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Diocese Responds to Earthquake on Haiti

January 13, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

"You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11-12

As you know the recent earthquake in Haiti has been devastating for many Haitians. Many of our parishes have made mission trips and established ongoing relationships with the Diocese of Haiti, with Bishop Duracin and with congregations and ministries there. This past year several of our parishes have made trips there and our Diocesan ECW sent 100% of its outreach funds in 2009 to CHAP (Christian Haitian American Partnership) nutrition program to feed the hungry in this already poverty riddled country. This morning we have heard from Sue Brunson, our Diocesan ECW President that our ECW ministry partners there are physically unharmed but, because homes surrounding theirs suffered extensive damage, they are afraid to enter their home.

I have also received an email from The Reverend Rob Dewey that he and Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy
will be mobilized to assist in the recovery work. Likewise another ministry located within our diocese, and with important relationships with our parishes, is Water Missions International. They also have a team on the ground in Haiti to help restore clean drinking water.

Because of such ongoing relationships and ministries I hope many of our members will want to assist in this current crisis. May I suggest that there are a variety of ways to help at this time: Of course one way, and perhaps the best, is through Episcopal Relief and Development. They will work directly through Bishop Duracin, the Diocese of Haiti, and with the various parishes and ministries there--some of which your congregations may have partnered with in the past. Another is through Water Missions International or even Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy.

Of course some of you or your parishioners may have direct contact with ministry partners in Haiti and have already made appropriate contacts and assistance. Please include such concerns in your prayers and appeals on this Second Sunday of Epiphany--this very season the Church has often chosen to highlight the mission of Christ, the Gospel and the Church to the desperate needs of the world.

Yours in Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord,
The Rt. Reverend Mark J. Lawrence

Updates on Haiti

A Message from the Rev. Kesner Ajax, Partnership Program Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, received January 13, 2010

Dear Friends in Christ:

We have devastating news to share with you from Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake yesterday. According to reports I have received here in Les Cayes, the damage in Port au Prince and areas around it is terrible. There is no Cathedral. The entire Holy Trinity complex is gone. The convent for the Sisters of St. Margaret is gone. The Bishop's house is gone. College St. Pierre is gone. The apartment for College St. Pierre is still standing. Bishop no longer has a house in which to live. In Trouin, four people were killed during a service.In Grand Colline, the church is gone. In St. Etienne Buteau the church, the rectory and the school are gone.

In Les Cayes, BTI is OK, but some people were injured trying to get out of the buildings during the quake. The rectory in Les Cayes is in very bad condition.

The Rev. Kesner Ajax
Executive Director, Bishop Tharp Institute (BTI)
8 Rue du Quai, Cayes
Or
Partnership Program Coordinator
Episcopal Diocese of Haiti
C/o Lynx Air
P.O. Box 407139
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33340

A Message from Harmon Person our Diocesan Representative for Episcopal Relief and Development

On January 12, shortly before 5:00 pm, a devastating 7.0 earthquake hit near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Episcopal Relief and Development has instituted a "Haiti Fund" to help some of the people hurt by this disaster. Casualties and damages are catastrophic. Working with the Diocese of Haiti, ERD will initially provide food, water, and medicine, but very importantly, it will continue to provide long-term recovery and rehabilitation aid. Since our diocese has a "Companionship Relationship" with the Diocese of Haiti, it behooves us to be especially generous at this time of extreme need. Churches and individuals are encouraged to help by sending contributions to ERD, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

A bit of background: Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, where the vast majority of people live on less than $2 per day. Port-au-Prince has a population estimated at 2,000,000. There are over 9,000,000 people in the country. It is estimated that one third of those people were affected by the earthquake in some way. Over 90% of the residents are Black. They have just one doctor for every 10,000 residents. 80% of the country is Roman Catholic, while Protestants account for 16%. The principal language spoken is French. The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, with approximately 180,000 parishioners in 98 congregations, missions, and preaching stations, is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. It is led by Bishop Jean Zache Duracin. Given the extreme poverty, lack of infrastructure, and low level of education in the country, it will be many years before Haiti can really recover.

Harmon Person
Diocese of South Carolina's Representative for ERD