Nathan learning from the local kids
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Nathan Van Coops 06, 07
From: McSherrystown, PA
From: McSherrystown, PA
Service: Providing school and medical supplies
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If someone were to come up to me tonight and ask
me what they can do to help make this world a
better place, I'm sure I would have to ponder it a bit
but my answer would have to undoubtedly include at
least these:
Do your studying, no matter your age or where
your interests lie. Support a teacher. Lend
someone a helping hand. Search for the differences
you can make. When you are finished doing that
(or maybe at the same time) pick up the Bible, the
Torah or whichever spiritual reading it takes to
elevate your soul, and take the time to do so. While
you doing all of these, pray pray pray for the plight
of the lost and forgotten on this planet.
me what they can do to help make this world a
better place, I'm sure I would have to ponder it a bit
but my answer would have to undoubtedly include at
least these:
Do your studying, no matter your age or where
your interests lie. Support a teacher. Lend
someone a helping hand. Search for the differences
you can make. When you are finished doing that
(or maybe at the same time) pick up the Bible, the
Torah or whichever spiritual reading it takes to
elevate your soul, and take the time to do so. While
you doing all of these, pray pray pray for the plight
of the lost and forgotten on this planet.
| Nathan is an airplane pilots instructor. He often makes trips to Haiti. He has also served in Oaxaca, MEXICO and the Bahamas. The following are reflections from one of his Haiti missions. |
| Haitians she pointed to the other side of the street where a band equipt with makeshift instruments was marching by us playing a lively tune. I smiled as Rachel gestured to make sure we got this. If I can say one thing for my trip so far, is this it definitely hasn't been boring. |
it could be a paradise, but in reality is
anything but. I look for the beauty here but
it is often hard to see buried under heaps
of garbage and disguised by a constant
layer of filth. The people often seem to be
the only clean objects in view as we
swerve through the rutted streets or walk
around the towns.
anything but. I look for the beauty here but
it is often hard to see buried under heaps
of garbage and disguised by a constant
layer of filth. The people often seem to be
the only clean objects in view as we
swerve through the rutted streets or walk
around the towns.
the proof of her resolve is the fact that she has
persevered to this, her fifth trip inside of a year.
I hope and pray for more like her to come, because I
can see it has made a difference. She has been able to
establish real relationships and show these people that
her aid here is more than just a fleeting whim.
persevered to this, her fifth trip inside of a year.
I hope and pray for more like her to come, because I
can see it has made a difference. She has been able to
establish real relationships and show these people that
her aid here is more than just a fleeting whim.
The last week I've spent working with the poor here in
Haiti has taught me many things. It has also filled we with
more questions than ever about the nature of
poverty and how best to resolve the problems. I have
met so many people who need assistance here the only
way to count would be to count how many I've met who
do not need assistance. That number would be nearly
non-existent. The overwhelming poverty hems you in on
all sides taxing your comprehension. The outstretched
hands and faces asking for food or money are so
common that it starts to not affect you. Its a fight to keep
from becoming jaded with justifications for not helping
them all. You pour yourself out until you are empty and
there are just as many as before imploring your aid. You
could spend your entire existence giving everything you
have and the problem would still be staring you in the
face. Where then does the answer lie?
Haiti has taught me many things. It has also filled we with
more questions than ever about the nature of
poverty and how best to resolve the problems. I have
met so many people who need assistance here the only
way to count would be to count how many I've met who
do not need assistance. That number would be nearly
non-existent. The overwhelming poverty hems you in on
all sides taxing your comprehension. The outstretched
hands and faces asking for food or money are so
common that it starts to not affect you. Its a fight to keep
from becoming jaded with justifications for not helping
them all. You pour yourself out until you are empty and
there are just as many as before imploring your aid. You
could spend your entire existence giving everything you
have and the problem would still be staring you in the
face. Where then does the answer lie?
I visited a beautiful Haitian Beach today. It was a
cove of clear blue water that you could see straight to
the bottom of. The local children splashed me with
abandon, smiling their thousand kilo-watt smiles at me
at least for a few moments.
cove of clear blue water that you could see straight to
the bottom of. The local children splashed me with
abandon, smiling their thousand kilo-watt smiles at me
at least for a few moments.
I wish I could report a Caribbean island people that have
remained joyous despite of it all or that has somehow
risen above the mess of existence here, but I can't
honestly say that I've seen that more than anywhere
else. The fact that the people can find joy here at all
does make it seem to shine more than usual in such
stark contrast and it gives me hope but that hope is
often seen in the same people with whom I witness as
many disheartening traits as well. We're all bound
despite of it all, but despite of it all We're all bound by
the same human frailties no matter our race or location
and I believe our social or economic status holds no tie
on the strength of our character. I do believe education
to be a critical link because I see how the lack of it has
bred a state of ignorance that causes the same people I
know to be kind and caring toward others to also be
heartlessly cruel to animals and to contribute
shamelessly to the environmental irresponsibility that
has turned this island into an ecological disaster.
remained joyous despite of it all or that has somehow
risen above the mess of existence here, but I can't
honestly say that I've seen that more than anywhere
else. The fact that the people can find joy here at all
does make it seem to shine more than usual in such
stark contrast and it gives me hope but that hope is
often seen in the same people with whom I witness as
many disheartening traits as well. We're all bound
despite of it all, but despite of it all We're all bound by
the same human frailties no matter our race or location
and I believe our social or economic status holds no tie
on the strength of our character. I do believe education
to be a critical link because I see how the lack of it has
bred a state of ignorance that causes the same people I
know to be kind and caring toward others to also be
heartlessly cruel to animals and to contribute
shamelessly to the environmental irresponsibility that
has turned this island into an ecological disaster.
| Beautiful sights like this made all the traveling worthwhile. |
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| "Experiencing, Sharing Life in Christ" |
Volunteers International for Development Education Solidarity
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