Haitians in Montreal wait and pray

By Marg Buchanan | January 14, 2010

MONTREAL, QC—From talk-show hosts to hockey players to pastors, Montrealers aren't talking about much else. The devastation of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti is on everybody's mind, especially in this city where some 86,000 Haitians live and, at least for now, pray.

Praying, it seems, is all that these people can do, as the communication lines are down in Port-au-Prince and many people have family members still "back home."

Georges Derise, pastor of the Haitian Baptist church called The Garden of the Beloved, says he spoke with his sister for about 45 minutes on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. They agreed to continue their conversation Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. "She never called," he says. "She lives in Port-au-Prince. My whole family is there."

Derise has a mother, brother and four sisters in the capital, and he, like the other 50 people in his congregation, is waiting for news.

"When I saw the images on TV, it was like being covered with black clouds. There are no words for that."

The church is meeting every day to pray, and to discuss how they can raise extra funds to help support the relief efforts.

Jolbert Fleurant of the Haitian Church of God of Montreal says they too will be raising money. He says he is hoping that Christians across Canada will join hands with their Haitian sisters and brothers to help their people. "This is a country that has been suffering for a long time," he says. "They lack everything over there."

"We were raising money to help build little houses for people who lost their homes during the hurricanes," says Pastor St. Fort of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Haitian Church. "Now we will give our money to help for this, for people like my brother's neighbour. This woman, she lost her house, she lost her four children. She is still alive, but she will need help. She has nothing."

Some estimate that hundreds of thousands of people could be dead as Haitians and aid workers continue to dig through the rubble for survivors and pile up bodies on the side of the road.

There is a lack of water and medical supplies, according to reports, and little or no infrastructure to support relief efforts.

Several Christian relief and development organizations were already on the ground in Haiti, and have kicked into high gear to deliver immediate assistance, often as they continue to search for their own staff members. Food for the Hungry Canada is among them.

Samaritan's Purse partners with Baptist Haiti Mission on the ground. They sent an emergency team into Haiti to deliver immediate assistance. "Samaritan's Purse dispatched a team just hours after the quake to help with water, shelter, medical care, and other emergency needs."

As organizations send reinforcements and materials, as people give and people pray, Derise continues to watch a phone that does not ring. "I believe the Lord is sovereign," he says. "I find my refuge under the wings of God."

Missionary nurse killed in Haiti earthquake

Lord, have mercy!

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