What I Learned in Miami

I am extremely happy to report that attending the Haiti Advisory Committee meeting on November 20th in Coral Springs, FL was an eye opening experience to say the least. I never expected to hear so many wonderful things about what is happening to build the Church of the Brethren in Haiti.

I am so thankful for the invitation to attend from Jeff Boshart and the wonderful weekend hospitality of Wayne and Karen Sutton.

It was reported there that we have completed 85 houses in Haiti!! 41 in the Mirebalais area, 1 on St. Louis; 42 in Gonaives and 1 for the General Secretary, Jean Bily Telfort. A well was also completed in Gonaives which turned out to be an artesian well that will likely provide wonderful water for the village there!!! This is all wonderful news.

Now we are moving on to the rebuilding phase of post-earthquake Haiti. Brethren Disaster Ministries has received 1.1 million dollars for this project. With this we are taking care of the Brethren as well as many other surrounding neighbors in Haiti. The local pastors are trying to do the work of the church by determining who on the island is truly a displaced people from the earthquake. This is not an easy job at all. Add to this a request from La Tortue for help after Hurricane Tomas damaged that area.

The needs are so vast on this island!!!

I found it exciting that we are working toward the building of schools! Iiexene Alphonse reported on his work on the New Covenant School in St. Louis du Nord. We know there is not enough room for all the students there is a need to promote gender equality along with strong minimum standards for Brethren Schools. There is a reality that the culture is far different from ours, yet we must give girls a chance to have a good education in the outlying areas as well. It was wonderful to hear that offerings from NYC gave $5,600.00 to the school. Chris Douglas has also offered a booth at Annual Conference for the St. Louis du Nord School and, perhaps, some other work as well.

Another exciting dream is coming working toward reality as well. A mobile health clinic!!! Personally knowing the medical needs of these people I see this as a really wonderful effort. I would like to see a fleet of these clinics, but one step at a time :) These clinics would have a Licensed Haitian Doctor on Staff. Work toward an endowment is being done right now. (Save your pennies and dollars, Brethren!!!)

Neslin Augustin was there to share with us about his work in La Tortue. Neslin is a member of the Miami Haitian COB. There is a real need in this area. Another mission field for us.

The Theological Conference for COB Pastors in Haiti will be held in August 2011. Galen Hackman has greed to do some teaching there. He will do some work on Brethren History and Practice from his books that have been translated into Creole in the Dominican. There is the possibility of another speaker which is yet undecided. The Conference is expected to be held at the Croix des Bouquet complex which is expected to be complete by June.

With all the other Brethren doing work in Haiti, it's clear to me that Brethren have been called to do a major work on the island of Haiti. May the Lord prosper our work there as long as He is honored as the author and finisher of our Faith!

Til next time...
Janet E.

Updates and thoughts

What tragedy has struck the island of Haiti!!! The cholera outbreak has not stricken Port au Prince in the way it has other areas of the island, especially since the Hurricane Tomas skirted the western edges.

I received a call last week (Nov. 12) that the northern borders into the Dominican were closed due to the outbreak and that food was becoming extremely costly. With Pastor Geordany feeding about 35 children this causes some real issues. Thank God for Antioch COB who sent money immediately to help offset that.

It is disgusting to learn that the customs and government are up to their old tricks again. A package expecting to cost $7 or $8 to get out of customs cost a Haitian pastor $85 ~ more than the contents were worth. I keep wondering why those "peace keeping" forces don't keep peace, enforcing fair trade or fair customs or SOMETHING. Why does the UN or even the Haitian Government (what's left of it), allow the gouging of people, their OWN people and then expect there to be faith in the government. The Haitian people are not stupid. Far from it. On the one hand, you can't blame individuals for trying to make an extra buck, but there has to be order and lawful behavior. It's hard to see between the two.

I know others from our District were scheduled to go down with the Midwifes for Haiti, but I am unaware of their current status. The Cholera is near to Hinche where they would work.

We are planning a trip to LaJeune and other points on the island for January 25 - February 8th. We have a doctor and P.A. heading down with us for the first week. The tickets are purchased, so we shall see how that develops.

The Haiti Mission Advisory Team meets the end of this week (Nov. 20th) in Miami. I will have the joy of setting in on that meeting and look forward to learning what the COB has planned for Haiti in the coming months and years.

Samaritans Purse has a huge settlement in the earthquake stricken area that is doing work removing rubble and helping the people. Practical help. Makes sense to me.

I am convinced that there can never be too many organizations working in Haiti. The government is, for all intents, useless, at this point and the government entities set to help the island aren't doing too great a job either. It appears either Christian organizations do it or it doesn't get done.

What the people need is a well placed government to provide cleanup, food, medicine and jobs. Once the island is stabilized as a viable entity then, maybe, just maybe, they can self-govern. Until then, there is no confidence, so who knows how these elections are going to go.

So, this is my two-cents on the travesty in Haiti for the moment. They desperately need our prayers, our money and our help. Prayerfully give.

Enough thoughts for now... Janet