The medical, financial, and physical needs of the Haitian people are immense. Tens of thousands are without medical care for their injuries.   Transportation continues to be a severe problem. There are no guarantees, even now, that flights to Haiti will reach their destination. Government authorities are working to increase the capacity of the port to handle cargo ships. This is vital if our supplies are to get to the people we are trying to minister to in Haiti.
Baptists, along with other agencies (i.e., New Directions International, Global Missions, Samaritan's Purse, Red Cross, etc) have sent assessment teams to Haiti to determine how to best help the people. NC Baptists have responded responded by sending medical teams as well as specialized volunteers (i.e., diesel mechanics and carpenters)>
The Pilot Mountain Baptist Association's Disaster Relief Team is on alert. NC Baptist Men are asking for diesel mechanics carpenters, and medical personnel. In certain cases, these specialized teams will have transportation and sleeping accomodations provided. Bill Martin, PMBA Disaster Relief Team leader, has asked all certified Disaster Relief and Recovery workers to have their passports current and check to see that their shots are up-to-date if they want to go to Haiti.

 

PMBA congregations are being asked to send donations to the PMBA Disaster Relief and Recovery

work. All donations will be used to help with the work in Haiti. We wil send donations to Haiti ever 2 or 3 weeks as donations come in.  We will eventually save a portion to help defray the costs for teams from

PMBA congregations to go to Haiti. Contact Bill martin (336-408-8393) if you are interested in goingwith a team to Haiti.

 

As soon as we receive word, we will be collecting items for Haiti. Right now, we have been told that monetary donations and teams are the most important commodities we can send.

 

A few years ago, PMBA congregations had a partnership with New Directions International - Haiti.  Wes Morgan was the representative from New Directions who worked with PMBA.  Several churches responded and sent teams. Donations were made to Haiti Relief (even at that time, due to the severe poverty of the country).  Since our partnership, Wes lost his battle with cancer and went home to be with the Lord. However, his work with Haiti lives on through many who have continued to give and support ministries in Haiti. 

 

Barbie Morgan, Wes's wife, recently sent me a response to my email in asking for guidance as to how we might help.  "I see 2 choices for people who want to help NOW...If you want to help RIGHT NOW, ou must send money to any of the big organizations being announced on TV. It takes a Red Cross or Unicef or government itself to get supplies in and distrubted at this early date. It is good to understand that those big organiztions have a lot of overhead and a good portion of your gift will be used to cover administration. Also, whenever you deal with big numbers you deal with less efficient purchasing.

 

The Haitian people are going to need help for a LONG time. If you want your money to be used more efficiently, then I suggest you use a smaller organization." (i.e., NC Baptists Men, PMBA -- my words not hers). Barbie went on to say, 'I especially like being able to give to an organization that wil help physically and spiritually."

 

Two organizations will efficiently and evangelically help: