Mary came into our lives when we moved to South Korea. She joined our Bible Study in 2009. The three of us became instant friends, which eventually turned into one of the most powerful friendships we have ever had. Mary and Anlee became accountability partners and created/co-lead a women's support/bible study group. They discipled each other and loved each other. Derek and Mary volunteered on the worship team together.
Mary gave all of us a picture of Jesus' servants heart back in July when she left Korea to join the volunteer network in Haiti. Mary prepared herself for what was initially going to be three months in Jacmel, Haiti, working in a displaced women's and children's refugee camp. What was three months during the rainy season has now become four with a probable extension coming soon. Mary has moved on from her first assignment and is now apart of a project to protect the people of Jacmel, Haiti from the widespread Cholera outbreak. She is working alongside other volunteers to raise funds and transport needed and easily available (to us) re-hydration salts that would quickly restore health to people who are dying needless deaths each day.
Below is some information on how you can help Mary and her team help the people of Haiti.
Cholera has finally hit here in Jacmel, and it has hit hard. Over the course of the past three days, the hospitals and clinics here have been struggling to accommodate the growing number of cholera cases and are running short on supplies. As a result, over a hundred people have already died unnecessary deaths.
In order to help fight this epidemic over the coming weeks and months, Ashley Saurel, Marc Quashie (Junior) and Mary Hooke are currently working together to set up a Jacmel Cholera Prevention and Treatment Fund, in order for people to be able to donate money that will go directly to supplying the needed treatment for cholera and supplies for cholera prevention in our city.
In the meantime, however, people in our community are dying preventable deaths every day, due to a lack of fluids and proper medication. If you are willing and able, please consider helping us take *immediate* action against this epidemic in one of the following ways:
(1) Send donations directly to Mary through Western Union.
Due to election-related demonstrations, many parts of downtown Jacmel are shut down this week, and we unfortunately do not have access to any bank accounts. However, Mary can still pick up money from Western Union. Sending money this way will enable Mary and Junior to go out immediately and buy IV solution, azythromycin, and doxycycline-- all essential for the treatment of cholera, and all available in and around our city. We will then be able to deliver these materials to the appropriate medical facilities-- including but not limited to Jacmel's Saint-Michel Hospital, a nearby emergency cholera rehydration clinic, and a Cuban hospital in the neighboring city of Cayes Jacmel.
(2) Give through PayPal.
One of the absolute most important supplies needed for the treatment of cholera is rehydration salts. The bacteria itself is not what kills people-- it is severe dehydration that causes death. Unfortunately, rehydration salts are not available in Jacmel, and are in short supply at the hospitals here, as they are forced to rely solely on donations from outside the country. In order to get these materials to medical centers in Jacmel as soon as possible, Mary plans to travel to Miami next weekend (December 17th) to purchase the rehydration salts and bring them back to Haiti by December 20th. This is the most cost effective and secure way to get medical supplies into the country and directly into the hands of the people that need them most, especially given the urgency and time-sensitive nature of the need here. Any money sent to our PayPal account will go towards buying this precious supply and delivering it to the medical facilities in Jacmel.
To give through PayPal, copy and paste the following link into your web browser:
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=gJ0JAgRALC6o3SghWiFxOZxmdn9sqVpmeHOpm5BSRyykPyF32Pj23lrUb-u&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d9384d85353843a619606282818e091d0
(3) Invite others to help.
If you know anyone who you think would have a desire to give, or to transport materials to Haiti, please do not hesitate to invite them to join this group, or to direct them to send us an email at jacmelcholerainitiative@gmail.com.
If you have any questions or want more information on the situation here, feel free to email or to call anytime at 1 (919) 360 3899. It is a US originating number, and so will be free of international charges for those of you who are US residents.
Thank you for your support, and for your love and concern for the people of Haiti.
With appreciation and hope,
Ashley, Junior and Mary
ashley.saurel@gmail.com
junior_laf@yahoo.com
mary.hooke@gmail.com
From Derek and Anlee: We know it may be presumptous, but if any of you were planning to send anything our way, we would really like for it - instead - to be a gift to helping the people of Haiti.
Join the Facebook Group "Help Fight Cholera in Jacmel, Haiti" to learn more or visit Mary's blog at Take The World In A Love Embrace
D&A
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