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The students and staff of PortadownCollege raised a staggering £2,780.55 in one Assembly collection after being inspired by the testimony of a member of staff who has personal links with the aid effort in Haiti following the recent earthquake. The overwhelming generosity of the College community was galvanized by Mr David Spence who spoke in Assembly about what his sister-in-law and her husband are experiencing as relief workers in Haiti.
Mr Spence’s brother-in-law, Gavin, was inspired to return to Haiti a week after the earthquake after having spent three years there as a missionary doctor with One Mission Society (OMS) International. He and his wife Julie, a nurse, were moved by their strong Christian faith to bring their medical expertise and hope to the people of Haiti and they were fully aware of the hardships and dangers of aftershocks which they would be exposed to in order to be part of the relief effort.
College students were very moved when Mr Spence gave an inspirational speech in Assembly a few days before the collection and told his audience of the desperate conditions on the ground. Even the medics and relief workers have to sleep rough but it is the plight of the Haitian people themselves which is utterly desolate. Food is so scarce that many of the three hundred or so people who come for medical relief each day haven’t eaten much since the quake. Conditions are dangerous as gun violence is common.
The money raised by the College pupils will be used by OMS to buy urgent food, clothing and medical supplies but it is envisaged that the relief effort will have to continue for years to come.
Further information about the work of OMS can be found at omsinternational.org.
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