By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

LEXINGTON, Ill. — Dennis Schlagel, executive director of the Fellowship of Christian Farmers International (FCFI), said the faith-based organization is embarking on a mission to aid victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.

“We are beginning to ship food and medical supplies to Cap Haitian via Miami,” Schlagel wrote in an e-mail. “The farmers will be staging the loads and hauling them from Bloomington, Illinois, to Miami. Once the first wave of responders gets their work done, farmers will be able to go to Haiti and begin rebuilding.

“We are working with the Pillatre Center east of Cap Haitian, (where) FCFI members have worked building a church, school and medical center since 1985.

This new opportunity to ship supplies and food to Haiti has come together (in the last) week.”

More than 110,000 are confirmed dead and at least 600,000 were left homeless by the devastating earthquake, the United Nations stated on Saturday.

FCFI is also working to help North Dakota ranchers affected by last year’s floods. They are currently seeking volunteers and donations of materials to help rebuild fences in 20 counties.

“These are hard-working families that are working overtime to get their fence lines back in shape,” Schlagel said. “The help ... is a great source of encouragement to the ranchers.”

FCFI is offering farmers and other skilled laborers opportunities for several additional work and evangelism opportunities in 2010. Missionary and construction opportunities are planned by FCFI in Missouri and Texas.

Also, to overseas trips in Albania, Russia, South Africa/Zimbabwe, Mexico and Greece. Fees range from the price of transportation to certain U.S. destinations, to as much as $2,500 for certain overseas assignments.

Working as teams around the globe and in the United States, the FCFI has directed volunteer relief and rebuilding efforts from hurricane-stricken farms and ranches in the Gulf Coast to remote areas of developing nations.

Farmers and others who want to lend a hand with FCFI’s Haiti relief efforts or any of their other important missions should call Schlagel and the FCFI at 309-365-8710 or e-mail dennis@fcfi.org