The street scene that I saw yesterday while driving through the heart of Port -au -Prince was very unsettling and kept me awake last night- people, cars, cows, street vendors, puddles of water, motor cycles and dust. Tent cities scattered throughout the city were occupied with people who have nowhere else to go. But, the city of Port-au-Prince is on the constant move and aspires to change their reality.
As our mission trip is coming to a close, I am reflecting back on what I learned about this country and people in Haiti. And our team is thinking about what we can do to continue to connect with people in Haiti. Learning the history of Haiti informed me a great deal in understanding the current situation of Haiti. And yet, Haiti is such a complex society that it is not easy to figure out what needs to be done. Someone said that our primary interest is the development of Haiti as a country and reaching those people with what they need. I agree. In that sense, the work of the United Methodist Church to build people's sustainabiity is very important. The Methodist Church in Haiti takes a great part in educating children too. 87% of shcools in Haiti are run by the Christian churches - Methodist, Baptist, Anglican and Catholic Church. 20% of children (.5 million) don't go to school.
We will visit Hotel Montana today and have a memorial there for those who were killed by the 2010 earthquake - especially our United Methodist friends. We will also have an opportunity to talk with the President of the Methodist Church in Haiti this afternoon.
Yes, Haiti's pain is well known. But, Haitians are people with dignity who aspire to rise above pain and suffering.
Youngsook C. Kang
As our mission trip is coming to a close, I am reflecting back on what I learned about this country and people in Haiti. And our team is thinking about what we can do to continue to connect with people in Haiti. Learning the history of Haiti informed me a great deal in understanding the current situation of Haiti. And yet, Haiti is such a complex society that it is not easy to figure out what needs to be done. Someone said that our primary interest is the development of Haiti as a country and reaching those people with what they need. I agree. In that sense, the work of the United Methodist Church to build people's sustainabiity is very important. The Methodist Church in Haiti takes a great part in educating children too. 87% of shcools in Haiti are run by the Christian churches - Methodist, Baptist, Anglican and Catholic Church. 20% of children (.5 million) don't go to school.
We will visit Hotel Montana today and have a memorial there for those who were killed by the 2010 earthquake - especially our United Methodist friends. We will also have an opportunity to talk with the President of the Methodist Church in Haiti this afternoon.
Yes, Haiti's pain is well known. But, Haitians are people with dignity who aspire to rise above pain and suffering.
Youngsook C. Kang
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