To the Editor:
Thank you for the article about the Ohio Haiti Benefit Auction. What impresses me about these Haitian mission groups is how much they accomplish, and how much even tiny donations can do in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
For example, because the Haitian government doesn’t provide free education, many parents must choose between paying school fees and buying food. That problem exists worldwide, and there’s an exceptional group called Compassion International (http://www.compassion.com/ or 800-336-7676) that makes it possible to choose a child to sponsor for $38/month, providing education, snacks or meals, and medical check-ups. Photos are online of children waiting for sponsors.
But besides drilling wells, providing medical care, and building homes, some of these Haitian missions groups also run schools where children can be sponsored. For example, at International Faith Missions (http://www.internationalfaithmissions.blogspot.com/) it’s possible to sponsor a child for $15/month. Water for Life (http://www.wflhaiti.com/) helps “justice roll down like waters” mostly by drilling wells, but also it offers child sponsorships ($25/month).
Why give money to such a cause when our own economy is bad? I can’t think of a better time: Seeing how people are forced to live in other countries compared to how we live helps us see how rich we are. Being able to take a relatively small amount of money and make a huge impact with it is empowering.
These eleven Haitian mission groups, which share the proceeds of the Ohio auction and some other auctions around the country, do great work, humbly and quietly, under difficult conditions. If you missed the auction and all that great food but still want to contribute to the auction, you can donate online at: http://www.amishcountryinsider.com/visithaitiauction.html.
Brenda Miller
Orrville
For example, because the Haitian government doesn’t provide free education, many parents must choose between paying school fees and buying food. That problem exists worldwide, and there’s an exceptional group called Compassion International (http://www.compassion.com/ or 800-336-7676) that makes it possible to choose a child to sponsor for $38/month, providing education, snacks or meals, and medical check-ups. Photos are online of children waiting for sponsors.
But besides drilling wells, providing medical care, and building homes, some of these Haitian missions groups also run schools where children can be sponsored. For example, at International Faith Missions (http://www.internationalfaithmissions.blogspot.com/) it’s possible to sponsor a child for $15/month. Water for Life (http://www.wflhaiti.com/) helps “justice roll down like waters” mostly by drilling wells, but also it offers child sponsorships ($25/month).
Why give money to such a cause when our own economy is bad? I can’t think of a better time: Seeing how people are forced to live in other countries compared to how we live helps us see how rich we are. Being able to take a relatively small amount of money and make a huge impact with it is empowering.
These eleven Haitian mission groups, which share the proceeds of the Ohio auction and some other auctions around the country, do great work, humbly and quietly, under difficult conditions. If you missed the auction and all that great food but still want to contribute to the auction, you can donate online at: http://www.amishcountryinsider.com/visithaitiauction.html.
Brenda Miller
Orrville
Published: September 22, 2011
