Local churches do their part for Haiti

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - At Gateway Free Will Baptist Church, the holiday was no day off. "These people have worked night and day they have not stopped," said Joyce Baker, a nurse.

It's hard to rest when so many people in Haiti need their help. "It's very important we get these supplies to them to be able to treat the victims of the earthquake," John Bottoms said.

More than a dozen church members rapidly packed tubs full of medical supplies along with flashlights, batteries and other neccessities.

Not only are supplies going--people are going with them. Bottoms was one. Joyce Baker, the other. Baker's help is especially critical. She's worked as a registered nurse 21 years.

"Not only are we going to see people that have broken bones and fractures and their bodies broken but they're going to be hurt and breaking from all the loss of lives," she says.

The team of two will relieve an eight-member team from the church already on its way back from Haiti. The group had already planned to visit the country last week. They touched down in Haiti less than an hour before the earthquake hit.

"We arrived and had just left the airport and were about a mile and half from the airport when the earthquake hit," Phyllis Bass said by phone from a plane in West Palm Beach destined for Norfolk. "We're going to get back home, regroup and see what the needs are, right now we're trying to collect money...they need money to buy supplies."

A nurse from the team stayed in Haiti to help at the mission's clinic.

One group coming. One group going, all to help a country in need; all protected under prayer.

"Lord they need help, they need hope and we've got both," Pastor Karl Sexton said. Prayer is the action, they feel, where healing for Haiti receives its strength. "Lord we praise you for what you have done and God we're going to praise you for what you're going to continue to do."

To track the progress of the Gateway Free Will Baptist Church Missionaries:

http://www.gatewayfwb.org

To see pictures from the GFWBC Mission trip:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4490136&l=4fcc1d82e9&id=524919803