December 4, 2008 – Miami, Florida…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Every year, the staff of the Inter-American Division (IAD) Headquarter office in Miami, Florida, makes donations to a special project during Christmastime. This year's project will help rebuild two Adventist schools in Haiti destroyed by the four major storms and hurricanes which hit a few months ago.
Special funds collected will help provide appropriate classrooms for hundreds of school-age children attending the school in Bord de Mer Limonade and another school in Jacmel which were affected by strong storms.
“Based on the traumatic circumstances which occurred in Haiti earlier this year destroying hundreds of homes, churches, offices and schools, we decided to focus on Haiti with our Christmas project gifts,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America. “The special contributions will also allow many young people to be able to go back to school.”
Although the situation in Haiti goes far deeper than one handout, says Pastor Leito, every little bit helps. “Every dollar donated will make a difference in the life of one more student at these schools.”
Haiti is no stranger to donations though. “Every year when the Division gives out appropriations to its unions, the church in Haiti gets more than any other church region because we realize the needs there,” adds Pastor Leito.
Yet needs are still enormous in the poverty stricken country. With over 324,000 Seventh-day Adventist worshiping in more than 451 churches, statistics show that church members in Haiti give the highest mission offering compared to tithe than any other union in the Inter-American Division.
“Our members in Haiti are very faithful and loyal and the church responds beautifully in the mission of the church in the sense of inviting sinners to come to Jesus, yet we have scores of unfinished churches, churches without roofs, without windows, without doors, without flooring, so every donation is put to good use,” he explains.
To contribute to this year's IAD Christmas project for the two schools in Haiti, send your donations to the Inter-American Division, Treasury Department, 8100 SW 117th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33183 or call 305.403.4700.
