Haiti-How You Can Help

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Devastation in Port-au-Prince

By now everyone has heard about the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti around 5 PM on Tuesday. At this writing no one knows the full extent of the damage. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it a catastrophe of “biblical” proportion. That seems like an apt description for the earthquake that struck the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. 

Now is the time for Christians to unite together in prayer and in giving to support the hurting people of Haiti. Many Christian organizations work in Haiti and are there many ways to give. We particularly recommend that gifts be made through the following ministries:

Samaritan’s Purse

Hosean International Ministries

For those interested in making a short-term trip to help in the relief efforts, we recommend that you consider going with Score International.

On a personal note, Haiti has been close to my heart ever since I met Caleb Lucien in 1985 when he was a student at Dallas Seminary and I pastored a church in a Dallas suburb. I got to know Caleb and his brother Henoc very well. Through our friendship with the Luciens, I have been part of four preaching missions in Haiti, all of them in Pignon, a town about 65 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Marlene has been once to Haiti and our two oldest sons have been to Haiti also. On my first visit I spent several days in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. We have found the Haitian believers to be filled with joy and faith, always singing, and eager to hear the Word of God. Hosean International Ministries is the support arm for the Luciens. 

This morning Caleb’s wife Debbie wrote a report on the situation. Here are some excerpts:

Hi everyone- this is an e-mail update from our family in Haiti. We are okay.

I just heard from Caleb. He arrived in Port au Prince and said the conditions are indescribable. Just to give you an idea, estimates on loss of life right now are approaching 250,000-half a million.
He says bodies of 20-30 people are piled up and no one is even stopping to pick them up because there is no where to take them.
It is horrible. Last night he slept in his car and is trying to bring back some people to Pignon today. We have a group of Americans here right now and are trying to decide how to get them out. There are no commercial flights in and out of Haiti, the only way in is through the DR for anyone other than military aid workers.

What we are doing:
1. Caleb is arriving back here in Pignon today with some evacuees.
2. We are preparing to house as many as we can (now I know why God gave me such a BIG new house-smile)
3. We can house us to several thousand here, we are preparing by getting drinking water ready,etc.
We need funding to buy sleeping pads and food for them. There is a water filtration system in town which will provide water.
The local hospital here is already receiving injured from the capital. Those who can walk or travel are coming here.
We are planning at present to put evacuees at the camp, at the school, wherever we can find a place.
4. Please continue to pray for wisdom and strength for Caleb.
5.Some cell phone service started working again today, although it is intermittent.
6. Pray for calm as people begin to hear who has died. It is very disheartening.
7. Pray we can continue to be a light. The Christians here know we have survived to be here for such a time as this.
We love you guys. Please pass the message along and continue to pray for all of us.
Debbie