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Update 2/24/2010

Here’s another update we receive last night from Missions Pastor Dennis Russell in Haiti:

Hey all,

Yesterday was the first day with the team. Spent the morning showing the team the earthquake damage with a tour of Port au Prince. During the afternoon, we visited the latest shelter project we have in partnership with ICA and the Canadian Navy. Three structures are going up (two shelters, one storage) and a wooden fence has been erected around the perimeter of the property. When completed, this will be seven structures total (4 shelters, 2 storage, and one latrine). We also worked at our first orphanage putting in mattresses and pillows and finishing with pillow cases and sheets. Looks great, I think … but they don’t all match (sorry, Pastor Colleen, there are serious shopping limitations in Haiti for those without your shopping skills

Today, I took the doctors to meet with Hospitals for Humanity in St. Mark. They hit the ground running seeing gunshot and chainsaw accident victims, etc. Carrie organized medical supplies and I took the video camera and got footage. I think Craig will be proud of me!
The other part of our team is spending the day in Leogane doing recon and assessments for future teams.

Thanks for praying for the people from Haiti.

Blessings,

Dennis.

Update 2/23/2010

Our second team is on the ground in Haiti now, working diligently to get the food, clothing, and medical supplies that you graciously provided into the hands of the people who need it the most. Thank you for your generosity. As the rainy season in Haiti approaches, there is a new need that we must address – the need for tents. With most Haitians living in makeshift tent cities under tents made from bed sheets, there is no shelter for them in the massive rains that are about to come. We’ve partnered with Atlanta’s Courageous Church and their aHomeInHaiti.org campaign to become a distribution and drop off point for tents. Through their efforts, we’re able to purchase tents directly through Coleman® well below cost. So, we’re asking that you prayerfully consider making an extra donation to iCare to help purchase much needed shelter for the men, women and children of Haiti.

Also, over the weekend, we received this update from Missions Pastor Dennis Russell concerning the orphanage we’ve been helping:

A good day. Just delivered mattresses and bedding for 96 beds at the orphanage. Will set everything up on Monday after the team arrives. The kids will finally be off the ground and in a bed. God is good!

Update 2/18/2010

Missions Pastor Dennis Russell is now back in Haiti preparing for the arrival of our second team. We received the following update from him last night:

Hey all,
First day back and mostly got reconnected with Haitian contacts. Got enough wood, and much more, to begin another shelter project for a different orphanage. Will visit new site tomorrow. Also preparing for the team’s arrival on Sunday. Still waiting to hear what humanitarian and building supplies we can expect to pick up from the marines tomorrow. At the first free moment, we will work on securing mattresses and bedding for the 96 beds of our first 2 shelters. Please pray for continued success in our endeavors.

For the people of Haiti,
Dennis

We just received this exciting update from Jace Rabe, about the well we drilled in Benin, West Africa. (See the original post about this project here.)

Pastors,

What a great day!!!  Yesterday our PFP (Projects For Progress) team in Benin had the “Official Ceremony” forthe VWC well, where the village elders came and gave their thanks/blessing and the plaque was placed on the well, etc.  It is so awesome to see how lives are being drastically changed from this well.

The well was built and officially launched and only used by the village since the first half of Sept, 2009, but we are already hearing reports of better health in the village, and all the women are telling our team on the ground that the “water tastes so good.”  They are coming from all over to use this fresh, clean water.  What a great testimony to God!

The village of Sanson is predominately Muslim, voodoo, and Catholic (mixed with indigenous local religion/beliefs a lot like Santeria).  All in all, just like the rest of Benin, Sanson is a very dark place.   [The plaque,] says in French, “He who believes in Jesus, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.- John 7:38.”  Here we are, smack dab in the middle of Satan’s territory, and because of VWC, we were able to build a well that provides water to about 10,000 folks.  And on top of that, the well proclaims Christ!  That in itself is a miracle, that we got no push back from the elders on this.

It’s because Jesus was about relationship, and that is what we are trying to do.  Just following what Christsaid to do. The people know our hearts and know we love them with a weird, crazy love and that we are not there to just “preach a foreign god” different from their own and move on, but we are there to help
them and love them and desire relationship with them.  When you break down a wall like that, you better watch out, because God is going to do some awesome things.

Wow!  This is just so exciting in what God does.  That scripture really is my prayer for that well.  I pray that every time water is drawn from that well, they will get a taste of the true living water and power and cleansing and healing that comes from Christ, the REAL GOD.  He is going to break through and wash over Benin and West Africa.  I can feel it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making this happen.  I hope we can continue to partner with you guys on projects in Benin and West Africa.  I have attached some other pics as well from the ceremony.  Have a great day!

Regards,

Jace Rabe
Universal Commodities

What a privilege to be a part of life-changing projects like this! Victory, your generosity is what makes this possible. Thank you!

• Watch the Haiti Update

Update 2/8/2010

Yesterday (Sun, Feb. 7th) the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on the relief efforts of Pat Bradley of International Crisis Aid and our very own Missions Pastor Dennis Russell in conjunction with the US Marines and the Canadian Navy. Although we’ve written about much of this heroic story here, it bears repeating – all to God’s glory! Read the article online here.

Update 2/4/2010

Here’s the latest text update from Dennis:

12:30am
Today was a medium day for distribution but still a good one. We were able to get out enough food to feed 11,520 people for an entire day as well as 400 cases of water. We lost a couple of hours because of a military briefing we were invited to, but it was worth it. We were one of  3 NGO groups invited to the meeting, which included 3 four-star US generals, the US ambassador to Haiti, the head of USAID and all the top commanding officers of the US and Canadian armed forces – talk about feeling out of place! Apparently, one of the reasons we were invited was because the upper officers liked the model that we developed – by the seat of our pants I might add – so much that they have adopted it as the new standard for their future distribution operations. How cool is that?! I don’t know how many times Pat and I have looked at each other in bewilderment at the latest divine surprise.

Praying for Haiti,
Dennis

And, we just received this from Pat Bradley of International Crisis Aid who is working with Dennis Russell, our Missions Pastor, in Haiti:

Greetings to all!

I received the letter below today from the US Marines. I want to tell you that Dennis Russell has been absolutely invaluable to our work here. Without him I don’t think I would have accomplished half of what we together have done. He has much wisdom and insight. In this type of operational theatre are prices less. Victory World should be extremely proud of him. I can’t thank you enough for sending him and allowing him to stay an additional week. I do know the sacrifice you have made allowing this. Below is the letter:

Pat,

I would like to take a minute to thank you and Dennis for all that you have done as a part of International Crisis Aid (ICA) and Victory World Church over the past two weeks since arriving in
Haiti. As we transit ted down here with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, I tried to imagine what our role would be in assisting the Haitian people and prepare my men accordingly. Shortly after our helicopter arrived, I realized that there is nothing I could have done to prepare them because the majority of the problems we faced were outside of our control. For all the power the United States Marine Corps brings to bear, we remained unable to get the supplies to the people who needed it most. The first 24 hours on the ground proved frustrating and for the first time in my 16 years, I began to question our ability to accomplish our assigned mission. That was when God answered our prayers by gracing us with you and Pastor Dennis.

Over the next 14 days, I was amazed at the integrity, dedication and tireless work ethic you, Dennis and your organization have demonstrated (interested in becoming a Marine?). Your ability to locate the people in need and get them the supplies they so desperately needed has been nothing short of remarkable. The partnership that our Marine unit had formed with ICA and Victory has become the blueprint for success in this devastated region. Our ability to bring the resources ashore and provide the necessary security, coupled with your complete devotion to an efficient, honest and timely distribution has saved thousands of lives and will positively shape and influence generations in Haiti.

The fact that you were able to do all this with only a couple of workers on the ground is nothing short of a miracle. It sets ICA apart from other NGO’s and is something you should be proud of. I can’t help but wonder what else you are capable of and how many lives you will save and change in the future with continued support through donations. I have become such a believer that, effective immediately, my donations will begin to ICA through our annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). I am encouraging others to do the same.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t beg ICA you and Dennis to remain in Haiti for the foreseeable future and continue to set the example for the other NGO’s. As media coverage of the devastation dwindles, people must be reminded that the work down here is far from over. I will continue to pray that donations will allow you to remain here and continue your great work.

As for me, I am grateful for our time spent together and what we were able to accomplish. Please know that I will remain one of the biggest advocates of the ICA and consider your organization a true gift from God. I wish you the best and will stay forever in your debt for the magnificent example of humanity you and Dennis have shown us all.

God Bless,
Gunnery Sergeant Joshua Wruble
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

Update 2/1/2010

We received the following text updates from Dennis over the weekend:

1/31/10
9:23pm
Had our best day of distribution but also our worst day of challenges with our vehicles. Four of the six vehicles had engine problems or flat tires. Seems like a spiritual attack to me. Nevertheless, we were able to get out enough food to feed over 30,000 people for an entire day. We are starting to get the hang of this now. Ernst and Mark arrived last night and were a great help today! The Canadian military began removing the rubble from the orphanage and construction on the shelter continues. Even for a man of faith, it is hard to believe the transformation that is happening there!

Praying for Haiti,
Dennis

1/29/10
11:38am
Thursday and Friday, the supply lines were slow but we managed the following: 1) delivered 1,892 cases of food, and 2) began construction of the shelter for the orphanage.

11:16pm
Today (Saturday), we took a day to rest and refuel with regular meals. We feel it was a good call to take this day because yesterday we were running at 50%. We feel like by morning, we’ll be back to 85%. Pastor Dennis is sending in reinforcements by sending two more men from Victory. They should be arriving tomorrow.

We did get some good news today in a text from the gunnery sergeant who has been helping us. Apparently this is unheard of but it looks like we will temporarily have access to seven 7-ton military cargo trucks to help us distribute the big mother lode we found yesterday. Apparently the higher-ups in the Marines heard about us and our story and decided to bend some rules to help us out. God’s favor continues to amaze us more and more each day. Pleas continue to pray for the people of Haiti.

Blessings,
Dennis

Update 1/27/2010

All of the team, except for Pat Bradley of ICA & our Missions Pastor Dennis Russell, have returned safely home. Praise God!!

Here’s the text from Dennis last night:

God continues to show His favor! We are down to just me and Pat now but that did not slow God down any. Today, with the help of our steadily growing Haitian team, we were able to distribute enough food to feed 1,577 people for 10 days!! For the 2nd time, we were the only relief team picking up food as it was being airlifted in at the US Marines helipad. If we had not been there, the food would still be there at the landing zone. We are excited that construction will begin on the orphanage on Thursday. Tomorrow promises to be another great day!

Blessings,

Dennis

Update 1/26/2010

The updates below are from text messages received from our team in Haiti from Sunday evening & Monday evening.

Day Six – Sunday
The days just seem to get better. We are getting more fatigued by the day but it is worth it! Today, we were able to distribute enough food to feed over 1,500 people 3 meals a day for 10 days!! We also were able to get out over 4,400 gallons of water. The divine favor and divine appointments are too numerous for us to count. Other than with my family, there is absolutely no other place I would rather be. God is good. (text sent by Dennis Russell, VWC Missions Pastor)

Day Seven – Monday
Another good day! We were initially disappointed when we found out that no relief was going to be airlifted today, but it turned out God had something else in mind. Not only did it provide for a needed physical break but it also allowed us time to find materials to build a shelter for the orphans. We finally found what we needed and so the Canadian Navy is going to begin construction tomorrow as we resume distribution. Dr. Christie was a mad-man today as he saw 224 patients! Better get some rest, we’re in for a BIG day tomorrow! (text sent by Dennis Russell, VWC Missions Pastor)

Media Update: We also received an email from Phillip O’Conner, a reporter from the St. Louis Times who is traveling with our team recording the relief efforts. Here’s the latest article he posted, regarding the Orphans in Leogane. Click the photo below to be directed to the St. Louis Times website…

The picture above is a snapshot from the St. Louis Times article written by Phillip O'Conner, a reporter on the ground with our relief team in Haiti

Update 1/23/2010
Just heard from the team in Haiti. Here’s the update of their journey so far.

Day One – Tuesday Evening/Wednesday Morning
The team departed out of Miami airport and arrived in Port au Prince shortly before midnight. Most of the team were taken to a safe house for the night while 8 to 10 of the team members spent the night on the tarmac watching the supplies. While there, they were able to make good connections with the Brigadier Commander and leaders of the Joint Taskforce that is directing all incoming aid through NPOs and the US Military.

Days Two/Three – Wednesday / Thursday
The team made it out of Port au Prince to the Grace International compound in Carrefore. Once there, they found the compound in good shape, were able to treat some injuries and assessed the food/water situation on the grounds. At the moment, with two natural wells, the food and water in Carrefore are in stable condition. So, the team moved just west of Port au Prince to Leogane – an area hard hit and slow to receive aid.

Days Four/Five – Friday / Saturday
Yesterday the team discovered an orphanage in Leogane with 85 children. Their structure was completely destroyed by the earthquake and they were without food and water. The team provided them with enough food and water for a week and are currently looking for shelter. There is a group of 40 Canadian military traveling with our group and they are ready to help assemble a shelter, but are in need of supplies. Anything from a tent structure, to tarps, wood, cots – anything to construct a temporary shelter to protect the children and get them off of the ground.

Yesterday, the team was also able to make contact with the US Military and a local drop off area for helicopters carrying loads and loads of food and other goods. The problem that they are having is that the UN doesn’t have trucks to help transport the goods or personnel to provide distribution. The team asked if they could bring a truck, would they release the goods for distribution and the answer was, “Yes!” After driving off trying to decide where they could rent a truck they drove by a huge moving-type truck on the side of the road being loaded with fallen debris. They stopped and negotiated rental of the truck – and, at this moment, the US Military is loading the truck with some of the backed up food and other goods for distribution. The team is now praying for wisdom on where to set up the distribution point to meet the greatest needs of the people while also keeping their team safe. They will continue to use the truck over the next few days to help get the backed up goods transported for distribution by our team and other NGOs in the area.

The US Military loading aid onto the truck our team rented
to get food distributed to the people of Leogane, Haiti

Points for Prayer:

• Ask God to provide the right contact for getting shelter for the 85 orphans in Leogane.
• Ask God to provide wisdom and direction for the food distribution as well as on-ground contacts with other NGOs who can help get the food out to the people.
• Continue to pray for the safety and stabilization of the country and that God’s peace and provision would prevail.