Look at the Fields Here and Now

by Hertz Clyde Dézir

Missionary conference has been a part of Grace Haitian Alliance Church for more than a decade thanks to its partnership with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Recently, however, things have significantly changed; cosequently, the CMA was unable to provide missionaries to its affiliated churches, including Grace Haitian Alliance Church. Despite that setback, the church takes it upon itself to make it happen trusting that God would bless the 2010 conference.

On the first day of four-day event, Pastor Jean O. Lilite of Grace Haitian Church, drew the audience's attention on four principles.

First principle: "Mission requires a spirit of sacrifice and courage on the part of those who received Jesus' calling." The second principle stated that "Physical needs may be real, but that should not hinder us from our missionary duties." Pastor Lilite had this to say for the third principle: "You cannot put off missionary duties for a time that has to come sometime in the future." The last principle put emphasis on concrete missionary work.

Those principles came from Pator Lilite's reflection on John 4:32-33, which he used for his 30-minute sermon. He also used the principles to define the Christian mandate from a missionary perspective. He started the conference on Feb. 8 with those thoughts that call for a complete commitment to mission.

Le malheur qui Déracina l'île d'Haïti

Par Hertz Clyde Dézir

Haïti a vu le malheur une énième fois lorsque la terre a tremblé sans pitié ni hésitation. Tant de gens souhaitaient que cela arrivât dans un autre endroit très éloigné de nos symboles et de la capitale coffrée si longtemps de trop de fardeaux. Personne ne savait qu’on devait partir avant les dégâts ; il n’y eut pas d’avertissements non plus. Le malheur qui a frappé cette île jadis admirable n’a pas épargné le Palais National, la cathédrale au cœur de la capitale, les bureaux publics et les bâtiments faibles et solides.

Devant le malheur ou sous les dalles de bétons, les haïtiens se fortifiaient comme des soldats ayant une noble mission en vue. Ils luttaient comme des vaillants héros armés simplement de leurs frondes comme le jeune David et qui n’ont pas peur de la mort pour libérer leurs prochains en péril. Avec les moyens du bord, dans un premier temps, certains concitoyens ont survécu. Les survivants ont survécu pour revivre et reformer Haïti avec l’appui des voisins concernés.

Le séisme n’a pas épargné Gressier, Grand Goâve, Petit Goâve, Léogane, Jacmel, Carrefour, Carrefour Feuilles, Cabaret, et leurs voisins. Il a saccagé et défiguré ces villes au point qu’elles perdent leurs sourcils et leurs beaux sourires d’autrefois. Le dévastateur osa tuer les vieillards, les jeunes, les enfants, les femmes, les politiciens, les juges, les journalistes, les voleurs, les kidnappeurs et les étrangers.

A part des tués, les autres victimes restaient stupéfaites puisque le malheur a dérobé leurs biens sous leurs yeux. Il a volé leurs parents, leurs partenaires, leurs jambes, leurs bras et tant d’autres biens dont l’argent ne peut acheter.

Les cadavres sont trop nombreux pour 200 000 tombes…. La peine et la douleur des rescapés dépassent les bornes du territoire endeuillé; car les cris de détresses qui résonnaient déjà sous les décombres et dans les rues percèrent les oreilles du monde entier. Que l’on veuille on non, le 12 janvier 2010 dévoila Haïti jusque dans ses racines.

President Obama's Speech on the Earthquake in Haiti

January 13, 2010

Remarks by the President on Rescue Efforts in Haiti

Diplomatic Reception Room
10:20 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. This morning I want to extend to the people of Haiti the deep condolences and unwavering support of the American people following yesterday's terrible earthquake.

We are just now beginning to learn the extent of the devastation, but the reports and images that we've seen of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes, and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching. Indeed, for a country and a people who are no strangers to hardship and suffering, this tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many Haitian Americans around our country who do not yet know the fate of their families and loved ones back home.

I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives. The people of Haiti will have the full support of the United States in the urgent effort to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, and to deliver the humanitarian relief -- the food, water and medicine -- that Haitians will need in the coming days. In that effort, our government, especially USAID and the Departments of State and Defense are working closely together and with our partners in Haiti, the region, and around the world.

Right now our efforts are focused on several urgent priorities. First, we're working quickly to account for U.S. embassy personnel and their families in Port-au-Prince, as well as the many American citizens who live and work in Haiti. Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888/407-4747. I'm going to repeat that – 888/407-4747.

Second, we've mobilized resources to help rescue efforts. Military overflights have assessed the damage, and by early afternoon our civilian disaster assistance team are beginning to arrive. Search and rescue teams from Florida, Virginia and California will arrive throughout today and tomorrow, and more rescue and medical equipment and emergency personnel are being prepared.

Because in disasters such as this the first hours and days are absolutely critical to saving lives and avoiding even greater tragedy, I have directed my teams to be as forward-leaning as possible in getting the help on the ground and coordinating with our international partners as well.

Third, given the many different resources that are needed, we are taking steps to ensure that our government acts in a unified way. My national security team has led an interagency effort overnight. And to ensure that we coordinate our effort, going forward, I've designated the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Rajiv Shah, to be our government's unified disaster coordinator.

Now, this rescue and recovery effort will be complex and challenging. As we move resources into Haiti, we will be working closely with partners on the ground, including the many NGOs from Haiti and across Haiti, the United Nations Stabilization Mission, which appears to have suffered its own losses, and our partners in the region and around the world. This must truly be an international effort.

Finally, let me just say that this is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share. With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are neighbors of the Americas and here at home. So we have to be there for them in their hour of need.

Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I would encourage those Americans who want to support the urgent humanitarian efforts to go to whitehouse.gov where you can learn how to contribute. We must be prepared for difficult hours and days ahead as we learn about the scope of the tragedy. We will keep the victims and their families in our prayers. We will be resolute in our response, and I pledge to the people of Haiti that you will have a friend and partner in the United States of America today and going forward.

May God bless the people of Haiti and those working on their behalf.

Thank you very much.

END10:24 A.M. EST

Haiti makes the Headline for Sad News

At 4:45 p.m, I received this text message that Jimmy Joseph sent me from Florida: " Watch CNN. There was a terrible earthquake in Haiti. It's pretty bad." Another text message repeating the same words popped up five minutes later on my phone; this time Marcuse Dézir, my sister in Orlando, Florida, informed me once again about the natural disaster that struck Haiti.

I thought to myself maybe it's not so bad as my wife, Josette Dézir, was about to boot up our laptop so we could go to the CNN's Web site. Within five minutes, our pastor's wife called Josette to share the news to her with a lot of emotions in her voice. She and my wife prayed over the phone about the situation.

I could go on and on. By the way, that Tuesday night I came across ABC 7 Chicago's van in the parking lot of our church. When I stepped inside, I greeted John Garcia and his crew shortly after their interview with Pastor Jean Osée Lilite and Darryl Auguste.

The damage has been done and the pictures reveal a great deal in terms of structural and human damages. It was so sad to see the picture of Palais National (the National Palace) among the damaged buildings. My wife was even more emotional than I when she saw that national symbol after the quake.

My heart goes out to all the victims and I hope for the best concerning those who get buried under debris but are still alive. It's so encouraging to see average Haitians rescuing their fellow citizens the best they can as rescue workers from the United States and France may come at anytime.

After several failed and frustrated attempts to contact our relatives, my wife and I remain hopeful that their are safe and sound.

Une Bonne Expérience

Ma femme et moi avons fait une expérience tout à fait différente pour la Noël 2009. Une sœur de notre église lui a demandé d’avance de produire dans le gala annuel que l’association de dames de l’Eglise Alliance Haïtienne de la Grace organise tous les décembres à partir de 2002, je me rappelle.

Josette Dézir, mon épouse a accepté l’invitation de Josette Jean. Dans l’esprit de chanter un cantique original, j’ai fini par composer un chant, titré Noël! jour de Bonheur, que la chanteuse a raffiné par la suite. Je n’ai jamais fait une pareille expérience pour la Noël auparavant.

Hope for Haiti: A Woman of God on her Knees

The book Hope for Haiti gives a powerful testimony concerning God's provisions for hundreds of Haitian children through a woman of faith and of prayer - Eleanor Workman.

While reading that 121-page book, one may be amazed to notice that Ms. Workman has never hesitated to make the needs of her ministry known to the Lord. Countless times she has prayed; in turn, God provided and worked miracles amazingly beyond expectations.

Prayer plays such a vital role in Ms. Workman's life that the book wound up having a number of examples of her calling upon the name of the Lord as she faced all types of challenges. In one instance, she prayed for God to intervene so she could find a room in a hotel in Miami. Likewise, she prayed for the miraculous healing of nine HIV-infected children she housed in her orphanage in 1991. Read the book for yourself to know how the story ended.

Hope for Haiti presents so many accounts in which prayer is the means that leads to the solution. That book can fit a different title: A Woman of God on her Knees.

Insécurité versus Sécurité absolue!

Les méchants tuent sans crainte en plein jour
En face de la terreur qui les empare, les citoyens crient en vain « ô secours » !
Jour après jour, le sang se répand
Sans crainte attaquent les méchants
Sur leur couche, ils ne rêvent que la violence et la mechanceté

Bien haut, ils s’asseyent sur leurs armes à feu – leurs fauteuils mortels
Ignorant les ruines dans le bas-fond
Dans le sang, ils lavent ses mains sans nulle crainte ;
Graduellement ils assombrissent le souriant visage des nos villes
Demandez les Port-au-Princiens ou les Chicagoens ; eh ! Abritez-vous en Jésus.