TENERIFE COME PARNTER WITH HAITI

January 29th, Santa Cruz, Tenerife organized a  benefit concert for the Haiti earthquake victims.  As soon as I heard about the earthquake I was glued to CNN and BBC the only two stations that spoke English in a Spanish country.  My heart cried out for this nation. My first thought was...I need to be there...but I knew the timing was wrong under the circumstances.  Instead I was blessed to be a blessing at a benefit concert hosted by some of Tenerife's TV icons, comedians, pop, rock and jazz stars, opera and gospel artists.  Two Spanish disaster rescue workers attended the benefit and shared a bit about their experience in Haiti and the great needs for the people.  Canary Islanders seem to have a community atmosphere in whatever function they attend including festivals, concerts, parades and even the opera theatre.  The artists interact with the audience most of the time which brings a warm, family flavour to the event. Please consider praying and donating to the cause of rebuilding Haiti.  

TENERIFE STORM: I find this so heartbreaking. Tenerife just hosted a benefit concert for a nation that was destroyed by a natural disaster and three days later, in the location in which the Haiti benefit was held in Santa Cruz, a huge storm hit the island and caused severe damage to the infrastructure. (see more info below-AFM departs Tenerife for Togo)

MERCY SHIPS & HAITI: Tonight during our Thursday evening community meeting aboard the AFM, we took an offering for Haiti.  The monies will be sent to Tear Fund.   Please help in whatever way you feel lead.  "Mercy Ships is committed to doing what we can to help address the great need in Haiti without loosing the focus on our upcoming Field Service in Togo", said Sam Smith - Mercy Ships CEO.  MS Assessment Team is on the ground in Haiti and in regualr contact with our Disaster Response Team at the International Operatons Center (IOC) in Texas.

DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS:   I had experienced the Tsunami disaster in South East Asia a few years back, which is one of the reasons I felt lead to assist in the Haiti relief effort.  YWAM Media Village in South Africa (where I served for three years) collaborated with various churches in the country and sent our media production team including myself as the photographer, to Shri Lanka and Indonesia.  We connected with various disaster relief teams and for three weeks we assisted where we could, documented the distructive events and reported the rescue and relief efforts back to various TV and Radio stations in South Africa. Financial aid and support were raised through the churches. My heart wept especially for Indonesia, half a nation that was basically wiped off the face of the earth.

Please keep both Haiti and Tenerife in your thoughts and prayers.