Ministry in Haiti cautiously optimistic after tropical storm visit

File footage of flood-prone Haiti. (Photo by Nick Hobgood)


Haiti (MNN) ― Rivers swelled dangerously as Tropical Storm Emily dumped heavy rains.

The storm broke apart over the island of Haiti--a near miss for the thousands that remain in flimsy shelters in the quake zone. Ron Sparks with Baptist Haiti Mission says concern remains: "Haiti is so vulnerable to flooding because so many of the trees have been cut for firewood and charcoal and cooking, that there's not a lot to prevent mudslides and terrible flooding."

Emily's heavy rains prompted the Dominican Republic's government to evacuate roughly 1,600 people at the end of last week because of the continued threat of flooding and mudslides.

And it's not totally over. While things seem to have calmed, forecasters say renewed storm energy could add more to the disruptive impact of the rains in Port-au-Prince. Recovery in the areas worst-hit by the 2010 quake remains tentative, Sparks explains, so it doesn't take much for a crisis to occur. "The tent structures and temporary living quarters that have been built are very dilapidated in many cases. People just don't have much to fall back on."

June's slow-moving storms triggered deadly mudslides and floods in Haiti, but with widespread poverty, recovery has been slow even with basic precautions.

Baptist Haiti Mission's team reported no ill effects from Emily's visit, although Sparks says it's possible that the impact will likely come as they check on partners. "We want to continue to pray for the safety of the missionaries and the Haitian people as well. There's a wide diversity of geographic conditions in Haiti from lowlands to the mountainous areas. So, depending on the conditions, people are subject to different threats."

Team member Deborah Baker writes that as a precaution, BHM had decided to keep the two teams that were visiting at the mission instead of going out to continue their building projects. She says the time was well spent. As a result, "These teams were able to complete some much-needed projects here at the mission, and they were a huge help. Some of them finished installing all the plumbing for two apartments. The others built some walls in storage depots and helped with some cleaning and sewing."

Baptist Haiti Mission uses all aspects of its ministry to meet the many physical needs of the Haitians through the local church. As a result, there are many times when people pursue the faith that motivates their team.
Find more details on BHM's work here.