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“What else can happen to the people of Haiti?”, you may have asked yourself. The tragic flooding in recent weeks has left many devastated. Fortunately, the people around Pignon were not as hard hit as other areas. However, United Nations relief supplies that might have gone to the Central Plateau may have been redirected to the urgent needs of flooding elsewhere in the country.
Basic food needs around Pignon continue to be critical and many patients in the Hopital Bienfaisance de Pignon cannot pay for food nor hospital and medical fees.
The severity of the recent flooding was increased, if not caused, by the continued lack of forestation throughout the nation. While alternative solutions to cooking fuel will continue to need to be developed, soil conservation and basic nutritional needs demand immediate attention to the severe forestation problem. A small amount of Noni trees have been recently planted but the need for large forestation work is immense.
One small forest tree can be produced for as little as $.25 and one small fruit tree for $.375 per season. We would like to produce 200,000 forest and fruit trees in two seasons, which will require an investment of $60,000. Please pray for someone with a vision to see this part of Haiti to flourish again with trees to support the needy population.
We are pleased to report our first volunteer mission team to go to Pignon since the political turmoil last winter. A very tired but productive team from Iowa recently returned from a highly successful visit. John Hocker said that "If you go your heart will burst with love for the beautiful Haitian people. They know the true meaning of brotherly love." The group of 10 from Meredith Drive Reformed Church in Des Moines and six others from St. Louis, Omaha, Cedar Falls, and Pella ministered in a variety of projects. They built and covered bunk beds, provided soccer uniforms, continued school building, financially supported teachers, interviewed 120 students to be supported, helped with supplying bicycles, refurbished a burned home, met with and helped support 23 ladies in the Empowerment Program, contributed $4000 for feeding the critically poor in the hospital, fed over 400 people, initiated a pilot feeding program for students at Meredith Drive School, as well as completed miscellaneous projects such as plumbing, cleaning, etc.
What a tremendous blessing these missionaries were and what a model and inspiration they are for the rest of us!
While all of the work of the Christian Mission of Pignon is a work of faith, hospital supplies, fuel, medicines, and salaries continue to challenge us the most. It takes over $12,000 each month to provide for these essentials and, unfortunately, the need consistently exceeds the supply of funds.
In preparing for the future, we are in immediate need of scholarship sponsors for four nursing students and two students in hospital management. This need is specific and critical and we are trusting God to provide as He has with so many wonderful HASP and HELP sponsors before.
The Christian Mission of Pignon thanks you for your interest in the plight of those suffering in Haiti. We ask you to pray to our Heavenly Father, that His will would be done and that His Kingdom would come in Pignon and throughout all of Haiti. If you would like to be a part of touching lives with God’s mercy, please consider how you might volunteer or give financially as God leads you.
We thank you for your interest and prayers,
Christian Mission of Pignon, Inc.
Donations are tax-deductible.