Fuel a new era of communications on Giving Tuesday:

Give to power a new era of Christ-centered communication around the world and transform lives. You can DOUBLE your impact and help us reach our $10,000 goal! All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000 through 12/3

Port-au-Prince, UMCOR headquarters

On Saturday morning, our group from the Western North Carolina Conference shared a van ride to the new UMCOR headquarters with a team of nurses, doctors and a dentist. They were doing an assessment of health-care needs in Haiti. There we met Samuel Kinge Namanga, head of mission for the UMCOR office, who is a bright and capable leader with a clear vision of helping Haiti rebuild; and listened as he talked about the work ahead. We are very lucky to have him working on behalf of the church. His focus is on building capacity—on doing ministry in such a way that the people of Haiti have the resources and skills they will need to provide for themselves when we no longer serve beside them. This is a worthy goal, of course. Samuel stressed that he will need our prayers, our continued financial support and the help of United Methodist Volunteer in Mission teams.

This morning, As we drove back to the Guest House, we sped through the center of town. Along the way, I was numbed by the sight of so many severely damaged homes and the vast number of tents and tarps serving as shelter in the sweltering sun. I felt for Samuel and the other servants who will be a part of this effort. Where to begin? The landscape ahead will be harsh and challenging.

At one point along the way, we asked the driver to stop so we could photograph a sea of tents near the center of the city. We were surrounded quickly by a swarm of children in ragged clothes. Some rubbed their bellies and said, “Grangou, grangou!” which means “hungry.” Others had learned the English phrase—“One dollar, one dollar!”—which I am sure they hoped would insure their survival. My friend who speaks Creole told a young boy, “I don’t have any money.” Despite his young age, he responded matter-of-factly, “Don’t tell me you don’t have any money. Just tell me you aren’t going to give me any.” It was a stunning moment as she realized the truth of what he said. Yes, often we do have money, but will we give it?

The work ahead in Haiti will call upon many of our resources – spiritual, financial, emotional, physical and intellectual. We will need the best minds and abilities of persons like Samuel Kinge. We will need the deepest and most compassionate responses that we all can make, including the financial gifts we can offer. We will need the strength of our Volunteer in Mission teams to help stand beside Haitian workers and labor side by side. We will most definitely need the love of Christ to guide us.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Church Leadership
Dr. Katelin Hansen. Photo by Maxine Moore, courtesy of the author.

Deaconesses are still here – let’s invest in them too!

A distinctly separate order from deacons, deaconesses and home missioners serve in a wide variety of full-time lay ministries for the church.
Disaster Relief
Philippine Coast Guard personnel evacuate residents in the Bicol region on Oct. 24 after floodwaters rose quickly due to heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Trami (called Kristine in the Philippines). United Methodists are among those rallying to help survivors in the wake of Trami and several other tropical storms that battered the region. Photo courtesy of the Ako Bicol Online TV Facebook page.

Church responds as typhoons batter Philippines

Filipino United Methodists are rallying to help survivors of a series of tropical storms that have caused massive flooding, washing out roads and destroying homes and crops.
Disaster Relief
Church member Sherrie Mayotte views damage to the kitchen at Pensacola United Methodist Church in Burnsville, N.C., after it was flooded by storm runoff following Tropical Storm Helene. The nearby Cane River overflowed its banks and drove a wall of water packed with mud, trees and parts of destroyed homes into the church fellowship hall and kitchen. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Hurricane Helene recovery in N.C.

United Methodists are among those helping in the mountains of Western North Carolina after the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding. Mike DuBose offers a photo essay of that work.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2024 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved