Post 2008 Caribbean hurricane season: remember and act

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Miami, Florida

The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season has been the second most destructive season on record, affecting Nazarenes throughout the Caribbean in particularly difficult ways.

Haiti
The cumulative storm damage from the four recent hurricanes that swept over Haiti is now said to be $1 billion. Seven weeks after the storms, Haiti is struggling to recover from the onslaught of four storms.

Standing water fills gardens and fields in the north central section of the country. Some estimate it will take as little as a few months and as much as an entire year or more for flood water to evaporate. Many of the areas are below sea level, making evaporation the only way for water to disperse.

Crops and fields are covered with one to three feet of thick, malodorous mud. The harvest that would have taken place in October and November is completely destroyed. Thousands of families lost all their livestock, as goats, pigs, chickens, and cattle were killed by the storms, wiping out what essentially served as families' "savings accounts." With no reserve now, many Nazarenes and other community members are hungry and struggling to survive. 
 
North Central District Superintendent Garry Jeudy has expressed his sincere thanks for the gifts and support that have come in for Haitian Nazarenes. Four arbor-style churches were completely destroyed, and thousands of Nazarenes are homeless and dependent on friends and the church for care. At the Des Fontaines Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Sonny is still doing his best to care for the more than 100 homeless families. 
 
During this time of crisis, the people and churches in Haiti need prayer and support from the global Nazarene family.


Antigua
Click here for a photo gallery from Antigua after Hurricane Omar.


Cuba
Continue to pray for Cuba, where Nazarenes were hit especially hard during this hurricane season. According to Cuba District Superintendent Leonel Lopez, the people and churches in Cuba are still reeling. They need the help and prayers of the global church.

Click here to visit the Caribbean Region's main 2008 hurricane season website.

Opportunities to help:

• Pray. Click here for the Caribbean Region's prayer site.
• Give. Monetary donations are the best and fastest way to help with the immediate needs of the hurricane victims. Click here to donate online.

Videos:
Hurricane Season 2008
How Nazarenes helped during 2004 hurricanes

For additional ways to help, contact communications@caribnaz.org.
--Caribbean Communications 

 

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