Soldiers unload supplies for Haitian earthquake victims (Photo courtesy of Water Mission International)

“The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison. I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed. Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The LORD's unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.” Lamentations 3.19-24 (CEV)

As sure as the sunrise, the American Bible Society responded to the crisis in Haiti by addressing the physical needs of the earthquake survivors, and then their spiritual ones.

First, ABS called upon its partner, Water Missions International, which delivered Living Water™ Treatment Systems (LWTS) throughout Haiti. Like municipal treatment facilities, these units rely on filtration and chemical disinfection to produce safe drinking water. One LWTS supports up to 3,000 people, and 20 of these systems were set up in Haiti.

ABS also worked with another partner, Operation Compassion, which provided emergency relief supplies. More than 300 tractor trailers were loaded with building supplies and sent to Haiti. At any given time, more than 1,300 people are receiving aid from Operation Compassion.

Confident the physical needs are being addressed, ABS targeted survivors' spiritual ones. To that end, ABS sent 200,000 copies of the Scripture Portion, God is Our Shelter and Strength to survivors. Produced in cooperation with Convoy of Hope and Operation Compassion, God is Our Shelter and Strength is designed specifically for victims of natural disasters. Offering words of encouragement from the Bible, the book also provides practical tips for coping with natural disasters. The books, printed in French and Haitian, are being given to pastors, priests and heads of relief organizations to distribute to the Haitian people.

In addition, 500 Proclaimers™ are being sent to Haiti. These solar-powered devices, from Faith Comes By Hearing, are being distributed by the Haitian Bible Society and house the recorded text of the New Testament in French and Haitian.

For those who lost their Bibles in the earthquake, ABS also is sending 50,000 French and Haitian Bibles. The bulk of the Bibles are expected to reach the country within two months.