RescueNet
- Mar 5, 2018
- 4 min read
"Each year, there are over 300 natural disasters globally" -RescueNet.net
Natural disasters occur frequently around the globe, affecting individuals, families and communities. From earthquakes to tsunamis, floods to hurricanes, these events ravage entire nations, killing thousands, disrupting ecosystems and turning economies on their heads. Causing immediate damage, they also create long-term instability, illness, poverty, and famine. As followers of Christ, we are called to be His hands and feet through service to those in need. This is the mandate that inspired the creation of RescueNet, a volunteer-based rapid response team that provides emergency relief where disasters have occurred.
RescueNet (RN) is an organisation that sends "trained volunteer workers offering medical, light search and rescue, psychosocial support, logistical and distribution assistance etc. into disaster areas" (RescueNet.net). When a nation struck by disaster sends out a demand for international aid, RN workers enter the country within 24-48 hours to provide on-site relief services for up to four weeks. RN works alongside the United Nations, as well as local governments and other agencies to provide the most effective care in the areas that need it most.
RescueNet is an international team of social workers, doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals who have the common goal of showing God's love by helping victims of disaster (RescueNet.net). All RN members are volunteers, paying for their own supplies, training and deployment fees. The current team is made up of around 100 members from around the world, roughly 60 of whom are currently deployable. When international aid is needed at a disaster site, the RN team is contacted and those who are able to respond leave their work and families to join the rest of the team at the disaster site.
When David first heard God call him to full-time ministry, his heart was pulled towards this organization which would allow him to serve others in a practical way while also bringing the love and light of Christ to dark places. He joined the team when he completed the first phase of training in 2014, and became deployable after the second phase in the summer of 2016. While there were a number of disasters that happened around the world in the year 2017, none were grave enough to merit a call for international aid, and therefore the RN team was not deployed. David is currently waiting to be sent with the next RN deployment in order to finalize his "deployable" status with the team.
Elise was ready to participate in the latest RN training in Costa Rica last August, but plans changed when she discovered her pregnancy and realized that going to a zika-positive nation while seven months pregnant was not a wise idea. She was disappointed (about the training, not the pregnancy!), but knew there would be a future opportunity.
Last fall, David received an email from another RN member inviting him to help staff the next training session in Switzerland in May 2018. After asking for some clarification, we realized that the invitation was for our entire family ! David would join the staff team, Elise would participate in the training, and Jude would be the team mascot !
What an opportunity we saw open up before us ! Two things that are deeply set in our hearts were colliding, with the chance to increase our engagement with RescueNet, and to do it AS A FAMILY. (Of course we will not be able to bring Jude with us during future deployments, but having the chance to attend the training in Switzerland together is incredible !). We consider ourselves to be a mother-father-son team, and our desire it to work together to be a blessing to others.
Thus, off we go to Switzerland ! We will be leaving Canada for one month, most of which will be spent at the RN training site in Wiler. David will attend the training prep and debrief in the weeks leading up to, and following, the actual training session. Elise and Jude will stay on the base during that time, with Elise joining in for the two weeks of training from May 27th - June 9th.
We will of course make the most of our trip and spend at least a few days visiting friends and family, most of whom have yet to meet little Mr. Jude ! We are excited for him to get acquainted with the last of his home countries (as he has already been in Canada and the USA).
Pour nos amis en Suisse: nous allons avoir une soirée "porte-ouverte" pour tous ceux qui veulent venir nous dire coucou ! La soirée aura lieu chez Jean-Luc Therisod (Route de Plaud 12, 1432 Belmont-sur-Yverdon) le 22 mai à partir de 16h00. Vous êtes les bienvenues, et nous nous réjouissons de vous voir !
We look forward to this upcoming adventure, and we are incredibly thankful to the Lord for opening the door and making it possible ! We do have some prayer requests and practical needs that we would like to present to you.
Practical needs:
-We are looking for a baby sitter for Jude from May 27th-June 9th, during the time of training. -As RN is completely volunteer based, David and I will be paying for our own flights, supplies, lodging and training fees, with comes to roughly $3000.
Prayer needs: -It will be our first overseas travel with an infant. We are not nervous about this, but please pray for clarity of thought as we plan and prepare for the voyage ! -Grace for David as he prepares to help lead and teach during the RN training.
-Wisdom as we make plans for the few days we will have to visit friends and family - that those days would be full of quality time !
-Health for Jude (and the parents too!) as we travel. -Pray against complications or confusion related to traveling with three different passports !
Thank you for partnering with us in this project !
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