Sign of trouble to come?

I saw on CNN's website that there were protests in Port-au-Prince yesterday about rising food costs. Understandable, given that most people in Haiti earn about $2 a day. Reading further, it seems that 95% of Haiti's wealth is held by 10% of the population. No wonder tensions are flaring up.

Last night my group and I talked briefly about our upcoming trip to Port-au-Prince. A couple of years ago, that trip got canceled in light of all the kidnappings that were taking place in Port-au-Prince, so we're eyeing the current troubles a bit more closely and praying that we'll still be able to go.

The situation does point out how big the problems are in Haiti, and that we as a group need to go in with a longer-term view in mind. We also need to go in with humility, realizing we don't know the history, we don't and probably won't ever have all the answers, and that whatever we do, we don't want to make things worse for the people we want to serve.

I'm praying for wisdom, humility, compassion and an openness to learn for us, and a way through the current crisis for the Haitians.