From ALL NATIONS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 16951 NE 4th AVENUE – NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL 33168 – 305.651.5689
Dear Friends,
Last December, I made an impromptu visit to Haiti to distribute toys and school supplies to Haitian children. Those gifts provided by New Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Miami and Community Presbyterian Church (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea), were shared with two schools which represented several hundreds of children in the town of Fonds-des-Negres in the Southern peninsula. While there, I had the opportunity to speak to the town Mayor and many other local leaders, many of whom I knew as children.
“In Port-au-Prince, I was overwhelmed
by the intensity of the
devastation and impressed by
the level of commitment of fellow
church leaders.”
~Jonas N. Georges
They painted a rosy picture for the region, which was consistent with the prospect for the rest of the country which was getting ready for an unprecedented economic growth in the coming years. As a result, I was both encouraged and excited. In a little more than two weeks later, the unthinkable happened: January 12, 2010 at 4:35 PM the
foundation of Haiti as a society was shaken and with it the empathy and collaboration of the world community abounded…
On April 7th, I returned to a devastated country. What I saw is beyond description. Besides the physical damage – part of which was always available of television screens the world over – the human toll of the earthquake is heart rending indeed. This time along, I had very little to distribute, but a lot to share and much more to learn. I visited a couple of camps in the company of my partners on the ground who took me in the interior of the tent cities. I was invited to peep inside and to talk to real people living there. Hearing their stories of tragedy, fear and despair brought tears to my eyes. But their hope in a brighter future and their resilience made me proud to be one of them (Don’t ask me for pictures – I couldn’t do that to them). We are a strong people.
In the midst of my personal tragedy (My father in-law passed away on Easter Sunday at the age of 98), I made time to visit not only Port-au-Prince, but the towns of Leogane and Petit Goave where I interacted with minister colleagues and acquaintances alike. In Port-au-Prince, I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the devastation and impressed by
the level of commitment of fellow church leaders.
I had close encounters with pastors Riche Andris, of the “Eglise Unie d’Haiti, Fede Jean-Pierre, Eglise Methodidte d’Haiti, Hubert Eloi, Eglise du Christ and Louis Smith of the Lutheran Community of Haiti. They provided me with ample detail of their involvement in the current phase of the disaster, their future involvement in rebuilding and beyond.
They all expressed the desire that the international community will listen to them as they work towards sustainability for the new Haiti. Those brothers graciously received and shared the meager resources I brought with me. They are looking forward to receiving the 40 ft container we are about to send them containing supplies of clothing, food items, water, a large tent and few other useful items provided by many congregations and assembled by the Korean Church of Miami. On my way back from Haiti, I was delighted to learn that the container will be on its way real soon since the $3,000.00 needed for the transportation to the country is at hand thanks to generous gifts of First Fort Lauderdale, Mission and Social Justice and Disaster Relief Committees of the presbytery in the tune of $1,000 each. An additional amount of $700.00 provided by Riviera PC ($420) and All Nations ($280) will be used on the ground in Haiti to move the goods
around.
My heartfelt thanks to you all for your prayerful and financial support. Should you need further information as to how you might continue to help, please contact me. In the meantime, we will continue to keep you abreast with our activities and involvement as time allows.
Yours truly,
Jonas N. Georges
