|
February 17, 2010
UPDATE: Hatteras Helping Haiti – the trip to the island
By JOHN HEAD
We are at a loss for words to share what we have experienced during our recent trip to Haiti.
Bob McBride, Dwight Burrus, Johnny Wallace, and I traveled to the earthquake-ravaged island two weeks ago.
How
can you describe the smell of rotten flesh or the blank stare of a
traumatized child as he mindlessly plays while his parents'
bodies are burned in a nearby alley? Men scavenging through debris in
hopes of finding love ones? Amputees, orphans, or a widow's grief?
Tents and lean-tos that you wouldn't shelter a dog under, much
less thousands of hungry, weary humans? Streams of urine? Pigs and
women washing in shared waters? Lines of women half a mile to a mile
long, holding each other up so they don't lose their chance to get a
little food?
Each
of us experienced times of utter loss of our emotions. We were at times
undone. What do you say to a wife and mother who has lost two children
and a husband, a grandmother who is now raising three children after
their mother and father and two other siblings are gone, or a father who is
willing to give up his son for adoption so that he may have a better
life?
We
could tell you story after story of the trauma of the men, women, and
children, but we won’t. We believe you get the picture
Even
though life is so raw in Haiti since that seven seconds (that's all it
took), and it is likely to get much worse with the onset of disease as
the rainy season draws closer, we believe there is enough evidence to
say Haiti is on the verge of a new day.
Whereas
voodoo and witchcraft have virtually chained people to living in fear
and darkness, the earthquake has caused “a Holy Fear” to
come upon them. The collapse of Port-au-Prince and the reign of fear have
brought about new life in the streets. You have to look to see it, but
we feel Haiti has started to experience the great spiritual revival,
depending on how the established church in Haiti responds, it could
change the course of this country forever!
The
reports are coming in of many people turning from their former beliefs
to God. The churches are experiencing dynamic growth. Everywhere on the
streets Bible verses are being quoted by those who did not believe. The
church represents order and hope to those needy people who have lived
for generations without either. A new order is possible. President
Preval, weeping uncontrollably on Friday's national day of prayer, and
thousands upon thousands sitting along roadside gatherings or in
churches are solid proof something very different is happening.
What can we do from here?
We
can pray for a Godly government to be established and pray for the
nation as a whole. We can seek direct connections in Haiti. This is of
incredible value as it cuts through the bureaucratic mess the United
Nations has made. Support the local churches by enabling them to feed
the overflow they are experiencing, rebuild the church schools, or support
a family financially -- it costs only a few dollars a day.
But,
most importantly, do not grow indifferent to the need of the Haitian
people. So often this is exactly what happens as the days go by. Even
tonight’s news barely mentioned what could be the world’s
greatest natural disaster.
(If
you want to contribute to The Church on Hatteras’ efforts to help
the people of Haiti, you can make a donation by mail to Haiti Account
700011628, The Church on Hatteras, PO Box 1175, Buxton, NC 27920. Or
you can drop it off at any East Carolina Bank branch. All donations are
tax deductible. For more information, contact John Head at
252-216-7807.)
February 8, 2010
UPDATE….Hatteras helping Haiti
Four Hatteras islanders arrived on Haiti last week to assess the needs
after last month’s devastating earthquake of 17 church
orphanages, overseen by a Haitian man, Mac-Onel Georges, whom members
of The Church on Hatteras have worked with for several years.
The islanders are church members John Head, Bob McBride, Dwight Burrus, and Johnny Wallace.
“I'm sure that most of you, like I, have had your heartstrings
tugged at what we've seen in the aftermath of the earthquake in
Haiti,” John Head said in a message to islanders about the trip.
“I am asking that you join with me in a local effort to help the
people of Haiti.”
Head met Georges while on a 2005 trip to Sri Lanka to help with the relief efforts there.
Head says that Georges was traveling to the U.S. to raise money for the
children in the non-denominational church orphanages that his family
started in Petionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince. They feed, clothe,
and educate hundreds of children.
In December, 2006, Bob McBride went to visit Georges and returned
overwhelmed with the needs of these people and, especially, the
children.
“Mac-Onel's hope,” Head says, “is that educating the
children of Haiti will give them a vision for a better future for
themselves and their country. From Bob's return until
today, we have supported this ministry aiding the children of
Haiti.”
The four men from The Church on Hatteras plan to assess the needs of
these churches/orphanages that Mac-Onel oversees and bring back
information to those interested in giving of their finances and time.
It is their long-term goal to send a group to Haiti every month during
the rebuilding efforts.
Head notes that, as with all of the church’s other efforts in Sri
Lanka and in Pascagoula, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina, every penny
donated will go directly to the needs of the people. All of the
volunteers pay their own way or have separate events to raise funds for
their travel expense.
If you want to contribute to this local fellowship’s efforts to
help the people of Haiti, you can make a donation by mail to Haiti
Account 700011628, The Church on Hatteras, PO Box 1175, Buxton, NC
27920. Or you can drop it off at any East Carolina Bank branch. All
donations are tax deductible.
For more information, contact John Head at 252-216-7807.
REPORT FROM HAITI – FEB. 6, 2010
(This report comes to The Island Free Press from John Head.)
We arrived in Petionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, on Haiti around
4:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 and were greeted with great thanks. The people
within the churches have great hope.
Today Pastor Mac-Onel took us to see some of the church schools here in
Petionville and then to Port-au-Prince to an orphanage. This orphanage
has swelled with children. It needs a new school building, but the
children still have joy in their eyes and their smiles.
The destruction on the way and in Port-au Prince is truly unbelievable.
The sights, sounds, and smells are at times overwhelming. Family
members are still digging in the debris to find loved ones three weeks
after the earthquake. Three, four, and five-story buildings lay flat on
the ground. It is hard to comprehend how the Haitians will rebuild when
almost every building still standing is cracked.
As we walked through the city and tried to absorb the destruction, we
came across a young boy who looked to be working on some copper to
sell. However when we spoke to him, we found that he had lost both his
mother and father and was just beating the ground -- to keep himself
busy.
A photographer for a newspaper saw the traumatized boy and began taking
photos. Afterwards we all talked, and he said he had not seen such
trauma, even in Sri Lanka. We all were deeply moved.
Brother Mac will try to get the boy to one of the city orphanages.
The humanitarian need here is overwhelming.
Please, I beg you to not this day slip by without fervent prayer for the people and children of Haiti.
|
|
  |
|
|
