I find myself stuck mentally and emotionally as our work continues here in Haiti. We are engaged in something important here. We are providing sanitation to a school and finding ways that we can meaningfully minister to one hundred children who are living in the worst poverty in the Western Hemisphere. As if their situation was not bad enough, Haiti is recovering from one of the most horrific natural disasters in history. 800,000 people still live in tents a year after the earthquake. So, helping this school is very important work and providing sanitation essential.
But, while progress is made on this small project, it feels insignificant. My mind wrestles with how I can make a more strategic impact. How can I not ask why such horrible poverty exists? A famous quote is that if you feed someone you are a saint, but if you ask why they are hungry you are a radical or even worse a communist. I'm neither. But, how can I live amongst such startling poverty and not question the systems that create such human disparity? How can I not ask questions about America's complicity with the oppressive regimes of Haiti?
The church is acting, but our action is like spitting in the sea. The depth of the problem is so massive and our contribution so small. If we used but one tenth of the money spent on buildings in the Texas Annual Conference, we could transform a nation like Haiti. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm not against buildings that are used to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, I'm just for real transformative discipleship. If I can sit in one of those buildings and never feel compelled to help change the world around us, never ask why so much of the world does not have clean water and electricity, something is wrong. If in the opulence we lose sight of Christ's love for the poor, the suffering, and the captive, we have become blind. The log in our own eye has become too big. May God restore our sight and give us hope!
The people here are so hard working. Why are 60% unemployed? How can jobs and industry be created to help build an economy in Haiti? Former President Clinton was here this week as part of the relief efforts. We heard the helicopters. I hope that he is asking the same questions. I guess my troubles is that I don't see a strategy. Wineva explained that UMViM has one for Haiti for the next thirty years. I need to find out what it is and how I become a part of it. Although I which I was a great worker, I can be more help to Haiti strategically. I need to find out how.
Restoring the churches and schools to facilitate education and economic development seems essential. I'll continue learning more.
We are rapidly approaching one of the great times in the life of United Methodists, Annual Conference. Annual Conference has a warm collegial spirit. The Annual Conference focuses on celebrating the ministries of local churches and exploring ways that the Conference gathers together to do more than we would alone. There are reports, elections, setting the budgets, etc.... but one of the most uplifting events is the services of Ordination and Commissioning where Deacons and Elders give their life to serve Jesus Christ. These services inspire the whole church while specifically setting aside some in our number for leadership in the tasks of Word, Order, Sacrament, and Service. Before the celebration, our bishop will examine the candidates for ordination in front of the entire Annual Conference. This examination is often the completion of a long process over many years which have prepared the candidates for this point. Having just been there last y...
Comments
Post a Comment