Poorer Than Poor
A Message from Susan Kerr, Christ Church’s Director of Missions & Outreach, on Help for Haiti
The news coverage is everywhere. It is on the radio, the internet, television. A huge 7.0 earthquake has left Haiti in ruins, and its people in dire straits. Many have lost their lives. It could be tens of thousands, maybe more. We may never know. In a country like Haiti, people could easily be buried alive in the rubble and no one will ever find them.
I remember Christ Church’s first mission trip to Haiti several years ago. As we drove through Port-au-Prince, I was overwhelmed with the sights and smells of extreme poverty. And, even in all the years and many countries I have visited since then, nothing compares. Haiti is poorer than poor. I saw children with distended bellies in the latter stages of malnutrition, families living in one-room grass huts with dirt floors, women who asked our team members to take their babies so that these children would have the opportunity to live.
How does a country this poor deal with a tragedy of this magnitude? The governmental palace and the United Nations building have both been reduced to rubble. What little infrastructure they had is now gone. I believe that it is only through the love of Christ that they can recover. We, their brothers and sisters in Christ, need to reach out to them.
We are working with two ministry partners who are already in place in Haiti and can address the immediate needs. They are Samaritan’s Purse and New Missions. The quickest way to get your donation to them is to make an electronic donation to Samaritan’s Purse. Or you can bring your contribution to church this weekend. Checks should be made out to Christ Church Plano with “Haiti” in the memo line. Due to the severity of the need, Christ Church has already sent $5,000, and we hope you will consider giving as well.
Please remember to pray for Haiti. Pray that the Lord would be their refuge and their strength, and that they would put their trust in Him.
Thank you.
Susan Kerr
Director of Missions & Outreach
Christ Church Plano
214-291-5028
There is a hospital we have been been giving to for several years. It is the Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti. My cousin was the CEO of the hospital. I know that the hospital survived the earthquake. It is 40 miles from the capitol. Look it up on-line if you are interested.
Thank you Susan and Jill for letting us know how we can help Haiti through Christ Church Plano. We know that whatever amount, large or small will go where it is intended if relegated through our church.
I remember the first time we went to Haiti. 6 young girls, myself, and a security male. We went with 120 other youths from all over the country. Susan is right, they are poorer than poor. When we get hungry and say “I’m Starving”, we have no idea what that really means. When you see children with orange roots on their hair, swolen bellies, and dull eyes, you will never use that phrase again. Now it’s even worse. This disaster has taken what little was there. Let’s do all we can and then some.
I also remember our trip to Haiti in 1997. I remember crying the entire bus ride from PaP into Leogane. I had never seen anything like it. I have said many prayers and will continue to do so for the poor people of Haiti. I’m hoping out of this tragedy, Haiti will stay in the forefront of everyone’s mind and prayers and that this country can come out strong.