A Thought From a Super Bowl Winner
By Ken Horn | February 2, 2010
From Our Super Bowl Outreach Edition:
“Colossians 3:23 says, ‘Do all things as if working for the Lord and not for men.’ In the NFL, being a Christian can sometimes come with a negative connotation. You can be stereotyped as being more soft or more fragile spirited. But I believe it’s the opposite. I think that it raises the bar, because I’m playing for something greater than myself. For me it’s not about any kind of worldly success. It’s am I stepping on the field representing my God every single time, every single play?”
“Connections: Ben Utecht/Pursue Excellence”
Pentecostal Evangel, Super Bowl Outreach Edition, January 31, 2010
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Rubin’s Story, Haiti
By Ken Horn | February 1, 2010
A Promise to Continue
From Convoy of Hope
Rubin, a twenty-something college student, wanted a better life. For years he studied, learned English, worked hard and did his best to keep his eyes focused on the future. But when the 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on January 12 the school Rubin was in collapsed.
Of the 68 students in class that day only 12 lived -Rubin was one of them.
“I still sleep outside,” he confesses. “My sleep is no good.”
Many things in Rubin’s life are not good right now. He has no place to continue his education, his plans for the future have been put on hold and he lost loved ones in the earthquake. But, there is one bit of good news - he is not going hungry like so many others in Port-au-Prince - and for that he is grateful.
“The Haitian people are resilient,” says Jim Batten, executive vice president of Convoy of Hope, who recently returned from Haiti where he met Rubin at one of Convoy of Hope’s main distribution points. “They are grateful for the help we have been able to give them.”
That help has come in the form of more than 1.7 million meals and the installation of dozens of water filters. More aid is coming. Already, Convoy of Hope has more than 1 million pounds of food and supplies headed for Haiti.
“The need in Haiti will be great for many months to come,” says Batten. “Convoy of Hope will not only continue our feeding programs, but also will help in the rebuilding process. We will be in Haiti for the long haul.”
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Dr. George Wood Interviews Kary Kingsland About Haiti
By Ken Horn | January 30, 2010
Kary Kingsland is the vice president for disaster response for Convoy of Hope. Kary is a good friend and my wife, Peggy, has traveled with him in disaster response.
Kary just returned from Haiti. Dr. George Wood, General Superintendent, visits on camera with Kary about Convoy of Hope’s effective relief efforts in Haiti.
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More on Haiti, From an AG Writer
By Ken Horn | January 30, 2010
I received this email from Don Detrick, D.Min., Secretary/Treasurer of the Northwest Ministry Network (NW District of the Assemblies of God). His wife, Jodi Detrick, is an excellent writer who has been published in the Pentecostal Evangel and writes a column in the Seattle Times.
You might be interested in Jodi’s article in today’s Seattle Times, page B2 (link below). She writes about a Haitian woman seen by millions on CNN. Jodi was able to speak with her daughter in the states this week—a remarkable story that she will write more about later. She also got in a plug for Convoy of Hope. The Times article is available online here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010932007_detrick30m.html
Because the times is one of the few large city daily print papers in the nation still providing a “faith and values” column, it would be great if many of Jodi’s readers would comment online at the above link. At times the anti-faith comments outweigh those who appreciate her perspective. Jodi is the only columnist for the Seattle Times writing from an evangelical worldview. Thanks!
Topics: Christian living | 1 Comment »
Texting Campaign to Provide Food for Haiti
By Ken Horn | January 30, 2010
Latest from Convoy of Hope:
Convoy of Hope launched a texting campaign today with the goal of raising $2 million that can provide 10 million meals for hungry children and families in Haiti.
“In Haiti we have strong supply lines, strategic points of distribution, longstanding partnerships and a dedicated team that can get food, water and supplies where they are needed most,” says Jim Batten, executive vice president of Convoy of Hope. “But we need help to reach our goal of 10 million meals for Haiti.”
Those who are interested in supporting Convoy of Hope’s Haiti relief efforts can text CONVOY to 50555 to make a $10 donation. Every $10 donation, says Batten, can buy 50 meals in Haiti.
“We distributed 1.6 million meals in the first two weeks after the earthquake,” he adds. “But the need for food in Haiti is still great and will remain so for many months to come. We want to provide as many meals as possible to help ease the suffering of the earthquake victims.”
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A thought from the Pentecostal Evangel
By Ken Horn | January 27, 2010
“I have come to believe that life choices have a great eternal effect. Choosing life is like throwing a stone into a clear, flat pond. The ripples from that choice just keep going farther and farther out. For example, I am grateful for the choice for life that a young 17-year-old mother made for her son. She chose life for me, unselfishly giving me to my adoptive family that loved and cared for me.”
“Connections: John C. Cissel II/Promoting Life One Woman at a Time”
Pentecostal Evangel, January 24, 2010
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Convoy of Hope has distributed 1.6 million meals in Haiti
By Ken Horn | January 26, 2010
1.6 Million Meals Distributed in Haiti
Story from Convoy of Hope
In the two weeks since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, Convoy of Hope has distributed 1.6 million meals to hungry people in Haiti.
“The reason we were able to get food to so many people so fast was because we were already feeding thousands of children each day throughout Haiti,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. “Long-standing, strategic partnerships such as the one we have with Mission of Hope became pipelines that enabled us to quickly and efficiently get food and supplies to some of the hardest-hit areas.”
Donaldson also notes that Convoy of Hope’s warehouse - which is located just outside of Port-au-Prince - had just been restocked with food prior to the earthquake. Already having food in country, he says, gave Convoy of Hope a head start to begin meeting critical needs almost immediately after the earthquake struck.
That was good news for Evenel St-Vil, a 29-year-old school teacher in Port-au-Prince whose house was destroyed in the earthquake. St-Vil was one of the thousands who turned to Convoy of Hope for food in the days after the earthquake.
“I live in a tent on a soccer field,” he said. “How long will we live there? I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Though two weeks have passed since the earthquake struck St-Vil’s sentiments are common. Many Haitians just don’t know where or how to begin putting their lives back together. Donaldson says Convoy of Hope is committed to helping Haiti for the long term.
“We feel privileged to have been in a position to help tens of thousands of families who had no place to turn to for food and water after the earthquake,” he says. “As Haiti moves toward recovery and rebuilding we will continue to be there providing food, water and supplies through our feeding initiatives and points of distribution we established after the earthquake.”
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Two Recent Haiti Reports From Convoy of Hope
By Ken Horn | January 23, 2010
Please pray and give at convoyofhope.org.
Helping the hopeless
The man moved to the front of the line outside Quisqueya Chapel, Convoy of Hope’s main distribution point in Port-au-Prince. He looked desperate and scared.
Clinging to his neck was his three-year-old daughter. When Paul Coroleuski, director of field services, saw the girl he told her father, “As soon as one of the beds in the clinic opens up we’ll get her in.”
A few minutes later the girl was on a table in the makeshift clinic, which was located in the shade of trees in the church’s courtyard. The girl’s breathing was labored and she was lethargic. After examining her one of the medical team members told her father to get her to a hospital immediately because her condition was beyond the range of services the clinic could address.
The man said a hospital had sent him and his daughter to the clinic, where Convoy of Hope was assisting a medical team from Mission of Hope, one of Convoy of Hope’s long-time partners in Haiti.
Slowly, the man scooped up his daughter and carried her away. One of the clinic doctors said that if the girl wasn’t taken to a hospital, that could meet her needs, she would be dead in a few hours.
The little girl’s story is one of the many cruel realities that play out each day in Haiti. People are suffering and even dying because they cannot get the help they need.
Convoy of Hope is committed to eliminating as much death and despair as it can in Haiti. With your help we’ve already distributed more than 350,000 meals and installed 30 water filters that will provide clean drinking water for countless people for many years to come.
“We are absolutely amazed and extremely grateful for those who have given to Convoy of Hope so that we can meet the many needs represented in Haiti,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. “Each day through our distribution points in Port-au-Prince we are able to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Donaldson notes that those who had already been giving to Convoy of Hope before the earthquake struck in Haiti played a part in helping Haitians immediately after the earthquake struck.
“Our warehouse in Haiti had just been restocked with food and supplies before the earthquake,” says Donaldson. “That allowed us to begin meeting needs in Haiti immediately… That warehouse was stocked with food and supplies in part because generous donors gave sacrificially.”
Convoy of Hope has 1 million pounds of food and supplies currently headed to Haiti.
“We’ll send more in the coming days and weeks,” says Donaldson. “We have made a long-term commitment to Haiti and we will be depending heavily on our friends to help us help Haiti.”
Life and Death in Haiti
When Gary Higgins and other medical staff arrived at Quisqueya Chapel - Convoy of Hope’s main distribution point in Port-au-Prince - they learned that two women were in labor and needed immediate medical attention.
After assessing the situation Higgins and another team member, who is an OB/GYN doctor, concluded that one of the women needed a caesarean section and the other was several hours from delivering.
“We knew she had issues and needed to give birth somewhere with more equipment then we had at our clinic so we found another clinic that said they could perform the c-section,” says Higgins, director of international projects for Convoy of Hope who is also a paramedic. “But when we arrived at the clinic they did not have the medical equipment to do such a procedure.”
Soon after arriving at the clinic the young woman went into labor and began bleeding internally. Despite Higgins and the other doctors best efforts she died. They performed CPR on the baby for several minutes but were unable to revive her.
“It’s a tough situation because you are hoping to bring life in the midst of all the tragedy and chaos and then it doesn’t work out that way,” says Higgins.
In Haiti, not much works out the way one plans. But there are rays of hope.
Since the earthquake struck Convoy of Hope has been able to distribute more than 300,000 meals. Another 1 million pounds of food are headed for Haiti from Convoy of Hope’s world distribution center.
“Corporations, organizations and individuals have stepped up in a major way to help us help Haiti,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. “We are very thankful for those who are trusting us to bring food, relief and supplies to the victims of the earthquake.”
The other pregnant woman did have her baby without any complications…Maybe in the midst of all the tragedy there is hope.
Expenses are mounting, please help us increase our response.
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Convoy Report From Haiti #6
By Ken Horn | January 19, 2010
Food Still in Short Supply
The following is the sixth of many field reports that will be sent from our Haiti field reporter Kirk Noonan
The sun has only been up for a couple hours, but already the streets are full as Haitians go to church, flee the city, search for food and water, or sift through the rubble that once was their homes.
“The Haitian people have a history of being resilient and bouncing back from tragedies,” says Steve Aldrich, missionary to Haiti who is working with Convoy of Hope. “but there remains tremendous need.”
On Delmas, one of the main roads where the devastation was the worst in Port-au-Prince, people gather around vendors who are selling bread, fruit and other food products.
Flanking the street, buildings flattened like stacks of pancakes have furniture, mattresses and even bodies dangling precariously between squished levels.
“In the future, as the international community helps in this crisis, there is going to continue to be long-term need for health, food, water, and lodging,” says Aldrich.
You can help with those needs.
As our assessment team goes down Delmas our trucks slow to a stop because a throng of people surround the bodies of two young men in the street. Both have their hands tied behind their backs and have been executed for reasons unknown.
Tragedy and despair seem to loom over the city and its people. The bodies of the young men are a grim reminder that life in Haiti is precarious.
But a conversation yesterday with a Haitian man—who received food from Convoy of Hope—might truly reflect people’s resolve and love for life.
“I’m alive and on the earth still,” he said. “And our family will do whatever it takes to survive.”
A donation to Convoy of Hope will help spread hope in Haiti.
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The First 4 Convoy of Hope Reports on Haiti
By Ken Horn | January 18, 2010
A compilation of the early reports from Convoy. A compilation of Kirk Noonan’s on-site reports to come.
7.0 Earthquake Rocks Haiti Convoy of Hope is Responding
A 7.0 earthquake struck the country of Haiti, leveling buildings, cutting off communications and leaving the world wondering about the state of this poor country. Witnesses said buildings were destroyed and many people injured. The lack of communications is hindering the ability to determine the full extent of damage and destruction.
Convoy of Hope is establishing an emergency command center just outside the city of Port-au-Prince where food, water and supplies will be distributed to victims of the earthquake that rocked Haiti on Tuesday.
“Our Haiti country director is on the ground and we are working closely with our partners to check on the children we feed and also to assist victims with immediate needs,” says Hal Donaldson, founder and president of Convoy of Hope. “We have a warehouse in Haiti and have food and supplies immediately available to those in need. In the next few days several more containers filled with relief supplies will be prepared and shipped immediately to Haiti.”
Initial reports indicate that many buildings, homes and walls toppled under the strain of the earthquake. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many of its nearly 10 million residents live in abject poverty.
For several years Convoy of Hope has worked in Haiti and currently feeds 7,000 children there each day.
Meeting needs in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
Untold numbers of people have died. Tens of thousands have been injured or left homeless. Tuesday’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti decimated the country.
“I heard screams for help from everywhere,” said Kevin Rose, Convoy of Hope’s country director for Haiti, describing the hours after the earthquake hit. “I am seeing many dead and injured people. The need is beyond description.”
On Tuesday night dozens of injured people made it to the medical clinic at the mission where Convoy of Hope has its warehouse. By morning four of those injured were dead.
As the world looks on and aid teams are deployed to the island nation, Convoy of Hope is already setting up an emergency command center just outside Port-au-Prince where food, water and supplies are being distributed to victims of the earthquake.
“This is a major disaster that will affect the lives of countless families for years to come,” says Hal Donaldson, founder and president of Convoy of Hope. “Thankfully, our warehouse in Haiti was full so we could begin responding immediately. More containers are being staged for shipment and filled with more food, water and supplies in our world distribution center in Springfield, Mo.”
According to Rose, besides food and water there is an urgent need for tarps, tents, medical supplies and medicine too.
Your gift can be put to work immediately helping the victims of this tragic earthquake.
“Timing is critical,” says Greg Venturella, senior director international operations for Convoy of Hope. “Food, medical supplies and water are scarce.”
Tomorrow, Venturella and Kary Kingsland, vice president disaster response, will lead teams into the region. Venturella will pick up medical supplies from a partner organization in the Dominican Republic then continue on into Haiti where the relief supplies will be distributed at Convoy of Hope’s distribution point.
Because of the extent of damage and estimated loss of life, Convoy of Hope has already committed to long-term relief efforts in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many of its nearly 10 million residents live in abject poverty.
Already, Convoy of Hope feeds more than 7,000 Haitian children each day.
“We need the help of our friends and supporters to meet short and the long-term needs in Haiti,” says Donaldson. “Convoy of Hope is committed to helping hurting families rebuild their lives.”
Bringing hope to Haiti
Thursday morning seven members of the Convoy of Hope team began their journey to the devastated island-nation, Haiti. They plan to arrive in Port-au-Prince Friday morning and immediately begin an assessment of the destruction there.
Awaiting them on-ground is Kevin Rose, Convoy of Hope’s Country Director for Haiti. Rose was in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake took place and describes the current situation as, “simply overwhelming. It stretches your mind in a hundred different directions.”
Rose is now awaiting the arrival of his team members. Once together they will evaluate the situation and strategically plan to meet the needs of Haitian people as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Gary Higgins, member of the International Team at Convoy of Hope and an experienced former paramedic, is part of that team. He stated, “Our first hope is to meet the three most basic needs for as many people as we can; water, food and shelter. Because the temperature levels in Haiti range between eight-five and ninety degrees Fahrenheit, our priority has to be water. In those kinds of temperatures people can only live 2-5 days without it.”
Due to the innumerable amount of people injured, Gary and another medical team member have plans to set up a mobile triage clinic. They also hope to assist at an established clinic located at the Mission of Hope, an organization with which Convoy of Hope has established a deep-rooted partnership. This clinic is still desperate for experienced staff, medicine and other medical supplies.
Though there is seemingly an insurmountable amount of death and destruction, optimism still reigns. Rose related a story that brings hope and shows that the Haitian people are not giving up.
“Last night I was laying in bed, trying to process all that had had happened in that first full day since the earthquake. As I was lying there, I could hear the voices of people in the streets. I expected to hear cries of desperation and angst; instead I heard the singing of hymns and lifting prayers.”
Relief effort in full swing
In the wake of Haiti’s 7.0 earthquake, Convoy of Hope relief teams are on the ground in Port-au-Prince distributing food, water, medicine and more. Water purification units are also being implemented.
When the earthquake hit, Convoy’s country director was in Port-au-Prince. And because Convoy’s warehouse was fully stocked, the team was able to begin responding immediately with 50,000 meals.
One load of relief supplies is being airlifted shortly and another truckload of food and medicine just arrived from the Dominican Republic. Additional loads are being readied for immediate shipment and distribution at several points of distribution in Port-au-Prince.
Security personnel have been retained to protect the relief workers. Volunteer teams are being asked to register at goteams@convoyofhope.org. However, until Convoy of Hope can ensure their safety, volunteers will not be deployed.
“The best way to assist the people of Haiti right now,” says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope, is by making a cash gift. “This is a major disaster that requires a major response. We’re encouraging people to join with their family and friends and make a sacrificial gift so more people can receive help. Our pledge is to stretch every dollar to minister to as many suffering people as possible.”
Go to the Convoy site to donate.
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