Last month marked the one year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated so many lives here in Haiti. It has been a long and arduous year. Images linger in our minds and emotions weigh heavy on our hearts. The anniversary provided everyone with an opportunity to step back from the daily struggles and consider how rebuilding has progressed this past year. Severe problems still remain, and in many places, it doesn’t look much different than the day after the quake. Too many families continue to live in tents and under tarps. However, there are wonderful stories as well, where the grace of God coupled with the strong faith, unyielding determination, and diligent work of the Haitian people have enabled many to overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Many missionaries, U.S. and other foreign military personnel, and NGO’s have shown effectiveness in helping rebuild as well.

The response to the need immediately after the earthquake was tremendous. The generosity that others showed the people of Haiti was unprecedented. Despite the incredible level of aid funneled into Haiti from all sources, brutal conditions remain for far too many. This has resulted in increased scrutiny of how NGO’s used the influx of resources after the earthquake. Real Hope for Haiti would like to take this opportunity to give a report of how we used the funds that many of you donated for the purpose of earthquake relief.

The total amount given to Real Hope for Haiti that was designated for Earthquake Relief was $131,455. As of Feb 18, 2011, RHFH had disbursed $118,853.16 out of the total $131,455.

Our own organization was blessed by the kindness of both long time supporters and new people who happened to stumble upon our blog. RHFH was humbled by the resources God sent our way. In addition to the thoughtfulness of so many of you had in giving, we are also grateful for the wonderful and dedicated Haitian staff we have working alongside us. Many of them, despite severe damage to their own homes and losing family elsewhere in Haiti, continue to go above and beyond the call of duty in serving the many EQ victims that passed through our gate. The clinic staff and the RC staff stepped up and enabled RHFH to sustain our regular services as well as expand to EQ Relief. People helping people in desperate time of need; exactly how the body of Christ should be.

Charles and Lori’s new house was turned into a hospital before they even moved in. We cared for around 40 patients during Jan-June 2010, with about 15 staying here the entire time.

Rose Nadie’s broken leg was repaired on the Comfort Ship. RHFH found and reunited her with her parents, cared for her for 6 months, built her family a home, and gave a start-up grant for a restaurant business.

Regine suffered a puncture wound (from a shelf that broke and fell on her) near her spine that resulted in a large abscess. She traveled around to several hospitals. The infection was under control, but she had developed kwashiorkor and severe malnutrition. She was referred to us because no one was sure how to treat the kwash. We gave antibiotics, vitamins, and medika mamba. She went from barely being able to hold herself up in a wheelchair to holding and playing with her son. She is fully recovered and getting ready to move into her new house.

What a joy to reunite father and daughter! This is a Haitian Coast Guard officer that lost track of his daughter after she went to the Comfort Ship.

SMILES ALL AROUND! The tragedies that most of these patients faced are unbelievable, but joy overcomes them all.

After the earthquake, we saw 500-600 pts per day. Many started lining up the day before we opened to get a good place in line and assure that they would be seen. The were seen free of charge. Earthquake Aid was used to pay clinic staff payroll, buy medications, send people for labs and Xrays, transportation to other facilities, and to purchase other medical supplies need to serve every patient that came to our doors.

Lori was honored to help out on the Comfort Ship by connecting them with existing NGO hospitals already in Haiti.

The Air Force sent doctors, dentist, assistants, nurses, EMT, etc to help on our busy clinic days.

Our Haitian staff gave excellent care to the injured from the first hour until the end.

New homes are a blessing for those that lost everything.

Home is a shelter from storms – all sorts of storms. ~William J. Bennett

As it stands now, $12,601.84 remains in our Earthquake Relief Fund. We are in the process of completing some final projects of building homes for one of the patients that lived in Lori’s house and others in the Cazale area. These projects will require the remaining balance of the EQ Fund. Once these projects are complete, RHFH does not plan on continuing to participate in projects specific to EQ Relief. However, there are many solid NGO’s cotinuing to work towards this end. If you feel strongly that you would like to give specifically towards EQ Relief, please check out the links to the organizations in our sidebar.

RHFH intends to focus on our primary goals of boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, providing quality