Mission Moment: Aug. 30, 2012

It was as if Satan had punched me in the stomach. I felt suffocated and I wanted to cry. It was painful to see the photo of the roof stripped off the church at Malasi – the second we were blessed to build just 2½ years ago. That was Wednesday evening (see “Mission Moment” below).

This morning more photos from the mountains of Haiti, which have had homes and lives devastated yet again — this time by Tropical Storm Isaac.

A field of destroyed corn.

“Let me tell you, 60 percent of the animals are dead,” missionary Miguel Rubén Guante reported today after visiting Malasi. “All the bananas, corn, beans and any plants are destroyed by the breeze of Isaac. I have not a word to explain.

“The economy is based in little farms where the people sow and harvest. This harvest is for the school of their children, for (going to the) hospital in case of illness. This harvest is often their (bank) account, saving the corn in a tree for sale to buy some animals.”

All of that is gone now.

Teacher Derisma with his wife and some of their children near their damaged home.

We were able to send a little money — very little — to Pastor Vilcuis and one of our Malasi teachers, Derisma. But all of the people have a need. What will we do? How will we answer this unspoken cry from the least of these?

The damaged roof of a house behind another Malasi family.

Miguel said the church at Malasi will “refuse the attack of Satan” if we can provide some plastic to cover the open roof until we can raise funds to replace what was blown off in last weekend’s storm. That is one goal. But, Miguel said, “with the hunger there is need for some answer” immediately, and the people will need assistance rebuilding their homes. This is an emergency. Can you help?