From October 22nd to the 25th 2016, Mesoamerica Regional Director of the Church of the Nazarene Dr. Luis C. Saenz traveled to Haiti accompanied by a delegation from the Haiti Field, who attended to the of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) Conference in the country. The reason for the visit was to visit the most affected districts by Hurricane Matthew and to work with the team of missionaries and leaders on a plan of care to more than 3,000 Nazarene families affected.
On the 23rd they traveled for 5 hours to the Grand Anse District, accompanied by Field Strategy Coordinator (FSC), Rev. Pierre Antoine Jackes; Haiti NCM Coordinator, Mr. David Campos, his wife Ms. Erika Chaves and the District Superintendent David Esperance. During the trip they saw the destruction caused by the hurricane: destroyed roads, many completely collapsed houses, some with the loss of the roof and many people who have lost their possessions and crops.
They reached the Bijouli community, where the pastor received them. The only property that was not destroyed there was Church of the Nazarene sanctuary, which serves now as a refuge for families in the area. They met with members of the Advisory Board to receive the report of the damage caused in the district: 2,000 Nazarene families affected and 40 buildings collapsed between churches and missions. In this district only 3 buildings remained without being destroyed.
On the 24th they traveled 3 hours to the South District. There, 20 of the 36 Nazarene churches collapsed and 520 families lost their possessions; this district has several NCM projects, including a school (with Compassion International) and a project to provide water to the community.
Finally on October 25th they met with the Superintendents of the 4 most affected districts: Grand Anse, South, Northwest and La Gonave, together with the missionaries to design a plan of care to more than 3,000 Nazarene affected families in Haiti.
Dr. Carlos Saenz said, “Please pray for wisdom, protection and strength for the mission team in Haiti and the 2.1 million people affected by this hurricane.”
Source: Dr. Carlos L. Saenz, Mesoamerica Regional Director, Church of the Nazarene
