We received this update on the Moravian Response to the Disaster in Haiti from Br. Mark Ebert who works with the Board of World Mission, heading volunteer projects here in the Southern Province:
To my dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
It is with a very heavy heart that I write this update to you concerning the people of Haiti. As you yourself have seen and heard by television and radio and internet, the situation in Haiti is horrendous and will be for some time to come. For me, the worst is seemingly not being able to do anything to help. The situation is so bad that it will be weeks, if not months before most people that are ready to go to Haiti to serve will have to wait. They, we, will have to wait until living conditions improve. As I have said before, this is a time for the Professionals! We do not want to be a burden in an already chaotic situation.
You ask, then what can we do? Please continue to pray with all you heart for all involved, as followers of our Lord Jesus, we need to continue to call on His name and pray to our Father on behalf of these people! This is the 1st and greatest thing we can do! The 2nd thing is to help support the relief organizations that are currently coordinating the first response and working to lay the ground work for a long term recovery. As I wrote before, there are a number of these organizations working in Haiti at this time and any well known organization would be worthy of your support. I am in conversation with Lutheran Disaster Response “LDR” and Samaritans Purse “SP” about sending volunteer teams in the future. These are the two organizations that we will use if and when we send volunteers. If you feel you might want to serve as a volunteer in Haiti in the future, please contact me by email and I will begin to comprise a list. There is a Moravian medical team currently forming that will hopefully serve sometime in the near future. Medical teams will be comprised of professionals only and will only be sent at the request of an established organization. If you qualify for a medical team and feel you could serve in the near future, contact me!
Please do NOT start to collect material goods, Clothing, food goods, water, YET. We will wait until we get a priority list of items needed before trying to collect items for shipment. We may decide to forgo collecting goods in favor of sending funding to help major organizations buy in bulk and ship. Again, this is a job for the professionals, they have had years of experience at this.
You may be saying, I have to do more! As Moravians, we have responded to major disasters for years now, all over the World. The latest being Hurricanes Katrina and Rita here in the States and Hurricane Felix and Ida in Nicaragua. We have also responded to the flooding in our heartland last summer by sending many volunteers to Indiana. Haiti will be no different, we will respond and do our part to restore Hope to a nation that has lost so much! We will use our God given Gifts and talents for those that have been brought to their knees by this terrible disaster. I pray that at this time we too are brought to our knees, to continue to pray and ask our God for Him to lead us as together we respond as His hands and feet to the people of Haiti!
Father, I pray that you will move on the hearts of my sisters and brothers to use whatever you have blessed them with in this life, to be a blessing to those that are suffering. Have Mercy on us all and pour out your Grace upon us as we are obedient to your call to love our neighbor as ourselves. Father, I ask that you start with me, break my heart over this tragedy that I may be used by you, to show love and restore hope, that you would receive glory and honor, in the name of Jesus, Amen!
Your brother and Partner in Christ,
Mark Ebert