SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (ANS) -- An evening of worship and praise, including emotionally moving reports on a Haiti relief effort, served as the backdrop for a tearful reunion between an orphanage leader and mission team members at Coast Bible Church Friday.

Pastor Pierre Alexis, director of Maison des Enfants de Dieu (House of the Children of God) orphanage in Port-au-Prince, in the U.S. to raise awareness and funds, met and spoke with those that just weeks prior had come to help after the devastating earthquake in January. Mission team family members, friends, and those with a heart for Haiti also attended.

Pastor Pierre Alexis meets with MISSION HAITI team member. (Photo: Alex Murashko, ONM)

Alexis' infectious smile was not enough to stop the tears from flowing from members of MISSION HAITI, a collaborative effort by the Pastors Fellowship of South Orange County and EMS (Emergency Ministry Services), as they greeted each other and hugged before and after the church service.

After hearing from the host church's pastor Neil Anderson, MISSION HAITI leaders Rick Yeomans and Ron Sukut, and ministry partner Mike Gibson, those in attendance gave Alexis a long standing ovation.

Maison des Enfants de Dieu received major coverage from CNN and Fox News as reporters discovered that the orphanage, filled with 80 children at the time, was left to fend for itself for many days after the quake. None of the children died in the quake, but the severe shaking and site of the surrounding damage, caused the orphans and nannies to live outside under tarps and inside the back of a pickup truck.

Normally hardened journalists were fighting back tears as they reported from the scene, surrounded by children who clung to them.

"The people in Haiti are open to the Gospel right now," said Alexis, who was interviewed by Gibson during the service. "We have 1 million people living in tents. The situation is very difficult because life is getting harder.
 

Haitian residents help So. California team build perimeter wall at orphanage. (Photo: MISSION HAITI)

"But I believe God is with us and life can get better, not worse. The earthquake led a lot of people to understand that the person that is in control of the earth is God," he said. Alexis talked about the voodoo culture that is entrenched in Haiti and how one voodoo priest was reported to have had a conversation with an evil spirit who denied having any control of the earth and said he could not help the priest in any way. The priest was so disappointed in this revelation that he proclaimed that he would not serve this evil spirit any longer and would "from now on, serve the one who is in control." Alexis said the voodoo priest pledged his allegiance to Jesus and is now a Christian.

Plans for a revival and intense bible studies are planned for the summer, Alexis said. He said he looks forward to a continued partnership with the Orange County group. MISSION HAITI has sent three teams to Haiti since the quake and plans to send more. The group's efforts have included re-construction and construction on the property of the orphanage, relief help for the nannies, and help for local hospitals and emergency centers.

For more information, visit the group's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MISSIonHAITIFB - http://www.facebook.com/MISSIONHAITIFB or its Godreports.com page at http://www.godreports.com/organization-view/1131 - http://www.godreports.com/organization-view/1131

Source: (ANS) http://www.assistnews.net/" eudora="autourl - www.assistnews.net