Our group has been struggling to find time to act on our faith in areas like missions. We all seem to be so “busy”. Craigs last series really spoke to us as a group in saying no to good things so we can say yes to better things. We’ve decided to take part in the OKC campus micromission week. To us, that seems to be a “better thing”.

Busted: 5 Myths Of Disaster Relief
Edward Brown

As people rush to help Haiti, we need to be aware of five common myths of humanitarian aid.

As they rush to save lives in the wake of the Haiti earthquake, aid workers also must address myths about disaster relief among the American public. Edward Brown, relief director for Christian humanitarian organization World Vision, debunks five myths about disaster relief.



1. Collecting blankets, shoes and clothing is a cost-effective way to help.

The cost of shipping these items from around the country—let alone the time it takes to sort, pack and ship them—is prohibitive and entails much higher cost than the value of the goods themselves. World Vision has relief supplies already stocked in disaster-prone countries as well as in strategically located warehouses around the world. World Vision had supplies pre-positioned in Haiti in preparation for hurricane season, which allowed the agency to respond immediately to last week’s earthquake.

These supplies are designed to meet international standards for humanitarian relief and are packaged up and ready to deploy as soon as a crisis strikes. Cash donations are the best, most cost-efficient way to help aid groups deliver these life-saving supplies quickly, purchase supplies close to the disaster zone when possible and replenish their stocks in preparation for future disasters.

2. If I send cash, my help won’t get there.

Reputable agencies send 80 percent or more of cash donations to the disaster site; the rest is invested in monitoring, reporting and other activities that facilitate transparency and efficiency in their operations, as well as in sharing information with those who can help. Donors have a right and a responsibility to ask aid groups how they will be using those donations, and what will be done with donations raised in excess of the need. Transparent and effective organizations will readily provide that information.

3. Volunteers are desperately needed in emergency situations.

While hands-on service may feel like a better way to help in a crisis, disaster response is a highly technical and sensitive effort. Professionals with specialized skills and overseas disaster experience should be deployed to disaster sites. Volunteers without those skills can do more harm than good, and siphon off critical logistics and translations services. Qualified disaster professionals ensure that help is delivered effectively, safely and efficiently.


4. Unaccompanied children should be adopted as quickly as possible to get them out of dangerous conditions.

Hearing about the specific needs of children often sparks a desire to adopt children who seem to have lost their families. However, early in a crisis, children need to be protected, but should remain in their home countries until authorities can confirm the locations of their family members and explore adoption possibilities within their own communities and cultures. International adoption may be the best solution for some children, but it is too early to know for sure in the first weeks of a crisis.


5. People are helpless in the face of natural disasters.

Even in the poorest countries like Haiti, people often reveal a great deal of inner strength and often show a resourcefulness that can save lives … While support and aid are necessary, the Haitian people are by no means helpless.



Hello Friends,

4H.I.M. is a member of TECH (Technical Exchanage For Christian Healthcare) , an association of ministries. This is an email from one of our partners in Haiti.

Dear Danny,
Dear TECH members,
Dear Pastor “Wallace,

Thank you very much for your good words and for your thoughts with regards to the earthquake that badly hit part of Haiti.on jan 12. I was still at the Mission when it happened.

Believe me, it has been quite an unpleasant experience for us all. From the strength of it, we anticipated that the Misssion’s hospital ‘Hopital De Fermathe” would have to assume the responsibility to take care of the population in the Fermathe area. Indeed, within hours, the hospital started receiving the first patients. In no time, we were overwelmed by the importance of cases coming to us crying for help. People came from Delmas, from Petion Ville, from Kenscoff and from Fermathe.

As we were concerned about their number coming to us, with only two doctors present at the hospital and the nurses on duty, God sent 16 medical doctors and their staff to help us out.They were missionaries on their last day in country. They also had medication which also helped. We did respond to the need the best we could
and we have taken care, during these two days, hundreds of patients. All our 84 beds were taken and people were on the floor, at the OR and at the emergency room. It was 2am when we stopped receiving patients on the first day.We had no idea of the importance of the dammages in other part of the country and in particular in Port-au-Prince, Leogane and Jacmel area.

The cases we received today were among the worse and we could not address all of them.
We did release those who didn’t have severe injuries, after treatment, and kept a more than we could handle
in our facilities.

It is only today that I realize that CNN was not exagerating in saying that the number of death will reach well over 100.000. We are finding dead people everywhere.

We could address this problem because we have been always supported by friends of the Mission and by many TECH members who have always helped the hospital. Thanks very much to you all.

We still need plaster, bandages, antibiotics, SAT injections, sutures, orthopedic hardware,
anesthesia, and any other immerdency items etc.

Dead people are being found here and there and the number is rapidly increasing. Many big buildings colapsed and we will not find the bodies.

Unfortunately, Dr. Gerard Agenor, the Director of the Community health’ proram has been killed with the colapsing of his residence, One of our devoted driver, Rogen, also died under the same circomstances. Dispite all that, the Fermathe area has suffered much less than those in Port-au-Prince.

The chimney and a wall at the dining room of the Mission are gone but we didn’t suffer much structural dammages.

We thank God who saved us and our families and we pray for the family of those who didn’t make it.

In Christ,
Jean Angus

Until all have heard,

Steve Hollingsworth, President

4 H.I.M.
2410 W. Memorial Rd
Suite C #133
OKC, OK 73134
405-473-3214
okc4him@yahoo.com

http://www.4-him.net