Why Help Haiti ?The Caribbean Republic of Haiti lies just a few miles south of the Bahamas and to the east of Cuba and Jamaica. The United Nations calls Haiti a "silent emergency", noting that Haiti's vital statistics rival those of Sub-Saharan Africa. Some shocking statistics about HaitiWith a population of over 8 million people, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti has the third highest rate of hunger in the world, behind Somalia and Afghanistan. Famine like conditions plague many parts of the country. Almost 90% of the people have average ANNUAL incomes that equal less than $500 in US currency. And more than 80% of Haitians are unemployed and live without running water, sanitation, or electricity. |  |
What is it like to live in Haiti?Imagine your house is one room that is eight by eight feet. You have no electricity, no running water, no furniture. There are no floors in your house, just dirt and a leaky roof pieced together from scraps. You have no windows, no doors, no screens, but you do have LOTS of mosquitoes and overwhelming heat 24 hours a day. Imagine the smell of sewage right outside your home because there is no garbage service and no one has set the garbage on fire in a few days. The clothes on your body are all that you have and they smell of smoke and sweat. You have no car, no bike, no money, no credit cards, no clean water, no food, and no air conditioning. You are hungry and your children are hungry. You are sick with diarrhea and you have no way to pay for a doctor or medicine. |  |
When the sun goes down you have no light so you lay down on a piece of cardboard for a bed and listen to the voodoo drums (65% of the population practices voodoo) and pray that no one attacks you that night. This is what it is like for most people in the small island country of Haiti.
The work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti
Tortured by a corrupt government that has twice dedicated the island to Satan, who would guess that in this place miracles are happening and one of the fastest growing Lutheran churches in the world is springing to life.
In less than twenty years, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (a partner church of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) has grown from 800 to 24,000 souls. With over 150 congregations and almost 20,000 in attendance on Sunday morning they have been faithful to our Lord’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
Lutheran Schools in Haiti
With almost no public school system, Lutheran Schools have a tremendous opportunity to train the next generation of Haitian leaders and impact the country for Christ. And they are doing just that. With over 120 schools and 15,000 children in attendance they are welcoming the little ones in the name of the Lord.
What can you do?
Well, you can answer our Lord’s call and help our brothers and sisters in Christ. With your prayers and financial support we can continue to fund this vital ministry in Haiti. Please consider supporting our student sponsorship program, a special project, church worker support, or purchasing Lutheran Hymnals in French. To find out more about what you can do, please visit our How to Help ? page.