January 2012 Archives

Numerous celebrities and missionaries have made the trek to Haiti since the country's devastating earthquake in 2010. Among them is Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, whose visit sparked the creation of the organization MyLifeSpeaks, which is dedicated to helping the more than 500,000 Haitian orphans.

"How has Haiti changed my life? Well, it has completely transformed my thinking," the newlywed says in a MyLifeSpeaks video (watch below). "I will never say the words 'I'm starving' again, because I'm not ... You just fall in love with these people. They are some of the most beautiful, big hearted, friendly, amazing people."

It was during this trip that Hillary took with the Tennessee couple, Mike and Missy Wilson, that the three visited the Wings of Hope special needs orphanage.

A U.S. man who helped build a trauma center in Haiti after January 2010's devastating earthquake was treated at that hospital after being critically wounded during a robbery in the capital of Port-au-Prince, his wife and doctors said Friday.

David Bompart, 50, of Columbus, Ohio, was shot Tuesday afternoon outside a bank and was in critical condition Friday at a Florida hospital. Bompart was picking up money for an orphanage building project when robbers sprayed bullets at him at close range. He was hit but able to walk to a nearby Project Medishare hospital for help, said his wife, Nicolle Bompart, 45.

The robbers stole his camera and passport, but the money for the orphanage remained safe in Bompart's pants pocket, his wife said. The suspects have not been arrested.

The second that Audio Adrenaline frontman Mark Stuart opened his mouth Saturday at Broadway Christian Church, it was clear he would not be singing to any great extent.

Audio A retired from the stage and recording studio in 2007 after serious medical issues silenced Stuart's singing voice. "I developed a voice disorder from screaming at concerts for 20 years," he told the audience in a raspy voice that didn't sound much better than it did at the group's last Lexington concert, a few blocks over from Broadway Christian in Rupp Arena in spring 2007. "But the thing is, in losing my voice, I have become the voice for thousands of orphans in Haiti."

And that's what brought Stuart and Audio Adrenaline bassist Will McGinniss to Lexington on Saturday along with worship artists Know Hope Collective.

Two years after a devastating earthquake killed an estimated 300,000 people in Haiti, Christianity is fast replacing Voodoo in the lives and practices of the people, a missionary has revealed.

According to the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, there is a fusion of beliefs in Haiti - 80 percent of people profess to be Catholic, and another 16 percent are Protestant yet roughly half of the population still practices Voodoo.

"...and a little child will lead them." (Isaiah 11:6)

Three-year-old Christopher Sempier of Cherry Hill has led the way with a toy drive to benefit the children of Haiti.

Christopher's dad, Scott, said he and the family went to the Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey, in Marlton, to look at Christopher's maternal grandmother's (Carol Plimpton) painting on display there.

Christopher brought a beaten-up Matchbox ambulance from Scott's childhood and was playing with it there. According to Scott, Leslee Jacobs, who works at the center, saw his toy and told him that the little boys in Haiti would love to play with that toy and that they don't have any toys.

On Jan. 12, for the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake, thousands of people flocked to the Shalom Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The "church" is just a plywood stage under a patchwork of tattered tarps.

The American missionaries arrived in a beige bus in the days after the earthquake, promising a better life for the children of this village in the mountains above Haiti's capital.

Haitian President Michel Martelly has offered his deepest thanks to Canada for its efforts in helping his struggling nation get back on its feet.

Sean Penn has accepted the job of "ambassador at large" for the Caribbean nation of Haiti.

Two years ago, a massive earthquake struck Haiti. According to the country's government, more than 300,000 people died.

Days after the earthquake killed his little girl and destroyed much of his house, Meristin Florival moved his family into a makeshift tent on a hill in the Haitian capital and called it home. Two years later they're still there, living without drains, running water or electricity.

Yesterday, the First Lady of the Republic of Haiti, Sophia Martelly, visited the Mercy & Sharing Village, a 17-acre campus home to 127 orphans, approximately half of who have physical or mental disabilities. Mrs. Martelly was cheerfully greeted by a delegation of smiling children, who presented her with a bouquet of flowers before taking her on a tour to see the newly opened Rehabilitation and Therapy Center. She also visited the orphanage's school and the computer-learning center. The First Lady then spent time with the children in their dormitories viewing their drawings and schoolwork. "This is the first time I have seen such positive work being done for children," has declared Ms. Martelly "this is such great work."

On the 208th anniversary of Haitian independence, January 1, 2012, was held a traditional ceremony in the city of Gonaives, taking part the President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Garry Conille.