The year 2010 has been a particularly tough year for Haiti. Everyone who has been working in Haiti for the past few years can tell you that this is a heart-breaking year. Those who have worked with us this year can testify about several devistating phenomenas that have taken place in Haiti.
It all started with the January 12th earthquake. About three hundred thousand (300,000) people died and left over a million living in tents. Thousands of buildings became mountains of rubble. All of that would not be the end.
In September, Port-au-Prince had a tornado that claimed the lives of five (5) people and destroyed over a thousand tents and homes. Then at the end of October, Haiti experienced the outbreak of the cholera disease which claimed many lives. The authorities are reporting about 917 deaths and 14,000 infected by the disease by mid-Novermber. The numbers only include those who died in the hospitals. Many more died at home; on their way to the hospital or in the streets in several areas of the country.
Furthermore, while we were dealing with the cholera, Hurricane Tomas arrived. It has killed over twenty people; destroyed farms and houses; flooded homes, schools, streets and office buildings. It has left many in desolation.
With all of this it would be understandable if we cried “enough!” Enough deaths! Enough tears! Enough destruction! Enough challenges! Enough …
There are many ways we can try to explain these terrible events. Some have seen them as God’s way of punishing Haitians. Possibly! We have been a land of idolatry for centuries. But two questions are raised: (1) What about the true worshipers of God who are victims of those phenomena? (2) What about the people from many parts of the world who died among us?
Others explain them as simple natural disasters. True! But other countries have had bigger earth quakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. Yet they have had no deaths and much less damage. The problem is with our general infrastructure. The problem is with our leaders. We should cry “enough!” Enough irresponsibility! Enough carelessness! Enough leadership without a vision!
We thank God for the churches, the mission organizations and some Non-Governental Organizations (NGOs) that are making a big difference in Haiti. These institutions receive little or no encouragement from the government. In fact, often the attitude of the authorities could have discouraged them and may have discouraged some.
Yet many groups continue to work in Haiti to change lives. Living Water Christian Mission is among those institutions. And, Living Water is there to stay!
We serve a wonderful God. He always provides for His work, in His time. We thank Him for the partners He has given us. We want to thank all our supporters who give sacrificially to facilitate our task of soul winning in the midst of this economic trouble. We also thank our supporting churches, which in spite of their own financial challenges, give for God’s work to go on in Gonaives, Haiti. We thank organizations like IDES, which is always by our side in tough times for encouragement and financial support; AIM, which has been a helper to us from day one; Meryl Lynch financial corporation, which stepped up to the plate to bat for us, when we needed it most, while we were trying to provide an education free of charge to the earthquake victims.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Fred and Jane Green, whom God has used to make an eternal impact in Haiti. They are precious to the entire Living Water family and to mine in particular. A father and a mother, they are to me (Salonique) and grandparents to our kids. I can never put into words what they have done for God’s kingdom in Haiti. They humbly do it for the glory of God. I pray that we can replicate their devotion to Our Lord.
Finally thanks to YOU! May God use you to do more for Him both at Living Water and elsewhere!
We invite you to read about us, so that you can (1) know us better and (2) see what part you can play in our effort to transform Haitians and Haiti through Jesus Christ.