International Missions - THE MESSENGER

APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY OF THE FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS

UP-DATE: HAITI 2013 Port au Prince, Haití Port au Prince, Haiti

- -

Panaromic view of the port of Port au Prince

OUR APOSTOLIC MISSION-HAITI THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI The Republic of Haiti is a country of the Antilles, located in the western part of the Island of Hispaniola and bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south and west by the Caribbean Sea or the West Indies and east to the Dominican Republic. The Haitian territory has a population of 10, 033.000 inhabitants. The official languages are French and Haitian Creole.

Haiti's economy generates a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of almost 7 billion dollars and a per capita income of $ 772.00 dollars, being the poorest in the Americas and one of the world's most underprivileged. According to The World Factbook, 80% of its population lives below poverty level and two thirds of it are dependent of agriculture and fishing.

Haiti proclaimed its independence on January 1, 1804, being the second country in the Americas, and first in Latin America to access it after a singular abolitionist revolutionary process which begun in 1791 that led to a protracted armed struggle against France, the colonial power since the late seventeenth century. This process made Haiti, whose population has a 95% ethnic base originated in sub-Saharan African people, the scene of the first case of Universal History by which the rebellion of the people under the system of slavery led to their emancipation and abolition of this form of exploitation independently and enduring.

In Haiti, 55% of the population is Catholic and about 20% are Protestant. Haitian Voodoo is a tradition associated with the arrival of slaves from Africa to America; this makes the country unique since it is practiced by more than half of the population.

UP-DATE: HAITI 2013

-2-

On January 12, 2010, at 4:53 local time, Haiti was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale, the country's most severe earthquake in 200 years. The epicenter of the quake was near the capital Port au Prince. It has been estimated that the death toll reached over 300,000 people and left over 1 million victims.

OUR APOSTOLIC MISSION-HAITI The Apostolic Assembly through its missionaries has been working in the Caribbean for over forty years.

With the arrival of Missionary Fidel Almaraz and his family to Puerto Rico in 1972, the Apostolic Mission in the Caribbean began. The Almaraz family worked to establish the Apostolic mission in Puerto Rico and in 1979 moved to the Dominican Republic.

Once the church in Guachupita in the capital of Santo Domingo was established, the first apostolic brothers of the Republic of Haiti were baptized in Jesus’ name in 1981.

In 1982 Missionary Almaraz and a group of 10 brethren made an exploratory trip to Port au Prince. As the years passed, other exploratory trips were made, Supervisor Pablo Chan and Pastor Felix Luciano traveled in 1996, and in 2004 Missionary Fernando Pérez also traveled to Cap Haitien. God was working with His church with a passion for the Haitian people.

Missionaries Fidel & Petra Almaraz

By 1994 the works in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic had been established. It was during this time that Pastor Elias Cordova of Riverbank, California made missionary trips to Cuba, and soon we had more than 500 brethren baptized in the name of Jesus and this is how our work in Cuba began, but there was still Haiti.

Pastor Felix Luciano of Guachupita, Dominican Republic continued to work with the Haitian people, and managed to have a Haitian congregation of over 24 people, Ramon Herrera was appointed minister in charge of this group of brethren. Time passed and in 2007 Bishop Arturo Espinosa, Secretary of International Missions proposed the goal of opening the work in Haiti. They began looking for a missionary and again time passed with this goal not being achieved.

On the afternoon of January 12, 2010 the city of Port au Prince was violently shaken by a massive earthquake, soon the world learned of this terrible tragedy. The young Apostolic minister Jesse Mendoza, president of the Jordan International Aid humanitarian foundation immediately went into action and three days later landed in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and with the help of Pastor Fernando Perez organized a humanitarian relief trip and on January 16, he was in Port au Prince distributing food and networking for humanitarian aid. Bishops Victor Prado, Secretary of Social Assistance and Bishop Arturo Espinosa, Secretary of International Missions were informed, and immediately a letter was sent to the Apostolic Assembly and the response of the churches was impressive. By January 21, led by Pastor Fernando Pérez, Bishops Arthur Espinosa and Victor Prado, organized a convoy of vehicles loaded with food for distribution in the neighborhood of Carrefour, Port au Prince. For the next six months these humanitarian aid trips were made. During this same time

-3-

through Jordan International Aid Foundation, Minister Mendoza was leading several Medical Teams and support staff, who gave medical assistance in various sectors of the city of Port au Prince.

Under the direction of God the necessary steps were taken for the establishment of the Apostolic Assembly in Haiti. Minister Ram贸n Herrera was installed as our missionary in Haiti on June 17, 2010.

The new church began to hold services under a temporary tent, however humble the property, the glory of God manifested powerfully, and many souls came to hear the preaching of the Gospel and

receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This tent was located a few feet from where they were distributing food. Many of the same people who received humanitarian aid are now receiving the word of God. Missionary Herrera has worked tirelessly, and in these two and a half years our God has been glorified.

Our mission in Haiti has baptized over 132 people in the glorious name of Jesus Christ. In the congregation of Carrefour we have about 200 brethren, in Barrio Merg茅 we have a small congregation of 50 members, and east of the city at the border with the Dominican Republic we have another congregation of 80 members. These last two are groups that have joined our Assembly.

During the supervisory visits both Bishop Arturo Espinosa and Bishop Juan Lopez have given the Strategy of Jesus Seminar, and leadership conferences. We thank God that we have a strong group of young leaders. Friendship groups have also been organized and the church is in victory and growth.

In the first week of June, Missionary Herrera will make a journey of exploration to the center of Haiti, to meet with three small groups wishing to join the Apostolic Assembly. Missionary Herrera and a group

UP-DATE: HAITI 2013

-4-

of leaders have been working to register the Assembly with the Haitian government and be able to receive legal status.

We continue to pray for the church in Haiti, may God help and bless it greatly. In the same way we pray for our Missionary Ram贸n Herrera, his wife sister Awilda, and their five children: Dina, Raquel, Noemi, Isaac and baby Benjamin. We also take this opportunity to thank all the Apostolic Assembly for the tireless support to the missionary work around the world, the International Board, bishops, all our pastors and especially to our Dorcas for their hard work and love with the Flor Azul. May God bless you greatly.

HERRERA FAMILY - 2011

Benjam铆n Herrera - 2013

Herrera Family: Lt to Rt. Brother Ram贸n, Noem铆, Raquel, Isaac, Sister Awilda and Dina

-5-

APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY - HAITI

OUR CHILDREN “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it..” PROVERBS 22:6

UP-DATE: HAITI 2013

-6-

-7-

APOSTOLIC MISSION HAITI: Carrefour Neighborhood

Bishop Víctor Prado - February 2010

Pastor Arturo Arias—Menlo Park, Ca. With a group of visitors and brethren receiving the Word of God - February 2010

UP-DATE: HAITI 2013

-8-

Instalation Service - Missionary Herrera / June 17, 2010

Bishop Juan L贸pez - Regional Supervisor Missionary Herrera, translating. Pastor Fernando Perez in the back-

The ministry praying for the Herrera Family

-9-

APOSTOLIC MISSION HAITI - 2013

Missionary Herrera and Bishop Espinosa—2013 Carrefour, Port au Prince - 2013

Barrio Mergé, Port au Prince - 2013 Border Haití - Dominican Republic - 2013

UP-DATE: HAITI 2013

- 10 -

“Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ …”

- 11 -

Flor Azul 2013 GOAL

$1,500,000 CONTRIBUTION

$100.00 per each Dorca “Until the Whole World Hears” INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS UP-COMING ACTIVITIES: June 7 - 9 June 21 - 24 June 26 - 30 July 7 - 14 July 24 - 30 August 6 - 11

National Convention - Bolivia Cochabamba, Bolivia Supervision / Transition San Juan, Puerto Rico Supervision Santo Domingo, Dom. Republic Supervision - Honduras San Pedro Sula, Honduras Supervision - Cuba La Habana, Cuba Supervision - Tanzania Arusha, Tanzania

APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY OF THE FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS www.aaintlmissions.org - 12 -