Easter, 2008
Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said: why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive?
Luke 24:4b-5 Dear Friends,Easter carries a simple and uncomplicated message: Jesus is alive. This is a message of life and joy. At the tomb the women could not contain their emotions. They were overjoyed in receiving the good news from the two men sitting in the empty tomb. They were witness to the power of God who had brought His only Son back from the dead. God had accepted the deliberate life of sacrifice of His Son and gave Him the crown of glory. Easter is the joyful conclusion of a life marked by suffering, pain, rejection, hard work under pressure, privation, temptation, and difficult moments where darkness tried to overshadow light, even unto death. When He rose, he triumphed. This is an example for you and me. When we look beyond Calvary where the cross is erected and contemplate the empty tomb, we discover that the end of struggle is joy and happiness. 
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In Haiti we struggle daily to fight illiteracy, material poverty, and spiritual darkness. We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the crucified and the risen. We are confronted with many difficulties but we are sustained by an attitude of hope that at the end of the tunnel there is light. Recently someone told me that the situation of Haiti has not improved, it is a dead end and that all efforts are vain. I find this puzzling. The situation stimulates me to work harder. I know by experience that we have to suffer in order to better our situation. Many years of struggle in providing education for our children and their parents, efforts in community development of Northern Haiti, and the productive results obtained have encouraged us to explore new avenues to help our people. Easter is a reality to us. When we receive a scholarship for a child or a donation to make more space available for our growing school, we know that it comes because of many prayers, hard work and faith in the Lord. Easter liberates us here in Haiti from a spirit of defeat. Our mission is to carry this message to the least of Jesus brothers and sisters. We thank you for your partnership and generosity which facilitate our projects for our underprivileged brothers and sisters. Thanks to you, many families are filled with joy and can shout this Easter: Halleluiah, the Lord is alive! So are we, halleluiah! Please continue to hold the meaning of Easter alive in the daily life of our people by renewing your scholarships and by spreading the word to people around you. There are approximately 200 children who do not yet have sponsors. Your help is urgent. Remember that with a $200.00 scholarship gift you can maintain a child in elementary school for a year. It is a gift that will bring joy and blessings to you and yours. The children and their parents, the staff of the schools, my family and I wish all of you a Happy Easter. This comes with the assurance of my prayers. 
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