During our stay in Haiti, we were given able to take a look around to see the good and the not so good. Despite the hardships they have endured and will continue to endure, there are good things going on. People that find work, some that make it on any skill they can use to get by, and some go to begging.
Helen and Pastor Benoit took us to Jubilee to see what a benefit micro-loans are. That is when a person comes to Mission:Haiti requesting a small loan to start a business. This business has to be successful and the money has to be paid back when they begin earning an income. It is amazing what some of these loans have empowered Haitians to do to provide for their families. We visited a man that remakes mattresses. He strips them down to the springs. He then fixes the springs and scrubs down the foam and cover. They really get down and scrub on their hands and knees. Then they put the mattress back together by sewing everything in its place. He has already paid back his loan and now has a couple of employees. This provides for his family and the family of the employee. We met another woman. She takes care of 12 kids. Her husband and son died in the cholera epidemic. Six children are hers and six are her son's if I remember correctly. She purchases rice in large bags and re-packs them in smaller bags. She sells them and other odd things she can sell. They were very proud of there hard work and the dignity of working to provide for there families. We met with several others who do similar jobs. Forgive me, but, if some of Americans would spend more time doing whatever labor they could to provide for their own families and less time filling out paper work or standing in lines for a hand out from our government, maybe our welfare system wouldn't be so out of hand. There is no back up plan for these Haitians. There is not a safety net to catch them if they are out of work, disabled, or have chronic depression. If they want to survive they have to suck it up and do something. There is plenty of begging and many Haitians eat only once every other day. I can't begin to understand that. On the news there is much controversy over the cuts in food stamps. How about not being able to eat for 48 hours on a regular basis. I realize Haitian society and American society is vastly different but we can surely be thankful for the help we do receive and not take advantage of the system. Ok, off of my soap box....
Pastor gave us a tour of his church building. Not only to they do church services and other outreach programs, they offer much more. The building is four stories. The top floor is a radio station, the third is a technology lab and classrooms for seminary students. The second floor is similar. They have a lot of space and use it well to equip Haitians to do what God calls them to do.
We did not stop to shop at market but we drove through. The streets were lined with everything you could think of. They had clothes, food, toys, appliances, live chickens and other animals, even alcohol. They use a lot of donations that are sent to Haiti and re-sale it to other Haitians that can't afford it. Weird. That is why you are encouraged to check into the program you are donating to. That way you can be sure it goes to a needy family not just street vendors.
We took a tour of the boys home and the future girls home. The boys home has had lots of improvements since I was there last year. They had lots more plants, They planted a garden-I think corn was what they were growing, among other things. They were building an extra sleeping area. They even had already hung up the hand wreath given to them by our students at Shepherd of the Hills. The girls home is under construction. They were currently working on the sleeping area. They showed us the what the rest will look like and anticipate moving the girls in at the beginning of November. The girls that are already signed up to stay there are currently in foster homes. Just across the same property is Concordia Christian school where they attend school. We looked at the classrooms that were pretty empty. School doesn't start for them until October. Candice wrote Jesus loves you in Creole on the chalkboard. There are blocks cut out in each wall to another classroom. I would imagine that would be quite loud. Enoch told me they are required to take English and Spanish. Interesting.
We had quite a week. We served and enjoyed every minute of it. We saw things we will never Should we go home and get rid of everything we own? No, we live in a different society and we have what we need to live and enjoy. Haitians have joy and hope in a place that looks so desperate. We should be thankful for what we have, try not to misuse the blessings we have been given, and learn to love others. Jesus came to love and serve everyone. He showed it by serving the least of these, performing miracles, and teaching even those who were to proud to admit they didn't know it all. Helen reminded us we were born the way we are and where we are for a reason. Can we save Haiti? No, only God can do the work that needs to be done to help them survive and learn about his salvation. He tells us when and how to do what he needs us to do.
The last thing we did was pack up and head out closer to Port Au Prince. We would be staying closer to the airport so we didn't have to leave at 3:00 am. Our lodging was a prettier side of Haiti. There is much beauty in Haiti. We had our last night of devotions. We reflected on what we did, what God did, and how we would adjust back home. I was surprised to find myself struggling more this time when I got home. It was tough to see everything we saw and tough to leave it behind. Thankfully, we will (Lord willing) be back. This is the wonderful part of the partnership with our church and Mission:Haiti. The mission never ends. We can continue to help from home, school, and church. Look for ways you can be a part of this team!!!
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