Fifteen years after the earthquake, Haiti suffers a man-made catastrophe of monumental scale. This June, the Michigan Conference will consider a plan to provide empowerment and hope.

KAY DEMOSS
Michigan Conference Communications

On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake reduced Haiti to rubble. “Is Haiti better off today, fifteen years after the earth trembled beneath it?” asks Valerie Mossman-Celestin, co-chair of the Michigan Conference Haiti Task Force. Valerie reminds us that the recovery from the 2010 natural disaster had its human complications. “The earthquake was a tragic natural event, but the true devastation stemmed from man-made vulnerabilities: deforestation, fragile infrastructure, pervasive poverty, inadequate healthcare, and entrenched political struggles.” Those were the factors that claimed the lives of 300,000 people.

“Today, Haiti is grappling with yet another crisis, one that threatens to stall its progress and compound its pain,” she continues. “And yet, even in the face of profound hardship, the spirit of the Haitian people endures.” Valerie cites a proverb, “Like reeds, we bend but do not break.” This is hopeful news for many people and congregations in the Michigan Conference, who have been in a covenant relationship with Haiti since 1996.

Situation in Haiti

As of this writing, conditions in Haiti are dire. Reporting from the United Nations Security Council outlines significant developments since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

A Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) was installed in April 2024 and tasked with selecting an interim prime minister and establishing provisional electoral and national security councils. TPC members signed an agreement to work toward holding elections by February 2026. This nine-member panel was to oversee the deployment of a force from Kenya that arrived in July 2024, authorized by the United Nations to reestablish security in the nation.

The TPC initially made some progress, including appointing former UN official Garry Conille as interim prime minister. The TPC itself, however, has been implicated in corruption and clashed with Conille over a variety of issues. In November 2024, Conille was fired and replaced by businessman and former Haitian Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

As internal tensions flare in the TPC, conditions in Haiti continue to deteriorate. Criminal gangs have overrun an estimated 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, subjugating the civilian population through kidnapping, murder, and extreme violence. Gangs have attacked state institutions and launched deadly attacks on residential communities in and around the city. They hope to gain leverage to secure a seat on the TPC.

The United Nations states, “The instability has caused widespread displacement and acute hunger while exacerbating the governance crisis by preventing elections, which have not taken place in the country since 2016.” It is estimated that nearly half of Haiti’s population faces severe food insecurity. The Kenyan force of 400 officers has been unable to subdue the gangs or restore the rule of law. An article recently published in the Miami Herald concludes, “The violence has led to a humanitarian crisis not seen since the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake that left more than 1.5 million homeless.”

Efforts have been made to establish a U.N. peacekeeping operation in Haiti. China and Russia have opposed this transition.

Impact on Ministry

The 2024 Michigan Annual Conference renewed its commitment to the people of Haiti. Three organizations have been recognized as ministry partners making critical contributions to the country’s welfare. These EngageMI ministry partners are Grace Children’s Hospital and Clinics, Haitian Assets for Peace International (HAPI), and Jeremie Rising. All are General Advance Specials of The United Methodist Church.

Representatives of these ministry partners assess how the socio-economic crisis in Haiti affects their work.

International Child Care/Grace, Advance #418520

Len Middleton, ICC Treasurer, says, “It is a daily struggle to keep Grace Children’s Hospital open because of the conditions in Port-au-Prince.” He estimates that Grace will treat over 200,000 children this year because most of the hospitals in the city are closed permanently. “Our main concern is the safety of the staff traveling to and from Grace due to the ongoing unrest in the country,” Middleton observes. “Every day, staff members have to overcome the challenges of limited food, water, electricity, Internet, and safety.”

Middleton praises the staff: “They are amazing!” Regular phone calls are made with Haitian leaders to meet needs and lift spirits. “This is the toughest place on the planet to work right now,” Middleton notes. “Yet the leadership at Grace has not quit. They keep the hospital open every day.” He calls their dedication “a testament to the will of the people.” Middleton adds, “The reason Grace has been untouched throughout all this turmoil is that we stay out of the politics of Haiti. Our focus is 100% on treating the children and making sure they have the best healthcare.”

Haitian Assets for Peace International (HAPI), Advance #3020490

Wilbert Voltaire, Economic Development Department Manager at HAPI, reports, “The current situation in Haiti is very difficult. Gang activities, rising food prices, gas shortages, and inflation make daily life challenging. People often feel unsafe, and it is hard to afford basic needs like food and transportation. These problems affect our ministry, but we remain committed to serving our community.” Dr. Riouse Zephir, Medical Director of HAPI’s Felisane Health Center, notes, “Thank God, such insecurity does not prevent us from going to work. But we and HAPI are victims of inflation, lack of materials, and shortages of medicine. Being young, we feel that our future remains uncertain.”

Still, there is hope. Voltaire says, “Haiti’s people are resilient. Even as life becomes harder, they continue to push forward, never giving up. They work hard and support each other.” He is inspired by the youth. “They are eager to learn and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.” Voltaire emphasizes the need to adapt when resources are limited. “We rely on teamwork and creativity to solve problems.” He believes that the mutual support of local leaders, volunteers, and international partners enables HAPI to continue to provide good healthcare, education, and training that give people hope for a better future.

Dr. Zephir looks forward to a return to normalcy with the end of gangsterism. “This would allow local, regional, and international travel to resume,” she explains. She believes new projects in rural Haiti would benefit the unemployed. “Investment in Haiti’s national agricultural system would help farmers improve harvests and reduce food shortages, thereby easing inflation.”

Valerie Mossman-Celestin, U.S. Executive Director of HAPI, describes additional impacts to their work. “We are seeing patients who arrive with a lot more depression and anxiety. Before, we could expect people participating in our mobile clinics to purchase their own medication. We now must provide medication because otherwise, for them, it’s that or eat. Hunger leads to disease and compromises treatment.” At the same time HAPI is experiencing more demand, supplies are dwindling. Gangs have cut off supply chains from the city. Because young people can’t leave the mountain to attend university, HAPI Tech still operates so they can learn while staying at home. “Students appreciate our presence, which enables their continued education,” Valerie says. “There’s a whole group of students who were at a point of graduating from university but couldn’t finish. They invested so much and are now stuck.”

There are also personnel issues when there is no functioning government agency to license professionals. Many qualified persons have left the country or sought safety in the north, where there is access to an international airport. Without a functioning health department, accreditation of physicians is difficult. After a struggle to find a clinic director, Dr. Zephir’s presence provides strong leadership.

Valerie concludes, “We’re the only ones in town for many in the region, and with costs increasing and supply challenges, it’s tough to meet all those additional needs. HAPI wants to focus on maternal and cardiac care, but we can’t do all that we hoped to do at this time.” Still, mothers who come through HAPI’s doors are being served. “A year ago, we were delivering around 12 infants a month,” Valerie notes. “This December, 23. It’s insane! And an insane fuel bill to match!”

Jeremie Rising Advance #3020507 (Next Generation Ministries)

John and Nancy Smith, founders of Jeremie Rising, began their year-in-review summary with this statement: “An indifferent world watches as Haiti’s gangs rob, kidnap, and kill with impunity.” Jeremie is six hours southwest of Port-au-Prince by car, so it remains somewhat isolated from the city’s violence. “But Jeremie still suffers from shortages of food, fuel, other necessities, and escalating prices” of available goods. The report notes, “Many Haitians go days without eating, and the number falling into the hunger category has risen.”

Despite these challenges, Jeremie Rising listed many accomplishments in 2024. Two orphanages provided shelter, food, water, healthcare, and security to the 60 children at home in those facilities. Similar care was provided for ten otherwise homeless adults at Good Sam Elder Care. The Gebeau Clinic, the only medical facility in an economically depressed area, provided eye care and other services. Tuition sponsorships were given to nearly 170 K-12 students. Free diagnosis and treatment were given to 1000+ persons in four mobile medical events. Seventeen shelter homes were built for homeless families. Medical and dental assistance helped 50 other Haitians. Five villages received food support at year-end. All these services were made possible through the shipment of over four tons of supplies.

Leaders of Jeremie Rising express hope that help coming from outside Haiti will address gang violence and assist in the reconstruction of a functioning government.

What Can We Do?

Wilbert Voltaire is among the leaders asking for prayer. “Please pray for peace, safety, and strength for the people of Haiti. Prayers are powerful and deeply appreciated,” he says.

Equally important is spreading awareness. When people understand what is happening, they engage and become involved.

Those who feel passionate about Haiti’s humanitarian crisis can make sure their leaders are aware of their concerns. Please contact your representatives and senators.

Further, the Michigan Conference Haiti Task Force announces a new opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of Haiti’s people. In 2024, the Annual Conference adopted a shared vision of ministry with Haitian ministry partners. In response to that commitment, the task force is bringing legislation to the 2025 Michigan Annual Conference. The task force proposes a conference-wide campaign to address the critical and urgent challenges the Haitian people face.

If adopted, the campaign will run from June 1, 2025, to June 7, 2026, aiming to raise $215,000 (about $350 per congregation). Fifty percent of the funding will support life-giving healthcare, housing, and education initiatives through our three EngageMI ministry partners. The remaining 50% will fund work by a new ministry partner, Grassroots Community Voices Foundation (MUSO). MUSO’s focus is livelihood sustainability through microfinance and savings programs. Click to learn more about MUSO.

The campaign emphasizes empowering Haitians to actively shape their own recovery and reduce dependency on outside aid. “The desired long-term outcome is to foster a stable future by minimizing paternalistic dynamics and building local capacity for self-sufficiency.” As Michigan United Methodists support these faith partners in this effort — Grace, HAPI, Jeremie Rising, and Grassroots — Haiti’s people may experience God’s vision of shalom.

More specifics will be shared soon. Here’s an overview of the proposed funding allocation:

• • Grace Children’s Hospital: $33,333 for medical equipment and supplies
  • HAPI: $25,833 for 1,033 healthcare visits; $7,500 for technical training of 25 youth and young adults
  • Jeremie Rising: $7,500 for five mobile health clinics; $25,833 for K-12 education scholarships for 74 students
  • Grassroots Community Voices Foundation: $100,000 for 20 mutual solidarity groups for savings and loans in Jeremie and Mizak

Connected in Faith

Haiti is suffering, and the country is in deep crisis. But Valerie Mossman-Celestin sees “signs of life, hope, and growth continuing to emerge, adapting and pressing forward with quiet determination.”

Dr. Riouse Zephir expresses that spirit of resilience. “My faith is in God, nothing is impossible to God,” she proclaims. “I still have hope that one day Haiti will rise.”

John and Nancy Smith are grateful for Haitians who persevere under circumstances none of us can imagine. They invite “all of us to be the answer to their prayers.”

The special relationship between Methodists in Michigan and Haiti stretches over 29 years. But, as Len Middleton points out, the roots of compassion go even deeper. “The relationship spans 59 years,” he says. “Grace Children’s Hospital was founded by a Methodist couple from Indiana. But the organization’s early board members were from Michigan. They were deeply involved in building the first hospital in 1971. Grace is the Michigan Conference’s oldest partnership.”

The partnership endures today as part of EngageMI. The EngageMI approach of the Michigan Conference is founded on “ministry with” not “ministry for or to” others. HAPI’s Wilbert Voltaire explains, “I find hope in our relationship with the Michigan Conference. This partnership shows that we are not alone and that others care about our well-being. Together, we are planting seeds of hope that will grow into lasting change.”

He continues, “This is a wonderful example of how faith and compassion can bring people together. The people of the Michigan Conference provide vital resources and encouragement, helping the people of Haiti continue our work during these tough times.” For him, this connection is more about shared goals than money. “It reminds us that we are all part of one global community, united in our efforts to serve and uplift others,” Voltaire concludes.

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Last Updated on January 21, 2025