Auditorium 800 people Canape Vert 168 people Shekinah 80 people Temple 400
Please join the haitiansda.com in providing food supplies to Haitian Adventist members in Haiti. In the next two weeks, the Haitiansda.com will be in Haiti to conduct a major food drive. We intend to provide food to over 10 thousand members. A donation of any amount will be appreciated. Don't miss this opportunity to help feed our brothers and sisters in Christ.
New Updates 02/26/10
The problem in Haiti continues to be a catastrophic and even a fetal inconvenience for the Haitian people. What we've feared for the past three weeks has surfaced. That is, even in the Adventist community, people are beginning to sufer from mental ilness. Pastors and counselors are trying to deal with the problem, but it is easier said than done.
7 weeks after the earthquake, thousands of Haitians are still desperately waiting to be fed. Parents and kids are still dying due to lack of food and clean water. More than half of the people affected by the earthquake have not received food and water for more than two days consecutively. Much of the reason for the scarcity of food and clean water has to do with the Haitian government. According to CNN, the Haitian Government has been trying to tax everything that comes through the dock. Consequently, thousands of containers of food and water are stored at the dock waiting to be taxed. The major organizations that ordered food from other countries have not been able to retrieve the food from the Haitian government. Meanwhile, the people are dying of starvation. It is incomprehnsible, but that's the reality.
Most people, especially those living on the grounds of churches, depend on small organizations for food, water and tents. In other words, small organizations are more effective than the big ones.
New Updates 02/16/10
Community at Large
While the media is cooling off on Haiti, the Haitian people are still suffering enormously. As the mercury dust of the earthquake begins to settle, tens of thousands of those who have lost loved ones are beginning to feel very lonely as they are desperately longing for the strength to survive without their loved ones. Children are still frantically looking for their parents, and parents who have lost their children can’t begin to see a life without them.
It is easy to focus on Port-au-Prince and nearby areas where the earthquake hit, but there are thousands of people in the provinces/countryside whose pain is even more excruciating. Since Port-au-Prince was the home of everything that drives a country, it was perceived by many people, especially those living in the countryside, as the last best hope for their children’s future. Therefore, parents would work their lives off to send their children to school in Port-au-Prince. In fact, in order to defray the cost of living, relatives with children would come together and rent or buy a large home in Port-au-Prince for their children to stay. So, typically, there would be anyway from 10 to 15 brothers, sisters and cousins living in a single home. When the earthquake hit, thousands of these students are dead, living behind the parents who sacrificed everything for them. These parents have not begun to cry. Their pain is so deep, they’re left incapable of producing tears. Some families have lost an entire generation of young people.
The Adventist Community
The Adventist community, too, is still in emotional disarray. While many have come to terms with the reality and are dealing with their loss, it is very difficult to move on. Pastors and other leaders are trying comfort members, but the tangibility of the devastating impact is no where near fading away. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has lost people who were very dear to them. In fact, as reported earlier, the tragic loss of an entire church choir at Temple is still a poignant moment that people simply can’t begin to come to terms with. There were fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters at choir rehearsal when the roof of the church violently caved in, killing 14 out of 18 choir members.
Some people are going to church, and church life fosters an uplifting environment to those who can’t simply find strength. Some don’t go to church because they have no clothes to wear. They’ve lost everything, including money they may have stashed some where in their homes. Some simply don’t have the strength to get up, knowing that they’ve lost their fathers, mothers and children in one day.
Death Toll Amongst the Adventist Community
Based on one-one interviews with members who have lost loved ones, it is safe to say that over 2,000 members have died so far. Those who take a special interest in counting the dead say that when they’re done, they expect the number to be much higher.
Food
Food continues to be a problem. While those who have the strength to go where food is being prepared and served can find a meal, those without the strength to get up are often forgotten. The members staying on the church grounds depend on daily meals from goodhearted individuals and small organizations like the haitiansda.com. But, again, food is a daily necessity. The people we serve today need to be served tomorrow as well. So, a consistent flow of food supplies is necessary. THESE PEOPLE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE DONATE!
What the Haitiansda.com is Doing?
The Haitiansda.com is currently working on a small video documentary designed to show the real condition of the Haitian Adventist community in Haiti. It will also show how donations received on the Haitiansda.com are being used. Again, the haitiansda.com uses a simple method to make sure the donations go directly to the people. When you donate on this website, your donation buys food, water, and tents for the Haitian Adventist members living on the ground of over 50 churches. The video will show you the process step by step.
The Prayer Sessions
The three-day of prayer that was conducted by Junon Brutus and associates has reached a triumphant end. Over two million people participated in the prayer, including some members of the presidential staff. President Rene Preval addressed the crowd by wishing them heartfelt condolences. The Haitian people once again proved that they’re intrinsically resilient, except this time they showed their resilience through the Glory of God.
This was the first time in the history of Haiti as a nation where so many people of various religious backgrounds gathered to thank and recognized God as the maker of the universe and the master of their lives. The people needed that time to release the excruciating pain incurred by the earthquake.
The people prayed for strength to endure the agony of losing so many loved ones in such a short period of time. Mothers brought pictures of their dead children; husbands remembered their dead wives; children lifelessly prayed for survival in a world without parents to guide them.
The millions who participated in the prayer sessions believe wholehearted that Haiti has been officially dedicated to God.
February 14, 2010 - Port-au-Prince, Haiti...[Libna Stevens/IAD]
One month after the destructive earthquake that devastated Haiti, Seventh-day Adventists joined the rest of the country this weekend to mourn, fast and pray. Among the more than 200,000 people lost during the quake, more than 522 church members also died.
"I hope that this event can help us all understand that we do not have any security in our own lives," said Pastor Marcel Mercier, chaplain of Adventist University in Port-au-Prince, during a special memorial service. "Only by trusting God we can we prepare ourselves to be ready for His coming."
The service was broadcast on the radio.
The service featured scripture readings, encouraging messages, and a special music by the Earthquake Choir, a small ensemble from the university campus. The program also included testimonies from those who had survived the violent destruction of the earthquake.
"I had got up from praying that day and left to my little shop," said a woman from the Morija Adventist Church in Diquini as a small girl clung to her leg. "I was impressed not to go home early." She went on to explain that during the earthquake, she prayed to God for her daughter who was at home. "God saved my life and I thank Him for his goodness."
"I don't even know how I fell on the ground," testified a young man. "I remember screaming Jesus, Jesus save me please, as I heard the noise of the buildings collapse. From then on I gave my entire life to God so that I can serve Him."
Dozens of children from the camp lined up and marched with green and white balloons symbolizing hope and a better future. Messages of hope were also heard throughout hundreds of Adventist churches in the country.
"Each time you're sad, think of the compassion of God toward you," said church elder David Antoine, as he preached to a group of more than 600 who gathered on the grounds of the Adventist Bible Auditorium on Saturday. "Some of you lost your family members, some of you were left with only the clothes on your back, but life is better than your clothes or material things."
It was not only a time of mourning for the one member who was killed in the temple at the Bible Auditorium and 17 other members reported dead, it was also a day of celebration packed with Scripture readings, music, prayers and thanksgiving.
"We are still alive and we still have to keep the mission God has planned for us," Antoine said.
At Ebenezer Church, hundreds gathered to worship on the special Sabbath. A few people were inside the building which had visible cracks, but most were outside under blue hanging tarps.
"We have some 400 people who are living on our property," said Pastor Pierre Jean Louis Jean, who leads the 800-member Ebenezer Church. "Some are strong and some are very weak but we try to encourage them to have hope in God because the Lord is always with us even with our problems. He will help resolve them."
There is visible joy as the members worship.
New Updates 02/11/10
As seen on CNN, Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay have gone back to Haiti. And almost one month later, many people are not getting daily meals. Help from major organizations, including ADRA, has not reached most people. The HaitianSDA.com continues to receive poignant messages from Adventist members living on the ground of some 50 broken church buildings. Some are eating one meal every other day, and the poor children are not eating properly.
Currently, the Haitiansda.com hopes to purchase over 500 bags of rice, 250 bags of beans and 100 tents. We also want to get baby food and other nutritious food. Again, DONATIONS RECEIVED ON THE HAITIANSDA.COM ARE SPENT BUYING FOOD FROM THE LOCAL MARKET TO FEED THE PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS.
ADRA is an international relief organization that receives grants from various national and international organizations. Therefore, ADRA cannot discriminate in the distribution of food to victims of a disaster. In other words, ADRA cannot be selective in its relief effort. It has to serve everyone equally. However, we know for sure thousands of dollars have been donated to ADRA by Adventists members all over the world to help Adventist members in Haiti. We believe these donations should have already trickled down to the members. Instead, what we see is another demonstration of bureaucracy at work. Must of these churches have not seen any help from ADRA.
On the other hand, it may not be ADRA’s fault. It could be that the Adventist leaders in Haiti just don’t have a system designed to facilitate food distribution in case of an emergency. Nevertheless, by now we expect ADRA to know the location of each church and how many people are living on the ground of these churches. If they have this information, then it should not be a problem to send food to the people. In fact, ADRA don’t even have to pay to cook the food. The people are cooking their own food. They simply need the supplies.
We don’t want to blame anyone in this situation; for, no one could have been prepared enough for such a disaster. But these people have been through enormous pain and food should be the least of their concerns. The reality is that, I cannot stress enough that food is a daily necessity. The people who eat a meal or two today will need a meal or two tomorrow. Therefore, we need to employ a method by which the people can eat daily.
Haitian President Rene Preval has officially agreed to a three-day of prayer requested by Junon Brutus, a Haitian Adventist woman who warned the Haitian people of an impending disaster weeks before the earthquake. The prayer sessions will begin on Friday the 12 to Monday the 15, 2010.
Junon directly informed the Haitiansda.com that the Haitian people in Haiti and Christians all over the world will participate in the prayer. She said that the prayer is about repentance, redemption, and a plea for God to have complete control over Haiti.
Central to the three days of prayer is a plan to encircle the severely devastated White House and other governmental buildings as they are dedicated to God. That is, there will be people standing all around the Palais Nationale and other governmental buildings singing and praying to God. Junon and other spiritual leaders will lead the prayer in Port-au-Prince, while the rest of the country will congregate in churches, schools and other places. Again, the idea for the three days of prayer originated from a divine revelation from God.
Not surprisingly, Junon is getting a lot of heat from many Adventist leaders in Haiti and voodoo priests. On one hand, while the rest of the country is receptive to Junon’s divine inspiration, some Adventist leaders have declared Junon unfit to be a messenger of God. The reaction on the part of these Adventist leaders is similar to what Jesus himself experienced while He was still on earth. The Sadducees and the Pharisees didn’t believe Jesus was fit to be the messiah. They had had their own idea of what a messiah should look like.
On the other hand, while the voodoo priests are also receptive to Junon’s initiative, they want a piece of the action too; they want to play a role in the program. While they’re welcome to participate in the prayer sessions, there exists a since of uncertainty as to whether they will call on their gods or God. At any rate, what we might see is another demonstration of the God of Elijah and the god Baal, where the god Baal was proven to be an imaginary god who failed to appear. Consequently, the people of Baal conceded to the fact that the God of Elijah was the real one.
The fact that the voodoo priests want a piece of the action is understandable. They want the country to acknowledge them as a legitimate religion. What is troubling is the negative reaction of some Adventist leaders. Haitiansda.com is begging these leaders to back off and let God do his work in a country that has been ravaged by evildoers. The fact that leaders of all religious backgrounds can come together and acknowledge God is itself an unprecedented miracle in Haiti.
New Updates 02/06/10
Junon Brutus, a Haitian Adventist woman who accurately predicted the disaster and publicized it days and months prior on public radio and television in Haiti, said that God has instructed her that the Haitian people must set aside three days of fasten, starting on the 12th of February. It is said that President Preval, who knew of the prediction prior to the quake, has agreed to five days. Mrs. Brutus is now in Haiti awaiting official confirmation from the President.
What makes Mrs. Brutus’ prediction even more reliable is what transpired right before the earth quake. For the past 12 months or so, Junon has been traveling to Haiti, feeding and clothing the people of Cite Soleil. This time, a day prior to the Earthquake, God told Junon to travel back to the United States because the day of destruction is here. Obediently, Junon travelled back to the U.S on January 11th. On January the 12th, a 7.0 earthquake violently shook the ground of Haiti, killing thousands of people.
On January the 13th, the people who were taken Junon’s prediction seriously and those and were with her a day prior were frantically inquiring whether the woman they have come to know and love was all right. Little did they know that Junon had travelled back to the U.S under the guidance of her God a day before the quake. Today Junon is already on her second trip to Haiti, and she’s providing for the people she loves so dearly.
Mrs. Brutus’s prediction has been widely perceived as a direct warning from God. According to Junon, if the Haitian people harden their hearts, they will experience even worst disastrous events. But if they listen and remember January 12 as the day God spoke, Haiti will be a prosperous nation.
From an Adventist standpoint, what’s interesting about Junon’s divine messages is that, even though Junon is a proud Seventh-Day Adventist woman, her message is about general repentance from evil to God, not to a specific religion.
The haitiansda.com will cover Jonon’s ministry in Haiti and how God will continue use her in the rebuilding of Haiti.
New Updates 02/04/10
During the last 15 days, the Haitiansda.com has been very involved in the situation in Haiti, particularly in the plight of Adventist members living on church grounds. Unfortunately, most of these churches have not seen any help ever since the earthquake hit.
The People
What we see on television is nowhere near the reality on the ground. It has been estimated that over 200,000 people may have died. But this estimation is based solely on the bodies that have been discovered. The estimation does not take into account the bodies that are still buried under the rubble, which may be more. This is a catastrophe of enormous proportions. In fact, the people have been hit so hard that they have not really come to terms with the profound impact of the earthquake. They are still dazed and confused by the impact. When they become fully conscious of the reality, I believe they will need long-term counseling.
Members Killed
Recently, it was reported that about 600 Adventists have been killed by the quake, but in reality the number is much higher. Based on the estimation of some pastors on the ground, over 1,000 have been killed so far. In fact, according to a layman who has taken a special interest in counting the number of Adventists killed, over 5,000 may be dead.
The Pastors
The pastors are holding on. Most of them are still dazed by the situation. They too have lost loved ones, precious church members and their possessions. Though they believe that God is with them, they’re overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation. No one could have been ready for such a catastrophe. Thus, many of the churches that barely survived the quake are without trained leaders.
The State of Evangelism
Believe it or not, a few churches have conducted evangelistic programs as a way to take advantage of the situation. Unfortunately, a handful of people showed up. Obviously, people are interested in getting a meal. I think in such a time like this, Jesus would be much more interested in feeding the people. However, I do believe that in coming months, as the people are coming to terms with the reality, they will come to church by the thousands. Now, it is the time to feed them.
Lack of Food
Food continues to be a major problem in Haiti. Only a small number of people are getting some food. The vast majority of the people are not getting daily meals, including Adventist members. As members of the haitiansda.com visit members living on badly damaged church grounds, they meet with churches that have not seen any help at all. They’re asking for ADRA, but ADRA has not been able to set a sustainable method of food distribution among these churches. In fact, it seems to us that ADRA has not even made an adequate assessment of the badly damaged churches and the members.
The people living on the grounds of these churches say that they have been accumulating their own little money to buy food on a daily basis and, after the food is cooked, they can only hope for a spoonful for the day. They just don’t have enough to share. It is a really sad situation.
The reality is that food is a daily necessity. When we buy several bags of rice and beans for a church of 50 or 100 people, it goes pretty fast. We cannot expect the food to last for more than a few days. In fact, some of the members are so generous that they’re willing to share the little that they have with their neighbors.
Diquini and Auditorium de la Bible are the only places that have received some help from ADRA, but the help has not been sustainable. The people are still anxious about unavailability of adequate food. ADRA did install a water filter at the Adventist University, where over 18,000 people are taking refuge. But it is simply not enough. It has been 23 days since the earthquake hit, and ADRA should at least have established a sustainable food distribution system within the Adventist community.
As we talk with those who have been playing the role of Moses and Joshua, they fear that, if the food situation does not change soon, many members in their respective churches will begin to die of starvation.
Right now, over 40 churches depends on goodhearted individuals and small organizations like haitiansda.com for their daily meals. But we can only do so much. ADRA has to come and help out now.
The Big Fear
When it comes to food distribution, the big fear is that many organizations like ADRA fear that if they start feeding their own, they might be ambushed by desperately hungry people. They don’t want to become a target. Consequently, they’re waiting for United Nations to provide some sort of security, which might take a long time. Meanwhile, the people are dying of hunger.
What the Haitiansda.com has been doing
Donations collected on the Haitiansda.com have been used to buy food for the people living on church grounds. We try to be the hope in places where people feel hopeless. The Lord has been enormously involved in reaching out to the people who need daily meals.
01-28-2010
Announcement:
We are trying to locate more churches in need of daily meals in the Port-au-Prince area. We've gathered 10 so far, but we know there are 50 barely-habitable churches where church members and their neighbors are staying. If you know the names and locations of churches not mention below, please let us know immediately.
Auditorium, Peniel, Shekinah, Jerusalem, Temple, Bethel, Laodicy, shiloh, Smyrne and Sychar
