In Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and declared it was very good. The remainder of the Bible describes how man messed it up. Which brings me to the subject of Haiti.
Haiti is a mess. We knew it was a mess when we started our mission work there but, right now, it is particularly bad. As we followed the news over the last year, we know that there have been several periods of protests against the current government. The protesters claim that the government is corrupt and has misappropriated billions of dollars intended to rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy. As a result, there is price inflation, fuel shortages and starvation. The food situation is exacerbated by an extended dry period that has thwarted food production.
The political unrest in Haiti is part of phenomenon known as the Global Protest Wave of 2019 which played out in many countries around the world including Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Libya, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Hong Kong. In each case, the people are mistreated by their own government and find their only remedy is to pour out into the streets in protest.
So, today, we pray for resolution to the political situation in Haiti along with all those troubled places where injustice is playing out.
The situation for the people of the Ecovillages has grown worse as the country has fallen into disarray. We pray that the Spring rains will be plentiful this year and they have a good crop. In the meantime, food, money and jobs are in short supply.
We learned that the school we helped to build was shut down for a few weeks in the Fall along with most institutions in the country during the peak of the protests. School is back in session now and they are making up for lost days. The school building is now complete and the enrollment is around 300 students in grades K-8. The funds we contribute pay for the teachers and other staff. We continue to work with our partner, MPP, to develop a mechanism for self-funding even as it is evident that support from the government is unlikely in the near future. Next year, we expect some of the students to progress to the 9th grade and take the national exam which is the gateway to high school.
In the mist of all the dismal news, the truth remains that hope for the next generation lies in education. Even with all the struggle, the school is a top priority for the parents.
So, we pray for the villagers, the school staff, the parents and the students to thrive in the shadow of adversity and to succeed where success seems so rare.
A lot has transpired since our last trip to Haiti in April of last year. We read the news and get occasional emails about the situation. But our experience with the Ecovillage school mission is that we don't truly know what's happening on the ground without traveling there. So, in March of this year, we plan to send a delegation to Haiti to meet with our friends, find out what's going on and assist them with a path forward. We pray for safe travel and success in our quest for answers. The people of Haiti put their hope in our Savior Jesus Christ. They are our Christian brothers and sisters. We pray and worship together in solidarity. This mission reminds us to praise God for our many blessings and for the opportunity to help others in need.
May God continue to bless the United States and continue to use those blessings to help others.
Amen
(a prayer of intercession at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church 1/26/2020)