The Succour Foundation of Southeast Texas, a ministry of Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Port Arthur, has been helping the nation of Haiti for more than 20 years.

That help is needed more than ever.

“On Tuesday, October 4, 2016, Hurricane Matthew delivered to Haiti another devastating blow. It is the worse hurricane disaster in 50 years,” according to a press release from the foundation. “This has placed a tremendous hardship on the lives of many residents, especially those in rural communities around the countryside of Haiti. Families are dislocated and/or out of their homes due to floods or mud slides.”

Randy Vaughn, pastor of the church, said the foundation was organized 10 years ago as the Haiti Missionary Support Group consisting of area churches and churches across the country.

“We came together for ministry missions to Haiti,” he said.

This ministry, however, may had not been possible without Pastor Lucian Almarode.

Almarode visited Port Arthur in 1989 and first met Vaughn. He asked for help in his native Haiti, particularly an orphanage of more than 50 children. He returned the following year.

Vaughn and Pastor Randy Clark visited the country in 1996. They flew from Houston to Miami, however, their flight to Port-au-Prince was ground due to the Jean Aristide coup occurring in Haiti. If they had flow to Haiti they would had been stranded there for six weeks.

“We’ve built nine churches there. We’ve educated thousands of children and orphans, two standing medical clinics and we’ve educated three doctors.”

“We’ve dug water wells. I don’t know of what we have not attempted to do. We given medicine, food and education. We’re done this consistently. Churches have donated funds from all around the United States. It has come out of the people’s pockets.”

Vaughn said he can’t count how many times he has visited the country.

The church also made a medical response to the earthquake in 2010.

“We spent weeks in the field holding medical clinics for a lot of people who have never seen a doctor,” he said. “We had a professional staff there; we just needed more resources. We need more Christian missions than mission tourists. If I bought a $500 plane ticket there, I would just get in the way. Let them (professional staff) do it.”

Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere.

Vaughn said a catastrophe builds upon another catastrophe.

“Even their best days are bad. They live in mud huts or propped-up tents. There’s no water or sewage for 90 percent of the country,” he said. “The storm moved up that passage (between islands) and they’re always inundated with disasters.”

Almarode still makes frequent trips to the U.S. and several of the orphans now call the U.S. home.

Vaughn said he doesn’t know what the solution is or solutions are to Haiti’s problems.

“Maybe when Christ shall come, but until He comes…. There’s not enough money in the world,” he said. “What do people want it to become? You’re not going to Americanize them.”

Historically, Haiti was one of the first Republic nations that gave themselves freedom and defeated Napoleon Bonaparte. However, Vaughn said the enforced payments to France after independence was a debt they could never repay.

“They were always in debt. But they were one of the most contributing nations to the Underground Railroad (for escaped American slaves),” he said.

The foundation still need the public’s help.

“Your help is needed to purchase non-perishable food items and medical supplies for distribution at relief centers set up by our Succour Foundation representatives in Haiti. Help is needed immediately. Your generous contribution will be greatly appreciated,” the press release read.

Contact 409-263-2202, 409-982-6464, or email succourfoundationSETX@gmail.com for more information.

The foundation accepts cash, checks, and credit cards.

Those interested my visit the website to make a donation @www.succourfoundationsetx.org/donate.html

David Ball: 409-721-2427