In Haiti, Young People Promote Awareness About The Pandemic and Share Hope

Young people from the Horeb Adventist Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, demonstrate the importance of proper hygiene to onlookers and hand out flyers and pamphlets in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Apr. 18, 2020. The church group focused on eight specific locations in the main streets of Route des Dalles  to spread more awareness as the coronavirus cases rise in the country. [Photo: Pierre Robenson Saint Louis]

A group of young people from the Horeb Adventist Church walked through the main streets in Route des Dalles in Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince last weekend, to bring awareness to onlookers on preventive measures needed in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

Young people also distributed pamphlets and flyers provided by the Ministry of Public Health, went over the preventive measures, explained how to wash hands, as well as distributed masks and 500 copies of the missionary book “Hope Beyond Tomorrow,” by Adventist Evangelist Mark Finley.

With churches, schools and most businesses closed, young people dressed in their Pathfinder and Master Guide uniforms wearing gloves and masks spent a few hours on Saturday, Apr. 18, to navigate through eight specific locations.

A motorist holds the book “Hope Beyond Tomorrow” by Adventist Evangelist Mark Finley, given to him by young people from the Horeb Adventist Church in Port-au-Prince. Young people also passed out pamphlets on proper hygiene and social distancing measures to stop the spreading of the coronavirus. [Photo: Jean Carmy Félixon]

“Young people definitely wanted to share hope with the members of their community in these times of crisis,” said Caleb Désir, youth church elder at Horeb Adventist Church, who brought the idea to the youth group.  The initiative was funded by church members who took part in purchasing the missionary books and masks for the afternoon activity.

Louandijie Charles, one of the young persons participating in the outreach activity, said a young man from another church denomination was so impressed by the initiative that he wanted to purchase the missionary books and the health related resources to take to his youth group to do the same in their community. “He was so excited and determined to that we gave him all the necessary information,” said Charles.

“So many appreciated this initiative and asked us to bring them bleach, masks and other items to face the pandemic,” said Arafat Duclaire, head pastor of the Horeb Adventist Church. “We could see that people feel really concerned during the uncertainty of the coronavirus so we did what we could with the limited resources we had.”

A boy is given hand sanitizer and shown preventive measures to fight against the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. [Photo: Jean Carmy Félixon]

In the midst of so much uncertainty, violence and political unrest, it was important for church members to take part in sharing hope in such desperate times.  There are over 700 church members worshiping in the Horeb Adventist Church.