First 2 Alabama teams called up, at work in Haiti

The first two Alabama Baptist teams are on the ground in Haiti as part of the joint Southern Baptist disaster relief effort there. A two-person water purification team and a seven-person medical team, including a chaplain, left Feb. 6 and 9, respectively, after being called up just days before.

“We are thankful to begin the process and do what we’ve been wanting to do for several weeks and that’s get in there and make a difference,” said Mel Johnson, disaster relief strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).

Both teams are relieving teams from other state conventions sent down just before, Johnson said.

While in Haiti, the water purification team members, who are crosstrained in emergency feeding and water purification, are “looking for ways to expand that ministry into well-drilling and other opportunities for future trips.” These teams kick off what Johnson anticipates to be a steady flow of “a good exchange of personnel” from Alabama lasting for 12–24 months.

For any individuals or church groups interested in going to Haiti, training sessions are happening around the state this month. For more information, visit www.alsbom.org/haiti.

Thanks to Alabamians’ donations, the SBOM sent a $100,000 check for Haiti relief Feb. 5, totaling more than $210,000 sent. And state Baptists are meeting needs in Haiti by packing Buckets of Hope. For more information, see graphic below. (TAB)