Haiti Update

For those of you who haven't read it, the Seymour Herald newspaper has a front-page article about our efforts in helping Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) with their work in earthquake ravaged Haiti. In the days since our initial donation, more funds have been coming in to St. Paul Church to forward to ERD. Some have given directly to ERD in the past week, over $100 by my count.

The Right Reverend Jean Duracin, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, has written a letter to ERD about what is happening "on the ground" in Haiti. Following are some excerpts:

I am writing to you from the tent city we have set up behind the rubble of College Ste. Pierre, our marvelous senior secondary school that is no more. As you know, we have gathered approximately 3,000 people here
alone. Across the land, the Diocese of Haiti has set up at least 21 refugee camps, caring for more than 23,000 people.


In this letter, I wish to make clear to the Diocese of Haiti, to Episcopal Relief and Development and to all of our partners that Episcopal Relief and Development is the official agency of the Diocese of Haiti and that we are partners working hand-in-hand in Haiti's relief and recovery efforts.


We in the Diocese of Haiti have a vision and a plan for this relief and recovery effort. We know the situation on the ground, we are directing emergency relief to those who need it most, and we already are making plans and moving forward to help our people.

Since the earthquake struck, we have been and will continue to work closely with two missionaries here, Ms. Katie Mears and Ms. Kirsten Muth. I have complete confidence in you and your agency.


Finally, I wish to make it plain: I know that many of our partners wish to come to Haiti right now to help. Please tell them that unless they are certified professionals in relief and recovery, they must wait. We will need them in the months and years to come, but at this point, it is too dangerous and too much of a burden for our people to have mission teams here.

Please tell our partners, the people of The Episcopal Church, the people of the United States and indeed the people of the world that we in Haiti are immensely grateful for their prayers, their support and their generosity. This is a desperate time in Haiti; we have lost so much. But we still have the most important asset, the people of God, and we are working continuously to take care of them.

The Clergy and Congregation of St. Paul Episcopal Church remain in prayer for the people of Haiti, and dedicate ourselves to the relief work of Episcopal Relief and Development.