You have no idea, in the midst of such suffering and devastation, how the demonstration of your love, compassion, prayers, finances, and emails towards Haiti and our field staff has humbled and encouraged us.
After talking with Ed in Petit Guave and Candy in northern Haiti, my heart is heavy with the vast needs. Last night, Ed relayed stories of amputations, injuries, and the desperate feelings of people not knowing if they’re going to live another day.
Candy told me about a forty-year-old mother who lost her home, husband, three children, and one leg. This mother asked Candy, “What am I going to do? Where will I go?” Candy was speechless and broken. She wept with the woman and tried to comfort her.
I told both Ed and Candy, “We can’t meet all the needs in Haiti. But we CAN help one community, one school, one church, one family, and one person—one at a time.” With your help, coupled with the Lord’s provision, we will start to do just that—one at a time.
The first question we have asked is, “What needs to be done?”
There are immediate needs of food, water, shelter, and medical care that we are meeting. We are serving over 400 meals a day. Our field people in the Dominican Republic are taking in tents, tarps, medical supplies, and fuel. In February, teams will start going in to help rebuild churches, homes, schools, and giving medical care. If you signed up for a team, the team trip department will be contacting you. (Click here to sign up.)
The second question we have to ask is, “What is the best thing for the people of Haiti?”
As an organization, we want to be very careful not to create dependency. If our relief and development is not thought out, we can hurt the very people we’re trying to help. To insure that doesn’t happen, we are strategically making long term plans (10 years) to partner with our Haitian brothers and sisters to rebuild their communities and eventually their nation. In order to be most effective, we will collaborate with other organizations, missionaries, and our Haitian partners.
For just a moment, imagine this is you: You lost your family, your home, one of your limbs. Where would you go? What would you do?
I’ve been told in 30 to 60 days everyone will be gone and Haiti will be forgotten. However, Missionary Ventures will be ministering in Haiti for the long haul.
Please pray for our missionaries on the ground in Haiti. And please ask God what He would have you do to help our brothers and sisters in their time of extreme need.
May God bless you and strengthen you and your family for your love and prayers and sacrifice for the men, woman, and children of Haiti.
