Warm greetings from Haiti. With the great majority of the population, we are relieved that Mr. Aristide is gone. Stories
of his regime's dictatorial practices and terrible human rights records are now coming out in the open. Evidences of witchcraft
and even human sacrifices commissioned by the deposed president have now been made public.
At the same time we are
concerned about the present critical situation. The looting and violence that followed the news of the President going into
exile resulted in losses estimated at over 300 million dollars. The US, Canadian, French and Chilean troops are not yet making
a significant change in the security issues in the neighborhoods. Especially, they have not removed the weapons from the Lavalas
supporters. The celebration march organized on Sunday March 7th ended with shootings from thugs who killed 6 people and injured
over 30, including foreign journalists. So we continue to pray for a good transition.
A new government has been in place since mid March. The Prime Minister talks of honesty, integrity and competence
in public service. This is like fresh air in our political world. We learn in the Bible that "justice exalts a
nation, But sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). One of the 13 ministers is an ordained preacher.
Another attends a Christian fellowship regularly. However, we need not only for the members of goverment to have a good
reputation but also that a deep reform in the structures of the State will fight against corruption and denounce it as
evil.
Yet we are full of hope believing that the One who has started this good work will help us through for a preferred
future. In the beautiful southeastern town of Jacmel, people have started returning things that were looted at a police station.
Leaders from a slum near the Port-au-Prince waterfront called "Village of God" have helped in getting their young people to
return equipments looted from TeleHaiti, the first cable TV company in the caribbean. These are hopeful signs.
For
the time being, our family is doing fine physically, even though we were being stressed financially. I came to my office in
Bolosse for the first time 4 days after the President left. We did not suffer any physical damage at the seminary, but many
of our neighbors are desperately in need of food. In other parts of the country, we hear about the same kind of needs. For
instance, Pastor Simon is the
UEBH* representative in the Gonaives/Gros-Morne area where the rebellion began. He indicated that he has 15 families in his church
plus 90 in the Haut Artibonite area that are facing hunger. He said he could bring relief to about 60 families with about
$5 per day per family. We thank the Lord for $1000 we received so far. Please feel free to share this need.
Thank
you for your concern and your prayers for Haiti. Please pray for sustainable peace in the nation, for the repentance of the
evildoers that could lead to true reconciliation, that leaders of integrity will be appointed to key positions, and that initiatives
of relief and mercy will reach the poor and make a positive change in the life of the population.
Grace and peace to
you.
Edner Jeanty, Jr.
