In the midst of the ongoing suffering in Haiti, the cries of the victims can still be heard. For all of us that love Haiti, and for all of us touched by the plight of our Haitian family this prayer for Haiti by Rose Marie Berger is both moving and timely.

Most Holy Creator God, Lord of heaven and earth,

we bring before you today your people of Haiti.

It is You who set in motion the stars and seas,

You who raised up the mountains of the Massif de la Hotte

and Pic La Selle. It is You who made her people in your very image: Their gregarious hearts and generous spirits,

their hunger and thirst for righteousness and liberty.

It is you, O Lord, who planted the rhythms of konpa, Twoubadou,

and zouk in the streets of Cite-Soleil; You who walk the paths

outside of Jacmel and Hinche. Your people, O Lord, cry out to you.

Haiti, O Haiti: The world’s oldest black republic,

the second-oldest republic in the Western world.

God, You are the One who answers the cries of the suffering.

You are a God who sees, frees, and redeems your people.

“I too have heard the moaning of my people,” you spoke to Moses.

Now, Lord, speak again to Chanté, Agwe, Nadege, and Jean Joseph.

Speak now, O Lord, and comfort Antoine, Jean-Baptiste,

Toto, and Djakout. Raise up your people from the ash heap

of destruction and give them strong hearts and hands,

shore up their minds and spirits. Help them to bear this new burden.

As for us, Lord, we who are far away from the rubble and the dust,

from the sobbing and moans, but who hold them close in our hearts,

imbue us with the strength of Simon the Cyrene.

Help us to carry the Haitian cross. Show us how to lighten

their yoke with our prayers, our aid, our resources. Teach

us to work harder for justice in our own country and dignity in Haiti,

so that we may stand with integrity when we hold our Haitian families in our arms once again. We ask this in the name of Jezikri,

Jesus Christ. Amen.

                                                         Rose Marie Berger

In my last post I wrote about meeting Raymond Joseph, Haiti’s Ambassador to the United States. I have now been priviledged to be with him at five events during the past two days here in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

I’ve seen him at townhall meetings, media events, business meetings, invitation only luncheons and citywide memorial services. I’ve had the opportunity to share some quiter moments with him as well. And the more time I have spent with him, the more inspired and hopeful for Haiti I become.

Ray Joseph is a truly remarkable man. At 19 he founded “Reyon Limye” (Rays of Light), the first monthly Christian newspaper in Cayes, Haiti. It is still being published today.

In the 1960 he worked with the American Bible Society and translated the first New Testament & Psalms into Haitian Creole. During the 60s he was also known as a radio personality. He founded the first radio broadcast in New York City beamed agaist the Duvalier dictatorship.

In the 70s & 80s Ray and his brother Leo founded the Haiti-Observateur, a Haitian weekly paper for Haitians outside Haiti. It remains the premier news source for Haitians in the US.

In 1990 he became Haiti’s Charge d’Affairs in Washington, DC and Haiti’s representative to the Organization of American States. In March 2004 he was called back to Washington as Haiti’s Ambassador.

Ray Joseph is a leader. He has a vision for Haiti that goes far beyond what most believe is possible. A man of strong faith and action, he knows how to get things done. There is hope for Haiti.

Leaders come in all sizes and shapes. But regardless of their physical characteristics, all the leaders I have ever met have a certain something special that sets them apart. Some might call it charisma. Others might just call it a strong sense of assurance or confidence. Still others might refer to that certain something as faith.

Haitian Ambassador Ray Joseph has all three. But he also has far more. After being with him for several hours during the afternoon and evening yesterday here in Tampa, I am thoroughly impressed.

Ambassador Joseph is not large physically. And when he speaks, he isn’t loud or forceful. In fact, he’s very soft spoken. But he communicates with a power that is palpable.

I have studied leadership for years, and I admire good leadership skills. Ambassador Ray Joseph is a leader, and a good one.

Here’s one example.During a town hall meeting last night one American physician (just returned from Port-au-Prince) complained about a lack of cooperation her team had experienced from Haitian hospital administrators. Ambassador Joseph gave his opinion of what was happening. Then he said that there was no need to be stymied by red tape and a lack of cooperation.

In the future, he said, just give him a call…and then gave his personal cell phone number. He also gave all those present his personal email address.

Ambassador Ray Joseph cares. He wants to help, and he is available. He is a leader that will help make a real difference in Haiti. After meeting him, I am inspired. There is more hope for Haiti than I had imagined.

All of us continue to be mesmerized by the unfolding tragedy in our tiny neighbor nation of Haiti. Impoverished and long-battered, even before the recent disastrous earthquake, Haiti is a land of sorrow, a land brimming with pain, a land in desperate need of love and compassion. Haiti is a nation in desperate need of prayer.

Some who continue to maintain that disasters such as the Haitian earthquake is God’s judgment on the sinfulness of a people. Hogwash. If that were the case, our own country would certainly no longer exist.

How do we know when God is truly near? I like the martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero’s answer.

There is one rule by which to judge if God is near us
   or is far away—
the rule that God’s word is giving us today.
everyone concerned with the hungry, the naked, the poor,
   for those who have vanished in police custody,
   for the tortured,
   for the prisoners,
   for all flesh that suffers,
has God close at hand.

God is near when we care for all those around us. It really is that simple. When we care for others as we would care God, then God is close to us.

I pray that all of us may have God close at hand in the coming days.

Please take the time to share this post with any students you may know who are helping in the fight to end hunger. The email reprinted below details how Sodexo is again offering $5,000 scholarships to both students and the hunger organizations with which they volunteer.

The deadline is Februrary 26^th, so please spread the word. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage more students to get involved in the fight to eradicate hunger in our lifetime.

Hello fellow members of the Alliance to End Hunger,

 Most of you know that for several years Sodexo has been offering $5,000 scholarships to students who are doing great things to fight hunger in America.  We also provide a matching $5,000 grant to the hunger organization that they are working with. This is open to all students from kindergarten through graduate school. 

 The deadline for application is February 26th.  I’m sure that all students could use a little extra money these days, and I know that hunger organizations can as well.  More information about the program and how to apply can be found at www.SodexoFoundation.org. 

 If you have children, know children, or know of someone who has children, please share this information with as many people as you can. 

 If you have questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to call me directly at 301 987 4430 or to connect via email:  steve.brady@sodexo.com.

 Kind regards,

Steve Brady

Stephen J Brady

SVP Corporate Communications

North America

T: 301 987 4430

F: 301 987 4439

steve.brady@sodexo.com

I am currently in Tampa, Florida coordinating a wonderful partnership between the Haitian community of the greater Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. Over 15 Caribbean and Haitian organizations are actively working together to help in Haiti after the disaster. And they have chosen Stop Hunger Now as one of the three agencies to recieve the funds they are collecting.

This is both an honor and a great responsibility. SHN was chosen because we have been working in Haiti for over twelve years. We have a track record of significant accomplishment in a country where that is never easy to achieve. We have also demonstrated that we have the necessaary knowledge to use donated resources wisely and to best effect.

I am reminded of something Martin Buber once said. We have to respond with action in a crisis. But the action must be informed action. And that is what SHN is able to provide in this crisis, action rooted in a knowledge gained by experience.

The greater the crisis becomes, the more earnest and consciously responsible is the knowledge demanded of us; for although what is demanded is a deed, only the deed which is born of knowledge will help overcome the crisis.  

This knowledge is what allows our many partners to have the assurance that funds donated to us will be used wisely and effeciently to achieve the greatest good. They recognize that SHN gets the job done. It is something we can all take pride in accomplishing.

To be human is to be hungry. All children are hungry. They are born hungry. Most children are always hungry. Some children are starving. It is terifying to see a starving child. It is more terrifying to be a starving child. Starvation is horrible. To be without food is hell.

So writes Martin Bell in his wonderful little book, The Way of the Wolf. Until you have seen a starving child, or have listened to the wailing of a grieving mother whose child has just succumbed to starvation, no words can truly convey the reality of Martin Bell’s words.

Stop Hunger Now has a vision of a world where such sights and sounds are just distant memories. We know that by all of us working together we can erase the obscenity of hunger in our lifetime. Please help.

One of the most desperate and immediate needs in Haiti is food. This is a need that was present before the earthquake. And it is one that will only grow in the weeks and months to follow.

Stop Hunger Now will continue to provide high protien meals to the hungry in Haiti. Your help is critical in making that possible. Your gifts of time and money is saving lives in Haiti. You are feeding hungry Haitian children. Thank you for caring. Thank you for keeping hell at bay.

Earlier today I sent out a post highlighting the power of our ongoing partnerships in respondinding to the tragic earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This email from Lee Warren (who just returned from a week in Haiti), is another beautiful illustration of what happens when all of us work together.

Stop Hunger Now hosted a meal packaging event Episcopal Diocese in Memphis, TN. The meals were sent to Haiti. The email below describes how some of those meals are now being used.

The food Memphis packaged was initially packaged for St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children and school children in Montrouis. Plans changed following the quake. The food was stored at the Episcopal college. An American Episcopal priest reported this:

 St. Vincent’s is destroyed, no matter what you hear. I do think that is reality. The boy’s foyer is destroyed as well. No one knows the exact number of children who died. Sadoni thinks 6-10 at the main facility and maybe 4 at the foyer. The numbers “move” all the time! To my knowledge, no adults lost their lives there. The food sent earlier was a Godsend. It was stored in the depot on the College St. Pierre campus where everyone ended up. It has been used and appreciated (Pere Sadoni wanted me to tell you that).