People frequently ask us what is the biggest post-earthquake challenge that Haiti faces. Is it adequate housing after the destruction of so many buildings? Is in income after the loss of so much economic activity? Is it food to eat or water to drink? In our opinion it is none of the above. The "eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room" is that many Haitians have been unable to heal emotionally after the earthquake. We North Americans are so quick to suppose that we can solve all the world's problems by application of logic, good planning and adequate resources. But the reality is that those who experience loss are the ones best able to help themselves. But they cannot help themselves if they cannot heal emotionally and spiritually. This week we are helping to plan and host an assessment of the Strategies for Trauma Resilience and Awareness (STAR) program from Eastern Mennonite University. This is a program used to provide emotional and spiritual healing for survivors of civil wars, violence and natural disasters. After the assessment, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee will decide whether or not to fund the use of this program in Haiti. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit would work through programs like Timothy Leadership Training (TLT), STAR and others to help heal the Haitian people so they can work together to rebuild their country.
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