Disaster Relief Archives - Cross International

Restoring Hope after Helene

June 9, 2025 by Cross International

More than a half year removed from one of the most destructive storms in United States history, rebuilding efforts are ongoing in devastated communities. Hurricane Helene tore through a wide swath of the Southeast in late September 2024, unleashing powerful winds and relentless downpours that led to unprecedented flooding and landslides. It was the deadliest tropical cyclone to hit the continental U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with 249 deaths attributed to Helene, and one of the costliest weather disasters on record.

Helene survivors lost homes, businesses, and so much more. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Cross International stepped in to provide life-restoring essentials like food, clean water, generators, propane and hygiene supplies directly to families in crisis. As the lengthy recovery process continues months later, stories of resilience and hope have emerged amid the loss and rubble.

Among the hardest-hit areas were Appalachian communities of western North Carolina. That’s where 70-year-old Martin resides along with his wife. Their trailer park was shredded by Helene. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the couple’s trailer was virtually unlivable, but they had nowhere else to go. There was no usable furniture. All Martin and his wife had to sit on were buckets, and they slept on a water-damaged mattress. Even before Helene, the couple had struggled financially. Having suddenly lost nearly all of their possessions in the storm, they wondered how they would get by.

Though emotionally and physically exhausted, and despite the uncertainty around what may lie ahead, Martin and his wife remained strong in their faith in God, trusting that He would provide. Their prayers were answered in a remarkable way. Cross International’s local church partner, Harvest House Boone, learned about the couple’s plight and reached out to offer assistance. A team from the church thoroughly cleaned out the trailer and brought in a new bed and mattress, as well as chairs and a table.

Meanwhile, a brand new trailer was ordered for Martin and his wife, giving them a stable and secure home to replace their old one!

They are “overwhelmed” by the support they’ve received, including emotional and spiritual encouragement from the local community of believers. As Martin puts it, “God has shown us that we are not forgotten, and we are deeply thankful for everyone who has helped us.”

Cross International brought hope and help when it mattered most. Join with us to bring God’s hope to those in need today!

After all the couple has endured, their new home represents an opportunity for a fresh start. “This new bed and trailer are a blessing beyond words. Thank you for bringing hope back into our lives,” says Martin. “It feels like a miracle to have a place to call home again.”

Building Hope in Malawi

June 14, 2024 by Cross International

The recent years have been tough for Malawi. Already struggling to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, Cyclone Ana struck in January 2021. Then subsequent tropical storms displaced more than 190,000 citizens. Before the storms, many of these poor Malawians were already living in inadequate shelters. Their makeshift abodes – homes made from mud bricks, straw, tarps or tin scraps – were in danger of collapsing anytime it would storm. Many have been rebuilt. But until these families are able to upgrade their situation – and live in sturdy, storm-resistant shelters – they will be destined to lose their homes all over again when the next severe storm strikes.

THE SOLUTION: SAFE HOMES FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES

Last year, Cross International worked with a local partner in Malawi, Ambuya Development Center, building homes for three displaced families in the remote villages of Thanganyika, Samama, and Ngundo — all located about an hour’s drive west of Blantyre. This project impacted three adults and 10 children, giving them a safe place to live and thrive. Over the next year, Cross and Ambuya will build four additional homes, impacting four adults and 16 children.

These families are led by widows or single women, and a sturdy, dignified home will immediately improve their families’ well-being and quality of life.

Each cement-block house includes a metal roof, a sturdy, lockable door, two bedrooms, a living space, an elevated concrete foundation, and runoff for rainwater. The project covers materials, a contractor, and quality assurance checks.

MEET THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN MALAWI

Recent severe weather events have made farming nearly impossible for 17-year-old Nelson Kansemo and his mother, who live in Ngundo Village. Since his father passed away, farming has been the only source of income and food for this family of six, who live in a cramped mudbrick hut with a straw roof and plastic tarp stretched across the front of the dwelling.

A stable home would ease the family’s burden, protect them from wind and rain, and allow Nelson to achieve his dream of finishing school.

You can join us in bringing hope and safe shelter to more families.

Earthquake in Haiti: Update

September 30, 2021 by Cross International

Cross Supporters Send Emergency Relief to Disaster Victims

On August 14^th, 2021, a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula with devastating consequences. To date, over 2,200 people have been confirmed dead and more than 137,500 homes were damaged or destroyed.

Altogether over 800,000 people have been affected. “It looked like a war zone,” Zach Oles, Cross International’s Vice President of International Programs stated. “Buildings were reduced to rubble. People were suffering—especially children. They were sleeping in fields. It was devastating.”

While the quake was stronger than the one that inflicted catastrophic damage on the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince in 2010, this time the earthquake’s power was focused in a rural area. While this thankfully limited the death toll as compared with the disaster a decade ago, the affected region’s limited infrastructure and resources are making the recovery process exceptionally challenging.

Disaster Response in Haiti

The devastation and loss across the island nation is great, however, thanks to the kindness and generosity of Cross supporters like you, our in-country disaster response team has been working to provide essential emergency relief to earthquake victims across southern Haiti. The team’s reports have been heartbreaking, but even in the midst of such tragedy, the Haitian people remain resilient and strong. “It’s important to understand that we’ve been in these communities for 20 years,” Zach Oles said. “Cross is deeply rooted in Haiti and we are committed to steadfast support for our partners and our friends and family in Haiti.”

Faithful friends like you are showing disaster victims in Haiti that they are not alone and not forgotten. Cross International’s generous supporters have sent emergency food supplies, medicine, and other disaster relief to meet the most urgent needs in the days and weeks after the earthquake.

Haiti Ministry Partners

Cross International’s ministry partners in Haiti have also suffered great loss. In the South Department all but three of the 14 Cross International sponsored schools for restavek children (restavek is modern day child slavery that still persists in Haiti) were damaged or destroyed by the quake. ” Zac Oles commented that, “School starts on Monday, (October 4) and we want to make sure that kids get back to school and make sure that the school feeding program is in place on the first day.” To accomplish this, Cross worked to construct temporary structures to provide shelter while the children attend class.”

With poor infrastructure, impassible roads, gas shortages, and gang-controlled access points, the challenges of getting relief to those in need are daunting, but even so our ministry partners remain committed to helping disaster victims and sharing the love of God during this difficult time.

Two Phase Disaster Recovery Plan

With many pressing needs in the wake of this devastating earthquake, Cross International’s relief plan will include two phases. The first is concentrating on providing the essential, life-sustaining relief required in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. “We’ve got to get people out of the rain, get them off the ground, and get the kids back to school.” Zach Oles said. The first phase, which will cover the first 90 days after the earthquake, has so far included the following:

WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED:

Disaster relief supplies for more than 13,000 people in 15 communities. Supplies include tarps, foam mattresses, blankets, pillows linens, work gloves, face masks, tote bags, plastic dishes, personal care items, cleaning products and children’s sandals.
Medical supplies for a medical clinic in Camp-Perrin and for mobile clinics in Lougou and Raymond, and L’Aisle and Musotte. Supplies include antibiotics, wound care kits, IVs and pain relievers.
5,500+ food kits, serving more than 15,000 people in 15 communities. These kits contain locally purchased food products, including pasta, oil and fish.
More than 260,000 meals of pre-packaged fortified rice, specially formulated to address malnourishment. These meals will primarily be used in the hot lunch program for the 14 restavek schools.
2,000 aqua tabs to help chlorinate contaminated water. One tab treats 5 gallons of water.
Construction material for the building of 11 temporary school shelters. All temporary shelters are scheduled to be completed in time for school to start on October 4.

The second phase will focus on long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Some of Cross International’s priorities in this phase will include:

Rebuilding the 11 schools that were damaged or destroyed to be hurricane and earthquake resistant.
Reconstructing 156 homes for students enrolled with Cross International’s partner, MEBSH
Establishing community water systems in 14 MEBSH communities

Even as the world’s attention quickly moved on from the devastation and loss in Haiti, Cross International’s dedicated supporters continue showing God’s love in powerful and tangible ways to Haitians facing so much tragedy. “We are gospel-driven, kingdom building, and all about bringing glory to God,” Zach Oles affirmed. “We are mandated to love our brothers and sisters and to stand with those in need. That is the foundation of who Cross International is and why we’re focused on working in rural communities who have nowhere else to turn.”

Cross International is committed to the long-term relief and recovery process that disaster victims need in these critical times and it’s only through the support of friends like you that important work like this is made possible. God bless you for your heart to bless those in need.

A Tale of Two Countries. Why should we care?

September 10, 2021 by Cross International

Today, my toothbrush reminded me of the challenges and the opportunities we live with around the world. That’s a long story. The shorter version, you’ll read in a few minutes.

It’s Saturday August 14, 2021. My heart and mind are intently focused on two countries that have deep importance to me: Haiti and Afghanistan. Haiti has just been struck with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, with significant death and damage in its southern region, and Afghanistan is falling back into the hands of the Taliban.

These are countries which, by perception of many in America and around the world, have had continual crisis and turmoil for years, indeed, decades. Both are in crisis again on this day, and for so many people who have seen and heard, what seem to be ongoing, negative stories about these countries, there may be a “why should I care about those people” response, if a response is given at all.

Much of my life’s work is represented in these two countries and their beautiful people. I have the privilege today to be leading a Christian international relief & development organization (Cross International, based in Pompano Beach, FL) and have spent over half of my professional life in this work, with my first experiences beginning in 1995. Like many of you, I live a middle-class life in America where my wife and I are blessed with three great adult kids, a wonderful extended family and many dear friends. A uniqueness for me is that often over the years my “office” has been in many of the world’s most desperate places, having worked in over 30 developing countries. Often my work has been with people suffering from extreme crisis – the result of war, natural disasters and internal conflict. These experiences have shaped me deeply. They have both challenged many assumptions and affirmed many beliefs, brought me to my knees in moments of despair, and have led me to understand the deep joy that rises when the God-created human spirit of people is allowed to flourish.

When our Vice President of Programs called me Saturday morning to strategize about our response to the earthquake in Haiti, my first thought was, “Oh, Lord, not again.” I hadn’t yet heard the news, so this was a visceral reaction. Having worked in earthquake responses before, knowing what was happening and what was going to unfold over the coming hours, days, weeks and months in Haiti began to roll through my mind. This was yet another body blow to the core of the Haitian people. The country has barely recovered from the last major earthquake 11 years ago and from a series of hurricanes that have blasted the countryside. Haiti is also still in turmoil over a recent presidential assassination, years of civil unrest and an economy that lies in shambles. All of these events have been making the news in the US and abroad year after year, time and time again. It is easy for people to simply say, “Who are those people, and why should I care?”

And how is Haiti tied to Afghanistan?

On that same Saturday morning, like much of the world, I was also glued to coverage about the utter collapse of the Afghan government and the country’s fall back into the hands of the Taliban completed the next day. Heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching anger. All the adjectives that have been used to describe the situation, and more, were permeating every level of my mind, heart and soul. Afghanistan is personal to me. Of all the countries I’ve had the privilege to work in regarding humanitarian assistance, I’ve probably spent the most time in Afghanistan, beginning 20 years ago just a few short weeks after 9/11 when the Taliban were still in control and were at war fighting the then Northern Alliance.

Humanitarian work in Afghanistan then was mostly confined to the northeast “finger” of the country, as U.S.-led coalition forces were beginning airstrikes against the Taliban. This is where my deep care for the people of Afghanistan began. I could write a book-length description of that time. Instead, let me explain why my soul is in such turmoil over Afghanistan and why I fear for the Afghan people. Here are some reflections from the past that bring today into a full-circle reality.

In the spring and summer of 2001 my coworkers (not with Cross International) and I were working with the U.S. government through USAID to secure a large “food security” grant that would help poor farmers in western Afghanistan establish crops and have, hopefully, a sustainable farming future. Famine was rampant in the country. Many millions were in extremely short food supply. As with most famines, this was man-made, caused by the destruction and terror the Taliban had deployed throughout much of the country the prior 4-5 years, primarily in the breadbasket areas of Afghanistan. It was a way to control, to have power and influence over the people. Due to the destruction by the Taliban and resulting famine Afghanistan was facing an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) population of close to six million – at that time, the largest such population in the world.

Then 9/11 struck, and all U.S. government-supported projects in Afghanistan were frozen. That particular food security project became a thing of the past. The world had made a dynamic change, and Afghanistan was at its epicenter.

Now in a post-9/11 posture, just a few weeks later in October of 2001, a few of my international co-workers and I crossed the river border from Tajikistan into NE Afghanistan, into Takhar province – one of only two provinces not held by the Taliban. The headquarters of the Northern Alliance was there. It was a place of mere existence to hundreds of thousands of people who had been pushed from their homes from throughout the country into the last place of freedom from Taliban rule. As a lover of mountains, hiking and exploring the outdoors, at another time this would have been an incredible journey. Huge mountains, barren landscape and wide-open plains to explore. But now this was a place of desperation. “Refugee camps” (that’s the wrong term since these were DPs, but I want you to get a sentiment of the conditions) were spread across the dirt landscape.

This was a harsh place. Hot, dry, barren in the summer. Cold, snowy, freezing in the winter. The camps were orderly rows upon rows of “shelters.” I use that term loosely. In the raw dirt landscape, people had to dig down into the ground to create a pit, maybe 10 square feet wide and six feet deep, with steps dug into the dirt and tarps covering the hole as a roof. This was their simple existence to protect themselves from scorching heat and freezing snow. A few barefoot children were playing in the dirt fields. Men stood in groups, talking. Women huddled together and cooked meager meals of watery, lentil soup. As I was walking through one of the camps, I edged along a dirt hillside which sloped up maybe 80 feet high and stretched a few hundred yards long, I noticed little bumps of dirt all over the hill. They looked like the reverse dimples of a golf ball. I asked an elder, “What are those?” He said through an interpreter, “Those are the graves of the little children who died over the past winter from starvation, cold and illness.”

It was shocking to me. There weren’t just a few little graves. There were hundreds. And that was just for this small area of the camp. Then I noticed there were very few kids under the age of two to be seen. This was the first raw reality of the impact of the Taliban that I was to witness. Totally avoidable, yet totally allowed to happen. As I looked into the eyes of the mothers and fathers around me, I now not only saw hunger. I saw loss, anger and pain. But I also witnessed a desire to go on. A resiliency despite the terrible circumstances they were living in.

Within a few short months the Taliban had been pushed out of power (note: not defeated. They would regroup over the years and remain in waiting for a time like today). I was in Kabul by then. There was an air of newfound, yet tense freedom throughout the city as the reign of Taliban terror was now at bay. One evening my co-worker (I’ll call him Dave) and I went to the soccer stadium to see a very special soccer match. Dave and his family knew Afghanistan well. They lived in Kabul through part of the Soviet 10-year invasion which decimated much of the country, and the ensuing civil war between factional warlords which put a final stamp of decimation on Kabul and so much more around Afghanistan.

Dave used to dryly joke that his yard was a makeshift hospital for “all comers.” Mujahedeen fighters, warlord fighters and others, when injured during battle in the streets of Kabul, would scale their wall and use their yard for safety and care, freely given to all in need.

This night that Dave and I had together in Ghazi stadium was “special.” This 5,000 or so seat stadium once used for what you and I would call sport, had been the execution grounds for the Taliban. For the prior 4-5 years those who were deemed worthy of Taliban-themed Sharia justice were subject to execution. Every evening men (perhaps your beard wasn’t long enough) and women (for showing too much ankle skin or listening to music or whatever other “high crime” they had committed) were brought into the stadium in front of the crowd of people who were “encouraged” to attend these worthy events, forced to kneel in the goal box and were shot in the head. Their blood provided nutrients for the meager grass to grow. Bear in mind, this was a small stadium. Every seat was up close and personal. If you were there, you saw it all. This was yet again another reality of the brutal, daily existence the Taliban meted out against the people. But on this evening, just a few months after the Taliban had used this place as a literal killing field, Dave I and saw the first real public soccer match since the reign of the Taliban. It was a moment of release and joy for the Afghan people.

A few days later Dave and I drove through the center of the country from Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif in the north-central part of Afghanistan where our organization hoped to work with village communities to re-establish farming, animal husbandry, maybe even schools for girls. (Remember, this was early 2002, and girls had been banned from school during the Taliban years). Our drive took us through the Shamoli Valley and close by what was becoming the U.S. force’s Bagram base. The Shamoli had once been a lush breadbasket for Afghanistan. Orchards and crops were staples and had been in existence for generations. The produce of this region had been a heartbeat for the country, a place of identity. But as we drove through the long valley, stark reminders of the Taliban were everywhere. Orchards had been slashed and burned to the ground. Villages destroyed. Many, many people had been killed over the years. Terror, oppression and steps backward in time had replaced a once-thriving spirit.

We were establishing our organization’s development work in villages in the area around Mazar, so I was there for some weeks working with local officials, elders of villages, etc. Our organization was part of a larger consortium of faith-based organizations from around the world that had been working in Afghanistan for many years.

One night we had dinner at the home of a couple from another agency in this consortium. They had invited a few of us over for stew, cooked in a pressure cooker on their small two-burner propane stove. A nurse from Switzerland arrived late and seemed somewhat distant while we all got acquainted. Over dinner she and I started to talk, during which I sensed something was wrong. I eventually asked her if she was okay. That led to a heartbreaking story. Just before dinner, as the local medical professional, she had been called to the village close to the one we were at. Seven children had been playing with a land mine they found in the dirt close by. Her job was to confirm each of their deaths as the families identified the remains of their bodies. As you can imagine, she was shaken to the core by this. We listened to her cry and tell the story. Although many mines had been laid during the warlord conflict and were still deployed, it was believed these had been laid by the Taliban as another way to exert terror.

Close to that time I had meetings regarding Afghan humanitarian work in Islamabad, Pakistan. While there one afternoon, I had a few hours of free time, so I drove well outside the city toward the mountains where some Madrassas were located in the lowlands of the mountains. Likely, some of these and numerous others along the border with Afghanistan are where many of the Taliban’s students began their indoctrination into the ways of the Taliban. There is a long story behind the establishment and growth of the Taliban, too long to tell here, but what I can tell you is that while driving through this area, you could sense the aura of a breeding ground. It was palpable.

Back in Afghanistan hope began to emerge.

In Mazar we were able to lay the foundation for working with several villages outside of the city, for agriculture development and animal re-stocking and husbandry. The idea of really establishing one or more schools for girls was taking root….and eventually began! Over the next few years it was glorious for these young girls to begin learning and to shine.

A few months later I was back in Kabul with Dave. Along with another organization (a British outfit) we had established a small business and were employing women. We were manufacturing a high-protein porridge meal that was being used widely in the area to help malnutrition. Our “manufacturing plant” was an old rented three-story house with a sizeable open courtyard. The women would spread the various ingredients out to dry in the courtyard, then roast them “just right” over a clay firepit, then transfer the materials inside where they were mixed, weighed, bagged and boxed for transport. This was sold in the street markets and to other organizations for their program work. And I’ll tell you what I saw. I saw women who had been long oppressed now with a sense of purpose. And I actually saw … them! They no longer had to have face coverings. I saw eyes that not too long before had been cowering and distant with fear of the Taliban but were now bright and full of life. I saw beautiful smiles and joy. I saw their God-created human spirit flourishing while they worked and earned an income.

While Dave and I were in Kabul, we were staying with friends from our organization. They (I’ll call them Ray and Susan) were an incredibly joyful couple from the Philippines who had recently been serving in a Christian school in Pakistan which had been raided by a small cell of terrorists. In a truly God-saving story of survival, with nothing but air between them and the gunmen, they were shielded and spared from almost point-blank gunfire. Because of that event they were forced to leave the country and were now taking respite in Kabul (note the irony). Because of quick travel plans by all of us, we were short on some personal supplies. I was missing my toothbrush. So, I walked to a corner market and bought a new toothbrush. Back at Ray and Susan’s place, I was heading to bed for an early night’s sleep and as I was unwrapping my new toothbrush to brush my teeth, I could hear Dave, Ray, and Susan talking in the kitchen. They were telling stories and laughing about the wonderful times they had had while serving the beautiful people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. I stood there listening for a long time. I had grown to love and admire my friend Dave so much and had quickly come into friendship with Ray and Susan. As I listened to them, it was a poignant moment, I was burning the images and stories that I’ve shared here with you (and many more) into my mind. I vowed I would never forget. I would always remember that despite the darkest hours of human depravity, there is hope that finds its way out and into the light. A hope that only comes from a God who created us and loves us. A hope that, because of God’s steadfast love, endures through the evil actions of mankind. And a hope that allows us to participate, even in small ways, to help in the process of redemption into a joyful life.

Today, that toothbrush remains in my travel pouch, even after these many years, as a reminder of that hope. Every time I’m travelling and brushing my teeth, I smile.

So, why on this Saturday in 2021 and in the ensuing days and weeks, am I feeling both anger and frustration but also hopeful and thankful? Well, I can tell you that I have great fear for the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and young girls. I’m angry because history does repeat itself. It may be a different shade or tone, but history does repeat itself. When the Taliban originally swept into influence and power, they took advantage of a war-torn population with a “hearts and mind” campaign. The Afghanis – a beautiful, wonderful people – had been pounded by invaders and civil war for 15 years. They badly wanted peace and stability. Even if it came from outsiders who had rough, but stabilizing ways. In their early days the Taliban provided that and were generally accepted by much of the population as the de facto stabilizing leadership. However, soon after gaining control of the country, the Taliban unleashed its harsh ways of life, as the world came to know.

I am frustrated because history indeed does repeat itself. Sadly, we will once again see the harsh reality and cruelty of life under the Taliban. It will happen again, and I’ve never wanted to be so wrong in my life. The recent actions around national interest politics and geopolitics are for another discussion of which I have strong sentiment, but for certain the door is now wide open for the Taliban to perpetrate their actions against humanity once again.

But there is hope. There is always hope. First and foremost, we can continue to lift Afghanistan up in prayer for peace and justice. As much as you and I can’t engage in assistance in Afghanistan right now, we can be active in Haiti. Ah, Haiti. My last work there was in February 2020, just before COVID shut down the world. Our staff in Haiti and local partners were (and are!) doing incredible work. I think of the young kids who live in abject poverty, to no fault of their parents, and now through our schools have opportunity to learn and to have a nutritious meal every day. These are kids who over the years instead of being subject to poverty are now in the workplace as teachers and tradesmen, and other viable work. I think of the school in Port-au-Prince for children with disabilities who would otherwise be cast aside, not given any opportunity in life. I think of the rural villages where our partners are training children to raise goats to breed and sell in the marketplace so they can afford to go to school and have a hopeful future. As a matter of fact, the gentleman who is now the Director of that program came from such a background!

When a crisis of the magnitude of an earthquake hits, it seems so overwhelming. What can any one person do? What can I do? Well, I want to encourage you that when you see a crisis like this in Haiti, there ARE ways to engage and help, even if you think it’s small. Each of us can choose to break through the action-stopping mindset of “those people” and know that ach person in an under-developed country has a name, has a need, has hopes and dreams for a thriving future just like you and I do for our families. Let’s not box so much of life into an “either or” world. We can simply choose not to.

I’m not asking you to give up helping your families or others in your community. What I’m asking, if you aren’t already so engaged, is to consider expanding your sphere of impact. Include the people of the most marginalized places on earth, like Haiti, in your financial, prayer, conversation, and advocacy activities. You may not change the world, and you don’t need to, but you can impact one life at a time. YOU can help unleash that God-created human spirit of a vulnerable child, of a mom at risk, of a dad who is struggling, and help them flourish.

Haiti 2021 Earthquake Relief

August 23, 2021 by Cross International

Help restavek children who lost their homes and their schools

The earthquake that struck southwestern Haiti on Saturday, August 14 is still making its impact felt. At 7.2 on the Richter scale, it was twice as powerful as the deadly 2010 quake that leveled Port-au-Prince a decade earlier.

It appears that many fewer lives will be lost since it occurred in such a remote area. However, because it was such a remote quake – 80 miles west of Port-au-Prince – the rebuilding and recovery will be more challenging.

At Cross International, we have been called to serve in Haiti for more than two decades. We remember the massive suffering of the 2010 earthquake. It was personal for us. This latest quake is no less personal. We not only have projects in Haiti. We have friends who live there. We have a Haiti field office. So, when there is a disaster of this magnitude, we mobilize immediately to send food, water, tarps and other urgent supplies to wherever it’s needed.

For this earthquake, we were told that our Cross-supported restavek schools (known locally as MEBSH) were seriously impacted.

MEBSH is a long-standing partner of Cross International. Of the 14 MEBSH schools located in the southern peninsula, six were completely destroyed – in Bazelais, Bompas Pesmel, Lariviere Tiburon, Chardonniere and Camp-Perin. All were located near the epicenter.

Learn more about our work with MEBSH

To date, 490 MEBSH students and family members have been impacted by the earthquake. They not only lost their schools. They also lost their homes and are currently receiving support. And the situation became even worse following the earthquake, as Tropical Storm Grace dumped 10 inches of rain onto Haiti. It pelted people huddling in fields who had no homes and no protection from the elements. These families are in desperate need of food and shelter. That is why our field office is so vital to our ministry.

“Our Haiti field office enables us to respond quickly and nimbly to disaster situations such as the Haiti earthquake,” says Kelly Miller, President and CEO of Cross International. “

We have another Cross-sponsored Christian school system in the northern part of Haiti who, once they heard about their brothers and sisters in need, immediately offered to donate some of their funds to MEBSH, in order to purchase desperately-needed food staples, tarps and other essential items.”

“It’s a wonderful partnership, and a prime example of Christian partners working together, to help one another. The Body of Christ working as one.”

Kelly goes on to explain how Cross’ entire network of in-country church leaders provides the ministry’s eyes, hands and feet on the ground. “All of our in-country partners are helping each other,” he says. “They have been reporting details about the areas of greatest need and are paving the way for even more relief shipments to come. They provide more boots on the ground, and they ultimately implement many of the relief efforts we want to accomplish.”

“Our role is to empower our partners with training, financial and material resources, and the leadership development needed to address specific situations. This is certainly the case when we are responding to our MEBSH schools which have been so devastated by the quake.”

The Haiti earthquake truly showed no mercy when it struck on Saturday morning and turned thousands of structures into rubble. It targeted the poorest schools in the poorest part of the country and leveled them to the ground. But the people of Haiti will survive. Their faith is strong. With the love of Christ guiding us, compassionate relief can lead to long-term healing.

We will continue to work through the MEBSH leaders to identify priority needs and to determine how and when to become involved. We are only in the early recovery stages, where our brothers and sisters are going through a traumatic period:

OUR PROCESS FOR RESTORING COMMUNITIES

PHASE ONE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND EARLY RECOVERY

Prayerfully, we want to help those who have been impacted find stability in their lives as soon as possible. To do this, we will try to restore the basics in their lives and get their children back to school. (Note: School starts on September 6.) To this end, church services and classes may be held under a tent or some other temporary structure, but this is an important start.

For children who are restavek or who are in danger of becoming restavek, the restoration of the destroyed MEBSH schools in southwestern Haiti is vital to restoring hope – as well as meeting essential needs. Unlike so many other things in these children’s lives, the schools are a loving and dependable foundation for these often-forgotten children. They also provide the nutrition students can rely on, and the compassion found in the classrooms provides hope for a better future.

With six of these schools completely destroyed by the destructive power of the recent earthquake, many of Haiti’s children and their families are more vulnerable and more at risk than ever. They need to know that we care and are working in Christ’s name to bring rapid relief.

Your generous gift will be used for the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund through June 30, 2022, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the initiative, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry and may be used in the following fiscal year.

Resilient faith, hopeful strength in Haiti during COVID-19

May 14, 2020 by Cross International

“The biggest weapon we have against COVID-19 is prayer. We have an opportunity to care, to love, to use our God-given abilities for His glory. That’s where I’m standing. That’s what I am fighting for.” These are the words of Gladys Thomas, Founder and CEO of Cross International’s ministry partner Foundation for the Children of Haiti, which is home to Hope Hospital, two orphanages, three schools, and a technical academy.

Logistically, things look different at the foundation these days. With COVID-19 impacting Haiti, Hope Hospital, which was built with generosity from Cross donors, made the hard decision to close their outpatient clinic–its main source of income–in an attempt to keep people safe.

What has remained constant is Gladys’ optimism and spirit to answer God’s call to serve His children.
Every night, Gladys sits at her sewing machine making cloth masks and washable gowns for the hospital staff. She knows Haiti can’t rely on government assistance, and she considers each handmade mask she passes out on the street a direct gift from God.

With schools closed, Gladys and her team are working hard on a platform that allows students to learn online and maintain a schedule. An internet connection is hard to come by in the area, so they’re using every iPad, phone, and hotspot they can find to offer limited learning opportunities.

Gladys continues to encourage her teachers, students, and parents with words of hope and innovative solutions.
“We may have to take some steps back in our learning, but we will eventually come back better. We may feel like we are in the pit, but there is pressure under that pit that will propel us forward, higher,” she says.

The orphanage houses 111 children, some very young, and others with severe disabilities. The 32 staff members remain on campus to care for the children’s needs. On the limited occasion staff has to leave campus to go to the market, they practice strict hygiene–from wearing masks and gloves to using hand-washing stations and taking showers before reentering the orphanage. As of now, there is enough food for the children through the end of May.

Gladys tells her staff that God’s plan is not for us to suffer but for us to prosper. This, too, shall pass.
Gladys embodies Cross International’s spirit and mission to continue to transform the circumstances of vulnerable children around the world for the glory of Jesus. We’re helping our ministry partners adapt to each new challenge, but we can’t do it alone. Please consider joining us in giving today to help us meet their unprecedented needs.

A biblical example of compassionate action

May 7, 2020 by Cross International

The word “uncertainty” gets plenty of use during times of crisis. Each day unfolds with new and unexpected developments, and the future is unclear. For many of us, the coronavirus pandemic is the first time we’ve felt uncertainty of this magnitude. For those we serve in the developing world, uncertainty is a constant companion.

Thankfully, there is a source of peace and guidance that can alleviate our fears of uncertainty: God’s love and God’s Word. These we know are certain. The stories of godly men and women in the Bible can show us how to handle uncertainty and find our way through trying times. The story of Nehemiah is a wonderful example.

Nehemiah was living in the royal court, serving as cupbearer to the king of Persia, when word reached him about the crisis in the city of Jerusalem, far away. Jerusalem’s walls had been ruined by conflict, and the people were vulnerable and afraid, living with no protection from thieves or hostile forces. Nehemiah was moved with compassion and took action, using his position of favor with the king to gather resources and lead an expedition to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the walls and gates. Families of the city joined with him, each working on a section of the wall, even in the face of uncertainty and danger from those who opposed them. It’s an amazing story with many helpful parallels for us today.

Compassion, Even During Uncertainty
The families of Jerusalem were facing uncertainty and danger. But rather than thinking only of themselves, they also worked sacrificially for the good of others. This is truly inspiring! There is wisdom in thoughtfully protecting our own families and taking care of our needs, but it truly shows a divine grace when we can be attentive to our needs, and still be moved to take action on behalf of others. It is good for us to remember to do as they did: come together, care for each other, and work side-by-side to build something wonderful.

Compassionate Action, Even Across Distance
Nehemiah is an amazing example of compassionate action. He was far removed from the crisis in Jerusalem, living in relative safety and plenty, but the story of their needs moved him to act. Like him, we are separated by distance and experience from those living in poverty around the world. When we hear about the danger, vulnerability, and uncertainty faced by children and families in deep need, we also have the opportunity to use the resources we have been given to take action and provide help.

Building a Bright Tomorrow, Together
Nehemiah was a man of long-term vision. He didn’t just provide protection for the people through a temporary military guard. He came alongside the people of Jerusalem, helping them rebuild their city and ensure a brighter future for generations to come. We share this philosophy, seeking to not only meet the needs of the developing world as they have been affected by COVID-19, but to partner with them in rebuilding a strong future with sustained hope and opportunity.

Cross International is honored to be your partner in reaching out to those in deepest need around the world. Now, as always, we want to work shoulder-to-shoulder with you during these uncertain times, to take compassionate action. Those we serve are facing the uncertainty of COVID-19 in addition to the daily challenges they face: hunger and lack of clean water and secure homes. But they can experience the certainty of God’s eternal love. Will you join with us to take compassionate action for these children and families in need? We invite you to give today and help them build a brighter future!

How our ministry partners are adapting to COVID-19

April 23, 2020 by Cross International

The COVID-19 crisis is truly unprecedented. Our ministry partners face challenges they’ve never faced before. They need to address the reality of the coronavirus and ensure essential ministry services can continue. We are working with them closely to create highly-adaptable plans that can be adjusted as the crisis unfolds.

Today we may feel uncertainty. But nothing surprises God.
God is already prepared for everything we’re going to face tomorrow, next week, and next month. What the future holds may seem unclear to us, but it doesn’t surprise God. Nothing ever catches Him off guard. We’re seeing evidence of His provision in how our ministry partners are able and equipped to adapt.

Like in Eastern Zambia, where over the past five years Cross International has fully supported 47 water systems and trained thousands in the region with proper WASH techniques through our partner Kachere Development Programme (KDP). When the coronavirus hit the area, KDP leaders jumped into action. They worked together with the Ministry of Health to equip and train community facilitators on proper handwashing, sanitation, and social distancing practices to educate the public. A place where just five years ago had no access to water is now leading community efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and waterborne disease.

God knew what would be needed. He prepared the way.
Or consider the “shelter-at-home” directive that’s only effective when you have a home. So many of the world’s poor live without adequate housing and lack the ability to have a safe place to shelter or social distance into. And yet over the years in places like Guatemala, Cross International has partnered to build new homes for impoverished families through the generosity of people like you. Now, communities can help slow the spread of the coronavirus to others simply by staying at home.

God provides, even in uncertain times.
At Ambuya Development Center (ADC) in Malawi, schools are closed–and they are the only source of food for many children. Within the last few years, the center received God’s provision of a water system, hired a consultant to teach parents and children the importance of hygiene and sanitation, and gifted new homes to families in need. All of this happened before the appearance of COVID-19. Today, ADC staff members have the knowledge to train kitchen staff on proper sanitation so they can safely prepare meals for over 300 children, and families have the refuge of safe homes.

The pandemic changes our situation by the minute and, like each of our ministry partners, we’re adapting with it. What hasn’t changed is our commitment: to serve those in need around the world. We’re helping our partners adjust as we learn more each day, and our partners are better equipped for the unexpected because of your generous giving. Your ongoing support will help us meet these unprecedented needs today, and the needs God is preparing us for tomorrow.