Living the Call Together in the Caribbean: The Dominican Republic

Below, Bruce Dyke and John Schleh share their thoughts and impressions about recent trips in to Haiti.

John Schleh

On February 24-25th a team of ten Alliance leaders went into Haiti to evaluate how we could jointly respond to the needs represented there:  3 members of the US Haitian Association of the Alliance, 4 representatives of the Puerto Rican District, 1 from the Dominican Alliance National Church, Bruce Dyke and myself (DR Mission).  As we entered Port-au-Prince, I was overwhelmed with three impressions.  First, was the magnitude of the destruction caused by the earthquake.  Even after seeing it with my own eyes, it is still beyond comprehension. Second, as we passed areas where thousands and thousands of Haitians were living under tarps, in tents, and make shift coverings; I asked myself, how do we even begin to meet the many needs represented here?  My third impression was that, outwardly, there is no hope for the country of Haiti.

As we visited several churches affiliated with the US Haitian Association of the Alliance, we began to formulate ideas of how we could jointly help.  Four priorities were identified:  1) the purchasing of medicine that would be donated to a Cuban medical operative that is treating thousands of Haitians near the epicenter of the earthquake; 2) the collection and donation of daily basic necessities; 3) the re-construction of six churches; and, 4) equipping pastors and leaders to respond to those open to the Gospel.

As we met with different people, a common thread was heard, that people are seeking God as never before.  For the first time in the history of the country, Carnival festivities were cancelled.  We heard reports of churches that formerly only had 100 people, now having up to 250, 400, even 700 in attendance.  Recently, Haiti’s President called for three days of prayer and fasting.  (see Bruce’s journal entry below)  As we left Haiti, forever changed by the tremendous devastation and needs we had seen, we were able to praise God that people are finding hope and purpose in their lives.  Paul’s words in II Cor. 4:16-18 took on new meaning, “Therefore we do not lose heart . . . for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Bruce Dyke

On February 12-14, 2010 Bruce Dyke and representatives from Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA) Services went into Haiti.  Below is an excerpt from Bruce’s journal of the trip:

I went to Haiti with some apprehension, not knowing what to expect, but God was very good to us. We drove through Port-au-Prince, and then slowly up a hill on a rocky dirt road to the OMS Guest House on the west side of the city. They had nice facilities to accommodate us and the other teams staying there. 

My first impression of the country was that the people were walking around like sheep without a shepherd. Their homes were destroyed and they had nowhere to go. There were buildings and houses everywhere that had been devastated by the 7.0 earthquake a month earlier. On one street after another, people were taking their bed sheets--or whatever they could find--and were making tents for their homes.  Tent cities, established by disaster relief agencies from around the world, filled what had previously been empty lots and open fields.

We noted that many of the buildings that had collapsed were those whose structures had been made out of a lime mortar and cement columns disproportionate to the size of the building. When the earthquake hit, the support systems were neither adequate nor strong enough to support the buildings, especially two floors and above.  While we did not find established Alliance churches, our team was able to visit five churches that were linked to the Haitian Association in the United States.  The seed was planted concerning possibility of these churches coming under the C&MA.

The entire country declared a three-day period of fasting and prayer. Churches all around Port-au-Price were filled to capacity and overflowing into the streets.  For the first time in Haitian history, roads were closed off to accommodate the crowds coming to worship.  The beginning of a revival has started.  It was reported that even voodoo priests were crying out to God, and voodoo doctors were taking their sick to medical clinics in different parts of the city.  There is no other hope but God.  As we were leaving the city on the way back to the Dominican Republic, there were peaceful marches with hundreds of people shouting out, “Christ for Haiti, Haiti for Christ!”  Oh, that God would break through the hearts of men and women and heal Haiti, both spiritually and physically.