“We now have a group of absolutely discouraged believers.”

Below is an excerpt of a letter from a pastor in Haiti. Let it be a portal to peer into the lives of ministers who are plagued with burdens – their own and their people, pre-earthquake and the flood that came post-earthquake. Let it also serve as a source of encouragement—that amidst it all, while many are trying to flee the country, he is committed to staying. Pray for him, pray for pastors like him, and pray for Churches Helping Churches as we finalize our first major response.

For a new Haiti,
Tom

***

Dear friend,

I regret that I could not write you after the terrible event of January 12, which devastated Port-au-Prince. I have definitely appreciated all of your phone calls.

Since last December I have been suffering from pains in the neck, shoulder and right hand. I could barely sleep at night, but I still managed to take care of my responsibilities at the seminary and at the church during the day. At the beginning of January, my doctor referred me to an orthopedist who diagnosed that I suffered from osteoarthritis. But, the medication and collar he prescribed did not relieve my pains.

Meanwhile, the earthquake of January 12 occurred. That day I could not go to teach because of the pains. I would have been in the building of the campus that collapsed. Divine providence! At the time of the earthquake, I was at home in pain, my wife was in a taxi, and the children were at their schools. And God saved us all. He also saved our temple, which could withstand the shocks. However, our school building can no longer be used.

What saddens us most is that more than twenty of the faithful members of the church died. Some at home, others at their schools. Many others lost their houses. A deacon lost his wife, his two children and his mother-in-law. An assistant-pastor lost his wife, one of his children and his mother-in-law. Another assistant-pastor lost all his possessions in the home he was renting. A brother lost his wife while she was in a car at the time of the earthquake. Several members of the youth group died in their schools. So was true of the ladies group. That profoundly saddened us. In spite of my pains, I was on the streets visiting some brothers and sisters of the church. They spent their days and their nights on the street.

On Sunday, January 24, we had our first worship service after the earthquake in the courtyard of the church. It was a time filled with emotions. I preached on the love of God, reminding people of the words of the apostle Paul that “nothing can separate us from the love of God demonstrated in Jesus Christ.”

After that Sunday, I began feeling sharper pains, and this, continuously. One evening, it was a severe crisis. It seems that the days spent sleeping in the car had aggravated my condition. The doctor recommended hospitalization. But, since no hospital was available, I stayed in my tent under the care of two nurses for five days. I thank the Lord for those sisters who were available for me.

After my release from the “hospital,” i.e. from my tent, the pains persisted. It appeared that my body could no longer respond positively to the medication. The doctor urged me to be patient. After two X-rays, he referred me to a physiotherapist. I have to undergo twelve sessions of therapy for a month while taking the drugs prescribed by the orthopedist. I am beginning to see a big improvement. And as evidence, I can now write this letter with my right hand. I hope that in a month I will be able to return to my normal activities at the church.

Now, God puts before us a new challenge. How to help so many people to recharge their batteries after so much suffering? We now have a group of absolutely discouraged believers. Young people do not believe any more in the future. Those who could, they have gone to the cities away from Port-au-Prince, to their birthplaces. Others left the country for the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic, with all their emotion and without any prior planning. I must work with those who stayed and those who will hopefully return. I already think that I must have a week of retreat during the summer with the youth to help them build up their trust and return to a normal life. I count on your prayers for an effective ministry.

Together in the grapevine of the Master.