BUILDINGS DESTROYED

Only minutes after the earthquake, walking across the mission property, I saw our buildings torn apart–sliced like a loaf of bread. The sights ripped my heart. Reflecting back upon the decades of hard work and commitment made me sad to think it could be gone. My father’s sacrifices and my mother’s love for the poor were at the top of my mind. My mother always gave so much of herself. They started New Missions when they moved our family to Haiti where we lived in tents for our first three months. Only six days prior to the earthquake, New Missions had celebrated the 27th anniversary of ministry in Haiti. In front of me I saw a school, home to hundreds of students, which had been completely destroyed. Starting over seemed overwhelming!

Once back in the states, reports began coming in from Haiti. Inspections of our schools and churches had a growing list of buildings either damaged or completely destroyed. Mother Teresa once said, “What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.” We began building temporary facilities after the earthquake. Our school children and churches need a safe place to meet.

Materials from destroyed buildings that could be preserved and used as supplies for a temporary building were salvaged. The lumber and tin roofing proved to be very valuable. Charlie DeTellis had additional school benches made and delivered to surrounding schools–where roofs had crushed the desks. We thank God for the pastors of our 22 churches and the teachers who care for and love our students. On Friday, February 12, on the one month anniversary of the earthquake, our churches in Haiti began three days of prayer and worship services. They are leading the way to build a new Haiti.

~Timothy DeTellis

Top: The TiBoukan church destroyed, but the hope of the Gospel is still alive and we will build again.
Middle/Bottom: Brache-Milot church before and after earthquake with Pastor Jean Milot Francois in the foreground; mission team delivered shoeboxes at this location only hours prior to earthquake.
Left: The Darbonne Chateau school destroyed. The temporary building at New Missions Darbonne Chateau school.