Hard Rock

In our on going housing project in Pakistan , the Omaha Rapid Response team has successfully made the level ground for the Home of Raheem Shah.
The land that was denoted to Raheem by his brother for construction t of home was not a level surface and when started to level the ground we found that there is a hard rock to go through for getting the level surface. There were no chances to involve any machinery as the work site is about half a mile away from road.
The only tools that we can use were slug hammers and metal wedges to break the rock.
During this manual work the local people got the job opportunity and in this way God used Omaha Rapid Response to serve the poor and unemployed people of the area.
The work is in process and we keep you update with time.

Wahee Alam

Omaha Rapid Response Pakistan

Hello again!

As mentioned earlier, we accomplished a few things while in Haiti ... here are a few highlights:

• many people with health-related issues were assessed, prayed for & with, given meds/vitamins - and we administered basic first aid and life support. 130 children (out of the original 158) were located and given their health-screening tests ... in the continuation of our tracking those living with the greatest need.
• 1000s of meals were served
• electrical, plumbing and light construction was done at Pastor Emory's and some of the homes / school @ Jubilee ... though, the block work was a little heavy :)
• 8 new beds (4 bunks) were cut, welded, prime, painted and pounded together.
• taught a couple of English classes
• visited the homes of friends we have made, to assess their specific needs
• good fellowship, sweet prayers and worship ...

so many things to do ... so little time (sounds so American!) ...

well, we made to the States ... and looking back over the time there, I will always remember the faces and voices of the dying people ... and I ask myself ...

"how many more will die before we go back?"

cherish each other ... time is short.

Have a great Christmas and New Year Folks ... you are Loved!

ken

hello precious Family and Friends ... it has been quite a week here in Gonaives. I hope you are enjoying the posts and pictures! I (we) have been trying to expose you to this area and the people here; though the pictures and words fall far short. Hearing the cries ... the laughter (not enough) ... seeing the tears and feeling the sobs as you pray for someone who just found out they are dying. Looking for the children you held and played with ten months ago and hearing that they died ... watching as the children tug on you and ask for attention because no one spends anytime just loving them ... the smells of disease, filth, goats, waste, pigs, and dogs in the streets and yards ... the poverty. Note the picture of the girl in front of her house showing me the dirt cakes (dried mud and salt) they sell to their neighbors [yes, to eat].

Life so different, that these 'posts' cannot come close to what these people live in and through daily.

I was mildly encouraged when I went into a few of the homes and found out they had a concrete floor to sleep on instead of dirt. Yes, your perceptions will change (about life) when you are here.

For the short amount of time we have been here, we have worked on a few projects (mentioned earlier) that have impacted the lives of a few ... by His sustaining Grace and Strength. (I will detail those more in a later post)

I have finally accepted the fact that I (we) cannot help everyone, which has been a hard realization over the years. So many that need help to just survive ... food, shelter, and medical assistance that would overwhelm all the hospitals in the Omaha area.

The struggles are great here in this very spiritually dark country ... but there is a Light at the end of the tunnel. I have witnessed a tremendous turnaround in the attitude of many people here. In just a few years, the L-rd has delivered many miracles ... the healing of hearts ... souls and bodies!

Please know that Father is Loving on the people here through a few special Servants, and many that are seeking Truth and Love are finding it! Please pray diligently for Pastors Emory and Genada ... and their Call here; for Brian and ORR as we live out G-d's Direction ... and for the other Saints that have Haiti placed in their Path.

Your prayers and involvement are so needed and encouraged ... thanks for helping AND being such a vital part of what G-d would have us do in Haiti ... you are Loved!

ken

pictures

Medical clinics

I haven’t updated in a while so I will go over what has been going on. Kim and Kristal went back to the states yesterday. Brian drove them to Port on Tuesday and Kim is hard at work today in Arizona. While they were here we did medical clinics each day. We were in the Jubilee neighborhood specifically the building where the feeding program takes place. Kim again did a great job testing kids and doing exams. She was retesting the children for anemia. While most were anemic by American standards some showed improvements and others were more anemic. The lowest I remember was a pregnant lady with iron at 3.4. Ken did a great job of tracking kids down from around the neighborhood. With the help of David (Haitian) he went on a picture scavenger hunt for all the kids that had been tested in the past by the clinics in February and then again this summer. Brian did the translating. I will highlight a few of the highlights and lowlights of the clinics. Highlight is Kim’s heart for the Haitian people no matter how tired the rest of us got she was always willing to look at the last person that shoved, pushed, begged, lied about the severity of their illness to get in to see the doc. She was extremely gracious and professional. The kids did a good job of being stoic when they knew they were going to be pricked in the finger to draw a drop of blood. There were only 20-30 kids that were crying badly in anticipation of the prick. One of the sadder events was testing people for HIV. There was a girl that who was tested that was super thin and sick often. I think she was between 14 and 18. Her arms were not thicker than my wrists. We tested her blood and she was positive for HIV. It breaks my heart to tell someone that they are sick and are expected to die because of their illness. There was the occasional kid that wanted to show how tough he was by not flinching. Besides the medical clinics Kim did a few house visits and saw some patients at the pastor’s house. There were also people that came to the house when they heard there was a doctor in town. The hardest patient for me was a lady that had breast cancer. The cancer was so for advanced you could visibly see the cancer tumor. Kim diagnosed her with two months to live. We saw her two days ago and she came back today to see if there was anything we could do to help. And there was nothing. She was coming to us for some type of hope and there was nothing we could do. It was rough to see the lady walk away across the dirt landscape towards the mud huts some with tin roofs some with thatch roofs. In her shoulders you could tell she knew she was dying. A life of hopelessness ending as she walks away alone to her dirt floor home to die a painful death.

Dave

Sunday Morning

It is always hard to communicate how devastating the poverty we see is. It is tough to escape the feeling of hopelessness that we are surrounded by. I feel as though i am too often looking for the magic bullet to see change in this community. Our work continues and poverty and hopelessness continue. It seems we are pushing against the tide it just keeps coming. We did another medical clinic yesterday and although I'm sure we helped some i keep thinking of the people we saw that came again with the same problems the last time I was here. How do we affect people for the long term. I think I understand the spiritual answer to that. It is just difficult to see the constancy of despair. We have been helping a widow and her eight children for about a year. I am starting to see a change in the widow she seems to feel more hopeful as we seek to represent Jesus love to her. But just yesterday she brought her eldest daughter to the clinic three months pregnant with the father nowhere to be found. So now there are nine children to feed and one less to help provide. I don't know what to do. Just when I feel we are making some headway the situation worsens. Please pray for this young girl as she faces the difficult unknown. We will continue to try and represent jesus to this family and provide them with tangible hope in seemingly impossible circumstances. Join with us as the Lord leads you.

Merry Christmas

Brian

Greeting Dear Saints ... welcome to Haiti again!

Friday is coming to a close and I wanted to update you on our day ...

As the sun was dawning on this Island community, our Team arose to another beautiful day the L-rd made especially for us! After we had a breakfast of oatmeal, toast, bananas and peanut butter - we gathered for a special devotion time with our L-rd. We then proceeded to pack our gear and head for Jubilee where we held a follow-up medical clinic for those children we have been 'tracking' over this last year.

It is really fun to watch our Team (including our Haitian family) as we come together in one accord during these clinics. As Kim and Krystal (her niece) set up for the health clinic with the Team ... David (Haitian) and I went around Jubilee identifying the children and sending them to the clinic. Within the hour, we had sent over 100 (children and parents) crowding into the new schoolhouse / feeding center. It was an onslaught, but Father blessed us with His Shalom in the midst of the chaos!

The clinic went smoothly (thank You, L-rd!) and before we went to get the food for the kids, Dave (ORR) and I gave some of the children a lesson in the fine art of Frisbee.

Brian even got to try out his skill (which was very daring or CRAZY) at motorcycle riding between Pastor's and Jubilee ... I vote CRAZY (with these streets and drivers!)

We will continue with the clinic tomorrow ...

Wow, it was really hot and windy today ... which kicked up large amounts of dust at times. It is really extreme here with the weather ... downpours and hurricanes ... and then times like these where it only has rained 2-3 times since Spring. I am missing the SNOW! ;)

Since we returned to Pastor Emory's, we have been working on a couple of projects here: welding new beds ... restocking / organizing the pharmacy ... troubleshooting electrical problems and other needs.

The sun has set and the breeze is delightful.

Thanks for joining us on this journey ... we are blessed to have you along!

more to follow ....

Ken

(sorry about the photo Brian sent earlier ... just what you needed to see - one 'zoned' guy and one sick guy in bed ... ) [Q: is 'payback' one of the fruits of the Spirit?]

Made it to Port au Prince

We started the morning by leaving for the airport at six. We take the hotel shuttle and Brian talks with the driver in Creole. I always think it is a little refresher course for him but it is not really needed. Check the bags through security and the waiting game for the plane begins. I took a nap for an hour or so. I woke up to the first call of boarding. This is where the fun begins, once my boarding group is called I just start semi pushing semi holding my ground to get on the plane. Everyone seems to have two to three bags and need more space in overhead bins. I am riding back of the bus so I take a seat and watch for 15-20 minutes of people loading and taking their seats. The flight attendants have their normal dislike of the Port au Prince flight attitude. I settle in for the hour and a half flight. I think this was the first time I was on the left side of the plane and was able to see the island as we flew in. The land around Gonaives is remarkable brown. It was sad to me because in February when I was here last on the ground things looked greener. The dirt from the runoff from the mountains pollutes the ocean all along the coast. I would think by my now official scale a mile to five miles off the coast is brown. It was a stark difference of brown water to the blue green waters of the Caribbean. Landing was uneventful but had a surprise when we exited the plane through an elevated jet way. Each time before this we have had to unload and walk across the runway to the airport buildings. After going through customs, picking up our checked baggage, fending off helpers that wanted to carry Ken’s bag we meet Emory. It’s good to see him because he is so welcoming and gives man hugs (I know I don’t need to go to the chiropractor for at least a week). We drove to pick up Mary then after a little sitting and catching up we leave to go to visit Smith. Driving / me standing in the bed of the truck is always interesting. See so many people on the streets selling everything from food to cloths to concrete and rebar for house construction to the biggest speakers you could get in the 80’s. I think they are the same speakers my brother-in-law is stockpiling in his basement. We drive down a couple of streets that have colorful paintings for sale hanging all along the stone walls. Once we get to Smith’s orphanage the kids mob us. It is fun although I can’t communicate much. The kids love being picked up, tossed, flung, test their strength and kick or chase the ball around. Each of the kids wants to be noticed to know they are special. This breaks my heart because it is the same thing I think about, “how am I different.” I try to pick out each of the kids and do something to get a smile from them. I know I fail but hope the Lord will show his love to each one of them. Ken is a big hit with the children because he has a camera and they get to see themselves on the screen. It is good to see Smith, Katia, and Djelot. Djelot has grown four inches since I saw him last. We then depart to the market to get supplies for the house until Emory returns to Port au Prince. Then it is off to visit Dorthy. She is a friend of Emory and Mary’s that runs a small home for babies that people give her because they think they are going to die. She cares for babies with sickness or diseases so bad that their families can’t care for them. I shut down emotionally here because I can’t fathom having kids that look like they are going to die and I can’t help them. They walk/run up to you and stick their arms up to be held. All of them want to be held with huge smiles and laughter. After the visit we head to the guest house for the night. We will pick up Kim tomorrow morning and head to Gonaives. It is about a three hour drive give or take three hours. Thanks for praying. Kenny is feeling better not 100% percent but keeping some food down.

Dave

Headed South

We are now in Ft. Lauderdale where it is an "acceptable" 74 degrees, no precipitation and a cool breeze, which is good because I almost began to sweat when we walked to dinner.

We were scheduled to fly out at 3:45 pm but decided to try and beat the weather and bumped up our departure to 6 am. From what I hear it was probably a good decision. We head into Haiti tomorrow morning about 8:30. We will spend a day in Port au Prince waiting for Kim to arrive and head for Gonaives on Thursday morning. We are ecited to work with Kim again helping with her tracking of children's health in Jubilee. We will also look into helping some more families in need of housing and other assistance. I couldn't think of a better place to be during the Christmas season. Thank you for all of your support. Please continue to check the blog as we intend to update daily, (internet connection notwithstanding).

Brian

p.s. Please be praying for Kenny G. he believes he is suffering from some food poisoning he still feels a little weak but is steadily improving.

Raheem becoming Disable for rest of his Life

Muhammad Raheem Shah once was a strong young man of his village “Chankari” in District Mansehra of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. He was earning his livelihood by carrying big wooden beams from Jungle to the roadside. He married with a girl of his village in early 2005.
In the devastating earthquake of October 2005, Raheem got burried under the rubbles of his mud house and fortunately other family members remained unhurted. After six hours, Raheem was taken out from the rubles with broken spinal chord at the lower back part of the body; making his both legs senseless and thus disabling him for the rest of his life. His entire livelihood got destroyed and moreover he could not carry out even his routine activities.
Since then, they are living in the relative house for Raheem being totally dependent on his wife and mother. There are no chances for Muhammad Raheem to become father (his reproductive system affected because of the same incident) and the family is living in a miserable condition in a 10 x 10 Feet mud room with no washroom facilities

“Omaha Rapid Response” Leadership team has approved the Raheem Shah case for building home, Brain Smith and Davi Kangas are arriving to start the building activities. We request you to please support us to raise money so we may be able to complete the house before fall of winter being very cold in the Northern part of the province.

Waheed Alam
Relief Worker
Pakistan.

Inaugural ceremony

In Pakistan remote village Jabori of North West Frontier Province a inaugural ceremony of Omaha Rapid Response widows housing project was held by the village dignitaries.
Almost all the people of the village came to see the widow home and thanked to Omaha Rapid Response for doing this noble task. There was a ribbon cutting and collective prayer for Omaha Rapid Response Team , American Nation and specially for the good health of Mr. Ken Smith.




Widow Lal Jan and kids were joyful in their new home and widow said “ Getting my own home for my kids was only a dream for me. I am always praying for Omaha Rapid Response and my tears also join my prayers”


Waheed Alam
Relief Worker
Pakistan

ORR Chainsaw Clinic

Omaha Rapid Response hosted it's first chainsaw training clinic. It was a time about learning chainsaw basics and safety as well as a time of fellowship. Thanks so much to Kevin Smith for putting in on and Linda U. for bringing some great chow for us.

Young and old gathered near Ashland Nebraska to learn the basics of tree debris removal and chainsaw safety. The best part of this is that it was a hands on exercise! We used a dying tree as our subject so that everyone would have a chance to use a chainsaw and get some hands on experience. Check out our YouTube Channel for a video at http://www.youtube.com/omaharapidresponse

Feel free to subscribe to or channel!
- Aaron

IDPs have returned from Dadar Camp.

“ We are very much thankful to American Nation for providing such a nice facilities in the Dadar Camp. We are heading back to Swat but the love and care delivered by Mr. Ken Smith and all the Team of Omaha Rapid Response will never fade in our memories.”

This is one of many remarks of IDPs who lived with us in the Dadar Camp.
We have closed the Dadar Camp as per Pakistani Government Policies for the rehabilitation of these refugees back to their home land but some IDPs families of Dadar camp has moved to Mansehra city and rented houses because they belong to Swat remote villages where Pakistan Army is Still engaged with the Terrorist.

Our Cash grant and food package on the closing of Dadar Camp has greatly helped these IDPs families for transportation back to Swat and also for those who rented houses in the Mansehra city.



We are still helping the IDPs families who are living in Mansehra city and we are receiving calls from those IDPs who have returned back to Swat from Dadar Camp because they request for our help for their rehabilitation and livelihood.

We are grateful for all those who provided us resources in the relief phase but still there is a great need of resources and fund to restore the lives of these refugees who scarified their home, business and all of their livelihood for peace of world because terrorist belong to no religion no region and no race. They are enemy of all humanity.

Waheed Alam

Relief Worker

Pakistan

Medical Clinics

On August 3^rd and 4^th we were doing medical clinics with the team that was here for a day and a half. They had balloons, stickers, sunglasses, little toys, and starburst for the kids there. On August 3^rd we had the clinic at Pastor Genada’s church. (Pastor Genada is a good friend of my dad’s.) At that medical clinic we didn’t hand out that much but we tried. We did give out a lot of stickers though! Not so many balloons; nobody was blowing them up and I have no lung power! On August 4^th, it was Kendra’s birthday and the second medical clinic, this one we had in Jubilee. Here the kids were going crazy, they had balloons because many people were blowing them up except me! I was handing them out to the kids who came in along with toys and stickers. It was lots of fun for the kids. This is how it worked; first they would see the nurse and the patient told her what was wrong. That’s where the kids got a sticker and balloon. Then they were shipped off to the doctors who would write the medication they needed. The kids would either get a pair of sunglasses or a little tiny toy but they all got one starburst. After the doctor they went to a long line where they would get the medication. Everyone who left that building had a smile on their face or were about to have one!

Kara

Jubilee

Jubilee is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Gonaives, it is where we hold a feeding program that we go to about everyday. Driving down the streets of Jubilee in the back of the truck, you just see all the poverty and the kids running and screaming “White” in a different language. And they run after us trying to grab on to the back of the truck. Then when you get down to the shelter you have to push the kids away just to get through the door. Then when the door opens all the kids want to rush in, but I wouldn’t blame them because they’re starving! One time when we went to Jubilee and we were just about to leave so we were waiting in the back of the truck and one of the girls there (about 9 or 10 yrs old) was saying blanc (white) to me then Kendra told her “That is not her name; her name is Kara.” And she stopped; it was surprising because usually they don’t listen to you. Anyways it’s a whole different experience to go to Haiti than just to see pictures of it! So far Haiti has been a pretty good, a few bumps along the way (especially the roads); but it’s going good!

Kara

Kids in Jubilee

Blessing & Suffering

This past week we had a team of 20 people on a short term team come and stay with us. One night as we were going around and each sharing a part of our day, the members of the team each took turns sharing their hearts and most started with "I was so blessed by....". They all spoke of wonderful God moments that each had on the trip. As I listened and thought about what to share the only moment that sat in my mind and would not be forgotten happened earlier that day as I spoke with a woman about vitamins and nutrition.

This woman came to us with a 4 month old baby that is pictured above. The baby was more the size of a 1-2 month old. The woman had not been feeding her because the doctor told her not to breastfeed since she was anemic & did not have enough iron to do so, the mother also had no money to buy food for her or the baby; so they had simply not been eating. We fed the baby formula we had on hand and gave the mother some to take with her. We gave medicine to the mom because she had a bad case of scabies. We fed the mom and gave her some clothes for her and the baby. We also gave her some vitamins with iron for herself. As I was speaking (along with the translator)explaining to her how to make the formula and how she needed to take the vitamins, the woman said to me, "What good does that do me? I never have any food to eat." What do I say to that? I told her that we would be able to help some but not all the time. We did send some food home with her but what about later?

My heart broke as I realized that I had no long term answers for this woman and there are thousands more like her that don't even get what I gave her. It is hard to wrap my mind around all the suffering that the Lord allows me to see. Yet as I shared this on the roof with the team that night, there were no responses. None of us had answers and no one said "Amen" because a great blessing had been shared with everyone. Later as I thought back on what I had shared along with everyone else's blessings that had happened, the Lord showed me it was indeed a blessing. The blessing for me in this, is that the Lord shared with me a fraction of the suffering that he sees everyday. In the midst of suffering there is blessing because it draws me to the heart of God. There isn't anywhere else I would rather be.

Cody

Food and Toys

We are running on a seven day cycle for supplying food to the refugees so here you can a typical day in which we are distributing food


Toys request is usually very often from the refugees kids and they love to play with Sir Ken so we usually have toys and sports material distribution in the camp.


We have also hired a female staff at Dader Refugees Camp so that we can get request from the female members of the refugees Camp through cultural sensitive way. We will tell you more about our female staff and her activities in coming posts.
Waheed Alam