An Update From Haiti

First Baptist Church, thank you for your generous gift to help rebuild homes and churches in Haiti. The aftermath of the earthquake has proved to be one of the most challenging periods in history for many church partners in Haiti. But their congregations are now drawing on hope as they see repairs managed, transitional structures built and permanent facilities staged for construction. “We see God’s hand moving,” says Pastor Jean, of Good Samaritan Church in L’Azile, Haiti.

In the photo above, laborers are rebuilding the Good Samaritan Church.

Reconstruction Restores Hope

Despite a seemingly endless string of national crises, the Haitian people have demonstrated their resilience. Testing them further, in August 2021, amid a new wave of COVID-19 and a presidential assassination, a major earthquake struck the southern region of the island. Lives were lost, homes and businesses demolished and hope was scarce.

You stepped in with a generous gift to respond to those in need, helping more than 15,000 Compassion-assisted children and dozens of Compassion church partners in southern Haiti. This partnership with Compassion has helped restore hope by assisting with home repairs, rebuilding destroyed churches and key child development facilities, providing transitional housing during a time of uncertainty, and empowering caregivers with income-generation activities.

Home Recovery in Haiti

Meeting Needs During Crisis

Thank you for giving toward this critical disaster response. Your gift made it possible to achieve the following:

• More than 11,000 participants’ homes were destroyed or damaged by the earthquake. This intervention supported families with vouchers for building materials to repair or rebuild their homes.
• Dozens of churches and child development centers are in the process of repair and rebuilding, allowing children to continue receiving care.
• Transitional structures are enabling Compassion’s church partners to serve their communities. A multi-year plan to rebuild churches is well underway.
• Caregivers are receiving micro-loans and skills training, allowing them to get back on their feet, start businesses and develop new income streams.

Rebuilding After Tragedy

Life changed in the blink of an eye for thousands of Compassion children and their families when the earthquake hit southern Haiti. For families already made vulnerable by poverty, this disaster could have been exponentially worse without assistance from generous donors like you.

Carlo’s family provides an example. He drives a motorbike taxi in Picot and was working when the earthquake hit. It threw him from his bike as buildings began to collapse in clouds of dust. Frantically, he drove home only to find his wife, three daughters and a 6 year-old son, Andy, trapped beneath the rubble. Tragically, it was too late for Andy, but Carlo was able to rescue the rest of his family.

The children were Compassion beneficiaries, and the church partner immediately came to the family’s aid. Your gifts helped cover their enormous hospital bills — including surgeries and hospital stays — along with food, water, trauma counseling and the rebuilding of their home. “Without Compassion, I have no idea what I would have done,” Carlo says. The family has moved into their new home and is trusting God as they start over.

This story is not an isolated one. Your gifts allowed Compassion Haiti to distribute more than 11,000 construction-material vouchers to help families like Carlo’s rebuild or repair their homes. Additional funds provided for meals, medical care and emotional support in the wake of the devastation. Thank you for being an integral part of the healing process for so many families.

Rebuilding Churches

The earthquake didn’t just destroy individual homes. Among Compassion’s church partners in southern Haiti, 43 needed repairs and/or full reconstruction to either their main worship space, the child development center or other significant buildings on the church property. Your gifts allowed Compassion Haiti to start the complex process, which remains ongoing. 36 churches have initiated the process of repairing their facilities or rebuilding permanent structures.

Good Samaritan Church in L’Azile had weathered numerous natural disasters since 1975, but was forced to close its doors — for the first time in 46 years — due to damage from the 2021 earthquake. Still, Pastor Jean and church members turned their focus first to helping the community. “Thanks to the Compassion program, we were able to help families who lost hope after the earthquake,” he says. “They helped us provide food, medical supplies and shelter. Glory to God that we had big support from Compassion after those very dark moments.”

Today the church, school and Compassion center are being rebuilt. The project injects confidence into the community. “This reconstruction means so much to our kids, parents and church members,” says Alfred, a member of the church. Pastor Jean is unsure when construction will finish, but remains optimistic. “We are hoping that at the beginning of 2023 we will be able to praise the Lord in our new building,” he says.

Rebuilding the Good Samaritan Church

Work Continues

The recovery plan for Haiti remains ongoing. Due to supply chain challenges, inflation, weather and high project volume, progress has been steady but slow. It is projected to take two to three more years for this massive effort to conclude. Still, the staff and families in Haiti are already celebrating what has been accomplished to date. They face the future with determination, buoyed by your kindness.

We ask that you continue to keep Haiti in your prayers and consider additional support in the coming year. In the face of the evolving issues in Haiti, Compassion Haiti has prioritized unsponsored children, mother and baby care (Survival) and food security.

With Gratitude

First Baptist Church, during a time of crisis, you provided tangible help for Compassion’s partner churches and the families they serve. Rebuilding homes and churches isn’t just about physical structures. It’s about stability, security, and hope. Thank you for showing God’s love in such a practical way.