The Global Orphan Project responds to the Haiti crisis

A Kansas City based mission, The Global Orphan Project, has established a transitional center for newly orphaned and displaced widows. The center is located 15 miles from Port-au-Prince in the city of Croix de Bouquet.

The GO Project will deploy it's third team to Haiti on 23 January 2010. This will be a medical team bringing protein bars, baby formula and medical supplies. The first GO team entered Haiti through the Dominique Republic after renting trucks and purchasing supplies to distribute to earthquake victims.

Rescuing victims
At 3:00 am on 21 January 2010, a GO team discovered a destroyed orphanage. Nearby they found abandoned children and one adult huddled under a tarp. Assistance had not reached them. The destitute group had been praying for someone to bring food and water. As the GO team provided these supplies the earthquake survivors responded, “It is manna from heaven!”

Another GO team took a truck into Port-au-Prince to gather newly orphaned children and widows. Traumatic decisions were faced by this team when they were forced to determine which children to rescue out of the mass of suffering victims. The first truck rescued 38 children, with plans to return to Port-au-Prince for more orphans. The GO team expects to rescue close to 500 children, and transport them to their Transitional Center for care. Teams will be sent out weekly to care for and love these highly traumatized children.

The GO Project in Haiti
Although some of the 17 villages established by The Global Orphan Project sustained damage or were destroyed, the orphans survived. However, many sustained trauma and minor injuries. A GO village consists of culturally relevant homes with “mamas,” a church, a school, health clinic, kitchen and latrine. The church is the spiritual anchor for the children and their mamas. Prior to the earthquake the GO Project was home to over 2,000 orphans. These children have pure hearts that are close to the Father. The number of orphans is expected to increase dramatically because of the crisis, creating an urgent need for financial resources.

“As broken as this country is, most of the children will die if they are not cared for immediately. This is because the adults left behind are struggling to survive themselves. We have an opportunity and an obligation to care for 'the least of these',” says Marsha Campbell, Education Director for the GO Project.

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”

The body of Christ is alive in Haiti
The Haiti earthquake claimed the life of Jean-Marc Vaval, only days before his 9th birthday. Jean-Marc is the son of Pastor Moise Vaval, a GO Project partner. In spite of his personal loss and the collapse of his church facility, Pastor Vaval was leading worship in the middle of a rubble strewn street. His church went into Port-au-Prince during the middle of the night and distributed food to children and women sleeping in the streets. These Haitian disciples embody the Spirit of the Living God.

The spiritual strength of the Haitian Christians empowered and equipped them to respond to this crisis with so much love. In the midst of sewage and filth that would cause most of the world to retreat in disgust, the GO team witnessed one refugee begin to sing, and then other natives spontaneously gather to join in the song. Soon their singing lifted the souls of many. The power of the joy of the Lord is greater than the suffering of this world!

What can you do?
Marsha Campbell says,“Our focus is on the children. We have established one Transition Village for up to 500 children. That is what we can try to do now. We will work for some that do have family to reunite them, for others that have none, we will transition them into permanent orphan homes within our 17 villages in Haiti. The reality is, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands more children that need care, if we can appropriate necessary funds we will establish other transition villages to care for as many as we can. This is where people and churches can partner, build and/or sponsor children's villages to rescue and give these children a future and a hope.”

The death toll is expected to exceed 200,000 victims. Even more will die if provisions do not reach the victims quickly. You can assist the relief effort:

• click here to donate to the GO Project's Haiti relief fund
• If you have medical training volunteer to serve on a GO team
• Churches/organization can fill a container with tents and clothing
• Organize a fundraiser

To visit the The Global Orphan Project click here

Kansas City benefit concert for Haiti:
Club D-Mask Us, Mission Blues with Stan Pollman
7:00 PM on 5 February 2010
for more information click here

Youtube Video of 13 yer old, Anna Lipscomb. Anna raised money for the Global Orphan Project

Comments about this article are welcome.

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The Global Orphan Project saves lives in poorest nations

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