(Cover photo of newly repaired church in Petionville)
Haiti (MNN) ― A dangerous storm ripped through tents at a Haiti relocation camp on the 6-month anniversary of the deadly earthquake.
Reports from the American Refugee Committee indicate that torrents of water knocked over at least 94 tents and plunged the camp into darkness.
The trail of destruction was a reminder of the challenges ahead. Ron Sparks with Baptist Haiti Mission says, "The tent cities in the Port-au-Prince area received a lot of damage by wind, and so when the rain comes, obviously they're not prepared to withstand the wetness."
BHM has been active in recovery efforts. Many of their partnering churches and schools were damaged in the earthquake, some more seriously than others. Most of the churches and schools are in rural and semi-rural communities, but one of them, the Petionville Church and School, is in the heart of the Petionville tent cities.
BHM sent several construction teams to help. Sparks explains that "we've built over a dozen permanent homes for individual families, and we've helped to build or repair well over an additional 50 homes. All the schools are back up and running, and the churches are meeting regularly," which is key to their outreach.
Churches have become the community gathering place. Sparks says the "community building" significance is not lost on their team. "Those with injuries, or those without homes, have gone to the local village churches as a meeting place. In the process, we're able to share the Gospel with those people, and they're very open and receptive to it."
Pray that God will continue to send the right people to help with the work load. There are many positions open, and BHM is trusting God to send those who He desires to help in the ministry. Pray that God will give His people courage to stand firm in their faith.
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