wfn.org | [LCMSNews] LCMS continues outreach to Haiti

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>2.25.2010		
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>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod  	 	
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	February 25, 2010 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 20

LCMS continues outreach to Haiti quake survivors

>By Sarah Schafer

As the death toll in Haiti climbs toward 300,000 and with an estimated
1.2 million Haitians living on the streets, the Synod continues its
collaborative efforts to reach out in mercy to its partner church, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH).

As of Feb. 24, LCMS members, churches, and schools from across the
nation raised almost $4 million and donated semi-truckloads of material
donations for the LCMS response in Haiti. Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans matched gifts to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, raising
$215,000.

"I thank God for the generosity of the people of The Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod in contributing over $3 million for relief
efforts in that stricken country," said Synod President Dr. Gerald B.
Kieschnick. "I also thank God for the collaborative work of many
individuals and agencies in our Synod who are working together to bring
help and hope to people in Haiti, especially Lutheran pastors and
people, particularly the pastors and people of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Haiti ... . All are motivated to give and to serve,
constrained by the love of Christ, who gave His life that we might have
life."

At press time, $800,850 had been distributed for Haiti relief: $85,315
of that supported medical, pastoral care, and assessment teams that
served in Haiti in the weeks following the earthquake.

More than $104,981 was awarded directly to the ELCH, and $175,154 to
LCMS World Mission, the bulk of which allowed the Dominican Republic
mission team to purchase and ship more than 220,000 pounds of food,
water, hygiene items, 150 tents, and medical goods for distribution at
ELCH church compounds in Jacmel and Port-au-Prince, and in outlying
areas.

An additional $185,400 in Haiti relief donations were awarded by LCMS
WR-HC to LCMS Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) and Haiti mission
societies, $100,000 going to MISSION: HAITI to ship 13 containers of
donated material goods to Haiti. LCMS WR-HC also will award grants to
Orphan Grain Train to ship two containers to Haiti. Lutheran Church
Charities also collected five semi-trucks of material goods for shipment
to Haiti.

LCMS WR-HC also announced a $250,000 grant to the pan-Lutheran
organization Lutheran World Relief, in Baltimore, which will focus
efforts in northern Haiti.

"Within 10 days of the earthquake, the LCMS had food, medical supplies,
tents, and personnel on the ground in Haiti," said Rev. Glenn F.
Merritt, director of Disaster Response with LCMS WR-HC, who credits LCMS
donors, mission societies, RSOs, and particularly the assistance of LCMS
World Mission and its Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission -- including
Rev. Ted and Rebecca Krey, Danelle Putnam, and Brazil's Rev. Walter and
Ana Ries -- for the Synod's ability to offer such quick response. Barb
Below, director of Social Ministry Organizations for LCMS WR-HC,
provided logistical services for volunteers and staff in Haiti from the
LCMS WR-HC office in St. Louis.

For a period of time, LCMS World Mission re-deployed missionaries --
including Dr. Jorge Groh, regional director for Latin America from
Panama and five others from the Cayman Islands and Panama -- to provide
logistical and ministerial support to the missionaries in the Dominican
Republic.

"If anyone has made a significant impact on the lives of Haitians, it's
been the Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission. They have risen to the
occasion, providing assistance far and above what was ever expected,"
said Merritt.

LCMS WR-HC and LCMS World Mission staff met with ELCH President Rev.
Marky Kessa Feb. 16-17 to outline the next six weeks of intermediate
disaster response efforts in Haiti. The ELCH plans to send a five-member
assessment team in early March to document the earthquake's effects on
members and every church or school building in its eight districts. Once
the assessment is complete, an ELCH Disaster Relief Committee will
review grant requests from affected congregations and schools, and
distribute aid received from the LCMS and other sources accordingly.

In the meantime, LCMS WR-HC will continue to focus on providing
temporary shelter to homeless Haitians, improving water and sanitation
in places where the homeless are gathering, and continuing to supply
food and hygiene items.

Already, four Mercy Medical Teams (MMTs) have seen hundreds of
critically ill patients in Jimani, along the Haiti-Dominican border, and
1,200 more patients at clinics in Jacmel and Port-au-Prince. Kessa
requested ongoing medical care in the intermediate stage, particularly
as poor sanitation causes disease and sickness in refugee camps and as
Haiti's rainy season nears. A March 11-21 team was scheduled prior to
the earthquake to be the first MMT in Haiti. The team of 17 will
continue efforts at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church compound in
Port-au-Prince.

Two pastoral care teams and an assessment team traveled to Haiti in the
weeks following the earthquake. "President Kessa expressed his heartfelt
thanks to the LCMS for sending people and emergency aid," said Dr.
Albert B. Collver III, LCMS WR-HC executive pastoral assistant and a
pastoral care team member.

As of Feb. 24, when this story was posted, Kieschnick was preparing to
travel to Haiti March 1 to see the damages firsthand, visit and pray
with those affected, and encourage the work of LCMS staff and
volunteers.  Planning to join him are Merritt; Groh; Dr. Douglas Rutt of
Concordia Theological Seminary; and James Neuendorf, communications
specialist missionary in Latin America with LCMS World Mission.

Rev. Matthew Harrison, who traveled to the affected areas twice, said,
"Those of us who have been on the ground in Haiti have been deeply
traumatized. Yet we have suffered but the tiniest particle of what
Haitians are suffering. I bury my thoughts in Christ's cross, the place
I see the purpose of suffering most clearly. Haiti will remain Haiti.
But I want the people of the Missouri Synod to know two things: 1. We
have wonderful and capable Haitian Lutheran brothers and sisters serving
others mightily with our help; and 2. Through specific strategic choices
(in large measure by LCMS World Relief and Human Care), the LCMS today
has tremendous capacity to reach out in love in time of disaster. Amid
all the weakness and suffering, this is a great moment for the church.
I'm proud of the LCMS."

For full coverage of LCMS efforts in Haiti, visit the LCMS World Relief
and Human Care Web site at http://www.lcms.org/worldrelief.

To make a gift that shares Christ's mercy and helps suffering Haitians,
visit http://givenowlcms.org; call toll-free 888-930-4438; or mail
donations marked "Haiti Earthquake Relief" to LCMS World Relief and
Human Care, P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861.

Sarah Schafer is communications project manager for LCMS World Relief
and Human Care.

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If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release, contact
Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org
<mailto:joe.isenhower@lcms.org>  or (314) 996-1231, or Paula Schlueter
Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org <mailto:paula.ross@lcms.org>  or (314)
996-1230.

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