"Don’t forget Haiti" by Dr. Frank Moody On January 12, Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, experienced a devastating earthquake, where around 200,000 people perished. By the time the dust settles, and the death toll from the countryside are accurately known, this may be one of the deadliest quakes in world history. Even before the quake, many mission organizations were in Haiti endeavoring to meet the needs of this poor nation. On February 7, Eastside City Church along with Partners in Christ Fellowship presented the Help Rebuild Haiti Concert. The concert featured groups, bands and solos from 10 different churches and fellowships. The musical performances were worship in dance, solos, ethnic flavored worship, and plenty of audience participation. The concert was also attended by two MLAs, the Honorable Wayne Cao, Deputy Speaker of the House and the Honorable Manmeet Bhullar, Parliamentary Assistant for Municipal Affairs. Also there were a number of Pastors from various churches involved. Pictured (L-R) are Nicole Monyuer, Anu Manni and Stawan Wankahedi leading in worship at the Eastside Church Help Rebuild Haiti Concert. (Inset) Lisa Honorat, co-founder of HaitiArise. — photos by Dr. Frank Moody As the name of the concert reveals, the objective was to raise support for the rebuilding of the quake-ravaged nation. Actually, according to Lisa Honorat, co-founder and spokeswoman for HaitiArise, "we were already doing this type of rebuilding work long before the quake." She said that many of the small long term missions groups have the pulse of the nation and know the conditions and needs of Haiti’s people. She wanted to encourage people to continue to support these small groups that are well established and who will be there when many of the foreign governmental agencies and larger aid agencies have left Haiti. Marc and Lisa Honorat, graduates of Evangel Bible College were sent out by Eastside City Church to Haiti, Marc’s native country, in 2003. For the past seven years, they have been working with relief aid and education so that Haitian’s can be developed to help themselves. When HaitiArise built their compound and buildings in Grand-Goave they built to international standards, so the quake damage to their compound was minimal compared to the rest of their city. Grand-Goave suffered 90 per cent destruction. They will have to rebuild their own technical school and the compound walls, but their first priority is now the Children’s’ Home Village, where house parents will take care of up to 40 children. HaitiArise is also seeking land from the national government to build a new housing development for 90 per cent of the local residents who lost their homes. HaitiArise was already involved with construction of support systems in the country through their church, day school, technical school and orphans’ village, and were dealing with 80 per cent unemployment and a great number of orphans before the earthquake. Now, it is time to double efforts and energy to tackle an even more mammoth task. They know that with the wonderful support they have received from Canadians and the Canadian government, they can do the impossible. Right now, HaitiArise is working in cooperation with Samaritan’s Purse for the distribution of temporary shelters for the homeless. They are also are cleaning up the rubble for the compound wall that fell during the quake. For the near future, the immediate goals are to increase food distribution in their area and to dig two new wells on their property to meet the need for clean water for their community. The Honorat’s would like to thank everyone who has given so generously and sacrificially for the rebuilding of Haiti. "Don’t forget Haiti. Work with small established organizations, who are in Haiti for the long run and have already been doing relief work." Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness around you and your night will be as bright as the noonday. — Isaiah 58:10