A team of seven volunteers from across the Mesoamerica Region traveled to the South and Grand-Anse districts in Haiti, the two places hit the hardest by the 14 August earthquake, to provide aid and support to the recovery efforts.

Dhariana Balbuena, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries coordinator for the Mesoamerica Region, was in Haiti as a part of that team for several days. According to Balbuena, the teams of volunteers are working nightly to make food packages that are distributed the next day. 

“They are working nonstop,” Balbuena said. “The excellent logistics are allowing [the volunteers] to serve many people every day.”

This work dynamic allows more than 1,000 families to receive food packages. Those who lost their homes also received tarps to establish temporary shelters. According to Balbuena, getting the tarps has been a challenge, however, they were able to buy some of them in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with the country’s NCM leaders, and the Mesoamerica Central Field.

Community members are taking note of the team’s compassionate service, and some local media outlets, including one of the most popular radio stations in Port-au-Prince, interviewed the superintendent of the Southern District, David Eliassaint.

“The service continues every day in Haiti,” Balbuena said. “Let us continue together praying and supporting our brothers and their communities.”

Specific needs include:

• The rapid mobilization of a shipment of tarps from the U.S.
• That NCM can soon begin the distribution of food and tarps in the Grand-Anse District where the need is even greater and where two Nazarenes lost their lives due to the earthquake.
• Strength for leaders and volunteers to continue serving with the same love and attention.
• For each person who was affected by the earthquake.

If you want to be part of the response through donations, you can do it here: https://give.nazarene.org/donate/f/13636