Quebec churches respond to Haitian crisis
MONTREAL, QC-Moise Isidore gets news regularly from his homeland of Haiti. The news is not good. Isidore, who moved to Montreal with his family less than a year ago, is the former director of the Evangelical Methodist Church in Haiti. He has many friends and relatives who are still in the midst of the chaos.
"There is violence in the streets all day long. Many people cannot go to work or to school. In the cities, people are going hungry. There is no water or electricity," he says.
Emmeline Desrameaux was in Haiti when the violence erupted. Desrameaux, herself Haitian, was visiting the country for a short-term ministry with a medical team from the Montreal church La Bible Parle. It was the first time she had returned in eight years. "The violence had not yet reached the outlying areas where we were working," she reports. "The Canadian government told us to get out. We did not see any trouble until we got near the airport."
Johanne Legrand, a nurse who was on her fifth trip to Haiti with La Bible Parle was sorry to leave when there was so much to be done. "I will go back as soon as I can," she says.
There are more than 50 Haitian churches in Montreal. The atmosphere is one of concern, says Jacob Chery, pastor of Gethsemane Evangelical Church. "People are sad," he says, noting that almost everybody still has family members and friends in Haiti. His congregation has set up a special emergency fund.
At Smyrne Baptist Church, pastor Wilner Cayo says that along with special offerings, the church is also collecting articles such as used clothes to send back to Haiti. Cayo meets with a group of about 30 Haitian Christian leaders who are working on a plan for a more concerted and organized humanitarian effort.
Some observers say cooperation is not a natural tendency for the Haitian community, including journalist François Hauter, who says the mentality of the people is very individualistic. Hauter believes this explains why there are close to 70 political parties in Haiti, for a country with a population of approximately 7 million (comparable to the population of Quebec).
The need for unity and reconciliation is also one of the main concerns expressed by Quebecers with links to Haiti.
"There needs to be a better understanding between Haitians themselves," says Isidore. "People can be political adversaries without being enemies."
Unity is an issue among Haitian Christians as well, says Cayo. "Pray for our churches in Haiti, for a greater social solidarity among the members."
Haitians in Montreal are placing their hope in a future leader who will rally the people to a common just cause.
"We must pray for God to raise up men and women of integrity to lead the people," says Jacques Leboeuf, who spent January and February in Haiti, and is president of Société Missionaire Vision Globale, an agency that runs an orphanage in Cap-Haitien.
Chery agrees. "Aristide is gone and that is positive. Now the people much choose a man with a sense of responsibility."
Occult practices are another factor that plays into Haiti's troubles. "The practice of voodoo is still very present in Haiti," says Leboeuf.
Cayo says the influence of voodoo generates fear and suspicion. "In my humble opinion, the hold of voodoo over Haiti is the veritable problem for the development of the country."
"We need to pray that people will turn to God," says Desrameaux, "and not lose hope."
"Pray that the Lord will give grace and courage to his people," says Cayo, "so they know that God has not forgotten them."
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