January 31, 2010

NEWS FROM THE BRUMLEY'S...ON THE FIELD IN HAITI

email received from them today

Hi Everyone,

It's hard to know where to start with this update-so much has happened in the last week. We are so thankful for all your prayers and encouragement. It means so much to us. We are tired, and at times frustrated by so many logistical details, but we are encouraged by the progress we are making and prayerfully, the difference we are making in our community here. The aftershocks have greatly diminished. We don't think we have felt one now in 3 days or so. That is a wonderful blessing!! Please pray that none return again-it strikes so much fear in everyone when they happen.

We attended a church service a short ways from us this morning and it was standing room only. So many are coming to churches and people want to hear about hope and they are open to the Gospel now, more than ever. Our church in Titanyen did their service outdoors again at 6 this morning and they said the whole area was full of people, many more than they could fit inside the church. The Lord is using their fear to return inside a building in His favor. We do pray that we can at some point soon start repairing these buildings, so the church and school facilities will be used again. We are still awaiting a structural engineer to check out all our buildings, so we know what work will need to be done both on our own compound and also our buildings off the compound.

We are continuing with the medical care at the clinic and it is manageable now with cases usually done by 11 or 11:30 each day. There are 4 of us working in there every morning (Susan Bruns and Sheryl, one Haitian nurse and Mme. Frank, our helper) and occasionally other doctors/allied health people join us as well. We are still treating the 5 men burned from the flour mill and they are all improving. We are starting to treat skin infections, eye irritations, coughs and colds now from everyone sleeping outside on the ground and the windblowing dust every night. We have hygiene kits that we are giving out to each family (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo. etc.) to help them with cleanliness. While we are not doing food distribution directly from the clinic (more about that later), we are keeping stashes of granola bars, peanut butter, etc, so we can give at least a little to those who come because they are hungry, not sick.

We have been able to set up a system of food distribution in our village of Titanyen, whereby the communtity has been divided into 4 quadrants and we have 3 people responsible in each quadrant plus people helping them and we have taken the big sacks of rice, beans, and cornmeal over to the kindergarten and some of our teachers and leaders in the church bagged up everything we sent and distributed it to as many families as possible in each quadrant. David Heady had our school director and some others do an informal census of Titanyen before we started this, and we have come up with abou 6,000 people that now live there (when we moved here 7 years ago, it was about 2,00 or so). We will work with Samaritan's Purse to continue this distribution so we acan keep feeding them for some time to come. We will also be able to do another large tarp distribution to several communities to replace the sheets that people have used to build shelters. Some organizations are passing out tents (mostly in Port-
Au-Prince, where the damage is much worse) and we wish we had some, but tarps are the next best thing.

Our campus is home to several displaced Haitian families, about 60 members of Samaritan's Purse, a group of Friendship International people that will be setting up tents and camping here, a missionary group out of the Dominican that are also camping here and using our space as a drop-off and storage area for fuel and food distribution to ministries in Port-Au-Prince, two different medical organizations that are coming in for 7-10 day stays and both groups are committed long-term. As one in each group rotates out, another rotates in. Josh says it feel like we are on an extended mission trip and in one sense we have lost that "Oasis in the Desert" that we had here, but we know the compound is being used to fulfill His purpose for this time.

In church this morning we sang (in Kreyol): My life is not my own, to you I belong....I give myself away, I give myself away, so You can use me. Pray that the Lord will give us the strength to do that each minute, each hour, and each day as we seve Him here.

Blessings,

Chris and Sheryl

PS....We appreciate the Brumley's are doing especially during these days of crisis.

Jan 30, 2010

Saturday night. Just talked with David. Another busy day for him. He had the team from Life Outreach International out filming a lot of the earthquake damage this afternoon. They went to the area where they buried so many of the bodies. They filmed the damage in 3 villages near our compound and then went into town. They were able to film the area around the Palace. David said the main street of PAP looked like many bombs had hit. So much destruction. One area on airport road where AutoMeca car dealer was located had a wall that collapsed and crushed at least 40 or more new trucks. While the photographer was filming this area David stayed with the car. As he was standing outside he heard a moan and looked around...ten feet from him was a young girl sitting on a rock pile leaned up against a wheel of a vehicle. She was barely coherent. He walked over to her and began to ask her questions. The more he talked the stronger she became as she answered his questions. She was 21 years old. She was a student and most of her schoolmates were killed in the quake. She has no father...doesn't know where her mother and sister are. She didn't seem to realize where she was. She only had the clothes on her body and a small school backpack that had some school books in it. David asked her where she was going to stay tonight and she said "right here". No blanket, no sheet, no plastic. Nothing. He did give her some money to try to buy some food and clothes if she could find them As he drove away ...his heart was broke ...and he thought...."this is only one of the tens of thousands that are homeless ...with nothing.

Jan 30, 2010

SNOW....here and lots of it....at least 4" . I'm sure those in Haiti would like to have some of these cool temperatures.
David said they moved in lots of heavy equipment on to the compound last night along with more containers. He is going to try to get me some pictures. If he does I'll post some for all to see.

Jan 29,2010

Just had a nice long chat with David. Most of the time we are interrupted by other phone calls, meetings, etc so it was nice to have about 30 mins. to talk.
He said they had some members of the 82nd Airborne out today. I think they fed 62 of them tonight along with others on the property. Groups from Friendship, TBN and Bill Neusch from TX all were on property today. Another group with LOI will arrive tomorrow. They arrived in the DR tonight and be at GO tomorrow afternoon. Never dull around the compound. Helicopters are arriving. I think they negotiated with Chris to use his new basketball court as a helicopter pad. I'm sure Josh is loving having all the pilots around. Chris said ...yes he was but it sure made it hard on the school work.
Pray they all get a little rest tonight for strength to get through the weekend.

Jan 29,2010

Becky Ivy called and said we were invited to Brecia College to share with some students and staff during their lunch hour. The staff had arranged a hotdog, chips, cookie and drink luncheon. They emailed all the downtown businesses and put out flyers on cars in the entire neighborhood inviting them to come eat lunch or take out and all the proceeds were going to Global Outreach Earthquake fund. Becky and I also had about 30 minutes to share with those in the dining hall. Hubert Powers....a local photographer who had been to Haiti a few years ago...had his collection of Haiti pictures on display in the foyer.
The UPS truck arrived at the airport hanger about 2:50pm Mid America Airpart has allowed us the use of the hanger for collecting and boxing the pallets of supplies to be shipped. We've also had the services of some of their employees to help us with the forklift for loading all the items. They have been so gracious.
Becky and I had the opportunity last night to have dinner and speak with the Baptist Women's group of Mt Carmel Baptist Church. Bro. Frank...the pastor....decided to come with his wife. This church has been involved for years with sending supplies, teams and sponsoring many school children.
My phone started ringing early this morning with so many people wanting to come on teams. We are asking people to give us a couple of weeks before doing any scheduling. Our staff in Haiti is so overworked with the immediate it is difficult for them to plan ahead. We are so blessed that so many want to come.

Jan 27, 2010

I am so blessed by the number of people willing to help put all these supplies together for shipping. We finished up shrink wrapping the final five pallets....4 of them filled with pasta....this morning and they will be picked up by UPS Thursday morning and taken to Nashville for shipping to Haiti.
I spent much of my day yesterday fielding calls and emails from people who want to come and be a part of the ministry in Haiti. What a blessing. Right now it is difficult to help facilitate these people and teams without commercial flights. We are also getting TV coverage and collection of supplies in Louisville for our ministry through the tireless work of our granddaughter Christy.
Joyce and Paul Scott, who flew in 10 days ago to help David, were able to hop a flight back to Chatanooga on the plane that brought in a medical team and flew out our medical team . It is important to catch a flight when you can.

Jan 26,2010

We continue to receive many requests from people wanting to send teams to help the Haitian people. We are humbled by so many wanting to be a part of trying to rebuild lives and homes. The two surgeons from Owensboro...Dr. Milem and Dr. Hurley...have spent endless hours doing surgeries on so many patients under less than desirable circumstances. They given their time and their talents to help those in need. Dr. Milem will be returning back to the US tomorrow and Dr. Hurley will be coming back on Friday. The Lord is their rewarder but we just want to say "thanks and we appreciate all you've done."
I received a call from my brother around noon today telling me that a local company had 100,000 lbs of pasta to donate if we could use it. WOW! That's a lot of pasta. We went to the plant to see if it would be something we could give out. We are going to try to ship 4,000 lbs of it on the shipment of supplies that will be going out of Owensboro to Nashville on Thursday. From Nashville the medical supplies, food, etc will be sent to Haiti in a container on Feb. 8th.
Talked with David tonight. He had a good day. The bank we use will open tomorrow....he was able to purchase 4 batteries and a MIRACLE happened as he and Sheryl were driving up the street of Delmas. Sheryl saw that Eagle Market was open and said for David to turn into the parking lot. There were only about 5 cars at the store. They went in and asked if they could use a Sogebank (Haitian Bank) US dollar check or a credit card and the owners said yes. They started filling their baskets with needed supplies. When they came out of the store the parking lot was full. Evidently the store had been open for less than an hour when they went in. I'm sure there won't be many supplies there by the time they close. God is good and He provided some much needed items.

Jan 25, 2010

It is Monday again. Monday's in Haiti are always busy but you can imagine what it is like now. One man of the group that came from TX yesterady was a doctor. He worked with Sheryl and Susan in the clinic today.
David was able to go in town and purchase fuel that will be delivered by a transport truck. He went to our normal purchasing place...DINA SA ...and their building was damaged but they had someone at their gate that said David could go to the Texaco bureau as DINA was working out of their offices. They were okay to take a check. A few of the branch banks are open. My understanding is that the main bank of the one we use has some damage. They will allow us to email and transfer monies from one account to another as we purchase supplies. We'll use this method in the future. Also a couple of the hardware stores we use were open. One of the owners of A & B Hardware ran across his parking lot as David got out the vehicle and gave him a big hug. He was so glad to know that we were all okay in our area. His partner in the business lost his home and a nephew. The home was located near the Montana Hotel that has been seen on TV and where many many died. David went on to EKO DEPOt another hardware so and was able to purchase some of the items he needed to do some repairs on our place and to hook up the electricity to a new well we drilled in a couple of months ago. With so many on the compound water is a huge need. Praise the Lord for all the reservoirs that we have to store this water.
I (Judy) and 7 others worked at the airport hanger today to load and shrink wrap 18 pallets that will be trucked to Nashville on Thursday. Thanks to the four Heady cousins, Henry and Lorell Crabtree, Tammy W. and of course Becky Ivy for all their help in making this possible. We are blessed that UPS is going to send a truck and deliver these pallets to Nashville. So many hands working together....
A new 13 member NCB medical team....I think Team #3...arrived today along with our new full-time GO missionaries Joe and Linda Sullivan. What a joy to have them on the field especially at this time.

Jan 24, 2010

Yesterday there large buses arrived from the DR. They were loaded with containers that held 7.8 gallons of diesel in each container ...total fuel... 1,000 gallons of fuel. Also about 5 tons of rice and other commodities. These were supplies for other ministries and they needed to use our compound as pick up area. Seems as though the Lord has this property strategically located to help so many different ministries during this time of disaster.
David was able to secure 50 rolls of plastic from Samaratian's Purse and delivered them to the two villages near the compound. At least this will help some of the people to have something to lay on the ground as they are sleeping outside...at least 5,000 people sleeping on the ground. Too many are afraid to go back into their houses. This afternoon they received another 5.5 aftershock. David said the government is telling the Haitian people to prepare for another earthquake between now and Tuesday and that it could be an 8.5 to a 6.5.

People continue to show up looking for beds. A Haitian pastor friend of ours that now lives in the US came last night around 7 pm looking for a place for 6 people to sleep.
Today an assessement team from TX came by and asked David to show them the needs and problems in the villages close to us....this team (9) needed food and beds tonight. This is the way each day goes. Never know how many there will be to feed or sleep. Close to 100 each day.
Medical teams are still be used ...or should I say '"overworked". Our Owensboro drs. will be coming out sometime later this week.
Pray for our American and Haitian staff. The days are long and very little sleep for anyone. They are growing weary. Teams can come and go in a week or ten days but our staff is here for the long run.

Jan 24, 2010

I was able to talk with David this morning early. They sent the teams of doctors off early and then our GO staff had a devotional and prayer time. Yesterday

Jan 23, 2010

Praise the Lord that the Kendall's were able to fly out with the entire family yesterday. They are now in FL and will be traveling on to MS. Pray for them as they seek the Lord for the next phase of their lives. We are grateful for their ministry with us for the last 7 years in Haiti and they will be missed.
Pastor Etienne's 3 children flew out on the same plane with the Kendall's to be with family and friends in FL. His daughter lost many school friends and is struggling to deal with it all.
David and crew spent much of yesterday in meetings with organizations to lay out the plan for the next few weeks.
The surgical team is doing fine and keeping very busy.
I will write more as David has time to talk with me at length and give me more details.

Jan 21, 2010

PRAISE THE LORD !!!! We've had an answer to prayer in all this confusion. The Kendall's received Krislena's (the Haitian child they have been trying to adopt) visa to travel to the US and the entire family will be flying out this weekend.

The doctor in Louisville told me that my hand is healing as he anticipated. Looks like my return to Haiti in three weeks is going to be on target. He said I could start doing my own therapy three weeks after that.
At 11:30 pm on Wed. David was still working with the NC Baptist group trying to organize their day of ministry on Thursday. He was up at 4:30am starting his day all over. Please pray that things will slow down enough for him to get a little rest. So glad to know Paul and Joyce Scott are at the compound to help him.

January 20, 2010 evening

I just talked with David. The 10 member North Carolina medical team had arrived along with Paul & Joyce Scott (former missionaries with GO Haiti mission). What should have been a 6 hour bus trip from the Dominican, ended up taking almost 10 hours...one of the reasons was a flat tire on the bus.
David sent out a team today to TiTanyen (the village closest to our compound) to survey the number of people and houses that have the greatest need. More later on final figures.

Jan 20, 2010

Another aftershock shook Haiti this morning.... a 6.1. David said people were fleeing all our buildings on the property. He had only a moment to say he was OKAY. The generator house has been damaged even more and he was going to try to cover up the wide openings with some plywood. Please continue to pray. Another medical team from NCB is headed to the property from the DR this morning. Paul and Joyce Scott are with that team. They are going in to try to help David with all the logistics and administration things he is having to deal with. Please continue to pray. Just as everyone seems to be comfortable with where they are and then another aftershock hits. Also the team on the ground is taking food and water to some orphanges today.

Jan 19,2010

Just spoke with David tonight. They've had a busy day as usual. Most of the medical team went into town to work at a Hospital. Dr. Milem stayed on the compound to help Sheryl. They were busy at the clinic. Don't know all the medical problems they took care of but do know that they amputated a finger, helped with a C section for a lady in distress, worked with the baby for over 2 hours, and they had a severe burn child come in that was burned very deep over his entire body...even his eyelids were gone. Burned in a house fire. They worked and worked trying to get IV's into him. They ended up sending him to the hospital where the rest of the team was working. Everyone is exhausted. Please pray for their strength.
Continue to pray....banks still are not operating. This makes getting money to purchase items very difficult. Using AM money that people are bringing into us.
We know so many want to come and help but transportation is very difficult at present. Please be patient as we are going to need help for a long time. There are no easy fixes for Haiti.

Jan 19, 2010

The team is on the ground and working. One group is in town at a local hospital and the other working with our nurse there on the compound. They are already calling for extra supplies to be flown into them. PRAY!!!!!!!!! We need a miracle to get these supplies to them before their time is finished there.
One group of 7 men came from northern Haiti and stopped at our compound to find a place a to stay and go out and repair wells. They came with all the supplies they would need. David gave them our GPS and a list of all our well locations and sent them out to see if there were wells to repair.
Right now we are feeding about 90 + people on the ground....70 of them are Americans and then some of our Haitian staff. The number continues to grow.
David sent Pastor Etienne out yesterday to find rice, beans and oil. He was able to find a warehouse that still had food. Etienne left again this morning to buy and bring back to the compound the rest of the food in the warehouse. Struggling to find the cash needed to purchase all of this. PTL! I had sent some in with the team yesterday. Just not enough. Maybe on the next flight.
I'm going to our church right now to pack what supplies have been left there and then UPS is trucking all we have to Venice , FL for the flights over to Haiti.

January 18th

Mission flights arrived! The first flight from Tupelo, MS arrived and the people and supplies were at the compound by two p.m. and the second flight from Owensboro, KY with the team and supplies landed at 4 p.m. in Port-au Prince.
I talked with David at 5:30 p.m. and he had the team at our house, had fed them supper and they were just starting a team meeting. We appreciate all the efforts from so many that made these flights possible! God bless each one of you!

Jan. 17, 2010

Spoke with David this morning. He was having a worship service at our compound chapel for all those on the property at 7 am. Please continue to pray for his strength and wisdom as he gives direction and vision to all this disaster relief.
Yesterday he checked TiTanyen Church and told them it was safe to hold services in this morning but after another 5. + aftershock Pastor Kelly called and said the people were just not comfortable inside a building. They will be holding services in the yard of our Kindergarten this morning from 6-8 am.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give peace and comfort to all those in Haiti on this day.
David said someone asked him about "tomorrow"....and his answer to them was ...I just pray for the strength and wisdom to get through today.
The team will be leaving Owensboro at noon so we will be at the airport to see them off. Pray for favor and protection as they go.

Jan 17, 2010

Yesterday was a day of highs and lows. Joyce Scott and I met Becky Ivy, Casey Dean, Dr. Hurley, Dr Milem and Andy Johnson (pilot for the plane going to Haiti) at the airport hanger. We needed to prioritze items going on the plane. We have a medical team of 5 flying in with supplies but of course space was limited. This flight was supposed to be a "go" for Friday. No slots available to land in Haiti. After many phone calls, etc. we now have a slot for Monday at 4 pm. PTL!!! Please pray that all goes well. This plane will have to fly from Owensboro on Sunday at noon...pick up 3 of the team in Chatanooga and fly to Venice where they will overnight and then to PAP on Monday.
Almost had a glitch....word was received that the airport in PAP was not secure but after speaking with David he confirmed that all was okay there. Tim had been at the airport and saw lots of confusion but no lack of security. We were blessed that MFI brought in about a "ton" of very needed medical supplies for us. Tim was able to load them and leave the airport with no problems.
The NC team went into PAP and worked at a hospital there. So much to do and so few hands. We know that many want to come but the transportation is lacking. Pray that the tons of supplies coming in can get out to those in need.
I (Judy) appreciate all the phone calls, emails and visits. Your compassion and out pouring of love for all of us has been a blessing.
David called me and said Samaritan's Purse started moving in supplies and disaster relief items to our property yesterday. Praise the Lord for a working phone

Received a call from Tom Christopher that his team arrived safely back in Danville, KY after catching a ride on the Samaritan's Purse airplane.

January 15, 2010

Much has happened in the last few days since the earthquake. Phones have been ringing constantly with inquiries from concerned people about situation of many of their friends in Haiti. People are calling wanting to offer their services, donating supplies etc. We appreciate all that everyone is doing.
On Thursday David had contact with Samaritian Purse representatives. They were interested in locating a staging area for their entire disaster relief. They informed us that they were sending in a medical team of 16 to work in a mission hospital. They offered to allow our short term team of 9 Americans to return to the US on their plane. Also, David has been touch with North Carolina Baptist and they are sending a medical team in. This medical team has been in route to Haiti for a couple of days. They were taking a private plane and had been given permission to land in PAP but that was changed. They had to land in Dominican Republic and overnight there at a mission guest house. On Friday morning this team was told that they would be able to fly directly in to PAP however.....after 3 on and off again flight plans they had to result in taking a bus across the border from the DR and arrived at the PAP airport around 6 pm. Tim ....one of our American staff....met them there and brought them out to our compound. At the same time they arrived another group of 7 arrived from the DR with some supplies. This group was headed up by Danny Wilkerson a former Haiti missionary. Fourteen people from Cap Haitian called and needed a place to stay also as well as 2 others that couldn't find beds at a mission 2 miles north of our compound. I talked with David after 10 pm and he told me that he had found beds and food for an extra 30....actually I think the last 7 had to snack as the cooked food had run out. Pray that they will have a hot breakfast tomorrow.

Today also was spent trying to organize the plane, doctors, and supplies between Owenboro and Chattanooga. Trying to get everybody on the same page.

January 15, 2010

What a day we had yesterday! Lots and lots of phone calls. Praise the Lord for the number of people that want to be involved in helping the Haitian people in their hour of need. This is long term. There are no quick fixes. We are still trying to get a surgical team from NC into Haiti. Right now they are stuck in Dominican Republic. We have another plane with 3 drs and 3 medical staff ready to go when we get permission to land in Haiti. We appreciate all that have given money and supplies. We know there will be need for much more.

January 14, 2010

Yesterday morning at 5 a.m. Gistauve, one of our workers, came and asked David for a truck and a driver so that he could take some men and try to dig through the rubble to rescue Feliciane, the daughter of Madame Felinord who works in our home. They had found her, and could hear her, but needed to dig her out. It took them all morning...she lost her foot and then on the ride home, she lost her life. She's with Jesus now, PLT.

Becky Ivy, our school sponsorship director, and I started a series of radio, newspaper and TV interviews. We also worked all day on lining up doctors and support team as well as medical supplies. As you can imagine, our phones have rung off the wall! Delee Isbill came to the house at noon and started helping field all the phone calls. She's been a great help!

David was working on the Haiti side doing the same thing...trying to line up help.

1/14/10

Many of you are aware of the earthquake that shook Haiti on Tuesday. David is in Haiti and I am in Kentucky recovering from hand surgery. When the earthquake hit, David and staff along with a team from Danville, KY were on the compound with 125 Haitian preachers and church leaders. This team had come to train the preachers and church leaders in the EQUIP program. Part of the team went off compound to a village about ten miles away to work with and train children and schoolteachers. This group had been back on the compound for about an hour when the earthquake hit. Praise the Lord that everyone had arrived safely back to the compound!

David said we had very little structural damage but every home had items pitched out onto the floor. Many cabinets were emptied, glasses broke, TV's crashed to the floor, and papers flew everywhere. It was a mess! Phone service is still out but our satellite internets are still working.

People began arriving at our burn clinic with broken bones, cuts, compound fractures; people were laying all over the floors of our clinic. Praise the Lord for nurses...we have two staff nurses and 3 extras were visiting the property. All hands were needed and nobody finished working until midnight. David made several trips to the surrounding villages taking people home after they were treated. By 5 a.m. more were lined up at the clinic needing emergency care. The staff worked all day treating the serious needs of the people. Supplies are running low and we are praying help will arrive soon. We desperately need orthopedic surgeons and anaesthesiologists.