The Earth Is Still Shaking in Haiti
On Wednesday, a strong aftershock rattled the already devastated capital of Haiti, sending traumatized people fleeing into the streets and away from buildings. Aid is flowing but the situation is still patchy with many areas isolated from the aid. Our effort to bring aid to our Haitian brothers and sisters is intensifying. Plans are being finalized to truck in supplies from the Dominican Republic for the Leogane orphans and hundreds of people who are occupying the courtyards of the Church of God of Prophecy's National Complex.
All across Haiti stories of faith and hope are being written as the saints in Haiti intercede, share, and praise God in the middle of devastation and desperate need. Bishop Dorlean, National Overseer of Haiti, is still attempting to gain a clearer picture of the needs of our faithful members. He reports that eight of our churches in the Port-au-Prince area collapsed when the ground began to tremble. Tragedy struck the church at Sans Fils, where almost an entire choir perished during rehearsal, along with a Women's group that was conducting an activity at the time of the quake. About 60 people died in this one church. A deacon was killed at the Mariani church and several members died inside the church at Waney.
Brother Dorlean estimates that he knows of about 80 church members who have lost their lives in the earthquake. Thousands of our members are homeless, without shelter, food or water. The yard surrounding the National Complex is filled with members and others who have taken refuge there seeking assistance.
We are grateful to God that Bishop Dorlean's immediate family has been spared, although he has lost a cousin and his wife has lost two cousins.
Plans have been made to construct a temporary building to house the children from the orphanage on a piece of land owned by a church member. A pre-fab building, along with workers, construction materials and equipment are on their way from the Dominican Republic today, so shelter can provided before the rains come. Three physicians from the Dominican Republic will be traveling over the weekend to the site where the children are being relocated to provide expert medical assistance to the children and other needy Haitians. Antibiotics, pain medicine and other medical supplies will be delivered by this group of physicians.
Your financial support and prayers are making a difference to our Haitian family. We thank you on behalf of our brothers and sisters under great duress in Haiti.
Go to
www.cogop.org to see a video update on Haiti.
