Hurricane Sandy hit Haiti hard and once more these people have to try to cope with the loss of a community, loss of lives, loss of a major portion of crops in the country and loss of homes and belongings. The amount of damage and the number of lives lost will be much higher than reported. Word is slowly trickling down about loss of everything, including lives, in the mountain areas. The south of Haiti was hardest hit but a tremendous amount of damage has been done throughout. The Haitians are a resilient people but they have been hit hard over and over during the past few years. Help is needed to see them survive this latest disaster.
There has been a serious ‘hunger’ problem in Haiti for the past few months. The cost of what has been available in our area has more than tripled. The huge increase in costs has affected the running of the mission orphanage and school. If we are affected like this how much worse is it for the people in the communities around us. There have been several manifestations against the government for the lack of help with the serious hunger problem. Now this damage from hurricane Sandy is turning a bad situation into a grave situation.
HATS has done all it could to help with the problem of hunger around us. We have taken two donations to HATS and used it for our ‘mercy’ ministry. We purchased food – rice, beans, cornmeal, and oil which was distributed into the community. We want to say thank you for these funds. In light of the gravity of the present situation we want to do more. The HATS mission is seen by many as a light in the darkness to the people in our area of the Artibonite Valley.
Many around us have lost their homes, belongings, their crops and their animals. They are starting to look to HATS for help.
I am asking for prayer support for the people in Haiti. Too, we would welcome any possible financial support for us to help meet some of the needs, especially that of hunger. Most children in North America can eat three times a day. Most children in Haiti consider themselves blessed if they can eat something once a day. If you are able to help with food funds you can donate through the HATS address in Yarmouth, NS. You can earmark the donation as ‘mercy’.
By cheque: Hands Across The Sea Association, Box 101, Yarmouth, NS B5A 4B1.
Matthew 25:35: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Matthew 40: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these you did for me.”
For HATS – IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND ABOUT THE LEAST OF THESE
Due to hurricane Sandy Radio Creole has been extremely busy. It has been very helpful with the many problems throughout our area especially but also in many other areas of Haiti. Schools were closed during the hurricane and Luckner spent three days and nights on the radio. He kept people informed about the situation and danger in many areas. He asked people in all areas who had a cellphone and something to report to text him their numbers. He would then call them and get updates on these areas and report it. Often it was about rivers flooded, mud slides, areas to stay away from, roads that were impassable and dangerous. People in our area were concerned about loved ones in other areas of Haiti, and likewise people elsewhere needed information about their family members in our area. Luckner had people calling the radio from all over Haiti needing help. He was able to connect many people and/or reassure many. Also, he had to break sad news about some family members being lost in the south of Haiti. There has been a tremendous amount of thankfulness phoned in to Radio Creole for this work. A ministry like this has been needed in this area for a very long time, and all of us at HATS are thankful for it.
God bless you all.
~Karen
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