United Methodist Volunteers in Mission teams to Haiti are being cancelled or postponed for the immediate future because of growing unrest and violence in that country. Teams in Haiti as of February 16 were safe, according to reports from personnel of General Board of Global Ministries in Haiti.

The capital of Port-au-Prince was reported calm with one volunteer team expected to return to the United States on February 17 and another on the 18th. Once these teams depart, all volunteers in Haiti coordinated through the UMVIM program will have departed Haiti.

The Rev. Randy Day, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, the United Methodist international mission agency, announced the volunteer team cancellations in New York. President Raphael Dessieu of the Methodist Church of Haiti announced the hiatus in Port-au-Prince.

Haiti is one of the most popular destinations for volunteer mission teams from the United States. In a typical year, 80 teams made up of some 700 persons go there through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM). The work is coordinated with the Methodist Church of Haiti, which has British origins.

“The General Board of Global Ministries is deeply concerned about the growing violence and political instability in Haiti,” Day said. He added that the Board and its United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) were also monitoring developments in Haiti from a humanitarian perspective in the event that relief and refugee services might be needed.

Violent opposition to the administration of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide exploded in mid-February after having smoldered for a long time. Day said that mission sources in Haiti had indicated growing unrest for several weeks. Leaders of the Methodist Church of Haiti reported deteriorating political conditions on February 16.

In collaboration with the Haitian church, the General Board operates a guest house in Haiti for mission volunteers. The program is coordinated by a Board missionary, Charles Maddox.

Day expressed the appreciation of the agency and The United Methodist Church to Maddox and President Dessieu for their attention to the welfare of the volunteer teams and their efforts to keep the Board informed on the general situation. Maddox will be closing down the guest house and returning to the United States until the political situation improves.

Many volunteer teams return again and again to Haiti. “Their experiences are spiritually vibrant and they make strong bonds with the people,” said Jeanie Blankenbaker, assistant general secretary for mission volunteers at the Board.

“Our prayers are with our volunteer teams, the Methodist people of Haiti and all the citizens of that poor and often troubled land with a long history of internal and external oppression,” Day said. “May God grant healing and peace to Haiti.”

The full text of Day’s statement follows:

The General Board of Global Ministries is deeply concerned about the growing violence and political instability in Haiti. We are monitoring the situation from a humanitarian perspective and because Haiti is one of the most popular destinations for United Methodist Volunteers in Mission teams—more than 80 teams made up of 700 people a year.

As of February 16, all members of teams remaining in Haiti were safe. All volunteer trips to Haiti in the immediate future have been cancelled or postponed.

We understand that at present rebel action against the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide is in central Haiti, between Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien. Our mission sources have indicated for some weeks that the chaos might be on the horizon, and volunteer teams have been apprised of the possibility of quick evacuation. More than a dozen team trips scheduled for January and February were cancelled or postponed.

I want to express the profound appreciation of the Board and of The United Methodist Church to Charles Maddox, one of our missionaries in Haiti, and to President Raphael Dessieu of the Methodist Church in Haiti, for their attention to the safety of the volunteers. They also keep us well informed on the general situation in Haiti. Mr. Maddox, who oversees the guest house where many volunteers stay, will return to the United States until the political situation improves.

We stand ready to provide humanitarian assistance as appropriate, when needed, through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). UMCOR is in touch with its partner international relief agencies concerning potential relief and refugee emergencies.

Our prayers are with our volunteer teams, President Dessieu and the Methodist people of Haiti and all the citizens of that poor and often troubled land with a long history of internal and external oppression. May God grant healing and peace to Haiti.

I call upon international community, including the United States, to give the highest priority to finding a diplomatic solution to the current crisis.

	See Also... Topic: Christian love |  GBGM news |  International affairs |  Missionaries |  Prayers |  Volunteers |  Partners/partnerships |  Geographic Region: Haiti |  Source: GBGM Press Releases
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Date posted: Feb 17, 2004