Neighbors in Haiti

As you may be aware there was a group from the Pierceville Federated Church in Haiti when the earthquake struck. I thought those of you from the area might be interested in the various news reports regarding these folks. I know that these are pretty redundant stories, but it seems like they each have a unique tidbit of info to offer.
KSN 1/13/2010
KAKE 1/13/2010
KSN 1/14/2010
Wichita Eagle 1/14/2010
Garden City Telegram 1/14/2010
KSN 1/14/2010
KAKE 1/15/2010
Wichita Eagle 1/15/2010
There also was a story in the Dodge City Globe today which I purchased and am now going to illegally post:

Haiti quake strands locals
BY GENE LEHMANN
Dodge City Daily Globe

Six Dodge City area residents trapped in Haiti following Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake are safe for now.
The residents are John Maples, a Montezuma resident who works for the Dodge City school `district; Greg Love of Montezuma; Clayton Stolzfus of Meade; and Doug McGraw,Terry Major and Martha Major, all of Pierceville.
Families of the locals have received text messages, and Maples daughter, Natalie Briscoe, said Friday her father was able to telephone the family Thursday evening. Maples rigged up a phone through the Internet, using a MagicJack system to make the call.
She said the conversation was approximately 10 minutes long and a 'blessing from God.' All six traveled to Haiti as part of the nationwide Independent Christian Alliance Ministries and were planning to lend a hand to churches and schools in Carrefour, Haiti.
Briscoe said it was her father's first trip to Haiti. He and the others planned to help with minor construction repairs in Carrefour, but they quickly found themselves in the midst of the worst natural disaster to hit one of the world's poorest countries.
The earthquake leveled houses in the immediate area of Carrefour, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, the Caribbean nation's capital city.While only there a few hours before the quake hit, Maples reported to his family that the Kansas team helped rescue one person trapped in the rubble.
However, Briscoe said, the team was unable to save everyone trapped near the place where they are staying.
Briscoe said team members are living outside in a walled-off church compound. They have food and water and are sharing their provisions with victims of the quake. Church members had purchased food and other essentials prior to the quake since they were expecting the Kansans, she added.
The team sleeps on mattresses in the compound yard, Briscoe said, adding her father told his family that strong aftershocks make staying in a compromised structure very dangerous.
Briscoe, 26, her mother, Pam, and younger sister, Noelle, 22, have been keeping a vigil for word on when the team might be able to leave Haiti.
However, team members are unsure how safe it is to travel within the region.
Further, they are unsure whether they could find passage back to the United States even if they make it to the airport.
'They are not sure if the airport would have food or water,' Briscoe said.
She added: 'We're waiting and hoping, and we praise God for being so faithful and keeping them safe.' The Maples family attends Morningside Community Church in Montezuma.With the vast support network of the church and the community, Briscoe said her family has remained strong.
'The church and Montezuma have been great and provided a wonderful support system for us,' she said.
It was through Morningside Community Church — and through Pierceville Federated Church — that the Kansans found themselves in Haiti.
Briscoe said the churches were aware of the Independent Christian Alliance Ministries through a Haitian national, Andre Louis, who travels between the United States and Haiti seeking volunteers and missionaries.
Indeed, two of the Pierceville residents — Terry and Martha Major — had been in Haiti approximately one week prior to the earthquake, Briscoe said. They are believed to be safe and with the other area residents.
While the news is great that each of the six is OK, officials are concerned that lawlessness and looting could occur in some parts of Port au Prince. But no word is available concerning how the team might return safely to the United States.

Home again, home again.
I will try to keep this post updated as appropriate.