Update on UMCOR workers

1/13/2010

Clinton Rabb and Jim Gulley, two UMCOR officals meeting with the new head of the Haitian church in Port au Prince at the time of the earthquake, were found alive.  Sadly, Sam Dixon, the head of UMCOR, perished.  We ask for your prayers for each of these dedicated relief workers, their families and all the people of Haiti. 

The United Methodist Church had been praying for the safety of three executives of the Board of Global Ministries. Sam Dixon was top executive of the United Methodist Committee on Relief; Clinton Rabb is head of Mission Volunteers and James Gulley is an UMCOR consultant. They were on the island on a mission-related trip in Haiti. You can continue to get UMCOR’s updates at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=44445668667.

 
It is too soon to consider sending disaster response teams to Haiti. Tom Hazelwood of UMCOR will notify our Central Texas Conference when the time is appropriate. When Haiti is ready to receive teams there will be requirements.  In the meantime, we can be working on projects that are a priority of the Church of Haiti and conduct team leader training. Highly sought will be trained volunteers who have had prior Haiti experience and can be self-sufficient.

 

Basic needs there are greater than ever before.  Please give to the General Board of Global Ministries Advance #418325 Haiti Emergency.
 
UMCOR is asking for health kits (http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/) and Laraine Waughtal, CTC disaster response coordinator, is arranging for drop off locations in the conference area. An e-blast identifying those locations will be sent to local churches at a later date.  In the meantime, please start assembling with your church.