At our most recent mission meeting, we had a discussion about the situation in Haiti. If you would like to read more about the situation from the Associated Press, you can click here: https://www.apnews.com/6c23ba1de3564e8d86be3148f6bea3af
Haiti is currently engaged in a civil war and many people are suffering. Wayne Street has a relationship with HIS Home, an orphanage in Port au Prince. Cheryl Kuck happened to run into Chris and Hal Nungester in the Atlanta air port. Chris and Hal are from Lima but they are the directors of His Home. Here is an email from Cheryl Kuck
This is what Chris N said about Haiti in a nut shell. Haiti has become more unstable. Fuel is scarce. They rebels are burning tires to block roads and are looting businesses. As she said she does not understand why when you have no fuel you burn a gas station. They have maintained the safety of the children to this point. The public schools are closed so they are homing school at least some of the children. The medical community is stressed to the breaking point. She spoke of 4 of their children that have sickle cell and needed transfusions before she left. It took the doctor a week to be able to get the transfusions approved and they would have to go sit for the day waiting. Chris would have to gather all the materials needed for the transfusion. Hal became so concerned that he had Chris bring their children back to the states. He did not want the stress of worrying about them and the HIS home children. That is why I saw them in the airport. He can take his bike and go to the Dominican Republic if he needs out. Haitians are not allowed to cross but he would be allowed.
They continue to need to pay their staff because those families are dependent on their pay. It is probably harder because prices go up with shortages. HIS Home depends on donations for the payroll. Usually they have teams that come down and they will also make donations but with the social unrest it is not safe to have any teams. Thus they are behind on payroll which is $900/wk.
When I asked what we could do besides prayer Chris asked if we could donate towards payroll. We would have to send her the money here in Lima and after it is deposited Hal can withdraw from that account in Haiti. My question is can we donate from missions or ask the congregation or ask for prayers without financial help.
-Cheryl Kuck
The mission team has designated $2000 to go to HIS Home to help with these expenses. We are challenging the congregation during the month of October to match that $2000 with another $2000. This will help the workers and children who are a part of HIS Home. The account that operates HIS Home is at a bank in Lima, so we can deposit directly into their accounts with no risk. 100% of all funds collected will go to help the children of HIS Home.
To give to this challenge, just make a note on your gift and put it in with the regular offering.
Please keep Haiti in your prayers.