Haiti Thursday

Just got off the phone with Bishop Roller. The evacuation from Haiti of our Clear Blue team is entirely dependent on the US Embassy based or urgency and need. We have no idea now when they will be home, just that they are on the list. Until then, we know they are providing valuable assistance, and being enabled by our powerful God.

Emails, tweets--any communication from Port au Prince is sketchy and one-sided. An email may a sentence or two, with no opportunity to dialogue or ask questions. No phone calls. So, we rely on sporadic information and are grateful when we get it. That will eventually change. No commercial air flights can go in or out. People ask if we are putting together a team to go down there---certainly not now. No one can. Only specified, qualified relief and military can get in and out.

Andy Yardy, a journalist and FMWM media director (creator of our Clear Blue videos), arrived in Haiti today by way of the Dominican Republic as a journalist. Hopefully he will be able to provide news shortly, and perhaps even a video for Sunday

As I am writing this, an email came in from Bishop Roller. I will conclude with info from him:
We continue to be in prayer for our Haitian brothers and sisters in crisis. Here are some recent developments:

► Jack Munos and Katie Zook were airlifted from Guantanamo Bay last night because their conditions were deemed more serious than originally thought. They arrived in Miami early this morning. Pacific Northwest Superintendent Matt Whitehead is at the hospital and reports both are doing well. They are in ICU but alert. Both have been suffered quite a bit of trauma but "we can be encouraged that God is answering prayer." Katie's family is now at the hospital and has been a great encouragement to her. I was able to speak to Jack for a few moments by phone and encourage him with, "Well done good and faithful servant." Jack asks us to not give up hope on Jeanne even though he recognizes her rescue would require a miracle.

► The Free Methodist World Missions team, together with the Board of Bishops, are working to produce a short video for use in FM churches on Sunday. I (Bishop Roller) will be the face of the video but will be representing the broad spectrum of Free Methodists with ministry in Haiti. Remember that International Child Care Ministries, Clear Blue Global Water Project, FOHO (work teams), Eden Reforestation and other FM-related ministries will be involved in our response. Please alert ministries to connect with us before developing independent plans.

► We are working to put together an exploratory team to travel to Haiti and connect with the Haitian church leaders. We will rely heavily on the wisdom of the Haitian church to create a response strategy and action plan. We also are working to make connections with other denominations and NGOs to participate in a coordinated response. We anticipate this exploratory team will provide a fuller assessment of the needs, as well as the best way for North-American teams to respond over the next months.

The next weeks and months will be filled with uncertainty and grief. At the same time, we know God will redeem and heal. He will make sense out what appears random and cruel. There will be opportunities for Haiti to be rebuilt as a new Haiti. Soon, unprecedented opportunities will open up in Haiti for the church to participate in building safer and better housing, more reliable infrastructure and a more just society. The Haitian FMC, which has always been intrinsically wholistic, will need our partnership. Get ready.

Bishop David Roller