Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West, and Gene Defour
Jan 16
With profound sadness, Free Methodist World Missions reports Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, Merle West, and Gene Dufour, the three missionaries who have been unaccounted for, have not been located and are now presumed to not be alive. Today, Bishop David Roller conducted a funeral service at the site of the building they were in which collapsed when Tuesday’s earthquake hit. These three individuals gave their lives in service to the Haitian people whom they loved deeply.
Rev. Jeanne Acheson-Munos, and her husband, Jack, were appointed as career missionaries to Haiti in March 2004. Together they worked alongside the national church to develop and strengthen the conference, pastors, church leaders and members. Jeanne’s deepest desire was that Haiti, the Pearl of the Antilles, would shine again with “Haiti for Christ” becoming a reality.
Merle West had been ministering in Haiti since 1978. He served as president of FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) and supervised construction of the new FOHO building. Merle was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. He also took three trips to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Gene Dufour had been on three trips to Haiti and one to Africa. Gene, along with Merle, was active in Craftsman for Christ and worked construction in the Miami Haitian churches. Gene and Merle were good friends, enjoying each other’s company and sharing a heart and love for Haiti.
Here is a short excerpt from a memorial service remembering those who were lost in the Friends of Haiti Organization Building Collapse.
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8 comments
Comment by Dr. Timothy Moon, D.O., Family Physician on January 17, 2010 at 8:24 am
It is hard to express in words how close this tragedy has effected those of us that have known those lost. I had the honor and privilege to be on a couple mission trips as a child and teenager with ‘Mr. West’ as the Haitian workers called him. He was also known as the ‘bossman’ too and there was never any question to any of us who was in charge.
Although he was always so humble in all that he did and gave God all the Glory.
I am so sorry for your loss Dorothy, Merle,jr., and Mark, the rest of the West family; and families of the others lost. BUT… Jesus is coming soon, and we need to be ready… there will be no more tears or sorrows where we are going … get ready to get on the bus!
I learned some of my first lessons in hard work, patience, tolerance, love for your fellow man, and most importantly seeing a living example of how Jesus wants us to live on this earth in Merle West…
He never yelled, he never seemed to get angry. In fact I think most of the Haitian brothers thought that all Americans speak Creole in a soft tone of voice in short commands that all can understand; and yet speak volumes from the heart of the love that he had for all Haitians and those who have not found Christ.
I have spent some of my most memorable Christmastimes with the West family, and have seen direct miracles in my families life as the result of intercessory prayer by Merle West on our behalf.
I know that all of those of us who have ever stayed at FOHO house or the Peavey orphanage, and have missioned in Haiti have been praying continuously.
God closes doors, and allows houses to collapse, but uses these to open windows to his greater glory and honor, as I have seen on TV and through the blogs that Pastor Roller, and Bishop has shared.
In the days ahead, those of left behind I know will be praying and meditating on God’s word to receive what HE wants us to do to help.
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Comment by Kristina King Diekema on January 17, 2010 at 5:20 pm
As much as Merle will be missed, he was a testament to this country and all of the places he helped. He will be missed. Although we understand He died doing what he loved doing, our hearts are saddened and I intend to continue in his path. His loss has made me realize that we all need to help each other. Bless his family and we all be there for them.
Comment by Dr. Ronald White on January 17, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Just last Sunday, Janet and I had a wonderful afternoon with Merle and Dorothy West and Clancy and Dorris Thompson at the West’s trailer in Lakeland, Fl. Merle was excited about returning to Haiti to put the finishing touches on a building that was his dream. We talked together about the role that Clancy had played in Merle’s going to Haiti. For many years he made annual trips building churches. After his retirement he and Dorothy spent their winters running the guest house for FOHO and serving the work teams that cycled through. He had a dream to build a new guest house which he did almost entirely with Haitian labor. On one of my last trips to Haiti I brought a work team myself which worked on some of the finishing touches of this same building. It was a beautiful building that Merle hoped would serve the church in Haiti for years to come. Merle lost his heart in Haiti many years ago. This week he lost his life to fulfill his passion.
Our hearts go out to Merle’s family. May the knowledge that Merle died as he lived, serving Jesus, bring comfort and deep appreciation for friend and family alike.
Pastor and Friend,
Dr. Ron White
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Comment by katie west on January 18, 2010 at 7:44 pm
I personally had the privelage of knowing both Gene Dufour and Merle West. Gene, a close family friend. Merle, my grandpa to whom i was also very close. I made a trip down to Haiti with my grandpa a couple of years ago, and lived in the building that is now ruins in the background for a month. My grandpa helped build it, and it is fitting that he will be buried there. I thank the people involved with his memorial service in Haiti, and I hope to travel to see the country in which my grandpa’s life was taken at least once before I die.
Comment by Joe & Mary Martin on January 19, 2010 at 6:50 am
Our hearts’ are breaking for all of the family members of these precious missionaries who are lost to this world; and to the Haitian’s, whose suffering is immeasurable. Know that your brothers and sisters in Mesick, MI are praying for you and doing what we can from where we are at.
Praise God for all of you who have, and who continue to, lay down your lives for the love of Haiti!
God Bless You.
We Love You.
Comment by Tim and Dana Logan on January 24, 2010 at 11:32 am
Our hearts are breaking for my cousin Jack Munos for the loss of his wife Jeanne. We never had the pleasure of meeting her but followed her and Jack’s work in Haiti through the newsletters that were on-line.They did good work. Their love and passion for the people of Haiti and the work they have done was always so inspiring to me. We hope in the future to take part in the rebuilding of Haiti through doing some volunteer work in that country. We will continue to keep them and the others that died in that tragic earthquake in our thoughts and prayers in the days to come.Haiti will heal.