The Earth Is Still Shaking In Haiti

Yesterday, a strong aftershock rattled the already devastated capital of Haiti, sending traumatized people fleeing into the streets and away from buildings. Aid is flowing but the situation is still patchy with many areas isolated from the aid. Our effort to bring aid to our Haitian brothers and sisters is intensifying. Plans are being finalized to truck in supplies from the Dominican Republic for the Leogane orphans and hundreds of people who are occupying the courtyards of the Church of God of Prophecy's National Complex. Three physicians from the Dominican Republic will be accompanying this shipment to provide expert medical assistance to the children and other needy Haitians. Antibiotics, pain medicine and other medical supplies will be delivered in this shipment as well.

All across Haiti stories of faith and hope are being written as the saints in Haiti intercede, share, and praise God in the middle of devastation and desperate need. Bishop Dorlean, National Overseer of Haiti, is still attempting to gain a clearer picture of the needs of our faithful members. He reports that eight of our churches in the Port-au-Prince area collapsed when the ground began to tremble. Tragedy struck the church at Sans Fils, where almost an entire choir perished during rehearsal, along with a Women's group that was conducting an activity at the time of the quake. About 60 people died in this one church. A deacon was killed at the Mariani church and several members died inside the church at Waney.

Brother Dorlean estimates that he knows of about 80 church members who have lost their lives in the earthquake. Thousands of our members are homeless, without shelter, food or water. The yard surrounding the National Complex is filled with members and others who have taken refuge there seeking assistance.

We are grateful to God that Bishop Dorlean's immediate family has been spared, although he has lost a cousin and his wife has lost two cousins.

Plans are being made to construct a temporary building to house the children from the orphanage on a piece of land owned by a church member. The materials and equipment will be taken in from the Dominican Republic within the next week, so shelter can be provided before the rains come. This important step should be completed by the end of next week. Your financial support and prayers are making a difference to our Haitian family. We thank you on behalf of our brothers and sisters under great duress in Haiti.
Go to http://www.cogop.org/ to see a video update on Haiti.

Team From Dominican Republic Meets with Haiti Overseer

Bishop Flavio Rosario and Pastor Quiterion Rosario were able to make their way into Port-au-Prince on Saturday and met with Bishop Dorlean, overseer of Haiti, and some of our Haitian brothers. The long journey into the Haitian capital was slowed by traffic, clogging the roads as others sought to deliver aid. At many points the roadways were made impassable by debris so although delayed, the Dominican team arrived safely. They delivered enough food and water to the children at the orphanage to last about a week. Bishop Dorlan was overwhelmed by the support and could not find words to express his gratitude for this act of Christian solidarity.

Bishop Benjamin Feliz, Director of Finance and Publications, was able to speak with Brother Dorlena and encourage him of the global church's full support for Haiti in this hour of crisis. The office of the General Presbyter of Central America, Mexico and the Hispanic Caribbean, along with the leadership of Panama and the Dominican district is providing tremendous assistance in the relief efforts. Bishop Quiterio Roasario, district overseer of the La Romana district in the Dominican Republic, is coordinating a truck shipment of water, food, sheets, blankets, and some tents and other supplies within the next 48 hours. Plans are being made for additional shipments of supplies from the Dominican Republic National Office.

The General Presbyter of the Caribbean, Bishop Rice Thompson, is working with his leadership to provide relief and assistance to our Haitian brothers and sisters. Given the difficulties with getting supplies into Haiti by air or sea, the land route from the Dominican is the most feasible, despite the challenges with security on the ground. Cash donations will be used to purchase supplies in the Dominican Republic to take in relief by road.

Donations can be made by going to the International Office website, http://www.cogop.ore/; and also through our standard procedures.

COGOP In The Throes of Haiti Quake

It has been more than 48 hours since a 7.0 quake pummeled Port-auPrince, capital of Haiti, demolishing the already tenuous existence of millions in this nation that shares an island with the Dominican Republic. The Church of God of Prophecy, its members, and ministries have not escaped unscathed. The National Overseer, Bishop Jean Claude Dorlean, althrough reported to be safe, has not been able to make contact with our International Offices. Five of the orphans at the Leogane Orphanage administered by the church died apparently when the Girls Dormitory collapsed. Two adult workers are also confirmed dead. Brother Pierre Richard Mirand, Orphanage Administrator, who was appointed to the post at the 2006 convention, reports that the orphanage walls, the sea wall (the orphanage is on the west coast of the island), and the Administrator's home all sustained extensive damage. Twelve of the children were injured, two seriously enough to require Bishop Dorlean to undertake a four hour journey with them to one of the few hospitals left standing on the island.

The ground is still shaking periodically in Haiti as there have been more than 50 aftershocks since the initial earthquake, with some of these tremors exceeding 5.0 on the Richter Scale. The 68 surviving children and staff are in dire straits outside the walls of the orphanage compound in a field about 900 meters from the orphanage, fearful of further aftershocks.

The Church of God of Prophecy in Haiti has been led by Bishop Dorlean since 2002 and currently has more than 75,000 members, with 263 churches and 156 licensed ministers, with a number of schools, and a clinic among its various ministries. Brother Mirand, who also serves as a district overseer, noted some of the broader impact of the tragedy, reporting that of the 11 churches in his region, only one is still standing and he is unsure of the shape it's in. Two of his pastors have children who are trapped in their school building. He has been unable to make contact with many of his pastors, a number of whom are already know to be among the missing.

The normal communication challenges experienced in Haiti have been exacerbated by the destruction of telephone lines and cell towers, and the overloading of the system by the massive numbers of people attempting to reach friends, relatives, and colleagues. Currently, the system is only allowing two minutes calls before an automatic disconnect mechanism disrupts service.

At this time, we do not have detailed information regarding the stats of the National Office, school and headquarters church on Dwight Eisenhower Boulevard, where conventions are typically held, although Brother Mirand thinks that this complex escaped serious damage, except for a few walls and some minor damage to the school.

A team of leaders from the Republic, led by Panama Overseer, Flavio Rosario and Pastor Quiterio Rosario, have gone into Haiti to try to assess the situation and make contact with Bishop Dorlean. I urge you to call on all those who know God to pray for safety, wisdom, protection, and provision for these leaders and all the people of Haiti. Donations can be made by going to the International Office website, http://www.cogop.org/ and also through our standard procedures. Individuals may contribute through our Helping Hand Ministry and local churches through Harvest Partners (Level Two) Ministry. Please designate your financial contribution for Haitit-Disaster Relief-2010 Earthquake.