Human need in Haiti
continues to overwhelm logistical response, but a steady stream of North
Carolina Baptist teams are ministering to the sick and building shelters for
internally displaced Haitians.
Gaylon Moss, who coordinates
disaster response for North Carolina Baptist Men, said that through July 3, 295
volunteers have seen 23,497 patients at various clinics and hospitals, have
served more than 25,000 meals, built 229 temporary shelters and have witnessed
334 persons trusting Christ as savior.
“We’ve been quite pleased
with response from folks,” said Moss. N.C. Baptist Men plans to continue relief
efforts in Haiti through August of 2011, concentrating on medical teams and
construction both of temporary shelters and helping churches rebuild.
Church reconstruction
employs local Haitian labor, using materials bought with contributions to N.C.
Baptist Men. Volunteers who wish can be involved with church construction.
Moss recognizes the
desolation still laying over the country as news reports detail relief efforts
stymied by local politics, decimated infrastructure and conflicts over property
ownership.
The positive news coming
back with North Carolina volunteers focuses on individual victories, as
volunteers distribute baby clothes, nurse the sick and injured back to health
or build a shelter that a joyful family moves into that had been living under a
piece of tin.
“Most volunteers come away
impressed with the Haitians’ attitudes and their willingness to help in such a
terrible time,” Moss said.
Raw material for the
temporary shelters is supplied by Samaritan’s Purse and consists of four poles
to form a 15 by 15 foot room, a tin roof and durable tarp to wrap the poles.
Inside there are two large shelves that can be used as beds or for storage.
A recent team installed rain
gutters on the shelters by which the occupants can collect clean rain water.
Moss said the local mayor
and church leadership pick the families that are to receive the temporary
shelters. North Carolina volunteers are not put in that position.
After six months of sending
volunteers a schedule has been established for efficiency. Getting into Port au
Prince is still a hassle, but Baptist Men has an onsite coordinator and housing
for volunteers to make the logistics as smooth as possible. Scott and Janet
Daughtry coordinate volunteer efforts onsite.
Teams leave each week on
Sunday and return the following Saturday. Cost is $1,100 per person, which
covers airline ticket, accident insurance, food, housing and transportation in
country.
Volunteers must fill out an
individual profile at www.ncmissions.org. Payment is made to Baptist Men which
makes the travel arrangements.
Individuals can join other
teams. Moss said ideal team size to accommodate in country logistics is 6-8
each for construction and for medical volunteers. There is flexibility
according to need.
Volunteers leave either from
Charlotte or Raleigh. They should check with their doctors about necessary
immunizations.