Through all of the pain, injustice and chaos which the nation and people of Haiti have experienced the past seven weeks, one might ask - is there hope?
Hope for a people
Hundreds of stories have been told of people turning to God, miracles experienced and people finding an inexplainable sustenance in the face of tremendous losses. We have related many such stories, such as this recent one from Jean Dorlus, president of the STEP seminary: "A wealthy businessman asked me to give him some pointers on what it means to live for God and not for himself. Another one who narrowly escaped death and has lost many friends and material possessions asked me if there is any sense at all in all that happened."
We thank you on behalf of the Haitian people for your generous giving, which has been extraordinary. Funds have been distributed and will continue with these guidelines:
- Immediate "first response" emergency services (medical care, food, water, shelter) provided for the refugee camp on the Bolosse campus
- Repairs to the Bolosse campus infrastructure
- Assistance to the Beraca Medical Center (La Pointe) for costs incurred in treating earthquake victims free of charge
- Assistance to the UEBH association of churches for relief and care of church members, rehabilitation of church buildings and strategic operations being planned
- Assistance to the seminary STEP for relief, care for students and community; rehabilitation of strategic facilities according to a new strategic plan
Relief efforts and funds have a strong emphasis on local empowerment and job creation, which then stimulates the economy, rebuilds broken lives and stabilizes society.
Hope for a nation
God certainly will bless a nation which calls itself to prayer and fasting, as Haiti did on Feb 12-14. During that time hundreds trusted Christ as Savior and others reflected on the meaning of life and the direction of their country.
CrossWorld has a long heritage of work in Haiti and also a new outreach in Senegal. Could the invitation of the president of Senegal to relocate Haitians to Senegal be a way God could use to bring hope to Haitian families while at the same time bring the gospel to Senegal, the land of their roots which is now majority Muslim? Will you pray to that end?
Haiti still needs our help. CrossWorld thanks the many who have gone to Haiti with expertise to provide: technical help, trauma debriefing skill, training in logistics and crisis/trauma care, medical care, organization and assessment skills, supervisory skills, crisis management and expert counsel. As things transition from a technical crisis mode to stabilization, strategic planning and recovery, we will still need volunteers at strategic points. If you are available, please be in touch with CrossWorld's mobilization department at get.involved@crossworld.org.
How to keep informed
The CrossWorld news releases and web updates will be less frequent but still focused on up-to-date news of Haiti. Here is what you can do to keep informed:
- You can subscribe to CrossWorld's E-prayers which is a regular up-to-date list of prayer requests which includes Haiti requests. Write to prayer@crossworld.org.
- Continue to read the news on Haiti and pray each day about what you read and hear.
- You can still give to the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund at the CrossWorld website (http://www.crossworld.org/) or give directly to the CrossWorld business office:
CrossWorld
10000 North Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64155-2010
In Canada:
CrossWorld
1020 Matheson Blvd. E #11,
Mississauga, ON L4W 4J9 - Keep a watch on the CrossWorld website.
- Keep praying and encouraging our CrossWorld team in Haiti. They are true heroes, and as you write them and pray for them, you will hear back from them incredible stories of God's grace, provision, sustaining power in this difficult and challenging time. You yourself will be encouraged and blessed by them!
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