Earthquake in Haiti—Assessment Team Returns Home 23 February 2010
As we start to write this simple report we recognize that words alone will
not be able to fully paint a picture of our assessment trip. We can share
something of the devastation and destruction we saw. We can share something of
the stories we heard, stories of both bad and good news. We can share something
of the dust in the air and of the smell of the many bodies still lost in the
vast piles of rubble. We can share but we cannot help you experience the true
picture of devastation that has come to these people.
The general destruction of buildings that we witnessed will have a big impact
on the Haitian people for many years to come. The destruction of housing means
people are, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, living in
makeshift accommodations. A coming concern is the rainy season beginning at the
end of March followed by hurricane season beginning on 1 June. The rains and
storms will make the housing situation worse and more dangerous.
As we met with church people there was a universal welcome for us and a real
appreciation that we had come to visit with them. They saw this as confirmation
that they were indeed part of a larger community. We were able to share with
them the concerns of the whole Community of Christ and how these concerns were
being shown by generous financial gifts. Your giving to Oblation has reached
more than half a million dollars that will aid our brothers and sisters in Haiti
directly.
We were able to spend some initial oblation aid on temporary shelters for
worship, food, water and medical care. The mission centre financial officer and
his team are working to share more oblation aid to meet the ongoing needs of
church people. This will continue and increase over the coming few weeks.
There are a few things that will stay in our minds for a long time:
The sight of the Haitian people, not just sitting back and losing hope,
but working to improve what little they still had. The dust, the piles of
waste and the vast piles of rubble were being moved by manual labour. People
were starting to rebuild homes that had been destroyed and church members
were already starting to consider how they could repair/rebuild their
churches.
The Sunday morning worship at the Petionville congregation, with the
damaged church building and destroyed school as a backdrop to vibrant praise
and worship. Then, as the sun struck the destroyed school, the smell from
the bodies buried in the school wafted over the group who were worshipping.
Even in the grip of death they wanted to worship and to look forward.
The Friday national day of prayer at the Petionville congregation with
600 people gathered for a time of prayer, but also praise. The scene a
little different from the Sunday worship for now you could see oblation
dollars at work as the congregation was shaded from the sun by a huge
tarpaulin.
As we left the Petionville congregation to make our way to the airport
for our flight home we saw many churches with large congregations
worshipping outside (as the buildings were not safe) blocking pavements and
roads. But who cared as there was need for this opportunity as a nation to
pray.
The faith of the people that we met can be expressed best in the words we
kept hearing, “due to the grace of God’. In this they are giving thanks to God
for their survival and for the ongoing blessings that God brings them.
Bunda Chibwe
David Waring
Steve Graffeo
Assessment Team in Haiti Now February 8, 2010
Your
generous giving to the Oblation Fund will provide more than $364,000 of
direct aid to Haiti. Apostle Bunda Chibwe, David Waring, and Steve Graffeo
are currently on the ground in Haiti doing an initial assessment of damage
and distributing the first round of Oblation aid.
Apostle Jim Slauter, president of the Council of Twelve spoke with the team
last night via satellite phone. "It was good to talk with Bunda and Steve
and they report the trip is going well. They shared how graphic and humbling
it is to see the devastation in person and also how uplifting it is to hear
the stories of faithful disciples whose lives remain filled with hope," said
Jim.
More details, photos, and video will be shared when the team returns home
from Haiti. Your continued prayers and giving to the Oblation Fund are
greatly appreciated. Through February 28, all donations to the Oblation Fund
will go directly to Haiti for rebuilding lives, homes, schools, churches,
and communities.
Visit www.CofChrist.org/give/
to donate now. We Share…Aid for Haiti and Giving for World Conference.
February 5, 2010
Thank you for sharing
generous contributions of nearly $250,000 that will directly support the
rebuilding of lives, homes, schools, and communities for our brothers and
sisters in Haiti. As relief and rebuilding continues, the opportunity to give
directly to Haiti through the Oblation Fund has been extended through
February 28.
In the United States,
taxpayers who itemize deductions may include cash contributions for Haiti
earthquake relief given from January 12, 2010, (the time the earthquake
occurred) through February 28, 2010, on their 2009 tax return.
The outpouring of love,
support, and prayers for our sisters and brothers in Haiti has been amazing.
We turn this same spirit of love and prayer to the upcoming World Conference
in April when we will gather together for worship, discernment, discussion,
and fellowship.
No matter where you live,
your giving can make World Conference possible for members around the world.
Be part of the World Conference Special Offering on Sunday, February 21.
Use
the World Conference special-offering envelope on Sunday, February 21.
Use
your Mission Tithes offering envelopes between now and March 31 to
contribute. Write “World Conference” on the World Ministries portion of
the envelope.
Thank you for your generous
giving! May we be blessed with the assurance that God goes with us always as
we strive to share our mission and message with the world.
Photos of Petionville Church & School
29 January 2010
Many images of earthquake damage in Haiti show the utter
devastation people are experiencing in their lives and communities. We received
several photos of the church and school in Petionville after the earthquake.
These "before and after" photos illustrate the scope of the damage to the church
and school in Petionville.
Petionville Church
Before the Earthquake
After the Earthquake
The entire lower level has been crushed.
Petionville School
Before the Earthquake
After the Earthquake
The balcony on the right side of the photo gives a
consistent reference point between the two photos.
These photos clearly show how much work is ahead as the people
in Haiti begin to rebuild their lives, homes, schools and communities. As of
January 24, your generous donations to the Oblation Fund totaled more than
$185,000. All contributions to the Oblation Fund through February 7 will go
directly to our church members and their communities in Haiti. Donate now at
www.CofChrist.org/give.
French Polynesian Aid to Haiti Makes the News
One gift starts a news-making chain reaction of generosity as French
Polynesians give to aid Haitian brothers and sisters.
26
January 2010 One gift starts a news-making chain reaction of generosity as
French Polynesians give to aid Haitian brothers and sisters.
Status of Members, Churches, and Schools
20 January 2010
Communication with church leaders in Haiti remains difficult
in the wake of the January 12 earthquake. Apostle Bunda Chibwe spoke with Michel
Rosier, Haiti Mission Centre Financial Officer, on the phone yesterday. “Michel
is certain that 20 members have died and estimates that about 250 members are in
hospital,” said Chibwe.
There are also reports of 13 buildings destroyed, 19 buildings
that sustained damage, and 9 buildings that have no damage. Details about our
members and the places where they worship and go to school will continue to be
updated as new information is received.
As of yesterday, $51,348 has been donated to the Community of
Christ Oblation Fund. This entire amount and all additional contributions
through February 7 will go directly to our members for relief, recovery, and
rebuilding. The January 13 donation to the Red Cross was a single donation to
aid the immediate relief efforts. All further financial assistance will be
disbursed directly to our members and their communities through the Presiding
Bishopric.
While there is a great desire to collect physical items for
our brothers and sisters in Haiti, at this time it is not feasible to get care
packages of any kind into the country. Your support of the Oblation Fund and
your continued prayers are the most effective ways to provide comfort and
assistance to those in need.
Donate online at www.CofChrist.org/give/, through regular
Mission Tithes envelopes or send a check or money order to Presiding Bishopric,
ATTN: Oblation Fund, 1001 West Walnut, Independence, MO 64083.
Contact Made
with Church Leaders in Haiti
15 January 2010
Apostle Bunda Chibwe and Executive Assistant Steve Graffeo were able to
speak with Michel Rosier, Haiti Mission Centre Financial Officer this
morning on the phone. “Michel reported to us that his home is destroyed and
he and his family are living in the street. Renand Hilaire, our Mission
Center President and 3 of his children sustained injuries when their home
was destroyed and they too are living in the street,” said Graffeo.
We have been able to determine that most of the damage and destruction
has occurred within the Department of the West. Community of Christ has more
than 10,000 members in this area along with 40 churches and 20 schools.
“At this time we know that the school in Petionville is completely
destroyed and the church standing near the school has sustained major
damage,” said Graffeo. “We have confirmed the deaths of 7 church members.”
He continued, “On a more hopeful note, we learned that the school had just
released all the children for the day minutes before the earthquake hit,
hopefully enabling the children to be out of the building before it
collapsed.”
Apostle Chibwe was also able to speak with Faustin Charlestin, a world
church minister in Haiti, on the phone last night. Faustin’s home has been
completely leveled and he and his family are living in the only church still
standing in Croix de Bouquet. He was deeply moved to hear from Apostle
Chibwe and to know members around the world are praying for him and his
people.
“When I asked Faustin how the people were doing, he said the church is
packed with people who have no where else to go. Then he shouted, ‘Praise be
to God’ and then I heard a chorus of voices in the background shout back to
him, ‘Praise to the Lord, Praise to the Lord,’” said Chibwe. “And then I
heard singing. In my African heritage, when a man cries it is seen as a sign
of weakness but when I heard that singing tears started dropping from my
eyes. I wondered how these people who have lost so much could still praise
the Lord at a time like this. Their faith has touched me deeply.”
Chibwe continued, “When I asked Faustin how we could help he replied
immediately, ‘Everything is destroyed, there are dead bodies everywhere.
Continue to pray for us. We need prayer.’”
Chibwe and Graffeo will continue to make contact with church leaders over
the coming days. As soon as an evaluation team is able to get into the
country, specific needs will be assessed. Your continued prayers and
donations to the Oblation Fund are critically important. Donate at
www.CofChrist.org/give/.
Haiti Update
14 January 2010
As of 11 a.m. (Central Time) we have only
been able to make very limited contact with our church leaders or members in
Haiti. “We are using every means possible—phone, cell phone, email, HAM
radio, person to person, etc— to make contact with our people, but so far
these efforts have resulted in little success.” said President David Schaal.
The response of the church around the world
has been amazing and immediate. Thank you for your donations to the Oblation
Fund and for the prayers you have so fervently lifted up on behalf of our
brothers and sisters in Haiti. We are trusting that many more people will
yet respond, given the immensity of the need. We have nearly 25,000 members
and 300 congregations in Haiti. Our best estimates are that 15 congregations
and 7,500 people may be directly impacted by this disaster.
We also recognize there are numerous people
who want to volunteer and help in a physical way. In the immediate future
that kind of assistance is not practical due to lack of infrastructure and
support for volunteers. At this time, teams of trained search and rescue
professionals and trained relief workers are what is needed most.
As soon as possible the church will be
sending a team of people that will assess the needs of our church members
and friends. After the assessment is reviewed we will let the church know
what specific skills and volunteers are needed, as well as how to volunteer.
Community of Christ Sends Aid to People Devastated by
Earthquake in Haiti
13 January 2010
The nation of Haiti experienced the devastating power of a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake on Tuesday, January 12. Apostle Bunda Chibwe, assigned to the
Africa/Haiti Mission Field, had brief email contact with Haiti Mission Centre
Financial Officer Michel Rosier late Tuesday evening.
“At this time Michel has not been able to assess the shelter, food, and
clothing needs of the people or the damage to our churches and schools. We know
the need and the damage is extensive, but we do not know specific details,” said
Apostle Chibwe. "We will continue to share information about our brothers and
sisters in Haiti as it becomes available."
This afternoon, Presiding Bishop Steve Jones announced that $25,000 from the
church’s Oblation Fund will be donated to the Red Crossto offer
immediate survival aid to the Haitian people. In addition, all contributions to
the Oblation Fund between now and February 7, 2010 will be used for relief to
Haiti. The situation will continue to be evaluated and additional funds will be
made available as needed.
In the face of overwhelming events it is even more important that we stop and
pray. Our prayers, joined with the prayers of our brothers and sisters around
the world, provide a powerful support to the Haitian people. We will continue to
pray for those who have lost family, friends, and homes, for those coming to the
country to provide relief, search and rescue, medical attention, and other
needs, and for the nation and its leaders as they begin to assess damage and
look toward rebuilding.
