What Is Most Needed in Haiti Right Now?

Interesting! I just learned from a missionary in Haiti that it costs a lot more to get some rice in that was donated than it does to go to the street market and just buy it outright. Rice and beans are readily available at the street markets where they can buy it cheaper locally and avoid shipping costs, plus customs fees and hassles associated with getting aid into the country. Purchasing directly from the street market not only speeds rice and bean delivery, but also helps support local Haitians and rebuild the economy.

Here's another tip: If you know of people who are collecting things to send to Haiti, like rice and canned beans, try to steer them to other items, such as the tents, sheets, baby formulas, etc. Tents are not easy to find and are selling for $120 a piece - so much for aid to Haiti. Although tents are best, a 10 x 10 waterproof tarp is better than nothing to try and keep people dry during the rainy season.

There is little or no medical help in Haiti now for the basic needs of ill people. Please do whatever you can to continue to support getting medical aid into Haiti. It is sorely needed.


The above photo is typical of the air immediately following the quake. On-scene witness: "It was as if an air raid had happened and everything was destroyed. The sounds were of screaming and wailing masses of people. I don't think a soul was silent after this event."


Like most photos of the devastation after the earthquake, you look at it and try to understand what it was. Large buildings and most major landmarks were destroyed, so it is not easy to navigate some areas of downtown without wondering if you are lost. When flying into the capitol, there are no more obvious landmarks that always dotted the skyline and made you know this was Port-au-Prince. Now the scene is unreal and nothing is familiar any more.


Many churches and cathedrals were destroyed, but the people flock to the streets in front of their churches and worship. There are local neighborhood services going on every day of the week somewhere. They are praying for their country to change for the better and for the masses to repent of their sins.

Spiritual and emotional needs are very high with the constant see-saw of good and bad news - discovering a friend still alive, learning another perished in the disaster. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and earnestly pray for and support the missionaries and aid workers who labor on and on.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of people quietly going about their business, serving Haitian people by putting the Haitian person first. They don’t have an agenda or anything to gain. These are the true heroes in Haiti. Pray that they find supernatural strength to keep going, in spite of the monumental work that lies in front of them, and continue to joyfully allow the unselfish love of Jesus to shine through them, spreading infectious cheer and courage to the people of Haiti. Will you join in prayer?

Earthquake Survivors on the Move

It's hard to imagine that more than one million people were left homeless by the January 12 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas in Haiti. With the rainy season at the door, thousands more Haitians are at risk from flooding and mudslides commonly caused by torrential rains.

Relocation efforts have officially begun this weekend and, over the next 10 or 12 days, they hope to move 7,500 quake survivors to an area about 45 minutes away from Port-au-Prince. In the meantime, on short notice, relief organizations are scrambling to put water and sanitation units in place as these thousands of Haitians begin arriving at the new location.

Aftershocks Continue to Cause Damage

Although aftershocks from the Haiti earthquake of January 12 have diminished, they continue to cause damage to cracked and weakened structures.

A missionary friend just wrote two days ago, telling us the front porch on their mission station collapsed after another tremor - one more reminder why they still can't sleep in their earthquake-damaged home. During the main quake, part of the back of their home collapsed, narrowly missing the missionary's wife.

The people of Haiti still ride an emotional roller coaster. They continue to receive news of friends and family who did not escape and perished during the quake, bringing them renewed grief. Then, sometimes within the same day, someone shows up alive who has been missing, hurtling their emotions upward in a spurt of joy. No time later, those emotions come crashing down in despair as they learn of yet another person who did not escape.

This regular roller coaster of emotions has taken a great toll on the people of Haiti, often leaving them feeling completely exhausted.


Here is why we cannot give up. This is where this little girl lives.


Haiti right now. At the time the above picture was taken of this mother and daughter, they had not seen any aid. Yet it had been over two months since the earthquake.