2010.02.12: Update on KMF Activities in Haiti

Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 November 2010 11:15 Written by Administrator Friday, 12 February 2010 00:00

KMF is now in daily contact with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti. Through donations from hundreds of individuals and congregations, the Lord of the Church is helping our Lutheran brothers and sisters in their hour of need through KMF.

In the first 30 days of this crisis, KMF has been able to help with the following direct cash grants for earthquake relief:

• $2000 for Cap Haitien and vicinity, sent to Rev. Eliona Bernard;
• $1500 for Ouanaminthe and vicinity, sent to Rev. Daniel Paul via Rev. Eliona Bernard;
• $1500 for Thomasique and vicinity, sent to Rev. Jean Claude Marin;
• $2000 for Jeremie and vicinity, sent to Rev. Isaac Jacquet;
• $2000 for Port-au-Prince and vicinity, sent to Rev. Thomas Bernard;
• $2500 for Jacmel and vicinity, sent to Rev. Marky Kessa;
• $3000 for Les Cayes and vicinity, sent to Rev. Paul Touloute.

The amounts sent (and their targets) are those identified by ELCH leadership, and reflect a desire to provide assistance throughout the nation. Although the primary destruction was confined to Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, and surrounding areas, the crisis quickly became pan-Haitian as refugees poured from the region directly affected and into every part of the nation.

In addition, KMF has provided a number of tactical flashlights and disposable Lithium batteries for use by the church, sent in with the LC-MS World Relief and Human Care team that visited in late January.

As donations continue to come in, KMF will distribute them to the Church in Haiti according to the priorities established by the ELCH leadership, who have promised to account for how the funds are spent in earthquake relief.

KMF is fielding a team that will be in Haiti from March 3-9 for meetings with President Kessa and several district presidents of ELCH. The 4-person team will return with a list of specific sponsorship opportunities for American Lutheran congregations and individuals, prioritized by the ELCH, which provide a concrete answer to the question, "How can we help the Haitian Lutherans?" In addition, the team will provide advance intelligence to American mission teams that intend to travel to Haiti in 2010 for work projects, and will develop a video presentation which tells the story of the Haitian Church to American Lutherans.