L’Arche USA recently received a letter from L’Arche Haiti board president, Evelyne Bazin Verdier. Our communities in Carrefour and Chantal continue to slowly move forward to re-build. Your prayers and contributions are reaching them, as Evelyne confirms in her letter, and we add our gratefulness to you.  

March 12, 2010

Dear Friends in L’Arche,

We have been receiving your words of encouragement since the earthquake which hit Haiti so hard, including our community of Carrefour. The telephone calls of Jean Vanier to Jacqueline have brought some much needed comfort to us, like a Eucharist, for the journey. Each person here appreciates this active solidarity, which is coming from all corners of the Federation. Thank you to all of you, from the bottom of our hearts.

The members of L'Arche at Carrefour, having slept several nights in the open air, are now sheltering in tents. Several of them have been welcomed by the community of Chantal, where they have been happily settling in. But with the rainy season almost upon us, our temporary shelter under canvas is raising new fears and problems. Please, keep L'Arche Haiti and its members in your prayers. The important task of reconstruction lies ahead.

I would also like to make you aware that within the last week, L'Arche Haiti has had some impact on the French media. The blog, ‘Mwen pa fou’, that I invite you to check out, if you haven’t already done so, was the subject of an article in the journal ‘La Croix’ in its internet edition of 11^th March. I invite you to keep logging on to the blog of Jonathan, an assistant in L'Arche Chantal, in order to get a better understanding of our situation: http://larche.ca/reporters/jonathan/

Please continue to write to us. Your messages tell us that we are part of the same family. This feeling of belonging to a common humanity builds up our hopes in a new country, and in renewed communities carrying the mission of L'Arche.

 Evelyne

Evelyne Bazin Verdier
Board President of L'Arche Haïti