January 2017
By Jackie Bussert
On October 4, 2016, Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti with a category 4 destructive force not experienced there in over 50 years. Well over a million people were left without homes. Death toll reports varied between 546 and 1,600. Southwest Haiti fared the worst: heavy rain, deadly tides, high winds, topsoil obliterated, near total crop loss, massive loss of livestock, and then cholera.
For Jeff and Kim Nyquist, members at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, Illinois, the approaching storm was very personal. Jeff had helped start a computer school near Les Cayes in 2012 with Haitian Lutherans and Prince of Peace, Palatine. Funding came from Motorola Foundation and Wheels Incorporated (Jeff’s employer where he works in I.T.) as well as personal funds.
The computer school was a dream of Lionel Legoute who Prince of Peace, Palatine, had sponsored to take classes at Concordia Chicago. Their DCE, Tim Kaufmann, a friend of Jeff’s now in California, had asked Jeff if he’d help Lionel realize that dream. He’s still heavily involved.
Then in 2014, the Nyquists helped St. Peter members and pastors begin ministry in outlying areas not previously assisted by other U.S. Lutheran churches working in Haiti. They were the first non-Haitians ever to visit Sejourne and this past summer helped with a Lutheran Church Conference for eight congregations that included baptism classes, a marriage seminar, men’s and women’s Bible studies and Vacation Bible School.
When Jeff heard that Matthew was aimed at Haiti, he got on the phone making plans to secure and shut down the school. The Institute for Information Technology Haiti is in Simon, an outlying area of Les Cayes. The 15-20 adults learning Microsoft Windows and Office programs use the skills for immediate income. The 50 or so middle school students are preparing for a better future. It’s the area’s only computer school.
Les Cayes was among the hardest hit cities in Haiti. The school is in a concrete building and survived well. Much of the area did not.
Seven days after Matthew, Jeff was on his way to Haiti with LCMS Disaster Coordinator Rev. Ross Johnson and regional mission director Rev. Ted Krey, along with several ministry organization heads, including Tim Hetzner from northern Illinois’ Lutheran Church Charities. Jeff went as a bridge to introduce them to local church leaders and help them assess needs.
“It was shocking to see the destruction,” Jeff said. “But all we heard was thanksgiving for what they had left; they were not focused on their loss.”
And indeed, loss of life had not touched close to any of his friends. “Even though the one consistent story in every place we went,” said Jeff, “was people saying they believed during the storm that they were surely going to die.”
“Things are difficult,” said Ev. Lutheran Church of Haiti District President Rev. Paul Touloute in his first conversation with Jeff after the storm. “But the Lord has performed many miracles here.”
Touloute’s office is the hub for coordinating aid and recovery to the Haitian Lutherans in this area. About 50 Lutheran church and school communities were severely impacted. They are very rural but not necessarily small. Jeff said every place he’s been has had at least 75 to 100 in worship, and he’s not seen less than 150 children at VBS. Schools easily have 100 to 200 students.
Synod’s Disaster Response has committed money to repair pastors’ homes and is funding new wells to replace ones contaminated by flood waters. Food will be an issue until new crop sources are secured so one of Lutheran Church Charities’ projects is bringing in goats and chickens.
Jeff, Tim Kaufmann, and Pastor Greg Hintz from St. Peter returned to Haiti November 22-29 to re-open the computer school and visit the villages. A team of St. Peter members, including the Nyquists, will be returning January 31 to focus on recovery projects for a week.
So what can others do? “It’s not tourism,” cautions Jeff. “So don’t just jump on a plane because you think you can help. More money is definitely needed. They will need to buy food until animals and agriculture are producing again.”
Donations can be directed to Synod’s Disaster Response, Lutheran Church Charities or to St. Peter, Schaumburg, who can help with delivery of it to the Haitian churches.
Jeff summed it up: “We are looking to walk alongside our friends as brothers and sisters in Christ, not create a dependency. Pastor Touloute’s goal is to build Haitian leaders to build the church and build community. We go to assist and mentor—and learn so much from them.”
To help or learn more email Jeff Nyquist or call St. Peter church office at 847-885-3350.