Deploying to Haiti

Friends...Many of you know that in the recent past Brenda and I began a journey to join a mission team in New Orleans. The physical shift to NOLA did not end up being part of our stories, but the community there is very close to my heart and is the reason I am forwarding the following email along. Below is a letter from Mike Brantley, who leads the team in New Orleans:

Dear Friends and Family,
If you're reading this, you support us here in New Orleans, or pray for us, for are friends, family and those in our lives here. Due to time constraints, we're sending a mass email to all of you. So here goes...

We're deploying four of our team/community here in New Orleans to Haiti in 24 hours.

Why: You've seen the news - 200K dead and climbing. There are 20K/day dying from injuries, infection, etc.
How: We got a call from a sister team/community in Miami. They were approached by people in Haiti and The Dominican Republic to help. Our team there has been able to get in a couple of convoys of fuel to two field hospitals on the verge of running out of fuel for their generators. But the needs are so immense they need more boots on the ground.

BUT it got the attention of the UN and the US Army's 82d Airborne Division. The Army is supplying security and the UN is looking for fuel trucks.

What: We're going to establish a marshaling point, hopefully a warehouse. From there, some people can purchase supplies (Medical, Rx, Food, Water and Fuel). We'll then convoy it and while they are gone, begin marshaling supplies for the next run. The convoy will make the 12 hour trip to Port au Prince, and drop it to a distribution point we're setting up. We expect a couple of us to be in Port-au-Prince running that site.

Expect Chad and Kyle to be in Santiago operating the logistics point and Adam and I in Haiti (for the French speaking and liaising with the US Army). BUT that can change when we hit the ground. We could all four end up in the Haiti distribution point. We'll see!

Tonight, we spent several hours getting poked with the tropic regimen for deployment to a disaster zone... Ouch! Sore! Now it's time to wash, pack and get ready to go.

When: We deploy Friday 22nd, and return a month to six weeks later. For many, this will be huge. For our own families, for our work here in New Orleans and for the kids we coach.

Some other details:
1. We expect to have communication with people back here.
2. We may be gone 4 weeks, but maybe 6 weeks.
3. This will impact our work with lacrosse, but our parents, coaches and guys are super.
4. This is fluid and we don't know what to expect yet. We may deploy two women in our community, but we need to assess the situation, discover what logistical situation we're in, etc.

What can you do?
1. Pray for us, regularly!
2. Help The people left back here (if you're local). They'll need help with keeping the grass cut, playing with the kids, meals, etc.
3. We need money! ! ! ! If we raised a $1M, it would not be enough... the needs are so huge. We'll use the funds to get us there, keep us there, and then for supplies! 100% of the funds will go to the deployment.

You can contribute in several ways and every donation will get a tax deductible receipt from our 501 (c) 3 organization. Here are the details on how to do that:
1. Checks made out to “Communitas New Orleans”. Mail to 2539 Octavia Street, New Orleans, LA 70115-6535
2. Wires can be sent (but they cost $15) Email: communitasnola@gmail.com. Our people staying back in New Orleans helping with the kids, working, managing donations, etc will get the routing process if you want to wire money.
3. Online at www.Paypal.com Can use debit or credit card, or paypal account. Email address is communitasnola@gmail.com In the instruction field leave mailing address for receipt – otherwise we won’t be able to know who it’s from that we can send a receipt for your taxes.

Look, we don't really "want" to go. We have lives here, families and responsibilities. Yet, the need is compelling and our Miami team is begging us for help. This is what we're about - Christ with flesh here and now. We don't feel like heroes or special. We don't know what to expect. We simply got a phone call. Your friendship and support is so appreciated. Your prayers are coveted.