In it, he talks about some of the people he’s encountered at the hospital, the heroes of the Haiti relief effort. Here is some of what he shared: Read the rest of this entry »
Here is a report from CURE Dominican Republic’s spiritual director, Pastor Samuel Reyes, regarding his initial time of ministry in Haiti.
When Pastor Seguerre Bellevue and I arrived in Haiti, we were received with joy. I started by introducing myself to the staff at the hospital to get the proper permission to do the spiritual counseling and ministry. They accepted the help with words of encouragement for us.
We began by visiting the patients outside the building. These patients were inside at one point; but once they were more stable, they were put outside into improvised tents all around the building. Outside tent patients and relatives received Jesus for the first time.
We visited most of the patients at the hospital, and everyone was happy to receive prayers and the message of hope from the Bible. I felt God’s presence at all times; the people were showing tears, smiles and thanks for the time we spent with them.
The Haitian pastors that Samuel was trying to meet to help minister at the hospital were unable to come due to traffic jams. He indicated that the pastors in Port-au-Prince cannot spare the time to help at the hospital because they need to help their communities after the tragedy.
Samuel’s next steps include meeting with a group of Haitian pastors in the D.R. and other Haitian believers who live in the D.R. who are able and willing to spend days in Haiti doing spiritual ministry.
Story about Jose from Haiti from CURE Video on Vimeo.
In the midst of the chaos of CURE’s work in Haiti, there was one boy everybody was talking about. You couldn’t miss his adorable face and sad eyes as he looked up from his mat on the floor. I saw him and grabbed the first interpreter I could find. Here is Jose’s story.
Bryce Flurie is CURE International’s multimedia producer. He recently traveled to Haiti as part of the CURE Haiti Relief Team working with the victims of January 12th’s devastating earthquake.
In Bryce Flurie’s story, he mentioned CURE International’s spiritual director for the D.R. hospital, Samuel Reyes.
Pastor Reyes and Pastor Seguerre Bellevue, a Haitian chaplain, had left the D.R. on Friday to help provide comfort and hope to the suffering people of Haiti. Watch the video to learn more…
Click here to give a gift to CURE Haiti
or text CURE to 85944 to give a $10 gift through your cell phone.
And to help support CURE’s response to the earthquake in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, add the following message to your Facebook/Twitter/email signature:
Help CURE in Haiti: http://uk.cure.org/haitirelief or txt CURE to 85944 to give a $10 gift. Follow: http://uk.cure.org/blog
CURE’s Noel Lloyd and Bryce Flurie are in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, reporting on CURE’s work there to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
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