Lessons Lessons From HaitiFrom Haiti

On the Ground in HaitiOn the Ground in HaitiDear Family and Friends,Dear Family and Friends,

It has been 3 weeks since the earthquake occurred in Haiti, on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. It has been 3 weeks since the earthquake occurred in Haiti, on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

  

The news that you see on TV every night keeps you up-to-date on a global perspective. Here is the news The news that you see on TV every night keeps you up-to-date on a global perspective. Here is the news from our standpoint, as we have watched our church respond to this disaster. We have been intimately from our standpoint, as we have watched our church respond to this disaster. We have been intimately involved here in the Church's efforts to assist its members and non-members alike from a humanitarian involved here in the Church's efforts to assist its members and non-members alike from a humanitarian perspective.perspective.

  

Within 24 hours there were 3 separate Priesthood committees formed: one in Salt Lake City, one in Port-Within 24 hours there were 3 separate Priesthood committees formed: one in Salt Lake City, one in Port-au-Prince Haiti, and one here in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. From this point forward, daily au-Prince Haiti, and one here in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. From this point forward, daily conference calls were held at a pre-determined time. This communication connected the efforts and conference calls were held at a pre-determined time. This communication connected the efforts and resources of each of the three groups: the local Haiti church leadership, the Caribbean Area leadership, resources of each of the three groups: the local Haiti church leadership, the Caribbean Area leadership, and the leaders in Salt Lake City.and the leaders in Salt Lake City.

  

… … the mission president, President Joseph, rented a the mission president, President Joseph, rented a motorcyclemotorcycle so he could get around town through all so he could get around town through all of the rubble and find his missionaries. … There are 9 LDS Church buildings in Port-au-Prince. Two of of the rubble and find his missionaries. … There are 9 LDS Church buildings in Port-au-Prince. Two of them had minor damage. The other 7 were undamaged. We are grateful that our Church buildings are them had minor damage. The other 7 were undamaged. We are grateful that our Church buildings are built to high standards, allowing them to withstand the quake. These buildings eventually were used as built to high standards, allowing them to withstand the quake. These buildings eventually were used as refugee centers, with thousands of people living around these buildings. (Each building has its own refugee centers, with thousands of people living around these buildings. (Each building has its own backup power supply and electrical generators) .backup power supply and electrical generators) .

On the Ground in HaitiOn the Ground in HaitiCommunication was an issue at first. When the quake happened, it wiped out all cell phone and land line Communication was an issue at first. When the quake happened, it wiped out all cell phone and land line communication. The local priesthood leaders identified their most pressing specific needs. A team from the communication. The local priesthood leaders identified their most pressing specific needs. A team from the Santo Domingo area office arrived in Haiti with two pick-up loads of supplies and additional communication Santo Domingo area office arrived in Haiti with two pick-up loads of supplies and additional communication equipment within days of the quake.equipment within days of the quake.

  

Containers of food, water (including Seychelle bottles for purifying water), blankets, and fuel began arriving in Containers of food, water (including Seychelle bottles for purifying water), blankets, and fuel began arriving in Port-au-Prince within 48 hours. Planes from the US landed in Haiti with medical supplies and doctors. Before Port-au-Prince within 48 hours. Planes from the US landed in Haiti with medical supplies and doctors. Before long, the airport area was clogged with supplies. The supplies were to be trucked to local hospitals and long, the airport area was clogged with supplies. The supplies were to be trucked to local hospitals and orphanages, but trucks were either not available, or not able to navigate on the roads that were filled with orphanages, but trucks were either not available, or not able to navigate on the roads that were filled with rubble.rubble.

……

Three days after the quake we hosted a doctor and three medical students (one of which was LDS) that were Three days after the quake we hosted a doctor and three medical students (one of which was LDS) that were headed to Haiti the following morning. All of these people wanted to do something to help Haiti. They chose headed to Haiti the following morning. All of these people wanted to do something to help Haiti. They chose to work with the LDS Church, because they recognized the organization and efficiency with which goods and to work with the LDS Church, because they recognized the organization and efficiency with which goods and services can be distributed quickly. …Within 5 days there were many groups and organizations from all over services can be distributed quickly. …Within 5 days there were many groups and organizations from all over the world working their way toward Haiti.the world working their way toward Haiti.

You can imagine the chaos that occurs when well-meaning people from many groups and organizations You can imagine the chaos that occurs when well-meaning people from many groups and organizations come to help. Problems with communication (Haitians speak Creole and French), no phone service, blocked come to help. Problems with communication (Haitians speak Creole and French), no phone service, blocked roadways, trying to figure out who is in charge, no basic services such electricity or water hampered their roadways, trying to figure out who is in charge, no basic services such electricity or water hampered their efforts to provide the relief that was needed.efforts to provide the relief that was needed.

  

On the Ground in HaitiOn the Ground in HaitiThe Dominican guards at the Haiti border took advantage of the situation. Before too long, there were many The Dominican guards at the Haiti border took advantage of the situation. Before too long, there were many trucks carrying supplies into Haiti. They all got stopped at the border, where they had to pay $25 US per trucks carrying supplies into Haiti. They all got stopped at the border, where they had to pay $25 US per person to the Dominican guards in order to cross the border into Haiti.person to the Dominican guards in order to cross the border into Haiti.

During this time, we had Elder Bednar (Quorum of the 12) and Elder Costa (Presidency of the Quorum of the During this time, we had Elder Bednar (Quorum of the 12) and Elder Costa (Presidency of the Quorum of the 70) here in the Dominican Republic for our Area Review. … Elder Bednar made the statement, something to 70) here in the Dominican Republic for our Area Review. … Elder Bednar made the statement, something to the effect, that "Order comes from chaos, the effect, that "Order comes from chaos, only only through the priesthood". This has been so evident in Haiti.through the priesthood". This has been so evident in Haiti.

  

The Church system works well for the following reasons:The Church system works well for the following reasons:

1. The local Priesthood leadership is on the ground. They know the situation. They know the lay of the land. 1. The local Priesthood leadership is on the ground. They know the situation. They know the lay of the land. They know the needs.They know the needs.

2. The local leadership (Mission President and two Stake Presidents) already had satellite phones and were 2. The local leadership (Mission President and two Stake Presidents) already had satellite phones and were able to communicate with Area Leadership in Santo Domingo.able to communicate with Area Leadership in Santo Domingo.

  

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We have heard others comment that the Mormon church is the most organized, gets to the crisis quickly, and We have heard others comment that the Mormon church is the most organized, gets to the crisis quickly, and BRINGS THE RIGHT STUFF! We have been impressed with the organization of the three committees. Having BRINGS THE RIGHT STUFF! We have been impressed with the organization of the three committees. Having Haitians on the ground, where they know the situation and the needs, takes the guess work out of knowing Haitians on the ground, where they know the situation and the needs, takes the guess work out of knowing what kind of relief is needed.what kind of relief is needed.

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--Elder and Sister Jones--Elder and Sister Jones

Our Unique ResponsibilityOur Unique Responsibility

"We, Latter-day Saints, because of "We, Latter-day Saints, because of the knowledge we have received the knowledge we have received in the revelations, are better in the revelations, are better prepared to meet the perplexities prepared to meet the perplexities of our time than are any other of our time than are any other people. We know more about the people. We know more about the difficulties which are coming, and difficulties which are coming, and we have the key to their solution." we have the key to their solution."

"We, Latter-day Saints, because of "We, Latter-day Saints, because of the knowledge we have received the knowledge we have received in the revelations, are better in the revelations, are better prepared to meet the perplexities prepared to meet the perplexities of our time than are any other of our time than are any other people. We know more about the people. We know more about the difficulties which are coming, and difficulties which are coming, and we have the key to their solution." we have the key to their solution."

Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney EnsignEnsign, July 1981, July 1981