Hurrican update

This is the second day of hurrican Noel in Haiti. The rivers all over the country overflow with water from the rain. The wind is blowing mildly and this is good. The only fear is for an increase of rain. Since the soil is already wet, if we have more rains, there might be some mud slides. Some of the houses are not that stable thus, some lives might be in danger.

The rain is good for the crops and there will be a good harvest for the end of the year. We are doing fine. The weather drops from about 10 degree Celcius, for me the cooler temperature is good.

Conclusion on the Montreal debate

Following the debate, there was an official document called: the Montreal Declaration that stated the Haitian believer’s position in regard to Voodoo. That document was signed by all the pastors in Montreal. The next day, I was invited to sign the Montreal document presenting the believers’ position to Voodoo as a religion. In a time when every government in Haiti is trying to elevate Voodoo to a national religion, that document is very important. One article states the fact that until now, there is no official founder for Voodoo and also, there is no official book for that religion

The Montreal debate gave to the Haitian believers the first opportunity to offer their point of view on history and the role Voodoo played in the Haitian revolution in 1787. For the first time we have seen that Islam was a big part of the slaves live. Some of the revolution key leaders were Imam, Islamic teachers. One of them, Bookman was an Islamic leader that carried with him his Koran, thus his name "Bookman" the man of the book. Some of the myths surrounding the first leader’s congress at Boiscaïman (Wood at the Imam's house) were demystified and the role of Voodoo was questioned. Now, Haitian believers have their own view on History and specially the Haitian revolution in connection to Voodoo. Mr. Févry did a great job in helping us see what really happened at the ceremony where presumably Haiti was dedicated to Voodoo. According to Me. Févry, an Imam would never sacrifice a pig in a Voodoo ceremony. For the Muslim as for the Jews, pigs are unclean. So the historical evidence of Haiti’s dedication to Voodoo has been challenged once again and there is no historian that supports the idea of any consecration of the country to Voodoo.
We praise God for all of you who prayed for the debate and we ask you to pray for a book that Mr. Févry will publish in response to Dr. Fils-Aimé.

Gersan attending the Montreal debate last September.

Debate on Voodoo, last up date

Following the debate, there was an official document called: the Montreal Declaration that stated the Haitian believer’s position in regard to Voodoo. That document was signed by all the pastors in Montreal.

Debate on Voodoo Sixth up date

A large number of people from the Haitian community all across North America came to watch the debate, for it is such an important issue for all of us. We praise God that Me. Fevry was able to articulate clearlyour position as Haitian believers in regard to the Voodoo faith. We know that many Haitians pratice the Voodoo as their religion. We have a lot of respect for those people and in no way, we do not mean to offend them. But it was important for us as Haitian believers to have a clear position and to defend our faith.

Debate on Voodoo Fith up date

Me Févry shook the bases of this assumption while calling in question its historical, philosophical, ethnological and sociological arguments. Févry supports, for example, that the event of Wood Caiman (or Bwa Kay Imam) was not a ceremony voodoo, but rather a “conspiracy of the leaders of the Haitian revolution” to prepare the general revolt of the slaves of 1791. Févry as drew up a comparative table between the voodoo and Christianity to show as the voodoo in its esoteric and fetishistic practices degrades its members by the fear and the lie while the Christian faith releases the hearts and makes the promotion of the national development. step@uebh.org.
It was the first face to face between Voodoo and Christianity on an ideological basis and it provides to both sides information that will continue to candle the debate. However, Haitian Believers can reassure themselves that there is not matter to shake their faith and that there are ethnological and historical information valid for dispute the theses of the Voodoo book, I remember. Me Févry has the merit to have represented with honor and sagacity the Haitian evangelic position.
To read different reaction to the book, you can go to this link and your computer will translate for you from French to English. http://www.lemondeevangelique.com/pagecoindeslecteurs.135.htm

Debate on Voodoo fourth update

What is the book about?

The book is entitled: Voodoo, I remember. The combat of a culture for its survival. In this work of 250 pages, the author revisits the terms with which the voodoo in Occident is associated: black magic, sorcery, primitive religion, faith of negro, etc After having highlighted presupposed which underlies each one of these concepts, it explains how, after 300 years of history marked with the corner of combativeness between Christianity and the voodoo, these two symbolic systems came from there to peacefully cohabit in the same heart (that of the Haitian) and in same space, Haiti.

The pastor goes even further to propose a new paradigm based on the respect and the opening to the other, in which these two cultures (Christianity and voodoo) are discovered and grown rich mutually, in a process of intercultural dialogue and enculturation. To put it simply, he proposes that a Haitian believer be at the same time a Voodoo worshipper.

Debate on Voodoo third update

Fallowing the book’s publication, the Haitian believers in Montreal searched to engage the pastor, now a Voodoo apostle, in a debate in order to understand his new found faith. Doctor Fils-Aimé still called himself a pastor and still meets on Sunday to preach at his church.

The Haitian believers in Montreal called Mr. Févry, one of the top lawyers in Haiti, a strong believer to a public debate with Dr. Jean Fils-Aimé. Mr. Févry and his family attend our church in Port-au-Prince. He is the leader of a political party (PDCH) The Christian Democrat Haitian Party.

I was invited to represent the church and be a support for the Févry family.

Debate on Voodoo second update

On May 20, 2007, Dr. Jean Fils-AImé published a book on Voodoo under the title: Voodoo, I remember. This title echoes the Quebec’s motto “Quebec I remember”.

A record number of Haitian living in Montreal attended that event. The success of the book goes beyond any body’s wild expectation. A Haitian writer trying to understand the phenomena raised the question: is it the subject or the fact that a Haitian pastor talk about Voodoo that attract so many people?

Debate on Voodoo first update

On September 9th 2007, I went to Montreal to attend a debate between a Haitian pastor, Dr. Jean Fils-Aimé on your left and a Christian lawyer, Osner Fevry Sr, on your right. The topic was "the Voodoo and the Christian faith."

I thank each and every one of you for your prayers. There was so much to share and so much to do here in the ministry that I was not able to put it together and give you an update of what happened in Montreal. Here are some of the main ideas about that trip.

We are back on the blog

I haven't written for a few days because that technology was new to me and I depended on some help that was not always availlable. I want to apoloize to all of you who depended on the blog for updates and prayer requests. Now I have learned how to do it, I hope that I can keep you informed on a more regular basis.



In the following days, I will have a lot of updates. First I will start by updating you on my trip to Montreal where I attended the debate over Voodoo. We praise God for the victory over Voodoo. I will give you some pictures and details information on the event.



I will also update you on my current ministry and the trip to Russia last month. As for now, I would like to let you know that we are doing fine and request for your prayers. There will be a storm over Haiti in the next three days. Port-au-Prince may not be affected as the rest of the country, but we pray for God's protection over the families that are exposed to the storm.



Thank you,

Hurricane Dean update

Hurricane Dean passed to the south of the island of Hispanola but according to published reports, Haiti did not received too much damage.

Since Dean passed, friends of the Valcin's in Austin have not been able to establish contact with them. However, given the fragile electrical grid in Haiti, this is not surprising even if they only received some decent winds and rain. So, please keep the family in your prayers.

An update to this blog will be made when contact is established.

T.D. and G.K. (Austin, TX)

We've finally got settled!

Sorry it took so long to write again because we had to unpack, and arrange the house, but now that everything is in place, we're free to enjoy Haiti! We're having troubles putting pictures up, but expect them soon!

God Bless!

We’re back in Austin!

We came back to Austin one day later, because our flight got cancelled in Dallas. But we’re here! And we leave for Haiti as a family on Thursday, thank you everyone who helped us while we were in Texas, and may God bless you richly! We love you guys deeply, and we hope to see you soon.

God Bless!

After the Wedding...

We got back from Canada this morning, and we are now staying at my sister's house. The wedding was amazing! We will post details of the wedding soon.

God Bless!

We're Coming Back...

Well, we are on our way to Canada for the wedding of some friends of ours. Gersan will be the one marrying them. On Friday, August the 3rd, we will be coming back to the States. So until then, have a great rest of the summer!

God Bless!

The Awana Rally

After we came back from the pine forest a few days ago, we had our 7th annual AWANA rally. The AWANA Rally started 7 years ago when our friends from Austin initiated the AWANA activities here in Haiti. Each year, it's an exciting rendez-vous for kids to come and play, recite verses and witness about our Lord and Savior Jesus-Christ. This year, there was a lot of kids at the rally! The exciting thing was how much the kids had learned, and how much they were excited to learn verses for God. Here are a few pictures of the rally, and how it went!

There were a lot of kids who were there. This is only a few of them.

Here are two boys playing against each other for the pin!

Here is Betty giving an award to one of the Bible verse champions.

Here are two girls playing against each other to win!

We had a great time at the AWANA rally, and pictures will come soon of our travels!

God Bless!

Back from the mountains

The Valcins have been up in the southern mountains for a while and thus were limited on their ability to communicate.

Here are some notes from Gersan:

A week after Betty's arrival, we went to Pine forest and visited Pastor Olpson and his wife. We stayed there for one week and I took the opportunity to prepare the twelve hours teaching for a Conference with Compassion International in Haiti. Pine Forest is probably the coldest place in Haiti. At noon it was 15 degree Celcius. I had to wear a jacket even in July.

I was invited as the key note speaker at the Compassion International in Haiti staff retreat this year. About 80 people attended the conference and it was a great time to teach the word of God.

Here is a picture of the worship band warming up.

Here are two pictures of the retreat itself.

More updates and pictures related to the 7th AWANA Rally in PAP will be coming soon.

Gersan

Rain, dirt, mold, mud.....fun

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Elizabeth and Deborah survived two weeks of Teen Camp at Frontier Camp. With the rains east Texas has been having lately, the girls were rather a little wet and tired but both had a great time.

Deborah made it back to Austin safely Sunday. Elizabeth is still at Frontier Camp. She will be working as a camp counselor for the next two weeks.

Thanks to Frontier Camp and others for making it possible for the girls to make their yearly trip to camp.

God bless and have a glorious Sunday.

High in the Pines

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Gersan and Betty are taking a break to relax and to get Gersan felling better. They are staying up in the mountains south of PAP in the middle of a pine forest reserve.

Here is a note from Betty:

Can you believe we are at a place in Haiti right now where it's 15 degrees (60 F) and with humidity it might be 8 or 10 degrees (50 F). We are at 1800 meters (6000 ft) above sea level. We came yesterday, it's our hiding place and rest. It's very high in the mountains.

Can you believe a place that i have to wear winter clothes in Haiti in July!

Please continue to pray for Gersan to rest and recover, and for both of them to seek God in all their plans.

Health and Choir update

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Dear friends,

Thank you to all for praying for me over the weekend. I'm feeling stronger as I'm taking my medications.

Yesterday was great! At church in the morning, we received a delegation from Dominican Republic. They came with the purpose of establishing a dialogue between churches on both sides of the border.

Last night, the choir did wonderfully. 600 people attended the musical among them were several guests unbelievers from our neighborhood targeted specifically for this event as well as friends and family.

I presented the Gospel and we had a good response. We still need to go trough our response papers to know how many has received Christ. We will have a DVD of the program and it will be posted on our web page when it is available.

God had intervened mightily in my health situation and I thank you for your prayers.

Gersan Valcin

Prayer Requests (Choir concert and Gersan's health)

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Dear Friends,

The Lord is really using us here to reach a new group of people in the Haitian society. Please pray for our choir, we have a big concert tomorrow night and we have invited some key people in our neighborhood that usually would not come to our church. One of them is a former president of the country. I will speak for 5 minutes to make a presentation of the Gospel.

I have been sick with typhoid fever for 4 days now and I'm very weak. Please pray for clarity of mind and for strength. Pray also for a good response to our invitation.

I also would like to than all of you who supported us in our transition from Austin to Haiti. It has been a long way. Betty is here in Port-au-Prince with me and we start working on the house in order to welcome Elizabeth and Deborah next month.

Gersan Valcin

Reunited

Dear friends,

I thank all of you for your support to our family during our time in Austin. Betty had a safe trip to Haiti. Her flight was one hour late, but we praise God that all the bags came with her.

We will go to the pine forest next week and we will spend 5 days there before we get busy again with the work of the ministry.

Thank you again!

Gersan Valcin

Texas rain...

Betty was not able to make it out of Austin Wednesday night. The heavy rains we have been having in Texas caused the flights to Dallas to be cancelled. She is booked on a flight out of Austin on Friday morning to arrive in Haiti the same day (Lord willing!). Betty thinks she will sleep most of Thursday.

A trip during week one, why wait?!

We have a praise to start off with! We have had a church in the States step up and provide for a couple of "one-time" gifts to help us with some debt we had gathered over the recent past. We praise God for that and continue to rely on him to bring others along side to help us get nearer to our goal of 100% funding, currently at less than half of what we need. If you are interested in helping out, please go to the East-West Ministries web site.

======



I've been here just over a week and we've welcomed our first trip. Jerry Dyke and his son Jeff, along with John Bowers from Florida are in Port-au-Prince. John Bowers is a leader at Proclaim Ministry and is here on a vision trip in view of mass evangelism next year.





On Sunday, we visited one church at 6:00 AM. Prior to making it to the first church services, we had a flat tire, but at church it was great. The men's choir sang and then John preached and I translated.





Click on the picture above to get an enlarged view of God's people gathering together!!

We then attended the service at the Evangelical Community Church in PAP where I minister as pastor. At church, John spoke while Gersan translated. Also, Jeff sang with his guitar.




We pray that God will use this trip as a seed to plant amoungst His people with the hope of an abundant harvest.


God Bless,


Gersan

Clearing out...

The girls are at Frontier Camp and will be there for two weeks. Deborah will come back to Austin while Elizabeth works at the Camp for two more weeks. If you are in Austin and would like to visit some with the girls during the day once they return from camp, please contact the Dales.

Betty is finishing up the last few details to clear out of the apartment. She will be traveling to Haiti on Wednesday evening.

Gersan is still doing well in Haiti.

A more detailed update will be forthcoming later this week after Betty gets back to Haiti and things settle down for them. Please keep them in your prayers for strength, endurance, and wisdom.

God bless.

More packing ....

We are almost done packing for the trip back to Haiti! All we have to do practically is get everything OUT!! But it hasn’t been easy. Deborah goes to a day camp each morning, so that’s one less hand between 12:00 to 1:30 pm. But the good news is Friday is the last day. The apartment feels full, but things are disappearing as they go into boxes, and suitcases.

Gersan finally got some sleep, and is doing fine back at home.

The girls are ready for home-schooling, and are looking forward to working again at Jacobs Well, which is the camp in Limbe, Haiti that we are trying to establish. So basically, the girls, and I are just packing what’s left of the apartment!

I will be leaving for Haiti on Wednesday. The girls will be staying in Texas for another month so they can attend Frontier Camp for several weeks. Gersan and I will travel back to the States in late July to get the girls and take care of a few remaining items before the final move as a family back to Haiti in early August.

Take care and continue to pray for our stress levels during this transition time.

Betty

Travel Log #9 (Final)

Betty made it safely back to Austin on Sunday afternoon. Gersan is safely back in Haiti but it appears that he has not slept yet!

Please continue to pray for the Valcin family during this time of separation and transition. Please pray that their remaining short-term financial needs will be met to cover the cost of the move and for God to bring those He wishes to the Valcin's side as monthly supporters of God's work in Haiti.

==============

Here are some pictures and words from Gersan:


Betty saying good by to Gersan at Laguadia airport in NY. Saturday morning. Gersan Left for Haiti and Betty will join him on June 29th, Betty is still in Austin, but she will return to Haiti on June 29th.


A US team from North Carolina at the Port-au-Prince ariport. The situation has improved considerably in Port-au-Prince, more and more churches are coming to do ministry. On that flight, there were two different mission group coming to Haiti. Continue to pray for Haiti's economical situation.

Gersan Valcin arriving in Haiti at the Port-au-Prince airport. Gersan left on Saturday for Haiti. This is his final move back to the mission field after two years in the States. Betty will leave Austin on Saturday June 29th. Gersan and Betty moved all their belonging to Haiti where they will serve with East West Ministries International.

Sunday morning at church in Port-au-Prince. Gersan had his first Sunday in church in Port-au-Prince following after his trip yesterday. Gersan is serving with EastWest Ministries International and his is the actual pastor at the Evangelical Community Church in Port-au-Prince.

Travel Log #8

Gersan has made it safely to PAP. He will be jumping right back into the church and ministry activities so please pray for rest and wisdom and the ability to get the house ready for Betty and the girls to come back home soon.

As for Betty, weather delays at DFW has pushed her travel back until Sunday morning. Hopefully she will make it back to Austin Sunday afternoon.

Travel Log #7

Gersan is traveling to Haiti this morning. Late this evening Betty will travel back to Austin. Please keep both of their trips in your prayers.

Travel Log #6

Here is a note from Betty:

Indeed we safely arrived to New Jersey today (Thursday) at about 1:30 pm, it was a 24 hours drive. I went to NY to see my side of the family for a couple of hours and it was so good to hug my mom again.

Now tomorrow (Friday) will be a big day of wrapping up with the final phase of the moving.

Please pray for us as we are working on all the datails of this big undertaking. We are very tired and we need to catch up with our sleep tonight.

Betty

Travel Log #5

Good news. Gersan and Betty made it to NJ today (Thursday) and are staying with Gersan's older brother. They did a marathon drive session of about 24 hours.

Please continue to pray for their energy levels and the paperwork hoops they will need to jump through to get the van and other items ready for shipping to Haiti.

After two days in NJ, Gersan is scheduled to travel to Haiti on Saturday and Betty is scheduled to fly back to Austin on Saturday evening.

Travel Log #4

Well, the Valcins are in Tennessee (if that's how you spell it...). They arrived in Memphus at 2:30, and have covered 152 miles so far. They left the hotel around noon, and they think they can make it to New Jersey by 4:00, or 5:00 a.m. But they still have a long way to go until they reach New Jersey, so keep praying for them!

News of their travel will continue to be posted.

(the Updater says: I NEED BIRTHDAYS!!)

Travel Log #3

It's noon on Wednesday and the Valcins are back on the road. All is going well for them.

Here are two pictures from the packing on Monday. It was a hot and humid Austin night.

Packing the last few items in the trailer:

Relaxing afterwards:

Here is a shot of the van and trailer outside the Super 8 motel in Lonoke, Arkansas from today:

Travel Log #2

Good morning all,

Gersan and Betty made it safely to just past Little Rock before calling it a day around 3:00 am. They will be back out on the road sometime Wednesday in the late afternoon.

Please continue to keep them in your prayers for safe travel. Also, please pray that they will be able to use this relatively quite and calm travel time to help boost their relationship with each other before Gersan leaves for Haiti.

Check back later today for hopefully another update.

Travel Log #1

Hello Friends,

Gersan and Betty left Austin for the east coast this afternoon (Tuesday). After a long night of packing the van and trailer last night, they decided to sleep in today and get out when they felt like it.

As of 10 pm tonight, they were approximately two-hours west of Texarkana. They are planning on stopping at Texarkana for some sleep but may keep going depending on their caffeine levels.

Please keep their safe travels in your prayers. Also, a praise is in order that God provided the funds at the last minute for Betty to get a plane ticket back to Austin from NY.

Updates about their travels will be posted as they become available.

(Editor: Is your passport up to date? Better check it!)

We're Coming Back, and We're Leaving!

We came back from Colorado earlier this month, and now we're ready to move again. This time for Haiti! Tomorrow morning, me, and Betty will be leavnig for New Jersey, and the girls will be staying at the Dale's house. Sorry to take so long updating the blog, but my updater had a few things she needed to do, and and was under a lot of STRESS we didn't know about (Emphasis on STRESS). So, we're just getting packed up for the LONG trip to New Jersey. Now, from our family to the families that helped us move, and helped us the whole time we just want to say thank you, and we hope that we'll meet again! God Bless You! Here are some Pictures that we took. I hope you like them!This is a picture of me, and Mr. and Mrs. Kersch. One of the families that have been with us through the beginning. This is a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Dale with me in the middle. This is one of the best pictures that Deborah took. (says Deborah)

This is when I went to San Antonio. This is at CBC.

This is at Grace. I really like what they did to the stage.

Probably the last picture of Grace that I'll take in a long time. How did that get here?

I'm sorry we didn' t get pictures of Colorado. We bought the camera afterwards.

Rocky Mountain Roadtrip

Gersan and Betty are visiting a church and friends in Colorado. An update of this trip will be provided soon.

The Cornerstone

This is the start of the Valcin's blog. Updates will be provided soon related to the Valcin's move back to Haiti and their ongoing ministries.

Please feel free to comment, or just drop the Valcin's a note of encouragement.