Together with the Haitian churches and leaders, DR network leaders, and thousands of Haitian families supported in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, DCC would like to express our gratitude the churches and individuals who have given generously to network relief and recovery efforts.

DCC’s participation in the efforts of the Dominican RDC Network and the emerging network of pastors and church leaders in Haiti prior to the earthquake opened up the channels to bless those in need with the desperately needed relief supplies. Now, just over a week and a half ago several of us DR network leaders traveled again to the greater Port au Prince area to meet with some of the pastors and follow up on the supplies that were sent, as well as to continue to assess the needs and develop coordinated responses to the long term recovery.

It was a blessing to be able to share with Walter Dortd and Raymond Narcius, co-pastors of a missionally minded church they planted outside of Croix des Bouquets (10 km northeast of Port au Prince). They have connected with the pastors and churches that since September have been walking together in the formation of the Haitian Network. Twenty-six churches serving 15 different communities in and around the capital reached out to identify the most vulnerable families in their communities to direct the relief supplies.

Networked church connections outside of the capital that have received large influxes of internally displaced peoples fleeing Port au Prince have also received support as they have opened their doors to receive, provide shelter and assistance in food and provisions. Fifteen churches of Belladere (Central plateau region) served over 2,000 families with 2 weeks. They provided of food kits, water and hygiene supplies. A thousand families in Tru de Nour (northern coast) were served through local churches connected to Esperanza International’s micro credit and community transformation programs.

Meeting Needs

DCC has channeled $147,502 from your generous donations from Jan 21st (one week and two days after the earthquake) up until just last week (Feb. 19th).

A total of $129,526 of those funds went into the purchasing and transportation of the family food and hygiene kits, shelter and bedding, medicines, and drinking water that were distributed to families in need through local Haitian churches.

A total of $17,929 on hand will be invested this week in church based demolition/construction tool kits to empower the local Haitian churches to organize and equip work groups of 10 to help vulnerable families clean up the destroyed houses their properties, as well as the many church structures that were damaged or destroyed. Each kit costs an estimated $310 which includes 2 wheelbarrows, sledge hammers, cold chisels, 2 hard hats, protective goggles, a pick, two shovels, a hack saw and blades, and a roofing hammer. Remaining funds will also go towards the purchase of more temporary aluminum and vinyl housing structures (10x 20) and plastic tarps ropes and shelter materials to prepare for the upcoming rainy season and continued food and water supplies to the most vulnerable families identified by the church leaders.

In summary, donations were invested in the following relief supplies:

1. Food and Hygiene Family Kits: US$ $113,888.89

2. Water (water bottles and gallons: US$ $1,365.83

3. Shelter: US$ $5,376.34

4. Transportation: US$ $5,416.67

5. Others (Batteries, sound equipment): US$ $1,238.88

SUB-TOTAL $ 127,286.61

6. Administration (Logistics, communications, local transport) and Others (Trip to Haiti Feb 11, 2010): US$ $2,239.69

Total relief funds channeled and invested: $129,526.30

Serving Families

These funds served over 4,576 families (23,250 individuals) through the distribution channels of over 35 local Haitian churches from more than 20 neighborhoods/areas from the impacted around Port Au Prince.

They also touched the lives of 2,000 families (10,000 individuals) that were internally displaced in the communities of Belladere and Tru de Nour and surrounding areas through more than 20 local churches.

The networked efforts also provided over 6 medical centers with locally donated medicines and assisted “ Mision Rescate” a collaborative relief effort to serve the refugee camp populations in central PAP that was set up 2 days after the earthquake in the National Police headquarters by sending food water and supplies as well as medical volunteers.

A Network of Connections

The beauty of working in a network is the connections. Connections to find the best prices on supplies bought locally, transportation logistics, local volunteer support, church connections in Haiti, and identification of the needs on the ground, etc.

The families, churches, and communities served through these efforts in the impacted communities in and around Port au Prince were in almost all cases left out of the mass distribution of the larger aid and relief that tended to focus on the IDP makeshift camps that continue to sprout up around the city. Those who have stayed in their neighborhoods are sleeping on the streets at night, attempting to clean up their destroyed homes, but are generally left out of the mass distribution of aid. In other words, people are expected to go to central distribution points, which tend to be near the IDP camps or UN bases, and so have to leave their neighborhoods. Another interesting insight churches there shared with us is that most evangelical churches are not approached to play a role in the relief and recovery by larger organizational aide efforts.

Pastors also shared with us that many Christians avoid the mass distributions of food and supplies due to the chaotic nature and conflicts that often occur there in the long lines that form for hours a day. So, the networked effort has been reaching out to pockets of disaster victims that have been largely untouched by many of the other larger efforts. We are thankful for the relational connections that have allowed us to be a blessing to these families in need.

Since the need is so overwhelming, we will continue to strategically supply these churches with food and water and more shelter kits. Once the demolition/construction tool kits are in use and being administered well by the church based efforts, we will include more churches in this initiative with this equipment.

Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Response

The local churches are letting us know that recovery efforts have to look towards simple sustainable food production alternatives for the communities in need.

Walter and Raymond have already been trained in appropriate technology methods for home gardening, tilapia production, and chicken and rabbit animal husbandry and prior to the earthquake had shared these ideas and skills with several pastors and their communities. We will be investigating the start up costs related to some of these appropriate technology alternatives for food production and will let our supporters know how they can be involved in funding these efforts with more details. We have received two water purification systems donated through the GE foundation and we are working on getting the locations identified in order to install then and begin operations.

In an effort to continue to build into the emerging Haitian church network the Dominican Red del Camino wants to sponsor 5 to 10 Haitian pastors and church leaders to attend the DR national network gathering in April. It will be an opportunity to deepen relationships, continue dialogue on how we can be one as Kingdom citizens overcoming the historic national, cultural separations that exist. For a Haitian leader to participate in this gathering we would need funding for transportation ($150 dollars) and fees for the three day gathering $125).

This is a critical time for the church to be the church and offer an alternative structure for life in all its fullness by offering experienced network leadership to accompany the emerging strong leadership in Haiti. Thank you again for being a part of these efforts through your faithful prayers and your generous support to this small but effective networked approach. We will continue to send you reports in the coming weeks.

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Thank you for supporting these efforts. Because we raise our operating budget separately, all donations for Haiti made through DCC are channeled 100% to this coordinated/networked effort from the DR. Download a PDF with more detailed information about our relief efforts.

Trusting in Christ our rock,

Tom and Dee