Gavin Knight .com

Update: Mike & Susanne have blogged further details, as have Chad & Cindy.

I have written previously of my sister Susanne and brother-in-law Mike and their move back to New Orleans in 2006 to assist with rebuilding that devastated city after Hurricane Katrina. I just spoke to both of them by phone to hear of their plans to go to Haiti to use the experiences and skills they and their team have developed.

The men from their New Orleans based team (Mike, Chad, Kyle and Adam) are deploying to Haiti via Miami in the next few days; initially for 4-6 weeks. Some of the women in their team would like to go too, but it is simply not safe enough yet.

The skills and experience they have gained in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina will be of direct relevance to immediate and presenting needs in Haiti following the earthquakes there.

Initially they will assist a fellow team from Miami who have found a way to keep a hospital in Haiti supplied with diesel for generators and other supplies via the neighbouring Dominican Republic. The Miami team have secured access to a private plane and airstrips to get supplies over from the USA into the Dominican Republic (2 hour flight) and then by truck to the hospital in Haiti (12 hour drive). The initial delivery arrived only hours before the hospital would have run out of diesel. The Miami team have been doing it almost non-stop for over a week now and are exhausted. The United Nations and US Army have noticed what they are doing and are astounded at their resourcefulness and are now providing support eg the 82nd Airborne is escorting them.

On top of the 200,000 who died in the earthquake there are now reports of 20,000 dying every day for the lack of basics - water, food, hospital care, etc. This ministry of helping keeping a hospital running will have enormous impact.

Please pray for Mike, Chad, Kyle, Adam and the Miami team as they embark on this mission - safety, health, tiredness, that they can handle the sights they will have to experience, etc. Also for the families they leave behind in New Orleans and Miami - who have to handle everything in their absence.

If you feel compelled to contribute directly to the costs of this mission please contact me and I will help you make a donation.

Matthew 25:35-36 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

image courtesy Washington Post