Rev Martinez and Immacula Jovin
Martinez and Immacula serve in Haiti with the Bethesda Fellowship of churches.
Earthquake update
We praise God that Martinez and Immacula Jovin are both unharmed, and that their house is one of the few remaining standing (because it had been built with reinforced concrete), but the roof has suffered damage from the second quake. A group of staff and volunteers from Freedom House, a Christian orphanage charity, is staying there at present, but sleeping outside. Their car has been destroyed. Martinez has had to borrow a car to try to reach some churches in the Bethesda Fellowship. We understand that the cost of fuel has gone up tenfold since this disaster. Immacula is nursing those who are injured. We are pleased to hear that they have enough food and water for their immediate needs.
Their website: http://oebb-bethesdamissions.org/
Their son, Daniel, in Canada, travelled to Miami to collect medical supplies for his parents and succeeded in finding a flight to Haiti. As a stopgap, we at Heath Church sent him by express transfer £999 from our almoner’s fund, which he was able to take with him.
With banks and post offices destroyed, it is virtually impossible at the present time to send financial help to individuals or specific sections of the community, by the normal means. The cost of rescuing people and providing shelter, food and medical help will, we think, have to be left to the major aid organisations, who seem to be in danger of tripping over themselves through the lack of infrastructure or any Local Government organisation. However, it is not just immediate aid that is required, but also the provision of aid in the medium and longer term to help people get their lives back together again. It is here, we think, that our help may be the most effective.
The schools at Marbial and Cabaret have suffered damage, but the full extent of it is not yet known.
CLICK HERE to read the OEBB disaster relief plan
Read other recent reports here
A number of Churches have contacted us regarding the means of sending aid. What we are suggesting is that monies could be sent to our Missionary Treasurer, Mr Norman Thomas, who will hold on to the funds until the present chaos subsides and a clear route is established for getting these funds to those we wish to receive them.
Norman has regularly been sending support to Martinez and Immacula, usually through a bank in Miami; he has sent a substanatial amount to coincide with Matrinez’s visit there in March. He has also been able to send a substantial amount of money to Daniel to concide with Daniel’s visit back home to Toronto; he returns to Haiti on 14 March. We ocntinue to watch the situation carefully for the best opportunity to send help.
For further information you may like to contact:
Mr Norman Thomas
PO Box 4170
Cardiff North
CF14 4WX
Tel: 029 2062 6021
What else can we do? In the meantime, read Psalm 46 and Nahum 1: 2-7, and pray! And watch television news and see the city and the country where they serve, and the plight of the people they would like to reach, and the roads they have to travel on – and pray!
Heath Church Missionary Committee
5 March 2010
