Thursday, January 24
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Haiti
Marchers, organized by FONDAMA, protest a USAID seed donation because plenty of locally produced seeds were available on the Haitian market.
The adage of not giving a person a fish but teaching a person to fish does not go far enough for Haiti. I would add, “Take down the fences and the ‘No Fishing’ signs so all will have access to the fish.” The fences and the “No Fishing” signs may not be tangible, but the problems of agricultural vulnerability and dependency on outside influences are real. They keep people from being able to feed themselves.
The Mouvman Peyizan Papay and Service Chrétien d’Haiti organized two consultations in 2009 that resulted in the establishment of a Joining Hands network, for a new approach to antihunger ministry. In June 2009 the network was formalized under the name Hand-in-Hand Foundation (FONDAMA, by its Creole acronym). FONDAMA intends to “restore the Haitian environment toward food sovereignty and sustainability” by promoting family and cooperative agriculture that protects the rights of future generations and restores God’s creation in the process.
Do you hear a call to “join hands” and help PC(USA) partners in Haiti restore God’s creation and to build solidarity between coalitions of churches in the U.S. and networks of overseas churches, grassroots groups, and NGOs? Reflect on the biblical call to work as partners with people who have been made poor and denied access to God’s bounty. Download the Presbyterian Hunger Program Bible study.
—Pix Mahler, PC(USA) partnership facilitator for Haiti
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) People in Mission
Mark Hare, agricultural technician, Mouvman Peyizan Papay, Presbyterian Hunger Program • Pix Mahler, partnership facilitator, World Mission
Partners/Ministries
Episcopal Diocese of Haiti (EEH): Rt. Rev. Jean Zaché Duracin, bishop, Father Kesner Ajax, partnership program coordinator • Joining Hands Network, Haiti (FONDAMA): Chavannes Jean Baptiste, coordinator • Mouvman Peyizan Papay: Chavannes Jean Baptiste, director
Presbytery Partnerships: Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, with the EEH; Central Florida Presbytery, with CODEP
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Marianne Blickenstaff, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Betsy Blocker, Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program
Let us pray
“May our reflections and actions contribute to God’s glorious vision for how we treat one another in a world that grows enough food for all of God’s children” (PHP Bible Study). Amen.
Daily Lectionary
Morning Psalms 36; 147:12-20
First Reading Isaiah 45:5-17
Second Reading Ephesians 5:15-33
Gospel Reading Mark 4:21-34
Evening Psalms 80; 27
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Comments
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As of the last graduation, there are 67 Haitians, including 11 men, who have graduated from the FSIL Nursing School of the Episcopal University of Haiti. FSIL opened in 2005 in Léogâne. We can help educate more of these capable students as well as employ them. It takes money and equipment. In order to be prepared to take the responsibilities of good government, including health care of its citizens, we can work with Haitians to help them do this.
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The problems in Haiti are so complex that it is goping to take a whole lot more than churches to solve them. How about all organizations start working together for the good of all? There is a lot of selfish action there!