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United
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Foundation
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About Us:
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January 29, 2010 To All Our Friends and Supporters: You have probably imagined what it is like to be in Haiti now. I watch the news and see places I have been in ruin. I see a country devastated by poverty, hurricanes, and a corrupt and inefficient government once again under siege. How much more can one country take? But in the middle of the tragedy there are people like Gladys Thomas. Our dear sister Gladys has spent her life building mechanisms to meet the needs of Haitians who suffer. Her tireless dedication to a country many have given up on makes my heart overflow with gratitude. And of course, she is there right now, making a difference, one patient at a time, one child at a time, one family at a time, and one orphan at a time. Gladys and I were together in India when the earthquake struck Haiti. She was on a medical mission trip. She kept saying how much India reminded her of Haiti in many ways. Of course the people we met there loved her. Who can resist her? It was precious to watch the pastors and staff there in India gather around her and pray over her and the country of Haiti. They asked God to strengthen her for the tasks that lay ahead. We discovered rather quickly that our children were safe and had food and water and that all three orphanages as well as the hospital in Port-au-Prince were still standing. Praise the Lord! We only had minor damage to two of our buildings. Dr. Gousse, our medical director at the hospital, and Gladys’ daughter, Natalie, helped the hospital serve hundreds and hundreds of patients. Gladys was also relieved to know her precious grandchildren and her daughter and her husband, and her siblings were spared. As we left India, Gladys began making lists of supplies, and gathering medical relief staff to travel back with her even as she traveled back to the United States. In New York, the ad hoc team spent two days gathering supplies and making arrangements to get into Haiti through the Dominican Republic since the Port-au-Prince airport was closed. Gladys and her team, and countless others have been working without ceasing since then. I can only imagine what driving into that devastation did to her heart and the hearts of those traveling with her. One week after the earthquake, at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Gladys, the team, her staff and even the patients stopped to pray and praise God. People on the street in front of the hospital joined them. Oh, what a joy … to have been there for that moment. I am in tears as I write about it. The people of Haiti have amazing fortitude in the face of disaster and so many turn to God for strength to get through each day. We would like to thank all of you for your expressions of concern and desire to help in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. Thanks especially to all those who have shared the need in Haiti and the work of our Foundation with your families, friends, work colleagues, and associates. The Foundation for the Children of Haiti has a tremendous opportunity to provide care and relief in the midst of the chaos and suffering in Port-au-Prince. The large aid organizations are absolutely critical during major disasters like this one. However, these large aid providers need organizations like the Foundation for the Children of Haiti. We are an organization that provides direct, person-to-person care through our established facilities and experienced, committed staff. Our staff, all Haitians, understands the language and culture and can reach out to their people in ways even the most well-meaning foreign aid worker cannot. Their devotion to their home is complete and they will be there when all others have left. At such a time of need, our frontline workers in Haiti are completely dependent on us to pray, give and let others know about this opportunity to bring hope in the midst of pain. We are at the very beginning of a long, extremely challenging battle. Your support, prayers, calls, e-mail, and gifts of encouragement are enabling us to continue to press forward in hope, commitment, and aid to those in need. We are updating our Web site at www.usfch.org with lists of needs and other updates. We also set up a Facebook profile to post updates as they come to us through Gladys and others working with her. Find the profile under Feh Haiti Gladys Thomas. Please be patient in waiting for updates. The communication challenges have been significant in the midst of this turmoil. On behalf of our entire board, Gladys, her staff, and the children, thank you for being such a blessing to all of us. May God bless each one of you! Rebecca Hackworth USFCH, P.O. Box 521171, Tulsa, OK 74152-1171 or website: www.usfch.org
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