Buying hope Ohio Haiti Benefit Auction Sept. 4 more important than ever as Haiti's earthquake victims seek peace
For decades, many of the people in Haiti have struggled in their fight simply to survive in a land destitute and barren of hope. Following a brutal earthquake Jan. 12, which killed thousands and left millions homeless and starving, the situation got even worse.But fortunately, there is hope.
On Sept. 3 and 4, the 24th annual Ohio Haiti Benefit Auction at the Mt. Hope sale barn will go a long way toward helping those people in need find a hope that many of them though may never come following the horrific earthquake which devastated the nation last year.
It is God's people doing what they believe is what God has called them to do in reaching out to brethren around the world to make a difference in lives in the name of Jesus Christ.
"I've had people ask me why Haiti?" said Nelson Miller, an Ohio Haiti Benefit Auction board member. "Why not Haiti? There are hurting people there who need help to survive. This year is more crucial than ever because of the earthquake."
There are several different Haiti mission auctions annually around the U.S., and this particular one in Holmes County is one of the larger ones. The members of the Ohio Haiti Benefit Auction have committed themselves to helping to provide for those who have not been as blessed as the community here in Holmes and Wayne counties, and for those who often times cannot provide for themselves.
The Haiti auction is a cooperative effort of numerous churches and individuals who believe that God has put it in their hearts to bring relief to the hungry, the sick, the naked, and the homeless people of Haiti, along with the ultimate goal of bringing salvation to them through Christ.
Over the past quarter century, numerous Holmes countians have traveled to Haiti and have seen the devastation which poverty brings in an up-close and personal way. Seeing the destitute areas in Haiti have opened their eyes, and they have been able to bring back the picture of gloom and despair and paint a vivid picture for those here who have never before been witness to the heartache of the nation.
There, they have witnessed a world that bares little resemblance to what people are used to experiencing here in Amish Country. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where much of the destruction took place during the earthquake, is a poor, dirty area, according to Miller. "Poverty is just rampant down there. Unless you've seen it firsthand, it hard to even imagine," said Miller. "Here in the U.S., we would bring in equipment and get things done and move on. There, things just move so much slower. It's a different world."
While many people in the area would find it tough to go to Haiti to lend a hand in the physical rebuilding of the nation, handing out food and water or even going to minister spiritually, the auction has provided one avenue for them to be able to reach out.
The auction has become a channel through which people can contribute with auction items, while many other locals pitch in by donating their time to the cause by working at the auction.
With the money raised during the auction, many people in Haiti will receive food, water and clothing. However, it is more than just the handouts that the organizations focus on. There is a genuine push to create scenarios in which the people of Haiti can learn to help themselves. The mission is to teach them how to raise crops, create jobs and create a better way of living.
Then there are the numerous schools funded by Haitian organizations. The children at the Haitian schools are educated and well-fed, and taught skills which will hopefully help them dig themselves out of poverty. They are also introduced to the Christian faith.
Projects like irrigation and well digging have allowed the farmers to cultivate their land to improve their quality of life.
It is not just a handout, but a hand up, and ultimately, the groups are there to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The auction featured at the Labor Day weekend event is one which will showcase a number of high-quality, high-end items, as well as numerous quilts, wood pieces, and assorted lawn furniture, solid oak and cherry handcrafted furniture, storage barns, tools and more.
The open house on Friday evening will allow patrons a chance to check out the auction items firsthand. At 4 p.m., patrons can delve into some fantastic food, like the chicken barbecue, shrimp, dressing and noodles, authentic Haitian rice and beans, homemade pies and ice cream, apple dumplings and more. The a capella group Voice of Praise will be providing live music, and there will be children's games for the kids during that time. A group from Gladys, Va., will provide live music.
On auction day Saturday, there will be a pancake and sausage breakfast beginning at 6 a.m. that will include scrambled eggs, fried mush, drink and pastries. The main auction will begin at 8 a.m. in the big tent, and at 9 a.m. in the show barn. Furniture and quilts will hit the auction block at 9:30. Throughout the day items including tractors and mowers, storage barns, a 24-by-32 pole building, horses, oak furniture, a 10-by-20 cabin, playhouse sets and a 10-by-10 vinyl Riviera pergola will be up for bid, as will countless smaller items, meaning that there will be something for everyone pocketbook range.
"We've got a lot of beautiful items on the auction block," said Miller.
The auction may be a huge draw, but the stories people hear can resonate right to the soul, and examples are everywhere of how God has worked through the ministry. "Several years ago we had a Haitian man who had come to know Christ through the help of one of our 13 missions come and express his appreciation," said Miller. "He had heard how the auction benefits the mission, and wanted to share firsthand how it had touched his life."
Another big part of the event will be a PowerPoint presentation on the various mission groups' efforts to provide relief to earthquake victims even now, eight months later. The presentation will show the devastation, talk about the initial clean-up efforts, and the ongoing rebuilding that is taking place. The missions have worked hard to build small barns as house kits, which have served as Haitian family homes.
"One Haitian was a teary-eyed recipient of one of the homes, and asked what one must do to get one of them," said Miller, quoting a mission report. "Her reply was 'It is only by the grace of God that this is possible.' That is the kind of faith we are seeing grow in Haiti, and that is why what we are doing here is so vitally important."