A northeast Nebraska church group arrived in Haiti on Monday, brimming with excitement about its mission to build a community center.
“Tomorrow is predicting sunshine and a new day of ministry opportunities,” Kristi Carmichael blogged to friends at Norfolk's First Christian Church before settling in for the night.
Any sunshine Tuesday was eclipsed, however, by the earthquake that stole countless lives and affected millions. The four Nebraskans escaped injury. They were traveling away from the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, at the time of the quake.
But a new day of ministry truly is before them, said Tim DeFor, First Christian's lead minister.
The Nebraskans are expected to put their original project on hold and tend to more urgent post-quake demands.
“Their task has changed,” DeFor said in an interview from Norfolk. “They are being called upon to respond to the need.”
Original plans called for Carmichael, of Norfolk, and Jody Caldwell and John and Rhonda Prusa of Stanton to help lay the foundation for a new multipurpose center in the northwest Haitian community of La Plaine, DeFor said.
First Christian has raised $27,000 to construct the building, which eventually will serve as a church, school and health clinic for the impoverished village.
Carmichael had been to the area twice before, and this was about the 10th trip by church members. La Plaine has become their adopted community of sorts, DeFor said.
“The needs are so great in Haiti,” he said. “We felt like if we could start meeting the needs of one small area, it would build hope and that hope would grow.”
With human and cleanup needs so different and vast now, DeFor said the Nebraska group probably will join in the delivery of water, medical and other supplies to affected areas. They are expected to return home Jan. 21. He wasn't sure how the tragedy might delay the church building project.
Carmichael and fellow missionaries had started an online blog to keep friends in Nebraska abreast of their activities.
One entry was submitted Sunday, as the group headed to Haiti. Monday, Carmichael informed all that the group had safely arrived in the country.
The Tuesday night blog brought relief to all.
“We are safe,” Carmichael wrote.
By then, the four had made it to the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, their partner in the project in La Plaine.
“We did feel the first quake ... but did not experience any destruction here,” Carmichael wrote.
She asked that all pray for those in and around Port-au-Prince. “We do not have word on the extent of damage there.”
Carmichael was able to telephone her husband, Kirk, to tell him she was OK. DeFor, who has since added to the blog, spent Wednesday fielding phone calls, responding to e-mails and letting all know the Nebraska group was safe.
He said missionaries in the past have discussed how to protect themselves from crime but had never really considered that natural disaster could be the greatest danger.
Some have wondered if the earthquake would put a damper on the church's decade-long relationship with Haiti.
“I think the opposite will happen,” said DeFor. “The need is great. People want to make a difference.”
Contact the writer:
444-1224, cindy.gonzalez@owh.com
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