Haiti (MNN) ― Even as aid trickles into what remains of Port-au-Prince, quake survivors are leaving in droves. Many are leaving with nothing but the clothes on their backs and heading for what used to be home.
The International Christian Development Mission (ICDM) is gearing up to provide relief and support to alleviate the strain on resources in Gonaives, Bayonnais, Cap-Haitien and other areas.
ICDM's director Yvan Pierre says, "We've got to be helping the people to find water, food shelter, and also continue to have our children to go to school so they can start being children again."
The business of getting back to normal means ministry workers are helping to bury the dead, comfort survivors, and provide water, food and shelter. Hatian residents will also need spiritual and mental counseling to help them recover from their trauma. ICDM leaders are being mobilized to care for them.
Taking stock of the ICDM situation, there was good news and bad news. While the School of Evangelism building was flattened, the students and staff made it out alive, though everything inside the building was lost.
ICDM has their hands full rebuilding the School of Evangelism; they were hoping to resume classes within a month. What's driving their urgency? The spiritual outcry is going up from all corners of the city.
Pierre explains: "We have been praying for renewal for Haiti, so this is a good time of renewal--a time of harvest." They were ready: prior to the disaster, ICDM trained 3,800 Christian leaders and pastors for ministry.
Recovering from the damages in Haiti could take years. ICDM's long-time ministry partner, Rev. Jules Boliere, reports that all the children in that school and orphanage in Cite Soleil are safe. The girls' dorm collapsed, but none of the girls was in it at the time. The church and school buildings are still standing.
Pastor Jules' house in Turgeau also collapsed, but his house near the airport is still standing, and all of the children and caregivers housed there are safe. Some of the pastors affiliated with his Pilgrim Mission lost their church buildings.
Among the priorities for ICDM: accept children into the school, reinforcing the food program, replace lost school supplies, and provide recreation and games for the traumatized children (soccer balls, swings, etc.) and feed roughly 700 displaced children.
You can help with financial support. Pierre also asks for prayer: "Pray for our ministers there that they would continue to preach and to reach out to people with the love of Christ." Click here for details.
