FRIEND SHIPS

Haiti Relief

THE SHIP INTEGRITY DELIVERS EARTHQUAKE RELIEF...

Integrity arrived in Haiti on Wednesday and by the weekend will offload goods that will be distributed to Haiti One (who redistributes to more than 50 ministries), Global Missions, Global Outreach, Christianville, Fishers of Men Ministry and several other organizations who are working so hard to meet the needs of the Haitian people.

Past Updates:

Integrityis almost ready to sail for the second mission to Haiti. It has been a great stay here in Miami where we have been graciously hosted by the Port, the stevedores, longshoreman, Norton Lilly Agency, the pilots and all involved. Peace for Haiti Ministry has assisted our efforts tremendously and we have been able to quickly gather and load wonderful humanitarian supplies. We have also replenished the crew including a wonderful group of young men from ALERT have joined. The team at base camp in Haiti are doing good as they assist local ministries with projects and prepare for the ship's soon return.

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Integrity arrived in Haiti on Tuesday and waited at anchor until a dock became available on Thursday to offload her beautiful goods. Thursday and Friday our team worked well into the night, discharged the heavy duty tarp, drinking water, food and medical supplies that were consigned to our partner SMILE OF A CHILD who selected an organization named Haiti One to work with for distribution. We also delivered supplies to Blessings for Obedience, Metro Ministries, Global Outreach and the Salvation Army. We had favor with the dock owners who kept their own ships waiting in order to accommodate us.

Our advance team reports that the conditions in Haiti are horrific. The need is tremendous and as soon as our base camp is set-up and goods moved to their distribution point, she will turn her bow toward Miami, where another full load awaits here. Rice, beans, corn, baby food, fortified drinking water, meals-ready-to-eat, bleach, hygiene supplies, new sandals and shoes, tarp, Christian literature and toys are all ready to load.

The Port of Miami has opened it's doors to us with both dock and warehouse, without charge. The Miami longshoreman, ship's agent, pilots and cargo handlers are all helping us without charge. We have found great favor in Miami and are working closely with Pastor Rich Wilkerson and his team who are helping with the efforts tremendously. If you want to send supplies please make sure to read this information in the How you can help area.

It has been a successful mission thus far but only just started. We will keep the site updated with reports from our ground team when they have activated our satellite internet and are able to issue reports. Thank you for your prayers and gifts. It has made it possible for us to run this race.

These goods have been distributed to Haiti One, Global Operations, Blessings for Obedience, Salvation Army and Metro Ministries.  Haiti One is redistributing to more than 35 churches and feeding centers throughout the effected area.

In addition, for our operations, we carried tents, 3-20' containers with base camp and food service equipment, a water purification trailer, 4 trucks, communication equipment, food, generators and forklifts.

We have a full load ready to go for Voyage #2.

These supplies will be received and utilized or distributed by Haiti One, World Vision partners, Fishers of Men Ministries, Global Missions and others.

The Lord is so faithful to provide for those in need!  Thank you for your helping us to help those in desperate circumstances.  Isn't God awesome??  Remember that we want to continue to run these loads for months to come.

As the Lord leads you, please continue to help us with rice, beans, canned meat, cooking oil, 2 man tents, hammers, roofing nails, 1/2" and 3/4" plywood,  2 x 4's, new clothing, generators, back-packs and funds for purchasing new underwear for disaster victims, diesel fuel and other operational expenses.

Please continue to check back for updates.

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Past Updates:

Our operations are in full swing responding to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Our ship Integrity is preparing to set sail within a few days and will be on it's way to Port-au-Prince with the first load of humanitarian aid. The supplies include generators, a large about of heavy duty vinylmaterial to provide shelter, tons of medical supplies and orthopedic equipment, hundreds of tents and sleeping bags, medical cots, blankets, thousands of pounds of rice and beans, ready to eat soup and meal replacement bars, packaged meals-ready-to-eat, clothing, juice and thousands of gallons of bottled water. We are also loading our trucks, heavy equipment and Bell jet helicopter in order to assist in the operations. It's a tremendous load and your funds helped us to kick into high gear immediately to respond to this need.

Given the magnitude of this need, our intention is to run multiple voyages with supplies and equipment while operating a large scale food and medical service camp to provide for the needs of the victims. We are partnering with Smile of A Child and many other ministries have joined with us to help. Thank you for the crucial part you play in our being able to respond on such a large scale.

HOW YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Friend Ships will be delivering food, water, shelter materials, clothing and medical supplies to the earthquake ravaged nation of Haiti. Our ship Integrity is on her way. We will also carry several mobile medical "Super Clinics" in order to provide medical aid plus take our helicopter to assist operations. The ship will serve as a home base with housing and meal service for a team of relief personnel. For the Hait specific guidelines click here to download.

If you have humanitarian supplies that you would like to contribute forHaiti, please call our office in Lake Charles to coordinate efforts or email Debbie Maas at resources@friendships.org. She will set up for receipt of the goods and you can click here on how to package them. Coordinate through Debbie Mass only if the goods you are sending are for general distribution in Haiti for Friend Ships to distribute as we see fit.

If you have supplies you've collected that you would like taken to a specific ministry in Haiti, please contact Anne Reed at haitiearthquake@friendships.org prior to shipping goods.  Her direct phone number is (337) 263-3110.  Anne will send you the necessary paperwork that we can use to determine if it will be possible for us to help you.

PRAYER: Pray for our success, safety, needs met, lives touched and people encouraged! Sign up to receive our Special Forces email letter for current prayer needs.

Financial Donation: You can make a financial donation to go towards disaster response to help those affected by the recent earthquake and to allow us to get supplies and equipment that will be needed.  Please specify "Haiti Relief" with your donation.

You can donate online (click here), call our Port Mercy office, or mail a check/money order to our Port Mercy office.

Haiti Disaster Response: Friend Ships is collecting specific supplies for Haiti Relief efforts.  Find out our current needs and how you may help touch lives.  Currently we are accepting supplies like Non-Perishable Food, hygienic supplies (new), cleaning products and supplies etc.   Please check back with our website for updates and changes to our current needs list of what is needed.

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VOLUNTEER: Join our team and help during times of need as a Disaster Response Volunteer.  Individuals, church teams/Groups or medical volunteers interested in helping our full time crew to respond and to work as an effective part of our team during this disaster relief effort.

Church Teams/Groups: If you are a Pastor or group leader and have teams that would like to serve with Friend Ships in Haiti, you must coordinate with Colleen Meza at personnel@friendships.org.  We will then work with a coordinator from your church that will be our principal point of contact for all correspondence. Please email us to request the Disaster Relief Team - Group Registration Form.  Please note this is not for individuals but Pastor's or group leaders to submit.

Individuals: Individuals who would like to serve in Haiti please email us at personnel@friendships.org with your contact information (email is required).  If and when we are able to set up a base in Haiti, we will contact you via email with more information.  Please Note: Only our full time, long term crew sail on our ships.  You will need to provide your own way to and from Haiti.

There are opportunities of serving at our Port Mercy, Lake Charles, LA location as a short term volunteer (1-3 weeks), please fill out and submit a Disaster Response Application.  You may also want to consider joining Friend Ships full time to be part of the Friend Ships team, click here to download the complete Volunteer Application.