Pastor Jean is back in Haiti! He is in one of the areas most affected by last August's earthquake. He and his church organized a 3-day special training seminar on post traumatic syndrome and counseling to educate and equip pastors and leaders in the affected areas. They planned to host, feed and pay travel expenses for about 500 participants. The ministry is also helping with the physical relief efforts on a daily basis. Pastor Jean sent a letter describing the work they have been doing in greater detail:
September 1st, 2021
TO ALL KINGDOM DIPLOMATS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
OUR HAITIAN IMPERATIVE
Warmest Kingdom greetings to you.
The problem of Haiti is immense and complex, but also highly spiritual, as those who understand the spiritual dimension in our material existence will agree. As we all know, the tragedy of January 12, 2010 was destructive and we counted more than 300,000 dead in our ranks. This last August 14th earthquake has deepened the knife in the wound as more than two thousand people are already counted dead, to date. Interestingly, according to experts in the Haitian geological landscape, there is the impending threat of even more devastating earthquakes.
We are very grateful to any organization or person of goodwill who has already provided support to the victims of the earthquake which affected three sections of the island. However, while the material support is very important to help victims survive, their psychosocial recovery is equally important. As we did in 2010 here at the Diplomat Center/Haiti, we are again organizing a three (3) day special training seminar on post-traumatic syndrome and counseling, from September 14 to 16, 2021, (8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.). Also, on those three days we will have a Crusade in the evenings where the unshakable message of the Kingdom in time of crisis will be presented in the township of Cavaillon.
Dr. Georges Rhodes, a world-renowned expert on Trauma counseling will be the main speaker for the seminars. This trip will mark his tenth visit to Haiti, as part of his various post-disaster psychosocial support missions. Pastors and leaders will come from various churches in the affected areas. We will host them and feed them three meals a day for three days, and also pay their transportation to and from the venue. At present, we are expecting about 500 participants. We cannot forget that mental health is an area that should not be underestimated under any circumstances.
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Besides this special mission, we continue to help with relief efforts on a daily basis. Below is a list of ways one can help:
• Purified water - each kit (bucket and filter) costs $65.00 US.
• Food - 1 meal/day = $2.00 USD per person, so a family of 5 costs $70.00 USD/week to feed.
• Emergency shelter per family = $100.00 USD
• Hygiene kits = $30.00 USD
• Solar lighting for security in the different communities = $95.00 USD (for a 150W solar lamp).
• Money to rent dump trucks to help remove the rubble, as people start to rebuild.
We also have a great need for medicine and supplies for medical missions, and for transportation costs to send trauma counselors to the field. These are some of the most urgent needs we have at the moment.
I encourage you to become God's outstretched hand to support those in situations of great vulnerability. May God richly reward your prayers and generosity on behalf of these hurting ones.
Committed to His call,
Jean Heder Petit Frere
If you would like to support these relief efforts with a financial gift, you may do so through CLG. Simple write a check to Church of the Living God and write “Haiti earthquake relief” on the memo line.