The Saga Continues...

We give thanks to God for three days of relative calm in Port-au-Prince as the latest political crisis continues to unfold. The crisis began on the evening of Dec. 7 when the electoral board of the Haitian government (CEP) published results of the Nov. 28 election believed by many, including the international community, to be fraudulent. Bowing to the pressure of massive violent demonstrations, the CEP offered to recount the votes based the reports submitted by the polling stations with international monitors present for the recount. Every presidential candidate besides Jude Celestin (the candidate supported by the ruling coalition) rejected this idea, claiming the fraud was done at the polling stations before they submitted their reports. The top place candidates are all launching legal challenges of the Dec. 7 results. This leaves the entire electoral process in limbo. No one is certain which presidential candidates will participate in the final run-off vote. There is no way of knowing what the coming week or month holds for Haiti. Please pray for the following: 1. Peace and resolution of this election crisis. 2. Pray for Zach as he has been diagnosed with a hernia and possible giardia (an amoebic infection of the gut) which is very painful. 3. Pray for wisdom to know what to do with our planned vacation. We were hoping to receive Sharon's parents in Haiti on Dec. 15 and go together to the Dominican Republic on the 17th.

Haiti Election Crisis Update #1

Dear Friends and Family:

We are providing the following update about the unfolding election crisis here in Haiti:

"As has been reported by the media, all the major cities of Haiti have experienced violent demonstrations since the publication of the results of the 28 November presidential and legislative election on the evening of 7 December. Specifically, the electoral board of the Haitian government (CEP) has announced that a popular presidential candidate, Mickey Martelly, did not receive enough votes to participate in the run-off election tentatively scheduled for 16 January, 2011. Martelly’s supporters have taken to the streets accusing the CEP of fraud and shutting down Port-au-Prince and all other major cities in Haiti. All mission staff are safe and keeping a low profile. At this time we do not know how these events will affect scheduled visits from volunteers in January, 2011. While we don’t want to cancel activities without warrant, we are also committed to the safety of all mission staff and volunteers. Please pray that God will grant Haiti peace this Advent season. Pray also that God will grant wisdom to the leaders of Haiti."

Please pray for our health as well as Zach has been sick for some time and is unable to get out and see a doctor because of the unrest.

Haitians Take to the Streets

Last night at 8:30 p.m. the Provisional Electoral Committee (CEP) of the Haitian government published the results of the 28 November election (senators, deputies, and presidential). According to the CEP, Mirlande Manigat (an ex first-lady) got 31% of the popular vote. The runners-up were Jude Celestin (handpicked successor to current president Preval) at 22% and Sweet Mickey Martelly (a popular Haitian singer) at 21%. Only 0.64% separated Celestin and Martelly. Since only the top two candidates go to the run-off election on 16 Jan. 2011, supporters of Martelly have cried foul. The moment after the announcement, Martelly supporters ransacked stores, burned tires, and ran amuck in nearly every Haitian city. Since first light this morning, thousands of Martelly supporters have completely shut down Port-au-Prince and all other major cities with protests and barricades. Both Haitian and international election observers have cited many irregularities with the 28 November election. Adding more fuel to the fire is that a French epidemiologist has acknowledged that the Nepalese contingent of MINUSTAH (the UN peace-keeping force) is the likely source of the cholera epidemic which has now killed over 1,000 Haitians. This is a very serious situation, but it is not beyond the possibility of God to bring peace. Please pray for calm to return to the streets of Haiti. As of now, we see no reason to cancel planned visits in January, but we will monitor the situation.

Christ and Presidential Politics

In Haiti, politics and evangelical Christianity are at odds. Churches distrust the government because of its historic corruption and disinterest in the plight of its people. But the government has tremendous power to affect a society and is ordained by God according to Scripture (Rom. 13:1-7). While it is clear in Haiti that the church can’t endorse any one candidate or platform, it is not often clear what it should do. This question has gained significance around Haiti’s November 28 presidential elections. Faith in Christ must not be compartmentalized to our private lives. Christ is the Lord of all things—even those that don’t acknowledge his rule. That is why we teach that Christ not only saves individuals, he also works through his Holy Spirit and church to change entire communities (a job that will not be complete until his Second Coming). The church must hold government accountable to seek peace and justice for the people of Haiti. Please pray that despite their disappointment, Haitian Christians would be prophets and witnesses to their government. Pray also that Haitian Christians will set aside their cynicism and vote in the Nov. 28 election and potential repeat elections. Finally, pray that the elections will be transparent and fair.

UPDATE: Elections on 28 November were more or less peaceful. However, there are many accusations of fraud, so much so that thirteen candidates called for the results to be annulled. Later, some of the candidates backed away from this statement, but are still expressing concerns about the behavior of the party backed by Haitian President Rene Preval. There have been and continue to be many demonstrations on the streets of Haiti's cities against the elections. Results will be published 7 December.

What Does It Take to Heal a Country?

Haiti has been in the news often lately. In mid-October a surprise outbreak of cholera (an illness that can cause severe diarrhea) hit the Artibonite Valley area of Haiti, sickening thousands and killing hundreds. Now cholera has spread throughout the entire country with over 30,000 hospitalized cases and 1,700 deaths. Hurricane Tomas struck Haiti at the end of October, augmenting the flood-waters that spread the water-borne cholera bacteria throughout the countryside. The political situation remains tense after the 28 November presidential elections as well (results to be published 7 December). So what does it take to heal this country? Food, sanitation, jobs, and infrastructure all provided by international organizations? Of course these are necessary. But what is most necessary is that Haitians themselves develop the strength and the will to heal their own country. The goal of our training programs is to develop a new generation of church and community leaders that will “fill the gap” in Haitian society. For example, cholera can easily be controlled by use of simple hygienic methods like clean latrines and treated water. Victims of cholera can be treated effectively with simple oral rehydration regimens and antibiotics. For this reason, we will train our Haitian ministry partners in simple hygienic methods that can stop the spread of cholera. Timothy Training (above left), trains church leaders to take responsibility for the well-being of their communities. STAR training (above right) teaches Haitians to heal one another’s traumatic experiences so that psychologically healthy people can serve God in their communities. Pray for these efforts. Through them (and others like them) Haiti can be healed.