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| tent serving as school and church until August 2011 |
Not a single person/home existed on this beautiful piece of land now called Canaan that covers hundreds of acres at the base of a mountain before the earthquake. Every family that lives there now is there because they have experienced loss due to the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010.
The people living in Canaan have one of three types of housing; a tent constructed from very small tree trunks and tarps, a shelter built from tin sheeting, or a wooden shelter that resembles a small one room house. A few families have built a permanent block home.
The communities have two cisterns to draw water from however, it is not potable. Community members buy drinkable water from a water stand or a water truck that travels through Canaan daily. There is little opportunity in Canaan for work or resources of any kind. People must travel to buy food and supplies and to look for work. There is no shelter from the sun and the wind can be very powerful. The temperatures in the homes easily reach well over 100 degrees during the day.
AWAKENHAITI is working in a small community within Canaan in order to walk alongside the people and to support Pastor Nathan in his ministry there.
Pastor Nathan began ministering to some church members from his church in Delmas who moved to Canaan after the quake. Slowly, Pastor Nathan went from visiting and praying with people, to leading Bible studies, to preaching in a tent as more began hearing about Christ.
Pastor Nathan began ministering to some church members from his church in Delmas who moved to Canaan after the quake. Slowly, Pastor Nathan went from visiting and praying with people, to leading Bible studies, to preaching in a tent as more began hearing about Christ.
In the fall of 2010, Pastor Nathan gathered some teachers together and children started coming for school. There were about 80 children ages 3 years-4th grade attending school in tents. There was little money for school supplies and to pay teacher salaries because families could not pay school fees. Committed teachers worked without pay. Many of the children in the school were not eating every day. Sponsorship came in the spring of 2011 to support a feeding program for the final few months of school and for the fall of 2011. Donations also came in to pay the teaching staff of the school for the fall of 2011.
In April 2011, a 15’x20’ building was constructed for storage and an office for counseling and meetings for the church and school. It is also temporarily used for medical clinics and health education classes.
In May 2011, AWAKENHAITI began offering periodic medical clinics and health education classes.
In August 2011, a 30’ x 70’ building was constructed. The building serves as school on weekdays and church in the evenings and weekends.
In November 2011, an outdoor kitchen was erected to support the feeding program of the school and to provide employment for more community members.
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| New church/school building est. August 2011 |
The construction of these three buildings have provided construction employment for a few of the Haitians living in the community.
This community within Canaan is now known as Bethanie. Bethanie School of Canaan currently serves 130 children and employs nine haitians. Sponsorship for 2012 and long term is in the developing stages. It is our desire to continue to minister to the families of the school through the feeding program and paid committed teachers.
In February of 2012, AWAKENHAITI will begin a housing project for qualifying families. Families will take part in the construction and cost of their home. Through the housing project, we desire to minister to families by providing permanent homes and construction job opportunities.
In August 2012, construction on a permanent medical facility will begin. This building will provide basic regular medical and dental care, education, and local employment opportunities.
Bethanie Church of Canaan now serves approximately 100 families. AWAKENHAITI desires to walk alongside families, helping them to strengthen their family unit. We will minister to the families of the church through education, discipleship, health care, providing work opportunities and the construction of permanent homes.
**Donations for any area of the Canaan Ministry can be made at http://www.awakenhaiti.org/donate.php
