Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS) distributes food hampers, soap, essentials to Haitians amid pandemic

by Andrew Jackson

HAITI – The Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS) has been making great strides in adopting a new focus: Educating our Haiti brothers, laymen, to fill the role as spiritual leaders within their communities, in light of the lack of pastoral presence in the country. HLMS will, of course, still continue their relief work in service of those in need. Our brothers and sisters in Haiti experience much need, and it is often hard to understand in our vastly different style of living in Canada. One thing that is no different from Haitians and Canadians is that we are all created by our Lord God Almighty and are loved very, very much.

When HLMS asked our contacts in Haiti how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting them, we were sad to learn that the situation is far worse than we had even anticipated.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore (Psalms 121: 7-8).

What comforting words King David wrote as he praised our Lord, “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore”. We have Jesus Christ with us every day, everywhere – during times of joy and, most assuredly, in times of stress and worry!

No country has been spared from this pressing reality that the human body can be quickly overcome with sickness and death. All life is precious. Our work in Haiti has always been centred on bringing the Good News of Jesus’ salvation to all. We have learned that, in Haiti, the numbers of those infected and dying are increasing everyday by the thousands. The virus has infected the poor in the overcrowded slums of Port-au-Prince. It has infected policemen and doctors. It has even spread into the prisons, which do not offer much hope for physical distancing of inmates. Many Haitians are distrustful of the government and, as a result, many do not take seriously the threat of COVID-19. Despite orders to stay indoors, people still frequent shops and go about their daily routines in the streets, without masks or physical distancing.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore (Psalms 121: 7-8).

Last month HLMS sent relief in the form of funding the distribution of food hampers and soap. With just a couple thousand dollars, we helped 40 individuals receive food but more importantly soap to clean themselves and their clothing. The hampers contained rice, pasta, milk, oil, Clorox and soap.

With your support, additional food and soap can be distributed to Haitians, along with the message of hope in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Please help us continue to support our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Your generous giving will provide essentials to these people as the pandemic continues to devastate the country. We also ask that you remember in prayer the hospital staff, doctors, and government workers in Haiti, that the Holy Spirit would work through them to care for the people during this crisis.

We pray that the hearts of the leaders that govern are guided to facilitate the necessary care and education for their people; and that the people of Haiti hear and heed the recommendations by healthcare professionals; and that they would soon be delivered from the devastation of this pandemic. Please visit our website for more information on how you can help: http://www.haitilutheranmissionsociety.ca/

May the LORD bless you, protect you from all harm, keep you in health and continue to be with you all, always. Amen.

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Andrew Jackson is treasurer of Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS); a husband and father; and Chairman of Elders at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waterloo, ON.

Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS) is a listed service organization of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC).

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