Nathan in training
A family of Haiti
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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. |
Nathan was in Haiti in 2006 and will go there again in June 2007. He has
also done mission in Oaxaca, MEXICO and the Bahamas. The following are
reflections from his 2006 Haiti mission and are taken from his webpage.
also done mission in Oaxaca, MEXICO and the Bahamas. The following are
reflections from his 2006 Haiti mission and are taken from his webpage.
| 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 a this the whole trip. If I can say one thing for my trip so far, it this the 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 disquised 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 in 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. |
| 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 a 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. |
| 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 or that has somehow risen above the mess of existence here, but 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 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 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 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 people with whom I witness as many disheartening traits as well. We're all bound by the same human frailties no matter our race or location and I believe our 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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Volunteers International for Development Education & Solidarity
| "Experiencing, Sharing Life in Christ" |