As I'm sure you all know there has been an absolutely devastating earthquake in Haiti. The damage is incredible and the loss of life will no doubt be massive. There is no shortage of general news reports on the internet and I have been posting the best ones I come across to my Facebook page. Although any disaster of this type is awful we are paying special attention to this situation due to our partnership with Haiti. I want to take this opportunity to give you some specific updates unavailable in the media.

As of this writing we have received word that all of our missionaries in Haiti are safe and accounted for. This includes the Irvines and those at the mission compound on La Gonave and Carl & Maya Gilles who live in Port-au-Prince and were with us this September for the launch of luvHAITI. Carl and Maya's house in PaP survived the quake and although there has been some damage to buildings on La Gonave the mission and hospitals buildings seem to have escaped any significant damage. There has been no loss of life reported on La Gonave but the intense mourning has started by many of the folks there who have lost loved ones in PaP.

We know that at least 5 Wesleyan churches in Port-au-Prince have been effected by this disaster including our sister church led by Pastor Jeannot in Petionville, one of the areas hardest hit by the quake. We have received no word whatsoever from any of these churches and while we hope and pray for the best it is very likely that we have lost some of our brothers and sisters there. We will distribute word via Facebook when we receive it.

There will be an opportunity on Sunday, and ongoing, to give to the relief work there through our partner organizations. Details will be made available then but I challenge you to come prepared to give. We also need to be in prayer for Haiti and for our brothers and sisters there. Pray for those who are morning the loss of loved ones, those who are suffering and trapped, and those who are leading and working in the rescue and rebuilding efforts. We will also be taking a special time to pray for Haiti on Sunday. I trust it will not be the first time this week any of us have prayed for our brothers and sisters there.

And now you're in the loop.