MISSION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca
The gift of sun-power in Haiti
from Haiti
Battery Storage Building in the village of Poto
“LIGHT IS SWEET, AND IT IS PLEASANT FOR THE EYES TO SEE THE SUN.” - ECCLESIASTES 11:7
T
Charge Rail
by Andrew Jackson
he sun is an important part of life on our planet. It provides light to work in the day, it feeds plants, and it even gives us energy in the form of Vitamin D! We can also harness this energy for our technological needs by way of photo-voltaic panels, also know as solar panels. We can capture energy from the sun’s rays and use it to charge our batteries and power our electronic devices. Did you know that one church in Haiti has already received the gift of sun-power thanks to the suporters of the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS)? Construction on panel supports and a batter y storage building recently took place in the village of Poto. Solar power captured in this way will run cooling fans during church services and also allow people in the village to charge batteries for their devices through a long charge rail with electrical outlets. Future plans include hosting Christian movies at the church.
The congregation expects that the new solar power system will aid both in new stewardship opportunities as well as in bringing more people to the church where the good news of Christ’s salvation for everyone can be heard. A budget of approximately $20,000 USD was set for this project. If the project proves to be as successful as HLMS hopes in bringing villagers to the church for more than one type of power, the society expects additional congregations may come looking for similar support. If you would like to help HLMS c o n t i n u e t o “p o w e r” C h r i s t’s Word and work in Haiti, consider supporting their solar project or another of their other projects, such as the children’s feeding program and lay catechumenal education. “There is so much need in this very poor country,” HLMS says. “Our gifts, prayers and support for bringing the knowledge of Jesus and His promise to Haiti seems like a never-
ending task, but we will continue to do the work.” To learn more about the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society and for more information on its projects, visit haitilutheranmissionsociety.ca. Supporters can also get in touch by mail: Haiti Lutheran Mission Society 213 Linwell Road St. Catharines, ON L2N 1S1 The Haiti Lutheran Mission Society is a Listed Service Organization of Lutheran Church–Canada.
Andrew Jackson is the Treasurer of the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society (HLMS). THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN May/June 2021
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