Trinity Bible Church Ottawa > International Rescue

International Rescue - Haiti

UPDATE from John Green & Sunday Pot Luck:

On Sunday February 7th, John Green provided us with a presentation that gave us insight on facts and actual events on the devistation in Haiti. We thank John for his selfless courage to serve these people in need and allow us information that's above and beyond mainstream media.

John will be returning to Haiti for second and third phase rescue efforts which includes recovery and rebuild. Your continued support allows for the completion of his team's rescue efforts, therefore your donations are still needed and appreciated.

Update from Pastor Shawn - Jan.26/10:

My Dear friends;

The following link will provide you with video coverage of our team presently operating in Haiti. www.cbc.ca/thenational To view this, click on the top right “Haiti earthquake our continuous coverage” message then open up the first video on right side “Haiti rescue”. You will see our team leader (John from Trinity Bible Church) being interviewed on site as well as the equipment you helped pay for and pack last week. There is a powerful story here. Please forward this to everybody and invite them to join you in prayer.

Thanks

Pastor Shawn

Update from Pastor Shawn - Jan.26/10:

Dear Friends:

Incredible news. We just now got a satellite phone call from John in Haiti informing us that the team has just found a living person in Hotel Montana. Further details will be posted on the website http://www.internationalrescue.ca/Blog.html or http://internationalrescues.blogspot.com/2010/01/search-continues.html as they come in. We praise God for this and thank you for your support towards this mission.

Shawn

Update from Pastor Shawn - Jan.21/10:

Incredible things have happened since our team arrived in Haiti yesterday. For details please go to http://www.internationalrescue.ca/Blog.html It is awesome to know that the equipment we packed and viewed last Sunday in church is now being used to free trapped people in Haiti.

Thanks for your support.
Shawn

My Dear Friends:

I have great news to share with you regarding our mission to Haiti in partnership with International Rescue. Our first team arrived in Haiti this morning (Wednesday morning) at 0800 local time with 800 lbs of equipment. This is better than we had prayed for.

For the many who have been running around Ontario and Quebec securing the specialised equipment and the others who helped us pack the gear last Saturday evening you will be pleased to know that we did secure everything requested and that it has all landed in Haiti. This includes the diamond tipped chains saws, circular saws, generator, rock cracking explosives, fuel etc. It is all in Haiti and it will all make a huge difference. Well done team, we are better together. I have been told that this equipment will probably SAVE lives as those on the ground are still sharing stories of receiving communications from trapped people. With this equipment the team has the ability to take apart extremely large concrete formations without damaging the structural integrity of the buildings and access trapped people. Without this specialized equipment, it is virtually impossible to remove the concrete since the area is not accessible to heavy equipment.

Thanks to all who gave so generously to this mission last Sunday in church. If you would like to make a donation there are two ways to do so. You can drop a cheque off at the church marked with the words “Haiti Relief” written in the memo section or donate directly to International Rescue by going to their website www.internationalrescue.ca.

Below are some thoughts by Glenn Mollette.

Troubles All Around
by Glenn Mollette

We are praying for the people of Haiti. Our hearts break every time we hear about their suffering.
I believe all of us are praying for them and for the many people who are working to save lives on that island. Jesus cares about our suffering. Today we feel our suffering is so small in comparison to Haiti.
What are your troubles today?
Jesus cares about your troubles.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me all of you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Yours in Christ
Pastor Shawn

We ask you to keep the people of Haiti in prayer, along with John Green, from TBCO who responds to emergencies around the world, through "International Rescue".

International Rescue has been involved in everything from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina to the tsunami in Malaysia. They will be going with a team to help in the rescue effort in Haiti with special equipment to break through the crushed buildings. TBCO is supporting them financially.

Following is more information on this organization, how your donations can help, as well as information on the Associated Gospel Church in Haiti,

P.R.E.P. Service International Support to Haiti

What is International Rescue?

International Rescue is a division of PREP Services International and is a Non Profit, Non Governmental Charitable Organization. P.R.E.P. Services International has provided Emergency Response Services, Training, Services and Technical assistance to a wide variety of domestic & international customers for over 15 years. Details can be found at www.hazmat1.net

To what disasters has International Rescue responded in the past?

International Rescue has responded to a multitude of national and international disasters including the World Trade Center- 9/11, the Australian Bush Fires, the December 2003 Bamm Earthquake in Iran, and the December 2004 Tsunami.

What was International Rescue's response to the 2004 Tsunami?

With the endorsement of the Indonesian Government, International Rescue provided medicine and medical aid, erected shelters, gave immunizations, distributed donated materials, collected information, and provided technical rescue expertise in the hard-hit Aceh Province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Over the last 20 years, International Rescue has been called on by several governments and large corporations to respond to several disasters including, but not limited to, the following:

Bhopal, India	1984	World Trade Center, NYC	2001
Kuwait Oil Fires	1991	Australian Bush Fires	2002
Guatemalan Earthquake	1991	Rodeo & Chedeski Fires	2002
Ice storm, Ontario	1998	Kelowna Forest Fires	2003
Tanker Spill, Cape Town	2000	Tsunami, Banda Aceh	2004

What is International Rescue’s response to Haiti?

International Response has been asked to partner with the Italian Contingent to United Nations Disaster Program (UNDP) for Haiti. The team is a high valued group of experts with specialized tools in the extraction of survivors from collapsed buildings. Other capabilities include advising on and the handling of hazmat (hazardous materials). The initial task will be to extract survivors from voids found in collapsed buildings. The areas assigned to the team are Tapon - north of Port-au-Princeand Fermate – south of the city. Both areas are densely populated with collapsed six storey housing developments. The current plan is to deploy a reconnaissance team by Sunday 17 Jan with a full deployment starting 22 January.

Can you support?

International Rescue is a division of PREP Services International and is a Non Profit, Non Governmental Charitable Organization. Any donations to offset the costs of the Haiti operations are greatly appreciated and tax receipts will be provided. Team members are not paid, nor does the company receive any compensation for supporting disaster operations. Trinity Bible Church of Ottawa has agreed to support the coordination of financial donations. Cash and Cheque donations (payable to "TBCO" re "International Rescue - Haiti") can be sent directly to TBCO (link to our address/location information), or credit cards can be processed at www.internationalrescue.ca. All donations will receive a taxable receipt.

To learn more about International Rescue, please visit their website at www.internationalrescue.ca

Associated Gospel Church (AGC) in Haiti

The AGC Church in Haiti started as just a few congregations but have now grown to at least 10, perhaps more. They have a President and a committee.
Bill and Wes Peach (our AGC Quebec Director) along with Dr. Kichner Firmin, one of our Haitian pastors in Montreal, travelled to Haiti last year to meet with these leaders and formally welcome them as AGC churches. There is no legal tie to AGC Canada, as we are not set up for international operations, and they are responsible for supporting themselves. However, they are definitely AGC churches. Based on what we know about their buildings, and the areas they are situated in Port-au-Prince, it is unlikely that any of their church structures survived the earthquake. We have not yet had any word on casualties.

Following are photos of the newly formed AGC in Haiti. We ask for your prayers for everyone in Haiti, including these individuals - we do not currently know the fate of these people.

Haiti - AGC Haiti Leadership Group