Last week the Senate of Haiti officially recognized Mission to North America (MNA) and El Shaddai Ministries International, Inc. (ESMI) for their disaster relief efforts in the days following the January 12 earthquake that devastated Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding area.

In a ceremony on March 29, 2010, the president and secretary of the Haitian Senate presented the award to Dony St. Germain, MNA’s Haitian movement leader, and Arklie Hooten, MNA’s director of short term missions and disaster response. Hooten stated that this was “a very humbling and great surprise,” and says that he accepted the award on behalf of MNA coordinator Jim Bland, the many MNA/PCA staff and volunteers who have served, as well as financial supporters and prayer partners.

The declaration, which was signed by Dr. Kelley Bastien, president of the Haitian Senate, reads in part, “Haiti was at her greatest need ever. Thank you for your intervention medically, socially, and economically.”

Also present at the ceremony were Bresile St. Germain, Dr. Jay Sklar from Covenant Seminary, Dr. Steve McGee, director of Ministries in Action, and roughly 50 key Haitian pastors from around the country.