A Rural Pastor Speaks

Haitian Christian Mission Earthquake Relief Efforts

When I first read this article I was expecting the same type of news that I had been hearing out of Haiti this year. I was very encouraged by the hope that is coming out of Haiti and how in the midst of the descruction there is hope and the Kingdom of God is advancing

Earthquake Relief Efforts

When last January’s earthquake shook Port-au-Prince, it did a great deal of damage to the part of the capital city where HCM works.  HCM’s largest church building and all three of its school buildings in the Nazon area were heavily damaged.  Many lives were lost in that neighborhood and even today houses remain in ruins while the people live in tents.  Some people have chosen to leave the area, but many feel they have no where else better to go.  Since that horrible day the following things have taken place:

• 807 people have been baptized in the HCM churches
• 170 tents have been distributed
• 65 mattresses have been distributed
• 3 houses have been built with many more to come
• 2 new offices have been completed
• 11,193 patients have been treated in HCM clinics
• 102 babies have been born at the HCM hospital
• 103 surgeries have been performed
• 7 churches have been repaired
• 5 schools have been repaired

Haitian Christian Mission Update 07-29-10

Three Important Contacts in Ohio

 

I was invited to be the VBS speaker at Christ Church at Mason by friends like Jill Buffenbarger, Karen Osler, Cindy Alison and others that visited Haiti. The Lord has opened a wide door for the mission. Haitian Christian Mission and others are in line for a multitude of blessings:

 

The VBS attended by some 1000 children raised almost $26,000 that we will use to build a house for a family on the demand of her sponsor, fence the 40 acres, drill a well and buy a pump where the university is to be built. ,

 

 Kim Juilfs helped me establish contact with Matthew 25 Ministries where the mission could get relief to feed, clothe and care for children in dire needs. They have enough means to cover thousands and thousands of children in Haiti

 

 Jill Buffenbarger called and got me the contact of Lawrence E. Bergeron, Executive Director of ‘A Child’s Hope International, Inc’. These two contacts will lead to the hunger relief of thousands of children in Haiti.

 

I need to mention that we are thankful for Mike Cohoon who through IDES and Lifeline Christian Mission ministered to us in food containers three times.  

 

 How will the contacts work? Churches that want to help us will need to send young or older folks to volunteer work contact

 Michael Vanhook or Tim Mettey at  www.m25m.org or email mvanhook@m25m.org or m.vanhook@yahoo.com.Matthew 25 Ministries 11060 Kennwood Road, Cincinnati OH 45242,  513-793-6256 or 513-793-6256      

 

 The other contact is: Lawrence Bergeron, Executive Director of A Child’s Hope International Inc

 6396 Gemstone Drive, Liberty Township OH 45044, phone 513-515-2611 513-515-2611

Email lebergeron@achildshopeintl.org, website: www.achildshopeintl.org 

 

 Volunteers could furnish two hours of work or $10 that will feed a hungry child for a month. We are on the move for this as we intend to stop hunger for many children in many areas. We will attempt to build a warehouse with loading dock large enough to be used as a distribution center not only for HCM but also for other missions that embark the fight against hunger and disease in Haiti. Food is needed for orphanages, schools, nutrition centers and churches. We pray that you will get on board with us on this important undertaking.

 

By the way, Angie and Daniel got married in Sardinia OH. It was a nice wedding ceremony. I was blessed to play a roll in it.  

 

With the KINGDOM in mind, the best is yet to come.  

Etienne Prophete HCM Executive Director  

Haitian Christian Mission Update 07-27-10

Annual Convention

This year HCM held its annual convention in Fonds Parisian.  The campus was full of worshipers and leaders from all over the country.

 In light of the tragedy this year, Etienne walked in faith and did not ask for any money to support the group.  There were many to be fed and those who needed shelter.  As always God provided.  Betty explained how the people came together bringing food and supplies.  There was also a large donation form a local Haitian friend!  Rice and beans were plentiful.  Tents were distributed and the people were encouraged.

Haitian Christian Mission Update 07-21-10

 Welcome to the World!
  The first baby delivered by C Section came into the world at the Christ For All Clinic in Fonds!  Thanks to Cheryl    from Forest Park Christain who was there with a medical team.  Dr. Patrick assisted and is shown here holding little "Sheryl Wensalai"! 
 

 

 A new soccer league kicked off in June at the school in Fonds Parisian.  The first tournament included 6 boys teams.  The four day event included music, dancing, and an awards ceremony.  Children who have had nothing but tragedy to focus on were given an escape and reason to smile. 

 

One player, Gee, is quoted as saying, "When I play soccer I don't think about anything else and I can just enjoy myself."
   The first two girls teams were formed in July and the community came out in even bigger numbers to watch them play.  Thanks to Play It Forward and their vision to bring a new athletic field to Haitian children in Fonds!

Haitian Christian Mission Update 06-18-10

June 18, 2010

 

Dear Reader and Supporter:

 

HCM is reaching a high level of success. We wonder sometimes why bad things happen. They may be a wake-up call for us to get into a higher level in our commitment with God.  This time HCM is flying high and will probably soar with the eagles. Here are the recent realizations that have taken place in the past months:

 

1. Three houses are being built. One of them is almost finished
2. There is an average of seven surgeries per day when the surgeons are in place
3. Distribution of 90 kits containing hygiene, pots and pans, silverware, etc
4. Food is distributed to 44 churches and schools, two orphanages, four nutrition centers
5. Life is coming back for many people and churches are full beyond capacity
6. Devise is put in place for safe water at the Fonds-Parisien compound
7. There was a distribution of 90 mattresses to homeless and wounded people
8. School children are back to classes and work to knock down the two top stories of the high school at Port-au-Prince is in progress
9. Landslide is prevented by the building of the retaining wall at Nan Plaisir church and school
10. Tents are distributed to over 100 families
11. Several portions of land have been purchased to build houses, elementary school and university to replace the big loss at Port-au-Prince .
12. Several churches and school buildings have been repaired
13. We have an average of 30 visitors per week. This time we have 54 on campus. Those visitors render a tremendous service to the mission. They build, clean, treat patients, do surgeries, etc.

 

We thank God for our supporters, the Board of HCM and the field workers that are restless to get the job done in order to make life possible for God’s people in Haiti . (Hebrews 6:10; 1 Corinthians 15:58)

 

With the KINGDOM in mind, the best is yet to come

 

Etienne Prophete

HCM Executive Director

Haitian Christian Mission Update 06-15-10

 HCM Update

June 15, 1020

HCM Progress and Needs after the Quake

This report is to communicate with you

what the Lord is doing through the mission in Haiti

                                 

Most of the schools and church buildings at or around Port-au-Prince have been either damaged or destroyed by the earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12, 2010.

 

That tragedy has left us with a tremendous task to repair and build. Port-au-Prince where HCM had the largest part of the work is not an enviable place anymore. Fortunately we are blessed with friends that sent us help to buy lands and do some repairs. The people are hopeless and helpless. We need to give them hope. At this point here is where we are:

 

Availability of land

1. We have bought 35 acres of land to build the kindergarten, elementary and high school. This land will also be used for the university, athletic field, and living quarters for professors and visitors from overseas.
2. We have purchased three acres of land across that field to build living quarters for doctors, workers, professors, professionals (IDES Village of Hope)
3. We have secured another three other acres to build for homeless and wounded people (Australian Village of Hope)
4. We have bought three acres of land to build the orphanage for children missing parents– Dr. Harvey Montijo will build that orphanage alongside Mary Leigh Zahn.
5. We still need to buy more land to reach the capacity of building at least 200 homes. The need is immense. Our responsibility is overwhelming.

People we need to build for

1. People that need houses and bought land to build on: Dorlus, Brousseau, Edner, Paciana, Dr. Culgeon, Charles, Gué, Dr. Dieunord, Alphonse, Accino 
2. People who have immediate need of a house but have no land: Lubain, Wilner, Lizana, Dr. Patrick, Dr. Billy, Dr. Manol, Yrsil, Goude, Gabriel, Monace, Mme Stenio, Rigaud, Gislaine, Yorline, Clarine and many other tent dwellers on the Fonds-Parisien campus
3. Over 200 families are waiting to get help for a place to stay. They are sleeping under tents, getting wet when it rains, suffering from the heat of the day uncomfortably under unsanitary conditions leading to epidemics. Most of these are our church people.

N.B. Two strange cases have been reported to our knowledge: A young boy got stung by a large green fly almost died from infection if he was not suddenly transported to hospital. Another 17 year-old young fellow, son of a pastor friend of us, died suddenly from a ferocious fever contracted in a concentrated area of tents.

 

Work in progress:

1. The tearing down of two top floors of the high school of Port-au-Prince in order to teach the children that have come back and have been found
2. High school children are now taking classes under tent, but will move into building after repairs are completed
3. The misplaced office at Port-au-Prince is relocated and rebuilt at Fonds-Parisien
4. Three houses are in construction at this moment
5. The distribution of the 43/70 tents that Ike Pinkston of Frankfort has sent begins
6. Wendy is inviting and sending teams to Haiti; Edwens and Dorlus are managing work teams in the field
7. The feeding of the hungry and care for the sick never stop. The needs are even greater as people keep on coming to the mission unceasingly.
8. We are feeding in a nearby poor village of more 2000 people, a population that came into existence after the flood that killed more than 5000 people.
9. The mission is hosting an average of 30 foreign visitors and workers per week.

 

Work in Planning Stage

1. Build 200 homes for the homeless, the wounded and the very poor. There is a difference between the homeless and the very poor. The homeless are those who had a house and lost it at the earthquake but have no money to rebuild. They can be those who were on rent. They lost the home and have no place to go. The poor are those who never had anything. They were sleeping under cardboard. All those people have moved to the countryside. This opens a new wave of decentralizing Port-au-Prince so people can have a fresh air in the countryside.
2. Building grade schools and universities in the countryside gives the promise of a better organized society with less crime toward a less frustrated nation.
3. Enlarge the hospital. When Haiti was hit by the quake, we understood the value of the small unit. Fonds-Parisien was like a war zone with wounded patents coming in all directions for help. Our hospital was the only one open in the whole area. We had to respond. So we took responsibility by treating people and by bringing those with broken bones to Dominican Republic. It was then that we recognized that this sister country is a friend and not a foe. Project Haiti Heart and the Taiwan Christians are working toward adding more services in building a larger hospital to serve a population of more than 300,000 people.
4. Build a large orphanage to host many children who lost parents during the quake. Dr. Montijo and Mary Leigh are in charge of that.
5. Concentrate on the repair, building and rebuilding of several other schools and churches in the country area that that have been damaged or destroyed.
6. Build a large storage area with loading dock as a distribution center (medicine, food, etc).
7. Buy a nice piece of land (close to three acres) connected to the lake from the road has been offered to us for resort. If we could buy it for the mission, build on it, we could have our own resort place for our missionaries and visitors to enjoy a relaxing time when they go to the mission field. It is in a planning stage for whoever wants to help with this vision
8. Build fences around all the pieces of land.

 

As we are building lives for eternity, it is time that we stabilize the society by doing something concrete. We want to feed people, but if we can help them to feed themselves, there will be a rewarding experience on both sides of the table. This is my plea.

 

We covet the prayers and the support of our friends abroad to get the job done. In the meantime, Wendy Zehner and Edwens Prophete are stepping forward to continue and expand this gigantic task for a better Haiti and a renewed spirit among the Haitian people. They recruit, coordinate and organize work teams for the field while our valiant field workers are always on the alert to get the job done. Sara Dessieux has motioned that she wants to help with our newsletter presentation. We are rich with talents. We just need to be smart enough to put them to use. And the mission will fly like eagles.

 

With the KINGDOM in mind, the best is yet to come.

 

Etienne Prophete

Executive Director.  

 

P.S. If you write to me and do not get a reply right away, please bear with me because I am very busy. We welcome your donations, your help to build, treat patients, and operate on people with medical needs and body impairment.

 

Haitian Christian Mission Update 04-30-10

 

EARTHQUAKE NEWS

April 30, 2010

We Are Moving along in the Right Direction

 

John 21 tells the story of the disciples that went out fishing. They spent all night long fishing but catching nothing. Jesus showed up in the morning and asked them if they had anything to eat. No, they answered. Jesus then told them to cast the net at the right side of the boat. They caught a great quantity of fish. There is something about doing something right. Yes, Haitian Christian Mission is not sitting on the ruble of deaths and destroyed buildings to cry. It is moving along the right way.

 

International Disaster Emergency Services represented by Joe Luttrell came to Haiti and completed the building of the house for Tiline Derot that was burned down. In addition, this sister organization has granted funds for 15 houses. We want to build them earthquake proof.

 

Land purchase– The Board of the mission has allocated the money to buy the 40 plus acres of land to build houses, school, university and athletic field. We are home free now. Wendy Zehner, Edwens Prophete and Paige Zahn are now doing a wonderful work of promotion to build those facilities while our friends in Australia led by Steve Rasmussen are working on collecting money to build townhouses for the wounded, the broken legged or legless people and the homeless. These two young people are go-finders that want to bring the mission to a higher level in TV presentations and radio talk.  The benefit dinner headed by Wendy in Atlanta was a true success.

 

Tents – The 70 tents that Capital City Christian sent to HCM were sent under diplomatic protection to facilitate a quick delivery.  We are waiting for word of their arrival. That will be a relief to the people who are getting wet when it rains.

 

Building repairs – Many church and school buildings are now in repair or have been repaired to continue the task that God has entrusted us with. The panic is still there for some children who will not seat under a concrete roof. Most schools in the countryside are functioning.

 

Transportation – After six months in Haiti custody customs, the super cab pick up is released. Now it is serving our visitors and missionaries. We thank Kingsway Christian for the large donation. In the meantime, we are waiting to hear about the ambulance from Mike Jernigan.

 

Food – The container of food that IDES and Mike Cohoon sent to HCM through Lifeline Christian reached destination and is now available for distribution to the thousands awaiting relief.

 

Orphanage– Dr. Harvey Montijo is so interested in the orphanage that he wrote a check of $5000 to lodge the children while he is making plan to build.

 

Project Haiti heart – This sister organization working side by side with HCM sent a container full with all kinds of supplies, tools and equipment while preparation is under way for a larger medical facility including an Emergency room.

 

Help needed – At this point of time, we need funds to build and to continue feeding; surgeons, orthopedists, eye doctors, dentists, heart specialists and so on to help at the aftermath quake. We appreciate invitation to speak at church, rallies, VBS and camps.

 

With the KINGDOM in mind, the best is yet to come.

 

Etienne Prophete

HCM Executive Director

April 30, 2010

projesus@bellsouth.net/ hcm@southwind.net

www.hcmsupport.org

 

Haitian Christian Mission Update 04-15-10

EARTHQUAKE NEWS

April 15, 2010

Wendy Zehner - Stories From the Quake
 
  Three days ago I met up with three other Americans who were traveling to Haiti.  Their mission trip was different from others I had been apart of.  They were going to minister to the HCM staff who had lost homes, schools, and family in the Earth Quake. 

These generous people went to give these well deserving servants a rest.  Gary Rowe, Autumn Schulze, and Greg Spillman, all professional counselors representing East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN  went to serve and help with the healing of the mind and spirit.  Gary hosted the event and took 30 HCM staff to a resort up the coast that was untouched by the quake.

What we would hear and experience was something I could never have imagined. 

The resort was a beautiful beach setting.  Gary graciously provided everything for the staff.  They ate beautiful meals, swam, relaxed by the water, played ping pong and soccer in the sand.  Gary and his team also facilitated several sessions on the beach where they created a 'safe environment' to talk.  Each group had the opportunity to share their personal experiences from the Earth Quake. 

  Every person had a chance to talk about what that experience was like for them and where they were today with all that had happened since.  I was overwhelmed with the honesty and pain with which these beautiful people shared their intimate feelings and struggles. There were no barriers, only unity in spirit and concern.  We listened, prayed, worshiped, cried, and embraced each other as these stories spilled out onto the beach and watched God connect them.  Warriors - would be an appropriate term for this strong group of Haitians. 

  We here in the US have had natural disaster and terror to over come in years past too.  But, we have faced those events with the comforts of home or a place to call home.  We have had unlimited resources to attend to our physical and emotional needs.  Our government sent organized assistance, rescue and long term aid to help victims cope and rebuild.  These warriors have had none of this.  The assistance has come from people like you.  Organizations doing the best they can to provide only the  essentials. 

   I have stood in a camp where 90 percent of the people in those tents had amputations and were being fed rice and beans and given Tylenol for pain.  They have no long term assistance coming.  They were and are relying on their neighbors for help.  But, their neighbors are suffering too. 

The vision for this two day retreat was to simply show love and gratitude to the people who are on the ground everyday representing HCM and sharing Christ with their neighbors.     They are experiencing all the same emotional wounds that we suffered during crisis but without assistance.   Gary gave this group an opportunity to get that help.  What a tremendous gift.  Gary and his team were able to talk with many of them one on one but have made a commitment to follow up through technology and travel over the coming months. 

  At the close of the final sessions the groups prayed around the Haitian flag and asked God for direction and healing in their country.  It was a powerful moment.  Listening to the voices of the people still calling out with pride for a fallen nation and giving God all the praise for everything good.

 I wish I could share all the personal stories with you.  As we have permission to share we will.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers.  Keep their struggle in the fore front of conversation in your churches.  The beginning of great work is always difficult.  Sometimes you can't see the the end because the first step is such a leap.  They are not asking for a hand out, only hands to help them in their mission to better the lives of their people. 

  If you are asking yourself what will our money do and how can we help then listen closely. 
     Your money has been helping to support a great mission that has        produced the right army of men and women to meet this great need at this moment in Haiti. 
     We couldn't ask for stronger christian preachers teachers, translators, doctors or nurses to be on the front line. 
     God was preparing  these people through the work at HCM. 
Now we have opportunity to walk with them as they rebuild homes and schools, all the while holding the banner of Christ high so that they might bring more into a saving relationship with Jesus. 

  Etienne and Betty Prophete were mentioned over and over as the reason each person was even there.  It has been their love and unwavering work that has built this foundation of people.  They are wounded but not over come.  Thank you Etienne and Betty for your sacrifices and love.  Well done good and faithful servants!

And to the HCM staff we say - Thank you for showing us the meaning of loyalty and faith in action. 

Finally to East 91st and Gary Rowe,
Wow - what a blessing!

Haitian Christian Mission Update 04-13-10

 

EARTHQUAKE NEWS

April 13, 2010

We Are Moving on

Tents – Ike Pinkston of Capital City Christian Church has been facilitated by Project Haiti Heart to send 70 canopy tents to Haiti. Those tents are to arrive in Haiti some time during the week after April 11. In the meantime American Rehabilitation Center made some tent distribution along with World Vision with food distribution to 75 families.

Land purchased – Betty reports that the land to build the kindergarten through high school and university is secured. We are drawing blueprints to build as soon as money is on hand. We are inviting groups to come help us build houses at $15,000 each and school buildings later on.

Office space – The temporary office space is almost completed for occupation. This had to be done because the mission has no office space at this time.

Baptisms: 351 persons were baptized from different churches after January 12, 2010, reports Jonas Dorlus.

Medical care – Some of our trauma patients are recuperating steadily. Rose-Michelle (shown in the pictures) came close to lose her legs, but is now working and needs a place to live. HCM and PHH are working with us on relocating those many unfortunate people.

Education – Schools reopens timidly in the countryside. At Port-au-Prince, very few of them are open because the campuses are occupied by victims.

Translators and employees – These people, who lost their home and have no place to sleep but the floor, yet they work daily to facilitate the operations in Fonds-Parisien in whatever way they can. They must be provided housing. Our Haitian doctors are sleeping on the floor.

Wendy Zehner and Edwens – These two young people are new additions to work nationally and internationally.

Lance-Kingsway Woodworking Shop is now in production. Most tools are bought. Evans Charles is working hard to teach and make furniture.

ponsorship children – We are still looking for some missing sponsored children. Parents moved away or have no house. Those that we see are living in tent cities and life is just miserable. This is why we need to built for them.

Helping hands – We thank all the groups, churches and individuals from US, Canada, Australia, Barbados and other places around the world that have helped us in the desperate situation after the earthquake. Haiti will revive for the better. God is with us. Thank you and thank you!

With the KINGDOM in mind, the best is yet to come.

Etienne Prophete

HCM Executive Director/ Senior Member of PHH

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Haitian Christian Mission 04-02-10

                     The Treasure of a Smile

Christine, the mother of Duvenson, brought him to the clinic very sick. He was at the point of death. There was no play, no smile and no life. Confined to his bed, he did not give any sign for life. His poor mother kept crying all the time and would not be comforted because the boy was irreversibly dying. Now he is 18 months old learning how to walk.

Duverson was not directly affected by the earthquake except for a small blow on his little head. His mother simply lost her house and was sleeping on the street. Now imagine a sick child sleeping on the street without a roof on his head while food becomes roughly unavailable for him! At the clinic, we prayed with him and his mother all the time. The doctors and medical staff gave him medicine and everyone attended to him with love.

With the IV on his thin arm, the liquid food in his mouth at a trickle from now and then, patience and love in front of him, life came back to him. Now he is a happy child enjoying life. What a treasure is life! What a treasure is a smile. Stick a smile on the face of someone is a treasure that cannot be measured. Have you tried to put a smile on someone’s face? It is a treasure that you will never forget. It is what makes life worthwhile.

In  Haiti  some people have a habit of hoarding wealth while their next door neighbor is starving and wailing in misery. The earthquake taught everyone a lesson that only attentive learners may profit from. The tragedy is that history is a good teacher but students are poor learners. People who had much lost everything in 30 seconds if it were not their lives. The only thing that could remain was what they did for God in putting a smile on someone’s face. Jesus says in Matt. 26:11 we will always have the poor with us, but Proverbs 21:13 says: “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” So we always have an opportunity to improve lives. When the ambulance arrives many weeping faces will smile.

The purpose of Jesus’ ministry on earth was to put a smile on someone’s face. He came to seek and to save the lost (evangelism). For this reason, he fed the hungry and tired crowd; he healed the sick; he comforted the hurting; he embraced the lonely; he grieved at Lazarus’ death and brought him back to life. He rose himself from the dead so he may demonstrate that those who die in Christ will rise from the dead with a smile enjoying God’s presence.

Matthew 25: 34-40 says that wherever we put a smile on someone’s face in Christ’s name, we put a smile in Christ’s face. That is a treasure to Him because among people weeping in the world, a smile is a treasure. You can put a smile on a 15-member family’s face by building them a two-room house and accessories with $15,000

 

 

With the KINGDOM in mind, the best is yet to come.

Etienne Prophete

HCM Executive Director

April 2, 2010