Become aware of how much others struggle to simply survive.
Montrouis
In the village of Montrouis, there is no running water, trash collection, or electricity; there is little clean water and inadequate supplies of safe food. The people of Montrouis drink water from the same river that is used for bathing, washing clothes, and drinking for domestic and wild animals. Most children do not eat daily, sleep on a bed, or receive an education. Children wear the same clothes from day to day and often wear shoes too small/large or with holes.
Homes are made of cardboard, tar paper, and pieces of tin or plastic patched together to form tiny, one room shacks. Some have cinderblock walls, but almost all look like they could crumble with just the smallest storm. Floors are dirt, and a piece of ripped cloth often serves as a door. As many as a five/six adults and/or children may live in one shack. Families share cramped sleeping space on the floor or rotate sharing beds.
With heroic courage, these people awaken every day to find any kind of work and food, to praise the Lord, and carry on this burden.
Facts
- Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
- Minimal to no infrastructure in parts of the country
- Most Haitian people survive on $1 a day.
- Haitian children are not able to eat every day, attend school, or drink clean water.
- Haiti is the size of Maryland, but has double the population.
- A shortage of safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and severe malnutrition plague Haitians and leave them vulnerable to TB and many other deadly illnesses.
- Many children do not sleep on a bed. Five or six people share a home, likely not bigger than a standard American bedroom.
- Haiti is a beautiful country less than 2 hours from Miami.
- Some of the children have bloated bellies and a reddish tinge to their hair- signs of malnutrition and starvation.
- The poverty and devastation does not prevent the Haitian people from being happy and praising God.
"Share with God’s people who need help."
Romans 12:13