June Hanks ministry update - Haiti

Dear friends,
January 23, 2010
Since the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, my emotions have crossed all spectrums: shock, grief, sadness, helplessness, and hope. I
cry with families over the death of children with disabilities sponsored to attend school in Port-au-Prince (PAP), lost loved ones of our
women in the Bernice Johnson Center, and people I know personally. Inspiration arrives through stories of survival, helping among the
Haitian brothers and sisters, and the strength of my Haitian faith-family.
Anticipating the need for general rehabilitation as well as management of wounds and amputations, I am working with a
prosthetist/orthotist, Paul Prusakowski, and multiple organizations (e.g. Amputee Coalition of America, Fillaeur, Inc, HHH) to form a
coalition of services for a focused, fluid, and sustainable initiative of rehabilitation and prosthetic services. The Centre de Sante
(CSL)/ Advantage Program Rehabilitation Clinic and brace shop has been chosen as a "point site of operation." Even before the
earthquake, an independent evaluation team chose our shop as one of the most up-to-date and functional for ongoing production. A
special thanks to the International Rotary Club for a generous donation to the rehabilitation clinic that will help increase the capacity of
the shop. Gratitude is beyond words for the ongoing assistance of the Apostolic Christian Church, Fayetteville United Methodist
Church, World Relief from First Presbyterian Church-Chattanooga, other faith-based groups and individuals.
As a certified wound care specialist and professor of physical therapy in management of wounds, amputation, and general post-op care,
I possess many skills that could be helpful during this time. I will be travelling to Haiti Jan 27-Feb14, 2010 to attempt to accomplish
the following goals:
•
Train staff (nursing & rehab) in post-op management and wound care
•
Further investigate the assets and needs of the Centre de Sante Lumiere (CSL)/Advantage Program to engage in a coalition of
groups to provide O&P services and general rehabilitation services
•
Lay groundwork for a more sustainable short-term and long-term service provision through CSL/Advantage Program
•
Determine specific needs in other medical / orphanage facilities in Les Cayes area (General Hospital & Mother Teresa Home,
where the Advantage Program already works)
•
Support the staff and friends there in any way possible (professionally, emotionally, physically, spiritually)
Following my spring teaching semester at UTC, I plan to return to Haiti at the end of April and stay through the summer as needed to
receive rehabilitation/medical teams and continue to train others. I have been involved in this work since 1998 and have been the
director since 2001, so my heart is there already.
Please consider participating in this venture by committing to pray 5 minutes each day for the work of the Advantage Program and
other ministries in Haiti who are doing all they can to bring God's help, hope and love. Pray for wisdom of the organizational leaders,
stamina of staff and volunteers, health (physical, emotional, spiritual), safety and effectiveness. Pray that the assistance offered in the
short and long term will be “helping that helps, not hurts.”
For more information on the Advantage program, go to www.advantagehaiti.com. If you wish to donate money, you can send a check
written to “Lumiere Ministries” and include a note designating the funds to “Ministry Account of June Hanks.” (Address at bottom of
this page). You can also donate online at the www.lumiereministries.com. Before checkout using your credit card, go to the “Add
Special Instructions to Seller” box and type “Ministry Account of June Hanks”. If you have any problems or questions about your
donation, please contact Lumiere Ministries (PH: 704.823.0271). Lumiere Ministires, Inc. is a 501c3 and all donations are tax
deductible.
Thanks for all your love, support and prayer….. In His care
,
June