Ways you can help:
1) The Haiti Food Fund makes it possible to feed nearly 17,000 children
at the 53 FM schools in Haiti. To contribute to this fund, make checks
payable to International Child Care Ministries, and send to PO Box
535002, Indianapolis, IN 46253-5002.
2) A child's life can be changed for so little money in the U.S. economy
— just $18.00 a month. Consider sponsoring a child today by choosing
one from our Web site at www.childcare
ministries.org, or contact us by phone (800) 342-5531. |
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(Editor's
Note: Most of our Haiti FM missionary team returned to ministry by mid-April
after leaving the country in mid-February because of the country's political
turmoil.)
"Thus
Far the Lord Has Brought Us"
by Gail Ennis, Haiti Child Care Coordinator
 The
rebellion that took place over the past few months has resulted in a severe
humanitarian crisis for the Haitian people. As I received each pastor
this month, their stories were the same — prices for food are at
an all-time high; people are hungry; gardens have been lost because of
the lack of rain and water in the irrigation canals; animals are suffering
because they can't find water; there are no jobs; and crime has escalated.
The value of the U.S. dollar has decreased 20 percent over the past few
weeks, yet prices continue to skyrocket. Rice that once sold for $12 Haitian/marmit*
($1.71 US) per pot is now being sold for $22-30 Haitian ($3.15-$4.29 US).
The large sacks of rice we buy for the schools are costing anywhere between
$350-$400 Haitian /sack ($50-$57 US); a sack of beans is costing around
$300 Haitian ($43 US) and propane gas for our gas stoves is costing $400
Haitian /100 pound bottle ($57 US).
Our Free Methodist schools were able to remain open during the entire
rebellion except for a few days around the time of Aristide's departure.
Some of our school offices and depots were broken into and schoolbooks,
cooking utensils, bowls and silverware were stolen.
One of our pastors was robbed of the school food he had just purchased.
We are so thankful the Lord was with him and spared his life; however,
the thieves broke out all his car windows and beat up the car. A kind
Haitian lady took him in and gave him some tea to calm his nerves until
he could return safely to his vehicle. This same pastor has had several
problems with his car but praises the Lord for His continued safety in
buying and delivering the school food.
 Another
pastor related to me that in the area of Bellevue (Artibonite Valley),
where we have a church and school, all the people have lost their gardens
because they have no water. They have to walk 3 to 4 km (1.9 to 2.5 miles)
to find water to bathe with, cook with and drink.
At our school in Bellevue Baudin (which is in the mountains to the south
of Port-au-Prince), a 6th grade child came to school and threatened a
teacher with a handgun while another child in the same school came with
a can of tear gas and threatened the educational supervisor. Neither of
these children were sponsored children, and we are thankful nothing serious
happened.
Listening to each pastor, my spirit became heavier and heavier as I felt
the burden of these people. One pastor cried as he sat in front of me
telling me of the hardships of his people. We cried together and prayed
together, petitioning the Lord on behalf of these beautiful people. Even
now as I recall the moment I am moved to tears.
Mondale
Oscar |
In my absence, under the leadership of my assistant Mondale Oscar, my
staff faithfully carried out their Child Care responsibilities. I am so
proud of each of them and of their commitment to the program and to God.
Several pastors have told me how important the Child Care feeding program
is at this time. God has been so faithful to us through all of this. With
the devaluation of the dollar, along with the continued rise in inflation,
we are desperately in need of your support for the Haiti Food Fund.
We continue to place our faith in God to sustain us through these difficult
times. This is His program and we shout "Ebenezer" — thus
far the Lord had brought us. We serve a God who daily showers us with
His amazing love and tender mercies. We rejoice in knowing that there
are people like each of you who desire to follow after the heart of God
in caring for the poor. On behalf of all our pastors, our children and
their families, we send our love and heartfelt thanks.
*
A marmit is a large, family-size corn can used for measuring.
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