Earthquake in Haiti
We are all concerned and prayerful as we hear of the devastating news and subsequent realities coming from Haiti. News reports are frequent following Tuesday's massive earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. This is Haiti's worst quake in two centuries. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has suffered a number of recent disasters, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds.
How can we respond?
January 21, 2010 - from Ottawa
We are grateful to the Lord for granting his protection to the 23 people who had traveled to Haiti to bring spiritual and material aid, visiting from January 6 to 14. Praise be to God, no one sustained any physical harm or injury. Despite the psychological trauma caused by the catastrophe, several missionaries are more than eager to return to Haiti as soon as possible.
As a result of the earthquake, we decided to make a return visit to Haiti from March 3 to 10. Our intent is to continue the work started in Colline d'Aquin in the south of the country. The many needs already identified and new ones resulting from the quake inspire us to take help directly to needy families, offer medical services, and motivate and encourage farmers to make good use of the watering system that was installed during our previous trip, raising vegetables and basic foodstuffs for the benefit of the community. The return en masse of people to their respective localities only increases the need. We are prepared to place at the Lord's disposal our five loaves of bread and two fish in order to meet the overwhelming needs of this hungry, thristy, and traumatized people.
The Église Évangélique Baptiste d'Ottawa is organizing a fundraiser for this mission. Contributions can be made out to Église Évangélique Baptiste d'Ottawa, with the notation "Aide Haiti 2010".
May the Lord bless you. Franky Narcisse
January 15, 2010
Pray
Pray for Frank Narcisse and his team as they prepare to return to Haiti.
At the time of the quake, a mission team of 22 people from CBOQ (Ottawa,
Montreal and Leamington) were concluding a mission week. All 22 of the Canadian
Baptist Mission Team arrived in Montreal early this morning (Friday, January
15). The team from Montreal and Ottawa are now at home. The team from FBC
Leamington, Ontario still has a 10 hour drive so they are staying over in
Montreal for a day to rest. See
the Toronto Star article.
We are happy that our dear brothers and sisters have all made it back. They
are exhausted. Esther Narcisse, wife of Pastor Franky Narcisse, of Eglise
Evangelique Baptiste d'Ottawa says she is relieved that her husband and
friends are home now and safe. But she went on to say that there is now
a tremendous cloud of grief and concern that is hanging over the Haitian
communities that they serve. Even this morning one woman learned that all
10 members of her father's family perished.
We have many Haitian brothers and sisters throughout our constituency, particularly in Montreal, Ottawa, Fort Erie and Windsor. They are are deeply concerned for their family members and friends in Haiti.
While the mission team is home safely, they have witnessed and been a part of a terrible tragedy they will not soon forget. Pray for emotional healing as they return to their lives in Canada.
Give
Canadian Baptist Ministries and The Sharing Way are partnering with the Baptist World Alliance and Action through Churches Together (ACT) and the French Baptist Union. Your gifts to assist with this huge need are critical to our response. To assist with this emergency, click here to donate online, call 905.821.3533, or send a cheque marked "Emergency Relief" to Canadian Baptist Ministries, 7185 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 5R4.
A semi will be parked at Leamington McDonald's starting Thursday, through the weekend, to accept donations of non-perishable food, over the counter medications, first aid kits and other helpful items. A full list is available on the church's website.
