Monday, June 21, 2010 — Northwest Haiti Christian Mission adds new personnel in 2010 in the areas of travel, administration, development, and child nutrition. Read more…
Monday, June 21, 2010 — How one short-term mission team dug deeper to get to know a Haitian community – and found a sustainable way to help. Read more…
Thursday, May 6, 2010 — CBS News today featured Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s partnership with Indianpolis Colts receiver Pierre Garçon, a joint effort that has helped provide millions of meals for needy Haitians and is rebuilding a school in the Port-au-Prince area. Read more…
Sawyer Products, a Florida-based water filter manufacturer, has donated 269 water filters to Northwest Haiti Christian Mission’s earthquake relief efforts. The filters will provide vital clean water to communities in Northwest Haiti and in the Port-au-Prince area.
Children at NWHCM's orphanage in Saline Mayette use a Sawyer pointONE water filter. Courtesy Amy Reed / Sawyer Products
Thanks to a special matching program by Sawyer, the filters were provided through a combination of individual gifts, and generous donations from Messiah College students and the congregation of First Church of Christ in Burlington, Kentucky.
After the earthquake struck Haiti, Amy Reed, a Sawyer employee and Messiah College alumna, got in touch with Messiah’s women’s basketball team to raise funds for filters. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams made appeals at four home games and raised over $3,800 for filters.
“Clean water is of critical importance after a natural disaster because existing water sources can very easily become contaminated and an epidemic of waterborne diseases can be just as deadly as the natural disaster itself,” Reed said. “The Sawyer filters that were donated to NWHCM take literally minutes to install, are easy to maintain, require no chemicals and are powered by gravity. They are not just a short-term solution, they will be providing clean water to the Haitians weeks, months and years down the road.”
The Sawyer pointONE filter is the official water filter for NWHCM development projects. The filters will be distributed through NWHCM’s partners in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas to help those who were affected by the earthquake, as well as in communities in Northwest Haiti to provide badly needed clean water for poor families and refugees.
February 3, 2010 – As anticipation builds for Sunday’s Superbowl faceoff between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints, The New York Times is highlighting the charitable endeavors of Colts receiver Pierre Garcon and Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.
Wednesday, January 27 — Northwest Haiti Christian Mission has been overwhelmed with requests from U.S. medical professionals desiring to travel to Haiti to assist in earthquake relief efforts. At this time, organizations in Port-au-Prince are turning away medical volunteers for lack of resources and facilities to utilize them. NWHCM is unable to accept any new inquiries for medical personnel at this time, though we will continue utilizing small, specialized medical teams on a limited basis, based on the recommendations of our medical staff and their analysis of the medical needs in Haiti.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and we are truly grateful for the God-given desire to help. Haiti’s need is greater than ever, and will continue to be for years to come. There will be ample opportunities to serve on NWHCM medical teams later this year and in future years, and we encourage anyone interested in serving to consider applying for one of those teams. — The NWHCM medical staff
Internal Revenue Service special provision allows taxpayers to claim Haiti earthquake relief giving on their 2009 tax returns
Wednesday, January 22 — Gifts made to Northwest Haiti Christian Mission for earthquake relief before March 1 can be claimed as a deduction on 2009 tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
A special provision announced Jan. 22 allows taxpayers who itemize deductions on their 2009 return to claim contributions made to earthquake relief as if they were made in 2009. Gifts made to other non-profits operating in Haiti also qualify. Only cash contributions made to these charities after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, are eligible. This includes contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card.
“Americans have opened their hearts to help those affected by the Haiti earthquake,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This new law provides an immediate tax benefit for the many taxpayers who have made generous donations.”
The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. Taxpayers have the option of deducting these contributions on either their 2009 or 2010 returns, but not both.
To get a tax benefit, taxpayers must itemize their deductions on Schedule A. Those who claim the standard deduction, including all short-form filers, are not eligible.
As always, please consult your tax professional for the best answers. For more information, please visit the IRS webpage for Haiti relief.
NWHCM medical teams continue their work at the hospital in Saint-Louis du Nord, particularly performing orthopedic surgeries. NWHCM is blessed to have a gifted hand surgeon on-site to focus on hand injuries, as well. The hospital remains in full swing and bustling with activity.
NWHCM staff met recently with local pastors who are experiencing high demand for relief food within their congregations. The mission is now distributing corn and fortified meals to needy families through more than a dozen churches, in addition to its already established food distributions sites across Northwest Haiti.
Wednesday, January 27 – 8:50 a.m.
NWHCM is shifting some attention to badly needed long-term rehab and therapy services. In coming months, NWHCM will be asking for the services of physical therapists and prothesis professionals. Qualified volunteers may contact us to inquire about serving on a therapy/prothesis trip later this year. Note: NWHCM is unable to bring in additional medical teams for the next few weeks.
Other medical teams are continuing to run clinics in outlying areas of Northwest Haiti
Tuesday, January 26 – 10:25 a.m.
NWHCM medical teams are spreading out across the northwest region this week to run clinics at the mission’s campuses in La Baie des Moustiques and Beauchamp, focusing on general and pediatric care. Haiti’s entire medical system is strained and as such, health care nationwide is in a fragile state. NWHCM’s medical response strategy is to triage and assist all patients needing care, regardless of whether or not they are earthquake victims.
NWHCM Assistant Medical Director Melissa Curtice and orthopedic surgeon Del Worthington, of Arizona, have been assessing patients at nearby hospitals in La Pointe and Port-de-Paix. Earthquake victims with fractured bones have arrived at the mission’s main medical facility in Saint-Louis du Nord and are being treated.
A special thanks to G.O. Ministries for providing chartered flights to transport NWHCM medical teams within Haiti.
Sunday, January 24 – 5:15 p.m.
A 22-member medical team has arrived in Northwest Haiti and is developing a plan to respond to medical needs in the area. NWHCM is also working closely with the government in Saint-Louis du Nord to provide financial and food assistance for refugees arriving in the city.
Wednesday, January 20 – 10:15 a.m.
A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck Haiti early this morning near Port-au-Prince, the strongest yet since the devastating earthquake that ravaged the capital city eight days ago. Though nerves were rattled, little to no additional damage has been reported. In Northwest Haiti, the quake was felt strongly and many were woken from their sleep, but all NWHCM staff and travelers are safe. NWHCM’s main campus in Saint-Louis du Nord is roughly 100 miles from where the aftershock was centered.
Tuesday, January 19 – 9:00 p.m.
NWHCM medical staff traveled to the main hospital in Port-de-Paix today to assess the situation there. The hospital is full, having taken on many patients from Port-au-Prince in addition to their normally heavy load. Lack of basic medicines and medical supplies, along with challenges in coordinating medical care for so many people, are serious problems.
NWHCM has been providing supplies and medicines to the hospital in Port-de-Paix and in La Pointe, and will continue to do so as we’re able. We will provide increasing support with medical personnel over the coming weeks.
Monday, January 18 – 7:55 p.m.
All of NWHCM’s regular ministries are running normally today, though our generators are being run limited hours to conserve diesel fuel, a commodity which is becoming difficult to find in Haiti. To date, NWHCM has secured enough diesel fuel to meet our basic water needs and provide electricity for our clinic through February, and we are expecting to receive more.
NWHCM medical staff will travel to the primary hospital in Port-de-Paix tomorrow to assist the hospital staff there, which have been stretched to their limits treating patients.
Sunday, January 17 – 10:20 p.m.
NWHCM’s medical team returned safely to the mission’s main campus in Saint-Louis du Nord, along with missionary Jose Castillo and staff member Andy Olsen. Some family members of NWHCM’s Haitian medical staff also arrived with them from Port-au-Prince. Other mission staff and missionaries attended church this morning at their respective campuses.
Saturday, January 16 – 8:05 p.m.
NWHCM lab and pharmacy director Maureen Moore treats a dehydrated baby at a clinic in Port-au-Prince on Saturday.Andy Olsen / NWHCM staff
NWHCM doctor Simon Marc treats a girl with a broken arm at makeshift clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Saturday. Mission staff established the outdoor clinic along with medical staff from Mission of Hope at a church in the Delmas area of Port-au-Prince.Andy Olsen / NWHCM staff
Along with missionaries from Mission of Hope in southern Haiti, NWHCM medical staff set up a clinic today at a church in the Delmas area of Port-au-Prince. They treated patients there throughout the day and also assisted at an emergency orthopedic care center nearby. Staff involved included Assistant Medical Director Melissa Curtice, Dr. Simon Marc, Magdala Remy, Lab and Pharmacy Director Maureen Moore and Miss Sylveste.
Most NWHC staff plan to return Sunday to Saint-Louis du Nord, where NWHCM has been notified it will be a treatment center for overflow patients being brought from Port-au-Prince.
Friday, January 15 – 9:35 p.m.
A street in downtown Port-au-Prince on Friday, January 15.Andy Olsen / NWHCM staff
NWHCM medical staff continue to assist at Mission of Hope, one of our partner missions about 10 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Some national NWHCM doctors have continued on to Port-au-Prince to assist with medical work there.
All but a few short-term missionaries who were visiting NWHCM campuses are on their way to catch flights out of Haiti via alternate cities. Jose Castillo, Andy Olsen, and a few other NWHCM staff are still in Port-au-Prince assessing the situation.
Thursday, January 14 – 10:50pm
We did hear that our team arrived safely to Mission of Hope and are looking to provide mobile medical treatment from there. By the time they arrived, the hospital had completely run out of supplies. We’ve also heard several times from our staff, Andy and Jose, in Port-au-Prince, and are relieved to know they are well.
Wednesday, January 13 – 11:11pm
Our day was spent loading and unloading trucks. We were blessed with the arrival of the contents of our recent container, including food and other supplies. The driver agreed for us to rent the same truck to load with I.V. fluids, bandages, sutures, antibiotics and other medical supplies.
Early in the morning, we will send a team to assist the disaster relief and provide medical care. Please pray for the group as they travel and serve: Melissa Curtice (NWHCM Assistant Medical Director) Maureen Moore (Pharmacy/Lab Director), Sylveste Rogella (nurse), Magdala Remy (nurse), Dr. Simon, Innocent (security), Benna (security). Especially pray for the driver, that he would have wisdom and that they would be protected in their travels.
They will head for Mission of Hope, one of our partner organizations located about 10 miles north of Port au Prince. Mission of Hope requested help, as earthquake victims have been dying at their gates due to limited medical personnel and insufficient supplies. We just heard from the Mission of Hope medical director, saying they’ve worked 33 hours straight, their supplies are dwindling and they have to close their doors for the night. Pray for strength for our staff as they step into this overwhelming tragedy.
We are also thankful to report that we’ve heard word this afternoon from Jose Castillo, NWHCM staff, who was in Port au Prince during the earthquake. He still does not have phone service, but was able to send a message along to us that he is still fine.
We also have a small group who traveled to Port au Prince this morning. Please pray for Andy Olsen (NWHCM media director), Dr. Joseph, Junior, Edril, Imano and their driver as they look for family and as Andy documents the relief efforts. Pray for safety, wisdom and their safe return.
More than anything, please pray for our national staff and friends. It is heart-breaking to talk with person after person, all aching to know about their family and friends who may be trapped under the rubble. It is hard to find someone on campus who does not have family missing – a son, a wife, parents, aunts, cousins… Pray that God would work miracles in the midst of this tragedy.
Wednesday, January 13 – 10:39 a.m.
Northwest Haiti Christian Mission is responding in the quickest ways possible to respond to the earthquakes that have shaken Haiti.
Currently, NWHCM staff are assessing the situation on the ground to identify the areas of greatest need. By working closely with our Haiti One ministry partners across the country, NWHCM plans to assist in every way it can.
To donate to NWHCM’s earthquake relief efforts, please click here.
Your support will go directly toward relief of the immediate needs in Port-au-Prince and Northwest Haiti, and will go to fund ongoing aid efforts as Haitians struggle to recover and provide for their families in the aftermath.
The destruction left by the earthquakes will most likely affect all of Haiti and its economy for months to come. NWHCM plans for its response to be strategic, responsible and ongoing. We will first be sending a team of medical personnel along with desperately needed medical supplies. We will give more information on our next steps as we talk with our partners throughout the country and further assess the situation.
NWHCM is offering the option to donate toward our earthquake assistance efforts by texting “Support NWHCM” to 20222. Each text message will send a gift of $5 directly to relief and recovery work in Haiti.
How To Make Your Gift
1) Text the message “Support NWHCM” to the number 20222.* Capitalization does not matter, but spelling does.
2) To confirm your donation, text the word “YES” when prompted to do so.
Thank you for your generous support of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission and our ministry in Haiti.
*A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Messaging and Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP to short code NWHCM Reply HELP to NWHCM for help.
A son of Saint-Louis du Nord talks about life in Port-au-Prince in the days following the earthquake
Saturday, January 16, 2010 – St. Louis du Nord, Haiti
By Erika Olsen, NWHCM staff
Gesner Charles, January 16, 2009
Gesner Charles is a second-year medical student in Port-au-Prince and longtime friend and employee of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. On Tuesday afternoon, he had left school early with a classmate to make copies of some materials he needed for a lecture. A couple of hours later, he was sitting at home when the earthquake hit. “Many of the people who have died were students, because they were in class,” Gesner said. He was one of the fortunate.
Gesner stayed in his yard for the next three nights. Although his house survived the original quakes, on the radio they are warning everyone not to go in buildings since there was no way to know if they were safe or if another aftershock would bring them down.
Gesner described people walking from hospital to hospital. “You can’t even get inside the hospitals because there are so many people looking for their family members,” he said. Â Everyone walks the streets by day and sleeps in the streets by night. “It’s not raining, but it’s cold” this time of year, and no one has blankets, he said.
People are leaving the city to return to the countryside. “They’ve even sent buses to get some people, because they know what will happen in Port-au-Prince — all the people will get sick. There is no good water to drink…It smells bad in the city…People have to put something on their face” like masks or rags.
“There are bodies in the street everywhere. As they bring them out of buildings they put them there because there is nowhere to put them. Then a tractor comes and puts them in a dump truck and takes them away…Even if someone finds their family, where would they put (the body)? There is nowhere to put them.”
Gesner shrugged as he described the heartbreak of families trying to search for their missing loved ones. “Nobody can know if they are alive or not…they can’t see them before they are buried.” As people walk through the streets, they hear the cries of those still trapped. “Some people are crying up there and no one can do anything.”
At 5 a.m. on Friday, Gesner began the long journey home to Saint-Louis du Nord — first in a dump truck with more than 300 people “packed like sardines” in the back. The truck went as far as Gonaives, then he hopped from tap tap to tap tap, from motorcycle to motorcycle, tirelessly working to get the rest of the way home. “I paid a lot of money to finally get home. I didn’t eat anything from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. because I didn’t have enough money.”
His wife and young son have still been living in Saint-Louis du Nord while Gesner attends medical school.
When I got home “they jumped on me! And my son, I had to wake him up…he’d been asking his mom ‘where’s dad, where’s dad?’ He didn’t know where I was…he’s just two years old. But he knew there was something wrong.”
Gesner arrived home late on Friday evening and came to visit friends at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission on Saturday morning. Phyllis Van Es, an NWHCM short-term missionary, had been anxiously awaiting Gesner’s return along with his wife, Yvrose. “I met him several years ago in the ‘dungeon’ depot where they kept donations. We were sorting clothes. That’s when I knew I respected him – he was working when he didn’t have to,” Van Es said.
When Gesner walked up and hugged her, she screamed and hugged him tightly. A small group sat at the breakfast table and listened over cold cups of coffee as Gesner showed photos and talked about his experience.
“It’s so hard to describe,” Gesner said. “I don’t feel like I’m in my right skin yet. I only know that I’m very, very glad that I’m home now, that I’m out of Port-au-Prince. No one wants to stay there.”
As he began the task of finally contacting the many friends and family who’ve been waiting to hear from him, Gesner smiled. “Thanks for all your prayers, for everyone who was worried about me. Thank you so much.”
Click here for a photo gallery of images Gesner took in Port-au-Prince. Note: Some images contain content that may not be suitable for young children.
NWHCM’s facilities were spared major damage from the earthquake on January 12, but the the disaster will have major consequences for the entire country of Haiti. NWHCM is partnering with ministries in the Port-au-Prince area and across Northwest Haiti to bring help to those who desperately need it. We are providing food, medical personnel, medical supplies and medicines to assist in relief efforts. We are also preparing for the increase in need we expect to see in the northwest zone and across the country.
Your partnership in providing supplies, finances and prayer is vital for immediate relief work and the preparation for the coming months. Here is how you can join in to help us.
Money is the most flexible resource to use in Haiti. To donate, click here.
You can also give to NWHCM by sending a text message. Click here to learn more.
NOTE: The IRS is allowing for gifts made to Haiti earthquake relief before March 1 to be claimed as a deduction for 2009 income taxes. Read more…
Collect Supplies
NWHCM needs food, medicines, and medical supplies. Items in bold are the most urgently needed. Food and medicines must be at least six months from expiration.
Cord Clamps (can easily be purchased online – http://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=00369), 5 french NG tubes, Infant and Preemie Nasal Cannula’s, 18 and 20 gauge Intracath, Gauze, 3 and 4 “O” Vycril, Lubricating Gel, Digital Thermometers, Sheets (Flat), EmergenC Electrolyte Packages (come also specifically for kids), Plastic Cups, Large Trash Can, Ziploc Bags (Gallon Size), New Women’s Underwear, Maxi Pads (both for moms who come deliver and don’t have anything with them), Infant Formula (powder), Newborn Clothes (onesies, caps, socks, Layette material), Preemie Clothes and small caps
Collection Centers:
Central Kentucky: NWHCM – 150 Laralan Ave. Suite E, Frankfort, KY 40601; Contact 502-695-7870; M – F 9am – 4pm
Rockford, Illinois: Heartland Community Church – 1280 S. Alpine Rd., Rockford, IL 61108; Contact: Ashley McNary (815-847-6007, dosomethingnow@heartland.cc); M-F 9am – 5pm, Sat 3pm – 7pm, Sun am – 12pm
Cincinnati Area: Community Christian Church – 5005 St. Rt. 73, Trenton, OH, 45067 OR 3401 Millikin Rd., Fairfield Township, OH 45011; Contact: Rick Moore, 513-418-1527
Michigan: South Lansing Christian Church, 6300 Aurelius Road, Lansing, MI 48911; Contact: Frank Weller (517-394-3220), frank@seekstudyserve.org; M – F 9am – 7pm
Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering in the relief and recovery, please consider giving your time to collect supplies and donations. We are not able to coordinate immediate response teams at this time.
Medical Volunteers: Please read our updated policy on medical trips here.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Online Donation Questions:
• Technical issue related to an online donation? Please check if you are using Visa, Master Card, or Discover. We are unable to process other credit cards at this time.
• Unsure if your donation went through? If your credit card donation is successful, you will receive a confirmation email immediately. If you do not see one, please check your junk mail folder and contact your credit card company to check. If you’re still not sure, please contact us.
• Waiting for an e-receipt? We ask you to be patient. Our office is trying to complete those batches, but we are short-handed due to staff trying to work from Haiti.
• Wondering if you mistakenly donated twice? Please check with your credit card company first, and if you have in fact made a duplicate donation, please contact us.
We admit, we take our T-shirts pretty seriously at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. A lot of lives have been changed while wearing them.
Anyone who travels on a short-term mission trip with NWHCM receives one of our shirts. This year, we have two different shirt designs — different fronts (see top), identical backs. We distribute the various designs at random, and if you’re traveleing with a group, your group’s shirts will be an assortment of both.
We have a limited supply of each, so unfortunately we cannot entertain requests for one design or another. Thanks for your understanding. If the design you received is not the one you prefer, maybe you can trade with a friend!
This year, the backs of our shirts feature a large map of Haiti. The areas marked with red crosses are key places where Northwest Haiti Christian Mission is working, though we have a presence in dozens of other communities throughout Northwest Haiti.
As always, please wear your T-shirt at all times while traveling in and out of Haiti with us. Of course, there’s no rule saying you can’t wear it at home, too!
What is “Rescue, Restore, Redeem?”
We’re glad you asked.
These three words, written on the fronts of all our 2010 T-shirts, are our humble attempt to encapsulate everything we do here at Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. They are our mission statement, if you will (though we have a more formal mission statement you can find here).
As a mission, we seek to:
Rescue the oppressed by providing medical care to the poor, food to the hungry, and orphan care to the abandoned.
Restore hope by running schools and organizing sustainable community development programs in needy areas.
Redeem God’s people by planting churches, developing indigenous church leaders, and training effective Haitian ministers.
We do all this in partnership with people like you, which is why we thought you’d like to know what this “rescue, restore, redeem” stuff is all about.
Passport and Ticket Names
Northwest Haiti Christian Mission has received notice that, per FAA regulations, the name on airline tickets must exactly match the name on a traveler’s passport for all passengers flying internationally. Failure to do so could result in the loss of your tickets and the inability to board the plane.
Please help us make sure your travel goes smoothly by providing us on your trip application(s) with your name exactly as it appears on your passport, including your middle name. Please include your full middle name, not just an initial. If you have not received your passport yet, please enter your full name on your trip application exactly as you believe it will appear on your passport.
New Carry-On Luggage Restrictions
Beginning in 2010, passengers with oversized carry-on luggage will not be allowed to board. In many cases, those passengers will not even be allowed through airline security. Please check ahead with your airline to make sure your carry-on bag meets the carry-on requirements for both domestic and international air travel.
Most airlines will no longer gate check carry-on luggage in 2010, so oversized carry-ons will be transferred to the checked-luggage system — which means they may be delayed a day or two arriving in Northwest Haiti. We want you to have all your luggage when you need it and, as always, we will do everything reasonable to make sure that happens. But please pack your carry-ons carefully. NWHCM cannot guarantee the timely arrival of oversized carry-on luggage.
July 28, 2010 How cool is it that we have had the Navy, the Army and the Marines all over our campus and all over St Louis du Nord this week? Â There are patients being helicoptered to a ship for surgeries, constru. […] Source: melonnie
July 26, 2010 In 2009 we did our first Youth Rally at Beauchamp and only allowed the churches to invite 10 youth because we could not handle all the sleeping arrangements and water issues. We had 80 to 90 in atten. […] Source: Teresa
July 23, 2010 It’s been almost a week since I’ve blogged… not my normal pace as writing tends to be a therapeutic thing for me.  We have just been so incredibly busy here! It’s been full steam ahead on ca. […] Source: melonnie
July 19, 2010 God is good. Day number four in Haiti has been a blessing. It’s Sunday and after 3 days of adventures that saw us flying in a shaky prop airplane, rough riding through broken streets, sailing 10 mil. […] Source: nwtraveler
July 18, 2010 I know I do not blog every day….so finally…. here is a little bit about —- The first 6 months of 2010 may go down as the busiest of our lives. January 4 found us on a plane back to Haiti afte. […] Source: Teresa
