Latest Updates

When Haiti experienced a 7.0 earthquake in January, Pastor Serge Nema and the members of the Ebenezer church in Leogane had their faith tested when the town was the epicenter that devastated Haiti.  Six church members were killed, most families lost their homes, and the sanctuary was completely destroyed.  But the people’s faith stood firm.
Samaritan’s Purse partnered with Pastor Nema and a neighboring children’s home for impoverished and orphaned girls, providing food, blankets, shelter, materials, and clean water for girls and more than 50 families.  “Samaritan’s Purse was the first to help us and they didn’t ask for anything in return,” Pastor Nema said.  “God brought His people to help us.”
What would one give for a cup of cold water?  “Many wells collapsed during the earthquake and the water isn’t safe to drink,” said Emily Mast, a worker at the school.  A water treatment system was set up on the school compound to provide clean water for the entire community.  “Offering clean water to the community gives us a way to reach out to many people and show them God’s love.”
Emily is also thankful that God protected the children.  None of the girls were injured and the school buildings received only minor damage.
The presence of the Lord was evident:  “God’s hand was in it,” she said.  “After the earthquake a man stopped at the gate, looked inside and compound and said, ‘Look at this.  Nothing happened?  We know God was with you.’”
Many humanitarian and religious groups have helped the Haitian people.  Samaritan’s Purse was one of the first relief groups on the ground in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.  We focused on temporary shelter, non-food items such as blankets and hygiene kits, medical aid, and clean water during the initial phase of our response.  We then moved into a recovery phase that included transitional shelter and therapeutic feeding.  “The people of Haiti need our help like never before,” Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham said.  “It is desperate.  Ours is a long-term commitment.  This is something we’ll be involved with for years.”
Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and the heroic efforts of Samaritan’s Purse and other groups that are helping bring relief to the countless people that have experienced tremendous losses.