I am not na ve enough to think that I can you what Haiti or what any third world country is really like but perhaps a few statistics will help orient you. Haiti is a Caribbean country, about the size of Maryland. 7 million Haitians share the Island Hispanola with the Dominican Republic. Our parish supports the parish of St. John the Evangelist in the city of Goinaives. There are very few homes.
Most people live in shacks of corrugated metal.
I can honestly tell you that the only thing that I saw working for the people in Haiti is the Catholic Church. I have struggled with how to convey to you the experience of Haiti. I realize now that the experience of Haiti can not be described in words or pictures. Haiti is experienced by looking in the faces of the people of Haiti, it is in feeling their embrace, it was in their eyes. You see it was face to face that I recognized not only the image and likeness of God but God's Spirit as well.