November 1, 2022
Hello from Haiti!
We helped before...
In the summer of 2021 an earthquake hit the southwestern part of Haiti. There was much loss of life and many homes were damaged or destroyed. This little village is so remote, it's not on the radar of larger organizations. Because of your generosity, we were able to work through Pastor Francky Jean-Baptiste to provide emergency food relief and construction supplies to help life somewhat return to normal for many people. The photo shows some of the people of the village who received help last year.
This time it's a human disaster...
Last month we explained the latest disaster to strike Haiti. This time, it's of human origin. In the wake of political instability, gangs have taken over control of the country. The national police are unable to maintain order and ports are still blocked, as are major roads and routes of commerce. This has caused tremendous pain all over the country, especially in little, out of the way places like Lafige. In the wake of economic collapse, people in Lafige and elsewhere are literally starving to death.
We're going back to the well.
Our founder, Dr. Oris Guillaume, has been in communication with Pastor Francky. He is putting out a desperate appeal for emergency food help again. We would like to purchase rice, beans, tinned meat, and spaghetti. Inflation has elevated the cost of a a 25kg (55 lb) bag of rice from $55 to $95 depending on when and where it is purchased. We would like to purchase 20 to 40 bags of rice along with other goods to help his little village survive. In the spirit of full transparency, there is risk involved. The closest place to purchase is the town of Jeremie, when it can be found, and from there it will be transported by mule or motorcycle (for two hours or more) to Lafige. It is possible it could be hijacked en route, though the risk is minimized due to the difficult, rural route. Despite the risk, we feel that we cannot idly stand by in the face of this need. We hope and pray you will understand and agree. If you are in a position to help, please donate on this site: https://www.haiticheri.org/donate.
Just put "Relief" in the comments, and we will know it is for Lafige. You can also mail a check to the P.O. Box shown at the bottom of this newsletter. Most of all, please pray for those who continue to suffer, and that God will intervene in His mercy.
