The United States Geological Survey calls it the strongest earthquake to hit Haiti since 1770. Countless reports have been broadcast, informing the public of the horrific destruction that took place on January 12, 2010. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 with the epicenter located only 10 miles west of Haiti’s capitol city of Port-au-Prince. Following the initial quake, 59 aftershocks (ranging anywhere 4.2 to 6.0) struck the country.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with only 1 out of every 50 people steadily employed; most of its inhabitants are surviving on less than $2 a day. This devastating earthquake killed over 230,000 people and left over 3 million Haitians in desperate need of food, water and medical supplies.

“We are still in a very difficult situation,” says Haiti’s Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, “We still don’t have a clear vision of certain problems.”

In response, a team from Spring Arbor’s Free Methodist Church was sent down to Haiti. It was the first Free Methodist team to go down to Haiti after the earthquake. The team of 13 left January 31 and was led by Todd Holton and Marv DeVisser.

“We wanted just to go down to help,” stated Chris Ragain, a Spring Arbor University student who joined the team.

After flying down to the Dominican Republic, the group met up with Kendra Luna, an SAU graduate working as a missionary in the Dominican Republic. After crossing the border into Haiti, the team set up camp at the Friends of Haiti Organization (FOHO) compound.

Throughout their stay, the group worked on cleaning up the FOHO compound and the surrounding area. They also worked to establish connections with anyone who could provide them with food, water, and medical supplies, which were soon delivered to people who were in desperate need of them.

“Right now, three weeks after, they’re still trying to find food and water,” says Brian Meagher, another SAU student that went down with the team. “There needs to be more immediate care for the people who are struggling now.”

One of the places where the team delivered the supplies was a refugee camp at Delmas 28. This camp, housing over 900 refugees in tents, has no safe drinking water or latrines readily available. Because of the conditions, people still have been dying from diseases like cholera or dysentery because of insufficient and inefficient medical care.

“That 200,000 number [of people dying],” said Meagher, “is going to keep climbing.”

“It’s one of those things you can’t explain, being there and seeing it all in person. It’s a thousand times worse than seeing it on the news,” observes Ragain.

While in Haiti, the team was encouraged to see many medical teams and non-profit organizations serving in any way they could. Progress was slow, but many experts say it could take anywhere between five and 10 years for Haiti to recover.

“There is hope,” concludes Meagher, “but it’s hard because what is the reality of their hope?”

If you would like to help, please contact Kendra Luna at Kendra.Luna5@gmail.com.