The scenes of devastation from the 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, have been heart-breaking. What little infrastructure there was has been destroyed; many government buildings, hospitals, businesses, hotels, homes, schools and churches have been turned to dust.  Roads have cracked, fallen away or are blocked with rubble from fallen buildings.  It is feared that the death toll could be as many as 200,000 people! 

For over 15 years, Great Valley has had a sister-church relationship with a local Haitian church, through Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI). RMI is working with MEBSH (the Haitian church association with whom they’ve partnered for over 25 years) to determine how best to help their churches and the people whose lives have been devastated in Port-au-Prince. You can follow their efforts through RMI's blog http://rminethaiti.blogspot.com.

How can YOU respond to this desperate need?  

As in any disaster, giving financially is the best way to help right now.
Click here to make secure on-line donations directly through RMI. (choose the “Relief” category)

Or, if you are not comfortable contributing on-line, you may make donations to Great Valley Presbyterian Church, indicating “Haiti Relief” on the memo line, and we will forward those donations to RMI.
We encourage you to be generous in responding to this horrific disaster, and are confident that RMI and MEBSH will make optimum use of any and all funds received to minister the grace, mercy and compassion of  Jesus Christ in the midst of this tragedy.

Since you asked…
    If you are led to send support to the Haitian relief efforts through Great Valley, your funds will be sent to a Christian organization called RMI.  Some of you may not know much about RMI so we thought a short description of their ministry and our relationship with them might be helpful. 

    Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI) seeks to establish sister church relationships between evangelical churches in Haiti and churches all across the USA for the mutual benefit of both congregations.  In 1987, Great Valley began partnering with the Cance church, situated 90 miles south of the capital city of Port-au-Prince.  We have made several trips over to visit and serve these dear brothers and sisters in Christ and completed several projects including the funding of a well; construction of the church roof and benches; provision of Bibles, songbooks, sports equipment and musical instruments (including a banjo from Gary Fairbairn!).  In 2008, the team from Great Valley was delighted to be able to provide them with a sound system so their overflow crowds could hear and participate in the worship services.  Flowing directly out of the Sister Church program, the Hope for Kidz program provides tuition, uniforms, shoes, books, and medical checkups for children who could otherwise not afford to attend school.  Through this program, Great Valley families provide support for over 100 children to attend the Christian school nearby. 

    Right now RMI is working with relief agencies to help earthquake victims and their families.  They tell us hundreds of thousands of Haitian refugees are flooding the countryside as they flee the devastation and lack of the most basic of needs in Port-au-Prince.  They are leaving with just the clothes on their back and maybe a few personal items in a bundle on their head.  They are descending on family, friends, and churches with nothing but what they could carry out with them. 

Les Cayes, where RMI is headquartered, is already beginning to feel this crush.  The few hospitals that are there, including the 2 mission hospitals in the area, are already overwhelmed by the wounded.  Our Sister Church medical team that is on the ground right now has been helping as much as they can with the overwhelming need at our mission hospital.  The MEBSH (the Haitian church association that we have partnered with for over 30 years) churches in the area are beginning to feel the rush from Port as refugees are flooding the area.  Since many of these folks have been a part of the MEBSH church association, they will flock to the MEBSH churches as they have nowhere else to go or turn to. 

RMI is UNIQUELY positioned to help these refugees.  With our extensive base of operations, our staff on site, our network of contacts in the communities around the south of Haiti, and you, our Sister Churches, and many friends, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Our strategy is to concentrate on the masses of refugees pouring into southern Haiti:

•    Provide medical supplies and short term medical teams to help in the hospitals.
•    Provide food and basic necessities for the refugees
•    Provide short term housing as possible
•    Provide spiritual encouragement and witness

Please pray for the people of Haiti and give as you are able so we can help our Haitian brothers and sisters.  Thank you!  

For updated information on Haiti and RMI's efforts, check the RMI website, it is always up-to-date: http://www.rminet.org/