"’Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again," goes the proverb first written by American educator Thomas H. Palmer. Members of Allisonville Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis can relate to the meaning of Palmer’s maxim.
Sixteen members of Allisonville Christian Church were two weeks away from visiting Haiti last January when that nation was struck by its most devastating earthquake in more than 200 years. An estimated 230,000 people died, more than 3 million people were affected by the quake and thousands of buildings were either leveled or heavily damaged in the impoverished country. Because of the severity of the quake, Allisonville was forced to postpone the mission trip.
"The group was going there to get to know the Haitians and to get to know their story," said Steve Caress, who is head of the arts committee at Allisonville. "But when we heard about the earthquake and what sorts of skills were needed there, the last thing that we wanted was people running around Haiti looking for something to do."
Nonetheless, a group from Allisonville will pick up where they left off and travel to Haiti Feb. 5-12 in 2011. This time they will take folks along that are skilled in construction and similar crafts, so they can assist in the arduous rebuilding process. "We have people going with the skills sets that are needed right now in Haiti," said Caress. The church also plans to host a concert later this month featuring accomplished performing duo Laura and Rick Hall at 7 p.m. on July 24, with proceeds going to help fund the trip to Haiti.
It is estimated that 250,000 Haitian residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or been severely damaged in the disaster. Among the destroyed structures was the headquarters of the National Spiritual Council of Churches of Haiti (CONASPEH), which partners with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Haitian mission work.
CONASPEH, which consists of 5,000 churches in Haiti, is an umbrella organization for Protestant churches and associations in the country. Before the earthquake, the CONASPEH headquarters housed 600 elementary and high school students, a seminary, which Disciples had helped to build, and instructional programs for nursing students, said Charles Wallace, who along with his wife, Ruth, were missionaries to Haiti from 1999 to 2002. The Wallaces, who also are members at Allisonville, are spearheading the congregation’s efforts for the Haiti trip in February.
The Wallaces recently visited Haiti April 11-12 and said the country still had tens of thousands of collapsed structures. "More than 80 percent of the buildings that we saw were collapsed," said Charles Wallace. "That’s part of the reason that we are going back is to assist in the rebuilding and the construction work that is needed. Although that work will be part of the rebuilding process, the spiritual and emotional rebuilding of the people there are of equal importance."
Allisonville is encouraging people to join them for the concert, which is should be an entertaining and inspiring. The evening will featuring the original music of Laura Hall ("Whose Line is it Anyway?"), and the engaging storytelling of Rick Hall ("The Middle," "Seinfeld" and countless commercials"). Find out more about Laura Hall at http://www.laurahall.com/ Here are the particulars:
What: Laura and Rick Hall in concert to benefit Haiti earthquake reliefWhen: July 24 at 7 p.m.Where: Allisonville Christian Church, 7701 Allisonville Road, IndianapolisTicket Cost: $15/person, $30/familyFor more information, call the church office at 317-849-3957
By James Patterson; [email protected]
Offering received Sept. 26 & Oct. 3