My Park

Greetings! I have been here one week and have been extremely busy helping with relief work. On Saturday, I was at Leogane, and Mariani, sharing food with the people. We contacted some pastors as contact personnel on the ground. We share the food with them and they will share it with the people who are camping on their church properties. Leogane is 70% damaged and most of the people are living on the streets, using tents, sheets and tarps as their shelters. We are praying that it won't rain for a while.

Tomorrow morning, I will be driving to Croix des Bouquet, Ganthier (Dada's orphanage) and Jacmel to visit, pray, and share food with the people. I will get to see pastor Ewal's place and will be able to let you know what to expect as you are helping Jacmel's community. During the trip, we went to the house of one of the witch doctors in Leogane, we shared food with him. He was so happy and thanked us many times. He said often time, Christians tend to judge and criticize him; he never receives help from them. That was his first experience and I am glad that we could share God’s love in action. Please pray for our trip, I will be traveling with 2 young men (Judeson & Patrick) who have been great helpers as we try to get to know the community of Port-Salut. It will be great to spend time with them and it will help me to know them better. Saturday, I will be on my way to Leogane once again to share with the community there. I have a lot of food to distribute with the people.

Next week, my parent's ministry Faith in Action will be sending me some tents, toiletry items and clothes: these are the things we mostly need now and buying them in the country can be tricky. Agape will ship them for free if you can get them there. God bless you guys,

--Joining God at Work in Haiti,

Ricot Leon

This is a super fun day of fellowship with our sister Churches from across Alberta at our beautiful Pine Lake Camp. Come enjoy skating, a bonfire, the snow and our brother and sisters in Christ. For Hockey: Absolutely NO skill is necessary/required. Girls and Guys, if you can stand on the ice in skates and hold a hockey stick you’re a 1st round draft pick. If you don’t have a team (or don’t want to organize one) and want to play, David Rehn is organizing Oak Park teams from all who are interested. Also if you don’t have skates/stick/helmet/shin pads (required safety equipment), David Rehn will also help you out to get them. Contact Dave Rehn: 403-286-4038 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Here is a list of Non-OPCC Haitian Relief Agencies.  Just click on the name to be taken to the organizations website.

World Vision

Mennonite Central Committee

Samaritan's Purse

Salvation Army

Red Cross

UNICEF

Doctors Without Borders

Oxfam

International Medical Corps

Here are some things to keep in mind before you donate:

-These are the main organizations in Canada providing relief to Haiti.  There may be others, but beware as there have already been some scams asking for donations.

-Make sure you use a Canadian agency if you desire a tax receipt.

-The Canadian Government is matching donations only for "eligible" charities.  Past precedent from the Thailand relief efforts had World Vision being the only Christian organization that was recognized as eligible.  If you want the Government to match your donation, make sure to check that you are giving to an eligible charity.  You can check an organizations registered status by clicking here

-Donations to the above need to be done directly to the organization, NOT through Oak Park Church of Christ.