Chicago Wedding Photographer Blog

Churches Helping Churches – Haiti – Port Au Prince Pastors

As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent 48 hours in Haiti last week with a new NGO called Churches Helping Churches. Now that two months of relief work has passed, many agencies are beginning to pull out of Haiti. Churches Helping Churches is just beginning to move in. There are many agencies working to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention, but Churches Helping Churches is looking to partner with local churches and pastors in meeting their needs so they can in turn meet the needs of the Haitian people.

I traveled with Executive Director Tom Kim to meet with various pastors and leaders in Port Au Prince. He listened to their stories, asked questions, and listened some more. With each passing meeting, a plan began to unfold for Churches Helping Churches, and it was obvious that God had prepared these meetings and conversations.

As I was sitting in the car driving through Port Au Prince, I waved to this little girl, and she waved back. We just kept smiling and waving.

Earthquake debris still runs into the streets-

Though we saw tent cities scattered throughout Port Au Prince, there was an apparent peace amongst the 2,500 people finding refuge on the campus of STEP Seminary. The children were running around laughing, it was an obvious safe zone for them. Pastor Jacque told us that after the earthquake, thousands people poured onto the STEP property to find refuge. They had nearly 5,000 people residing there after the quake. The seminary has a good reputation amongst the community and the people knew they would be cared for at STEP.

These two boys followed us around for nearly an hour as we walked throughout the STEP property. They just talked to each other, smiled, and goofed around behind us. At one point they were just walking arm in arm. I just turned around and snapped a couple shots.

The Haitians were very curious about Tom and I, as we were both Asian.

We kept hearing “Jet Li! Jackie Chan!” all around us. Though we could not communicate verbally, the kids tried to impress me with their martial arts. =) *on a side note: I don’t know any martial arts, but that didn’t stop the kids from wanting me to bust some moves out!*

We met with STEP administrators as they begin laying the ground work for a new partnership to aid the local churches in Haiti.

Though differences in nationality and ethnicity, it is amazing to see the body of Christ come together in unity for the country of Haiti.

After returning to STEP seminary at night, we came upon this evening worship session. And because most Haitians don’t trust buildings, they worshipped outside. They have these worship sessions a few times a week with hundreds of people attending.

One last message sprawled on a wall as a reminder to all Haitians, and now to all of you- Would you join me in a prayer for the Haitian people? It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and it is going to take a lot more than money, food, clothes and medical attention to bring healing and wholeness to the people.

see previous post: Churches Helping Churches in Haiti – 2 months after the earthquake

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