HOPE worldwide is sending immediate response help to Haiti and assessing the longer term recovery needs for long term recovery assistance. Please donate to the HOPEww Disaster Fund by clicking on the red badge. And please spread the word on social media, church websites, email, etc.
Houses damaged, rooftops gave way to the winds and rain, disciples are displaced, and at least one church leader couple has lost their home, along with others who have lost all their earthly possessions. That’s the news coming out of our fellowship of churches in Haiti, as the disciples assess the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the largest hurricane to hit the nation in almost 50 years.
On Tuesday, October 4, Hurricane Matthew descended on Haiti's southwestern coast with strong winds and pouring rain, causing devastation and flooding, as well as landslides and mudslides to many of the nation's poorer towns and villages. Making landfall as a massive Category 4 Hurricane, one news agency said, “Matthew slammed into Haiti's southwestern tip with howling, 145 mph winds Tuesday, tearing off roofs in the poor and largely rural area, uprooting trees and leaving rivers bloated and choked with debris.”
Port-au-Prince Church of Christ lead evangelist Lesley Cadet said that so far, there have been no reported deaths among the almost 1000 disciples within our fellowship in Haiti, and they are grateful. However, it will be along road ahead, and much help is needed to assist those who have been most affected.
HOPE worldwide Haiti is currently assessing the damages left behind by the hurricane. The ICOC has nine congregations in Haiti, five of them located in the southern region where the hurricane hit the hardest. Over 160 disciples live in that region, and many houses are damaged, including some who lost their rooftops in the heavy rains, which resulted in them loosing everything in their homes.
The region of Les Cayes, where Matthew came to shore, is one of the cities most devastated by the hurricane. Local radio reported that the water was shoulder-high in parts of the village. Dozens of homes were severely damaged and others were swept away by raging flood waters.
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| The side entrance of the Port-au-Prince Church of Christ building after Hurricane Matthew. |
“None of the over 30 disciples are missing, but they are in grave need. Even the leaders of the church in Les Cayes, Volvick and Fleurette Timot, are now homeless,” said Lesley.(Click here to see a video of the church leader’s home that was destroyed by the hurricane).
“Please also pray for Varnel and Merry Joseph, and the 21 disciples in Les Irois, as we still have not heard from anyone in that village since Monday evening, as the communication systems in the area are completely shut down,” he said. As of publication, communication with that village was still not restored, but the disciples in Port au Prince are prayerful that the disciples in Les Irois are safe.
So far, the authorities have confirmed two persons dead, and about 10 others missing as a result of Hurricane Matthew.
“We want to thank all the disciples around the world for your prayers for Haiti, and for your love and support in the days to come as we recover from Hurricane Matthew. It could have been much worse. We are thanking the Lord for sparing us. On Wednesday we had a thanksgiving service to praise God for his protection,” said Lesley.
Churches all over the Caribbean are praying for the disciples in Haiti this week, and pledging to support them in any way they can. Disciples in several other islands, including St. Thomas, Jamaica, St. Vincent, Grenada, and the Dominican Republic, were all spared the worst as the storm system passed by them on the way towards Haiti. The churches in Jamaica and Bermuda will be taking up a special offering for Haiti on Sunday, while other churches in the region including St. Thomas, Trinidad, Grenada and Santo Domingo have already pledged to do so later in the month, as more details come out of Haiti about the specific needs.
The lead evangelist for the church in Santo Domingo, Angel Martinez, is making an appeal to the wider fellowship for help for those displaced by the disaster: “We ask that you join us in prayer for those affected and for those still in the path of Hurricane Matthew. We also ask that you donate through HOPE worldwide so that those hurting at this moment can get some relief.”