It’s been almost 6 months since the major earthquake devastated the people of what was already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
The reporters have gone home. The concerts and celebrity fundraisers have ended. Much of the world’s interest has faded.
But things are not back to “normal” for the people of Haiti. (Not that what was previously “normal” would be acceptable either.)
So, what’s happening in Haiti now?
Fortunately, not everyone has forgotten about Haiti. Here are some great examples of what some people are still doing now in Haiti, and how you can get involved.
1) Cypress Meadows Community Church
A group of 14 people from my church are down in Haiti right now. They’ve been helping to rebuild a home and an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. We at Cypress Meadows have been supporting a church and school in northern Haiti (St. Louis Da Nord) for about 5 years now. The team that’s in Haiti now is trying to work out the logistics to get a water filtration system in St. Louis da Nord so people in that area will have clean water to drink, instead of the bacteria-filled water they drink now. You can read trip updates on their blog and pray for them and the people they’re helping.
2) Bridge 410
My church’s trip to Haiti was coordinated with the help of the wonderful people at 410 Bridge. If you would like to go to Haiti to serve or if you would like to send an entire team to Haiti, they can help you do that. If you can’t go, donate. Details are on their website.
3) A Home In Haiti
Shaun King, pastor of Courageous Church in Atlanta, has been out front leading efforts to provide tents to people in Haiti who lost their homes in the earthquake. aHomeInHait.org recently shipped 3,000 tents to Haiti. Now they’re moving on from Phase 1 which was providing temporary housing, to Phase 2 which is to provide permanent, sustainable homes, schools, orphanages, and more!
4) Fellowship of Believers
My friend, Dan King, is helping to lead a team of 48 people – most of them students – from Fellowship of Believers church in Sarasota, FL. They are heading down to Port-au-Prince in August where they’ll be doing a VBS with the children, interacting with local teens, painting an orphanage, distributing food to the poor, and doing other outreach and local ministry activities. You can read more about their trip and help support it here in The Haiti Diaries.
Do you have any more stories to tell of what’s happening now in Haiti? Share them here.
What are you doing to help the people of Haiti? If nothing, consider supporting those who are on the ground server.
Great job Paul. Thanks so much. What you said is so true. We are partnering with World Relief. You can check out my blog. Two weeks ago I attended a consultation in Chicago that was sponsored by World Relief and hosted by Community Christian Church.
Let’s work at staying the course there till the work is done. And we are talking about doing that for a very long time to come!
Blessings,
Dave
That’s great, Dave! Good to see another church involved in Haiti.
Hey, thanks for the shout-out about my upcoming trip to Haiti. This looks to be shaping up to probably be the first of many for me, and I’m excited to be a part of some great work that many in the church are getting behind like your post here represents.
In fact, I was just reading in the latest issue of Relevant magazine that it is the church that is leading (and should be leading) the long-term rebuilding efforts. We play a critical role especially in supporting the local churches in Haiti as this process continues to completely rebuild that nation literally from the ground up.
Thanks Paul! You rock dude!
Dan, that’s great that you and your church are looking at being involved in Haiti long term.
Is this the article you’re referring to in Relevant Magazine? Either way it’s a great article:
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/poverty/features/22034-rebuilding-haiti
Umm… yeah Paul… that’s why I said…
“I was just reading in the latest issue of Relevant magazine…”
LOL! And yes, it is a GREAT article! You rock dude!
My husband and I have been involved with an organization called Hearts with Hope for Haiti for the last few years.
http://heartswithhopeforhaiti.weebly.com/
Their focus was, and continues to be, education and clean drinking water. They have, since the earthquake also become involved in the area of Dessources.
We are part of a team going at the end of July to be part of a leadership conference for teachers and administrators of 6 schools in that area.
http://heartswithhopeforhaiti.weebly.com/2010-third-annual-leadership-conference.html
Only two of us have been back to Haiti since the earthquake. We are very excited about being part of this work.
Suzie
That’s fantastic Suzie! Thanks for getting involved. Sounds like you’re doing great stuff.
Should have said they’ve become involved in housing in the area of Dessource.
Sorry, I’m usually just a lurker!
i would like to say thanks for helping the country:)