We are so thankful once again for the great response to the need for contributions - this time for crutches, canes, and food.

612 energy bars (estimated over 67 lbs)
347 granola & treat bars (over 27 lbs)
15 lbs trail mix
30 lbs beef jerky
12 lbs beef sticks (Slim Jim type)
18 lbs nuts and dried fruit
50 pair of crutches
12 canes

Due to complications with the initial plan for getting these supplies to the Dominican Republic, we had to look into alternatives. The overall purpose is still in place - to get the supplies from the DR to Haiti and then to the team - the trick is getting them all to the DR!

After looking into USPS, UPS, and other options, we discovered that, ironically, flying the cargo down with a passenger via Delta would actually be the cheapest and quickest option! You may recall it was Delta who in the past graciously waived baggage fees for the team Pastor is with; and they have been doing this for other humanitarian aid efforts toward Haiti.

So Jeremy Scott will be flying with the supplies to the DR on Friday. He’s praying he’ll also be able to board the small plane with the supplies to fly on in to Haiti and meet up with Pastor Bob briefly as they unload the supplies.

Want to know how to help? Please pray! Pray that Delta will again waive all baggage fees, since we have between 15-20 boxes to take. Pray that Jeremy would be able to go into Haiti and see Pastor, even if only for a few hours. Pray also that both Jeremy and Pastor would get some good contacts for the future ministry we’d like to have in Haiti - maybe even this summer.

Thank you again to all you generous donors – both of materials requested for our first and second drives, and of the financial support which enables us to carry out these projects. If you are still interested in giving financially, it is possible to mail a check or donate online via PayPal/bank transfer/credit card. Global Grace will also continue to process contributions like those already collected. Ideas are welcome; different items may be needed in the future, too, as needs in Haiti shift, or as opportunities open up.

From Jeremy Scott:
Thank the LORD we found a much-needed portable autoclave (medical sterilizer) to send down to Haiti.  (The team has been having to sterilize everything manually by boiling lots of water.) There are a few other things that I would like to send with it tomorrow:

1. Power bars - the 200 cal. kind.  Variety would be nice.  The team members have very limited food supplies and they are getting pretty hungry throughout the day.
2. Beef jerky
3. Dehydrated meat
4. Crutches and canes - (there are a lot of amputees)

This is all time-sensitive - we are sending things down tomorrow. SO! The church building will be open for drop-by donations from 5-10pm tonight (Mon.), and from 8am-noon tomorrow morning (Tues.). We know this is short notice, but any help would be appreciated.

Below is a picture from Sunday; Pastor Bixby has been learning to dress wounds in addition to his chaplaincy/French responsibilities. Please keep praying for the whole team - the needs are overwhelming, and everything is very raw and taxing emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually.

Today there’s more news from Leogane, Haiti, where you may have heard that our pastor is serving as French-speaking chaplain with a Haitian medical team. Below is a note that was sent to Jennie Bixby by the gentleman who is leading the medical team: update from Haitian medical team in Haiti (23 Jan.2010) on the Global Grace facebook page discussion topics

Hey guys,

So as Susan said, we landed safely, thank God. A generous donor has not only paid for our chartered flight here but also for our stream of shipments of equipment that’s coming from Denver and from New York. AND for the coach bus that’s carrying the 5 thousand so pounds of supplies we brought with us.

We ate Spaghetti last night, had a debriefing session where everyone was introduced to my mom and dad and family and retired for the night. This building has withstood 60 + aftershocks so we stayed in it last night. After the bus arrives today though and we have our tents, we’ll probably set shop outside like everyone else here.

We’re in Leogane in the dorms of the nursing school. Everyone is busy helping out and there are a LOT of wounded, lots of fractures, amputations and our team is already working hard. They’re eating, staying hydrated and in an upbeat mood. There are teams from Minnesota, Iowa, Japan, Tennessee, Kansas, Atlanta, and contingents of UN troops all around us so we’re not alone but supplies are still few. Thank God we have more on the way.

Continue to pray for us, hopefully I’ll have some pictures in the next update. If I can today I will, if not definitely tomorrow.

Later and lots of love from everyone on the team!

Jennie added at 5pm this evening that she heard the team’s bags have arrived! They are all working hard to help the victims there. There are lots of bones to be set and surgeries to be done.

Praise the Lord that the New York traveling team just arrived safely back in Rockford around midnight, Friday night. Thank you for praying for them!

Pastor Bixby arrived with the Haitian medical team in Haiti (see updated entry below), and they were escorted to a compound outside of the city. They came to Port-au-Prince on a small plane, so the bulk of their gear has not yet arrived. The things the team was carrying are needed desperately, so please pray that their baggage and supplies will arrive safely and soon.

UPDATE: The team is very thankful for the US marines who escorted them from the airport landing to the compound. They have no bags or equipment with them at this time. He said that it is VERY primitive. As they arrived a young girl come into the clinic, dying of her wounds. He said that they are surround by thousands of people sleeping in tents, and sadly death is all around. (9:50pm CT, 1/22 - from Jennie Bixby). Keep an eye on Global Grace’s twitter updates (twitter.com/G2missions) and the Global Grace page on Facebook for more real-time updates.

Morning Star’s lead pastor, Bob Bixby, is going to be able to accompany the Haitian medical team for whom we had the 24hr medical supply/formula drive. Although the opportunity was unexpected and short-notice, Bob is uniquely equipped as a fluent French-speaker and a faithful Gospel-preacher. Today is a day of crazy last-minute preparations, packing, passport-updating; but he is slated to fly out early Friday morning, join with the medical team, and come home around February 8th. Please pray for him to be used mightily for the glory of God and the good of His people–in Haiti.

The men who drove through the night last night have safely arrived in NYC with the truck and trailer of medical supplies and surgical tools. Their trip was not without incident (including a very close call with running out of fuel, and a brief breakdown for a complicated flat tire with broken nut), but also not without providential provision and protection! It “just so happened” that at the same rest stop where they pulled off for the flat, there was a guy there who had ALL the tools and a grinder (complete with generator on back of truck to power it) and the know-how necessary to take it off and to put on the spare the team had brought! His name was Doug, and he was God’s answer to prayer. NOT a coincidence. God is in the details!

These men (Jon, Jeremy, and Rick) are currently driving through the night toward New York City (they’re in our prayers, especially considering they’ve been working all day and are driving through ice storm conditions).

All in all, from 3:30pm Tuesday up till 7pm Wednesday–Rockford and neighboring communities helped Morning Star gather 118 boxes full of medical supplies and formula (approx. $250,000 worth!). The plan now is to drive the donations to NYC to be taken with a team of Haitian medical personnel to three clinics in Haiti. Delta Airlines has approved the medical team to carry for free as many supplies as they can gather by the time their flight departs Friday morning.

So “Team Haiti” has hit the road to NYC…and it seems it will be icy and long. But while we pray for their safety, we are also overwhelmed by the blessing that they were able to carry so much out with them. Morning Star people, local hospitals and clinics, local media stations, classmates, neighbors, coffee houses, retirement communities of Rockford—THANK YOU for your proactive generosity. Several people faraway sent unexpected financial donations online, totalling about $400, which will be very helpful toward financing this road trip and toward future Global Grace endeavors. THANK YOU.

For those of you who would like to see photos from this whirlwind collection endeavor, check out this album.

UPDATED (7pm, 1/20) 1 HOUR LEFT Time’s up!

Thanks to the proactive generosity of so many (Swedish American Hospitals, schoolchildren and their parents, Wesley Willows retirement community, Rockford Lutheran Schools, Meg’s Daily Grind, and countless individuals in Rockford and neighboring communities–too many to name), it has been estimated that we have now received over $250,000 worth of medical supplies and baby formula since 3pm yesterday. “Who [are we] that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You”
(c.f., I Chronicles 29:14-20).

Jump directly to LIST of needed medical supplies

If you’re part of the Rockford/Chicagoland area and have an opportunity to donate supplies, please consider this immediate opportunity to send medical supplies on a free trip to Haiti:

from Bob Bixby to the Morning Star Church family (3:24pm, 1/19/2010)

We have 24 hours. We found a small medical team comprised of Haitians leaving for Haiti this coming Friday and they have just received the right to take as many medical supplies and material as they can WITHOUT fee on Delta Airlines! The needs are desperate and there is a very practical way we can help: we can get as much stuff as we can collect to their depot in New York City by Thursday afternoon. That means tomorrow night a crew of volunteers start driving, and I really think we ought to step up to the plate and make it happen. So, starting tonight (Tues.1/19) at 6pm we will have the church doors open until 10pm, and then all day tomorrow (Weds.1/20, from 7:30am, until 7:00pm) for people to bring in supplies that fall into one or both of the following categories: baby formula and medical supplies (as per the list we have below).

Babies are dehydrating and dying. One very real, very practical, very instantaneous way we can help is to make it possible for these babies to have a fighting chance at life. We cannot go there ourselves, make the bottles, and feed them. How I would love to do it if I could. I know many of you would as well. But we can — most of us — buy at least one can of formula. Many can buy more. Maybe you can buy some of the medical supplies or you know a doctor who would give to our project.

Already, Wesley Willows is providing boxes for us to take! We’ve asked other places. If a donor understandably wants more information about who they are donating to, please contact Jeremy Scott (jeremy@wordcentered.org|815.721.6412) for more details. Jeremy and I will drive through the night unless we get replaced by enthusiastic volunteers!

Folks, this is just a neighborly gesture. It’s a small thing. The organization that we are helping is Christian. It’s a cup of cold water. Let’s do something. As I’ve said before, we are going to do some long term relief work in the near future, but this is something we should be able to do immediately with immediate impact.

I can’t believe I’m saying this: Go shopping!

Pastor Bob Bixby

In addition to baby formula, please scan this list of medical supplies to see if you can provide any of these items:

A lot of masks
Gauze Sterile
betadine
Elastic Bandages
All kinds of bandages
Tents

Antibiotics
ampicilin 500mg
amoxicilin 500mg
gentamicin 80mg
metronidazol 500mg

Analgesic
naproxen - 275mg 500mg
Diclofenac injectable
omeprazol - 20mg

Suture
Silk 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0 needle Cutting, Taper
Dermalon 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 needle cutting
Chronic Catgut 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0 needle taper
Vicryl 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 needle taper

Surgical instruments
Needle holder
Hemostatic grips
Disposable suture kits
Saws

Solution
Ringer Lactate serum
Dextrose saline 0.9%
Dextrose water 5%

Slings/Braces/Splints/Casts

Urine collectors
Intracat 18, 20, 22
Sterile gloves 7 and half, 8
Ointments (neomicin, basitracin, gentamicin)
Antibiotic ointments
Serum Anti-tetanic (has to be in ice, badly needed)
Peroxide
Thoracic drain 34, 36, 38
Thoracic drain tube
Scalpels
Lidocaine

Many have asked whether it is possible to contribute financially to Global Grace’s continuing plans for Gospel-driven, enduring help for Haiti. If that is what you would like to do, the original PayPal donation venue is still active. See yellow button in sidebar. –>