The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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November 6, 2009

Rich Brown: Missionaries in need

To say the life of a missionary is not an easy one could be the biggest understatement ever — especially in the case of Eric and Jennifer Lotz.

The Lotz couple, formerly of Joplin where they attended First United Methodist Church, and their five children (6 months to 10 years old) are on a mission trip in Haiti, where they have been the last few years.

As you can imagine, their needs are many, especially in the small rural village of Balan, where the couple has most of the ministry. However, the family may be facing its greatest need ever — the mission organization that supported them filed for bankruptcy.

“This leaves the Lotz family in a scary situation,” said Libby Clark, a member of First United Methodist’s worship and praise band Seven Times Hotter, which is holding a fundraiser for the family. “Their most pressing need at this time is electricity. No electricity means no light and, even worse, no refrigeration.

“We are attempting to raise enough money to buy a generator and inverter system to keep the batteries that run everything charged.”

The batteries donated last year to the Lotz family, who live 10 miles from Balan in Ft. Jacques, have not been able to be used because the generator that was supposed to have been provided was not.

As a result, the family has been using a borrowed generator about two hours a day, which was about enough time for Jennifer Lotz to do the family’s laundry. Now, however, this generator is not working at all.

Balan itself, with about 2,100 residents, not only has no electricity, but also no fresh water, roads, jobs, school, hospital and only sparse agriculture. Before the Lotz family arrived and set up a Christian church, the villagers practiced voodoo.

The price tag of a generator and inverter to provide them electricity 24 hours a day is $10,000. That will be the goal of a fundraising event, “Lotzapaloosa,” which will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at The Foundry, located at the Bridge Ministries complex at 3405 S. Hammons Blvd.

The benefit concert, which will carry a $3 cover charge and suggested love offering of $10, will feature gospel groups from around the area. In addition to Seven Times Hotter, groups currently booked are Canaan Bound, Ninth Hour, Spirit Force, Uprooted and the Joplin Family Worship Praise Team. Raffles and a silent auction will also be held, and snack foods will be available.

Anyone wishing to donate outside the concert has several options. You may make checks payable to Eric or Jennifer Lotz and turn them into the First United Methodist office at 501 W. Fourth St. Donations may also be given to Dr. Jim Hamilton or his wife, Debbie, forwarding agents for the Lotz family, at the church or Dr. Hamilton’s office, the Southwest Foot Clinic, 2302 E. 32nd St.

More information may be obtained by calling the church at 623-2796.

Address correspondence to Rich Brown, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802 or e-mail rbrown@joplinglobe.com.

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