Click here for PDF of PRESS RELEASE: DIOALA MEDICAL TEAM TO HAITI LAST WEEK OF FEBRUARYJesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Truly the Haitians are “the least of these” not because they are any better or worse than any of us, but because they are among the very poorest people in the world. This is a nation where food is scarce and people have resorted through the years to eating “dirt cookies,” biscuits made with a little lard and dirt, just to have something to take away the hunger pangs. And now things are exponentially worse. I cannot answer the “Why?” of this earthquake, but I know that it demands a response from us, especially because this church has had a relationship with three churches and their schools over the last decade. This means that those affected are not nameless Haitians, but they are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ whom we pray for and who pray for us.
St. Agnes School - This church school is near the city of Leogane. It is overseen by Pere Samuel Saint Louis. We built an extension for their school so that they could add two kindergarten classes, we pay the salaries of their teachers, and have helped provide a meal a day for the children. Three years ago, Kevin Housman, Lyle Hohnke, Kathi Jacob, and I went to Haiti. Kevin played soccer with these children. We have not been able to make contact with Pere St. Louis, and have heard that Leogane was leveled, and as of this writing, no aid has reached them. Pray for them.
St. Thomas School - Three years ago, on the mission trip mentioned above, we visited a tiny school near the town of Jacmel. We humorlessly called it the “Three Little Pigs School” because it was literally made of sticks and a “huff and puff would blow the house down.” You all gave generously, and we provided the funds to build them a solid school. Pere Desiree, the priest who oversees St. Thomas (and 27 other parishes) was slightly injured in the quake. He has not been able to reach St. Thomas to find out whether it is still standing and as of this writing has not heard from anyone there, but we know that the destruction in and around Jacmel was severe. Pray for them.
St. Matthias Church and School - This church is in the mountain town of Grand Colline. Three years ago, I celebrated Holy Communion at this church, and we worshipped with the kind and welcoming people of the community. This is the main parish of Pere Desiree. The earthquake destroyed the church, the school, and the guesthouse. Pray for them.
I know that many of you have already contributed generously to the immediate emergency relief efforts. Thank you. However, the hard work is still ahead. When all the camera crews have left and the world's attention has turned elsewhere, our brothers and sisters in Haiti will still need our prayers and help. We will need to help rebuild churches and schools so that the children will have a place to learn and to worship, and so that they will know that we have not forsaken or forgotten them. May the Lord make us instruments of His peace so that we may help sow hope in this place where there is so much despair.
So, today as I look through some of the photos from my visit to Haiti, I am asking all of you who already give so generously to give more to help with the long, hard work of rebuilding these communities, and to keep praying for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
- Heidi
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11)
