Relief Efforts in Pignon

I'm happy to report that Will & Natalie made it safely to Iowa last Thursday night and are doing great. They got to my parents' about 9:30pm Thursday night and immediately played in the snow for awhile. They'd already been to McDonald's twice since their arrival in the States the previous day, and they were lovin' it! :) Now they've had a chance to play with their cousins, find all the toys at Grandma's they'd forgotten about and reunite with friends at church. This week Grandma plans to find some routine in all this and hopes to crack the school books. We are thankful that so far the kids are happy to be in Iowa and adjusting well. Please pray for my parents as they do to find routine and discover the balance between being grandparents and "parents" for a time. We also hope to find a recent grad, retired teacher or someone willing with a teaching background to homeschool Will & Natalie while they're here. If you are aware of any possible candidates for this, contact Bev Brand at bbrand@trcpella.com. Thanks to those of you who have welcomed Will & Natalie back, shared clothes with them, and been in prayer for their transition.

Below is a summary of relief efforts in Pignon that I received from Bev Brand yesterday. I wanted to pass it on. Please also keep watching the blog because I think we will have some specific ways you can donate time, money and materials very soon. Thanks for your continued prayers and support. Here's the summary:

The following is an update on the disaster relief efforts from Pignon, Haiti. The hospital is now treating many patients with broken bones and head trauma. Jared reported they were amputating many limbs – one little girl just lost both feet. The hospital is running surgery 24/7 and has secured enough fuel to last a month (2,000 gallons of diesel). The costs are skyrocketing because of shortages of fuel and food. The churches are going to have to step up to help as the hospital is not currently receiving any aid from Red Cross, other big humanitarian agencies or the government of Haiti. Pray we can reach the right people and they will help with the effort. Many industries and businesses will not to give to groups that have religious or Christian ties so we are missing out on huge matching funds from many places as well. Tons of money is pouring in to Haiti……pray that God will provide the needed funds for this hospital as they continue to serve the poorest of the poor as a Charity Hospital in Haiti. Keep praying --- Jared and Stacey have really felt your prayers!
Bev Brand (Please feel free to pass along to others who are interested)


Haiti Earthquake Update Jan. 23/10: Summary of what is being done through Hospital Bienfaicanse (Promise for Haiti) in Pignon as of 1/23/10:

• Dr. Guy, Dr. Batsch and Jared Nikkel are heading up the response team for the hospital in Pignon. All efforts are being coordinated and filtered through this team.
• Many emergency medical response teams with surgeons, orthopedic specialists and trauma teams are arriving daily at the hospital. These teams are being coordinated through Dr. Guy, Dr. Batsch, and Jared Nikkel on the ground for Promise For Haiti with PFH partner organizations. (Project Haiti, Community Coalition for Haiti- CCH, Many Hands for Haiti – MH4H)
• Work project mission trips have been suspended for the short term to allow space for medical emergency teams. Work trips will resume as the crisis stabilizes. Iowa groups are working on getting non-medical supplies to Pignon.
• Jared and Stacey Nikkel have sent their children back to Iowa so they can concentrate on the relief effort in Pignon.
• At last count there were 60+ admitted patients with fractures and head trauma with an unknown number of outpatients that have been treated and released with stable injuries. The numbers may more than double in the next few days.
• There are plans in place to house patients in various buildings around the hospital and at satellite locations in the area when the hospital cannot house them.
• The hospital received some medical supplies from Rotary International yesterday. All are now inventoried, stored and ready for use. Another 4.6 tons of medical supplies is being shipped out of Clearwater, Fl. for arrival later today.
• The focus now is supplies and patients. Missionary Aviation Fellowship is working with the hospital to fly in supplies and patients from Port au Prince. Missionary Flights International is flying in cargo and medical teams from Ft. Pierce, Fl. CCH and Project Haiti are also working with the Coast Guard and other means to get in supplies.
• Jared Nikkel is working on contacts in Port au Prince to coordinate getting patients from Port for treatment to Pignon via ground and air.
• The hospital is working with families of patients to help provide basic provisions, food, water and shelter.
• A much needed reliable communications system is being sent and installed.
• Senator Bill Frist, Tennessee, has been contacted to help obtain funding from the large humanitarian organization he supports. He is on the ground in Haiti at the moment and may make a visit to the hospital in Pignon. (Promise for Haiti is based out of Nashville, TN.)
• The PFH Board is working on contacts to ask/apply for some funds from the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse and other humanitarian organizations.
• Promise for Haiti has been committed to providing long term solutions to the problems in Haiti for the past 27 years through health care, education, water and agriculture programs. These programs will all continue but the focus is to step up to the plate to help in this massive disaster relief effort in the short term.
• Dr. Guy and Dr. Batsch will be speaking at the Global Health Conference and participating in grand rounds at Vanderbilt University on Feb. 12 to raise awareness of health care and other related issues in Haiti.

Please continue to cover these human efforts with prayers for supernatural power, wisdom and strength. Dr. Guy and team have reiterated that this is the “Lord’s Hospital” and all are ready and willing to serve in this relief effort. Dr. Batsch uses this quote: “To Serve, you only need a Heart full of Grace, and a Soul generated by Love” (Martin L. King Jr). And from Dr. Guy: “Many groups have contributed to the making of our Hospital. Pignon is the Lord’s place and belongs to all mission groups working with us. The Lord is our Master.”