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Haiti Relief
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On this page:
If you would like to be added to the email list to receive updates on serving opportunities as they come about, you can send an email here.
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Florida Team Report
From the first team, who served Jan 24-31:
Dear GFC Family,
Acts 20:35 says "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Truer words were never spoken and have never resonated more for me than in my service at Missionary Flights International.
People continue to come from all over the country to serve in Haiti.Today I processed a group from Minneapolis MN going to build a children's hospital, a group of missionaries from Ft.Worth TX, and a group of physicians and medics from Jacksonville FL just to name a few. Even though all of these people were from different parts of the country and from different backgrounds they all had at least two things in common. They all love Christ and they all want to help there fellow man.
Matthew 25:34-40 says “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” By helping our fellow man we are truly doing Gods work.
 I can tell you that in my daily walk back home it was easy for me to get down when things get tough. It was easy for me to think sometime that I have it hard going through life's trial and tribulations. But let me tell you brothers and sisters, witnessing this kind of devastation, we truly have no idea how blessed that we truly are. It is so easy to sit in the comforts of our own home and watch the devastation and think to our self how horrible. Yet we have adopted an attitude of quietude and inaction. I don't know if that is because we have become numb to what we see on television or if it was or if it is because we feel so small and powerless to something so large and seemingly endless. But what we have to remember is that no matter how, who, or where we are, we can all do something to help. The church has listed options to serve as close as Bristol with Kingsway, MFI in Florida, all the way to Haiti. Don't become overwhelmed and feel like there is nothing you can do. There is always something you can do!
In His Name,
Brian M. Goins
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Serve in Haiti
Our Efforts: Grace is actively seeking ways that our skilled health care professionals can go to Haiti to help. Because it is essential that we work through partners with the capacity and ability to utilize teams effectively, we are staying in close contact with CMDA and World Medical Missions (Samaritan’s Purse) for information on serving opportunities.
Opportunities:
Christian Medical and Dental Association – We have one GFC doc who is going to Haiti with CMDA in March. Contact CMDA if you’d like to learn more about their efforts.
Samaritan’s Purse –They now have an online application process for those who want to be part of a medical team to Haiti. You can find more information HERE and download an application to be a team member HERE.
If you plan to go to Haiti with one of these agencies, please let us know!
Stay Informed: If you would like to receive periodic updates on what we are finding out about serving opportunities, please sign up (register) here to be on our email distribution list.
Keep Us Informed: If you become aware of serving opportunities and trusted agencies that others in our Grace family might want to know about and respond to, please email us here with this information.
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A Trip to Haiti (1/23)
by Larry Nees
 We caught our first glimpse of the remote airstrip when Steve banked his Beechcraft Queen Air over the forested terrain on this south coast of Haiti. Ever since departing from our local Elizabethton airport, we were concerned bordering on alarmed about landing on this short bumpy unpatrolled runway. Now we were face to face with the reality that took us on this 1400 mile journey to Jacmel, Haiti.
The Lord was good (or else I wouldn’t be writing this!). Steve’s calculations of weight, fuel, atmospheric conditions and runway capacity were right on target – allowing us to gently land without a hitch.
This trip to Haiti for Steve Hopland and me was an unexpected opportunity and truly a faith-venture. Steve was asked to pilot his plane on behalf of Whitestone Church/Knoxville to take supplies and workers to Haiti in order to bring aid to an orphanage the church has worked with for several years. I went with him to gain firsthand exposure to the relief work taking place and to seek information for possible future trips by GFCers to be part of the effort.
Many obstacles were experienced along the way, from a day delay due to the plane's landing gear failing to descend, to the need to re-file flight plans, gain official approvals and negotiate passport control checkpoints, to weather challenges. In the end, we made it to Haiti but were only able to be on the ground at the small airstrip for less than an hour; needing to get underway again before dark.
At the airstrip the Canadian armed forces were settling in to make this their base. A helicopter was shuttling supplies from a ship in the harbor to the airport and a small contingent of soldiers were setting up their barracks and unloading the supplies. A cluster of Haitians were helping to load Unicef supplies onto a truck as a helicopter from France also landed for a brief stop.
After unloading our cargo of water filtration equipment, canvas tarps and other supplies we packed it all into a waiting pickup truck. We left on the ground two of our passengers - workers from Whitestone church - who would take the 45 minute truck ride over rough terrain to the orphanage where at least one child was killed in the earthquake. Just days earlier a number of the orphans had been successfully and legally flown from Haiti to the United States where their new families (from the church) awaited them.
After short time of completing paperwork, taking photos of our surroundings, and conversing with those on the ground, we headed out - having no trouble with the runway. We picked up Cullen (a young ER doctor from the Whitestone church) and Cody (a security specialist also from the church). These two had been serving at the orphanage in the general region for almost a week and needed to get home.
As the window of time when we would actually be on the ground in Haiti began to shrink, our expectations had to adjust. Conversations with the leaders and workers for Whitestone church about the history of their involvement at this orphanage were informative. Additional insights were gained from Cullen and Cody about real conditions on the ground.
Our hope of gaining firsthand exposure to the conditions of the Haitian people and relief efforts in progress along with our desire for a clear sense of next steps for GFC involvement were not realized. However, greater wisdom was gained through this spontaneous venture along with networking contacts for the future. There is no question that tangible compassion for this suffering nation is urgent and long-term. We are working hard at discerning opportunities for those with medical training to make a real contribution to the desperate needs of the earthquake victims. We’re also exploring ways that those with other skill-sets can demonstrate God’s love in this relief effort. 
At this point we ask those who are interested to do four things:
(1) pray
(2) register your interest on our website so we can keep you informed via special email updates as opportunities arise
(3) check our website for current information and
(4) send us your findings about organizations involved in Haiti and potential opportunities for GFCers to have a part.
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Serve Here (in Bristol)
There is an opportunity to serve the people of Haiti right here in our area. Kingsway Charities in Bristol, VA needs volunteers to help organize medical supplies to go to Haiti. They are open from 8am-4:30pm. Walk-ins are fine. Individuals are welcome and needed, but if you have a friend to serve with, they encourage pairs to come in order to expedite their packing process. Anytime you can give would be greatly appreciated as we at GFC seek to meet this urgent need and serve the people of Haiti.
Kingsway Charities, 1119 Commonwealth Ave., Bristol, VA 24201; Ph# 276-466-3014
They are a 501-c-3 non-profit Christian organization whose sole purpose is to provide much needed medicine and medical supplies to medical missionaries working in third world and developing countries where poverty and suffering are rampant.
"Our medical charity works on a global basis to improve the lives of suffering people by providing desperately needed supplies and medicines to those who need them most. Our 141,000 square foot facility headquartered in Bristol, Virginia serves as a base of operation for our growing charity offering ample office, warehouse and storage space required to help meet the needs of our suffering world. By offering a hand of hope we are endeavoring to show Gods love and compassion."
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