RHEMA AIDS THE HAITIAN PEOPLE
On Tuesday, January 12th, a 7.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. It was a major blow to an already impoverished nation.
RHEMA International has provided aide to the people of Haiti for over 25 years. Our staff has been providing food, clothing and medical aid to refugee camps in the city of St. Marc. Prior to our arrival some had not any nourishment in over 15 days. Since the recent earthquake, the patient load has double at the medical campus in Bocozelle, Haiti. Our staff is now seeing 100-200 patients per day.
How can you help?
· Please make a DONATION and share in our efforts to help. · Invite your friends to join our facebook fan page and we will provide updates there. · If you have special abilities or contacts, or know companies that can help, please send them this link or email email@rhemainternational.org with "VOLUNTEER" in the subject line and give a detailed account of the service you can provide and a phone number where we can contact you.
For more information please visit RHEMA International
All RHEMA programs are monitored and measured to determine their effectiveness and efficiency. As a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, RHEMA practices fiscal responsibility. Independent financial statement reviews are performed annually. All donations are acknowledged with a printed receipt, mailed to the address provided by the donor.
A Word From Dr. Fertil
Dear Rhema,
On January 12, 2010 at about 5 p.m., we felt the earthquake in Bocozelle during a weekly staff meeting. We were all frightened. Each time the earth quaked (aftershocks) we could hardly believe what was happening. I even tried to stand during one of the many aftershocks and could not. I never experienced anything like it. I took my cell phone out to call my family in Port au Prince. After 2 hours of trying to contact my family I realized something was terribly wrong. I could not hold my tears. I was thinking that it must be impossible for my wife and my daughter, brothers, uncles, aunts and many friends who live in Port au Prince to be safe.
Early the next day, about 3:00 am, I got up and started walking toward Port au Prince. I waited for the first car to pass, which took me to St. Marc and then another to go to Port au Prince. I was not able to hold my tears...all the passengers in the bus did the same. It was incredible!
When we were about 15 km from Port au Prince I began to see severe devastation. I can still see the dead laying all around me. As we arrived in Port au Prince I couldn't believe my eyes...from the bus station to where I live I came across death about every 2 or 3 meters in the street.
From a distance I saw what "was" my home. My emotions were so high, but I heard a familiar cry. My wife was calling me saying, "God has blessed us...God has blessed our family." My house was gone but my wife and daughter were safe. As I approached them I could see my brothers. I could not say a word! I was overwhelmed with so many different emotions that were stuck in my throat.
My family and I walked for three days, sleeping in the moonlight, waking up at every aftershock, it seemed impossible to make our way back to Bocozelle. Public transportation was not available. On January 18th, my family and I finally found public transportation and safely made our way to the hospital in Bocozelle. We are safe... but my family still suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome. Please keep them in your prayers.
Thank you for your support!
Dr. Fertil