Mission teams from Camano still on track to leave for Haiti

Donate wisely to Haiti disaster A powerful earthquake in Haiti has prompted international leaders and aid organizations to urge the public to donate in the relief effort. The public may feel compelled to help the families of thousands of victims there by making a donation, said Rebecca Sherrell with Washington state’s charities division. While the charities program within the Secretary of State’s office wants the public to be generous, it also urges them to not let emotions cloud good judgment when it comes to donating money. Often, scammers use tragedies like these to pocket the donations of generous people, said Sherrill. Make sure the group is registered with the Office of Secretary of State by visiting www.sos.wa.gov and click on charities. Ask how much of your donation will go to the charitable cause. After a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti last Tuesday, leaving an estimated 100,000 dead and survivors clamoring for water, food and shelter, questions arose whether a local mission trip to Haiti could depart as planned.

Blocked roads, no electricity, a barely operative airport and shattered ports have made it difficult for relief workers to reach one of the poorest countries in the world.

Despite those obstacles, mission teams sponsored by Camano Chapel plan to keep their schedule that has been in the works for months and will begin departing Jan. 25, said Pastor Mitch Mitchell.

“Unfortunately, the time is perfect,” said Mitchell. “Everything is full-steam ahead.”

However, mission teams from Camano Island will focus their efforts in the country’s second largest city, Cap-Haitien, situated 95 miles north of the capital. The medical mission team is scheduled to leave first, followed by a dental team February 1 and a construction team February 22. Teams will take commercial flights to Orlando, Florida and board Missionary Flight International directly into Cap- Haitien.

Mitchell said teams will undoubtedly face damage left by the largest quake to hit the area in more than a century, but the devastation is slight compared to Port-au-Prince.

“We’re adjusting our resources,” said Mitchell.

The medical team will be taking extra supplies of antibiotics, while concentrating their care on the local population who suffer with chronic illnesses, he said.

Since the situation is so dire in the country’s capital, some of the three million survivors may make their way on foot to Cap-Haitien for food and water, which could stretch resources thin, said Mitchell. They are also concerned about gasoline supplies.

“We’re trying to remind ourselves it’s not about us,” said Mitchell. “People are the most important.”

Mission teams will stay 20 miles from Cap-Haitien in dormitories connected to Caracol Children’s Home and Orphanage. A Culligan water treatment plant supplies the area with clean drinking water.

Since 2002, Camano Chapel has been sending mission teams to Haiti and began constructing (to U.S. standards) a three-story orphanage on seven acres in 2004. The orphanage is expected to provide space for 33 children.

Mitchell said though the earthquake is a devastating blow to people already living in substandard living conditions, the expected influx of financial support into the country “could give birth to whole new culture.”

“They are tenacious people,” he said.

For updates on the mission teams’ progress, visit camanochapel.org. For guidelines on how to donate to the rescue effort in Haiti, visit www.sos.wa.gov and click on charities.