Jeanty

Steffy

Friends of Haiti,

This month we are introducing four children whose parents were killed in the 2010 earthquake. Since then, they have been cared for by a pastor and wife whose church the parents attended. Their church is very near the epicenter of the quake, but suffered little damage. Although their house was destroyed, the couple is using a couple of the rooms there to live in.

The children are

  • Jeanty, who will be 14 this year,
  • Steffy, who was born in 2008,
  • Andreus, also born in 2008,
  • Inozam, whose birth date is not known.

Andreus

Inozam

As with many kids there, they were outside playing at the time of the quake and their parents were inside their homes or very near them. When the quake hit and the homes fell, the parents were trapped inside and killed, as a result of their injuries or because others around them could not rescue them.

If anyone could help with a monthly offering, or a one time offering, I am sure they would appreciate it. It would be used for clothing and food needs.

While we’re highlighting these four children, they are not alone. No number has been put on the number of kids now living on the streets because of the earthquake, but in some areas of the city at each stop sign or stop light, there are groups of them asking for money or help. Life is perilous for a child on the street. Among the other obvious hardships, the child sex market has grown, with teen age girls forced into prostitution in order to live. It really is a bad situation.

The third anniversary of the earthquake was observed this January 12th. This year the observation was not as widespread as the first. Many say its time to move on — not to forget it, because no one ever will, but life there has to go on. Most of the damaged business buildings have been torn down and cleaned up. There are some houses that are still as they were but very few reminders of what happened remain in the residential areas. Outside those areas, however, hundreds of thousands still live in tent cities.

This March is our 18th anniversary too. Our first trip took place in 1994 and the ministry was named in March 1995. It is very hard to believe it has been that long. Some of you have been with us every step of the way. But whether you met us in the summer of 1995 or later, for 18 years all of us working together have made a difference. A few things stand out:

  • Hundreds of kids have attended schools that weren’t there before, and eaten a daily meal because of your caring and generosity.
  • From a health stand point, no one in the areas we work contacted cholera. Why not? Because we have simply taught people how to use the water they have.
  • Many people have came to know the Lord because of churches being built where there were none.

In the coming months we are going to “spotlight” different people that work with us in Haiti to give you an idea who works with us there, their families, what they do to help in the ministry and how your giving and prayers help them.

We couldn’t do this alone; it is because of your help we can. Thank you for all you do.

Serving HIM together

Steve and Terry