... Haiti is still hurting, but a good deal of help has arrived! Military & civilian aid, especially from the US, is making a significant impact! We met some US Navy troops who had been helping to reopen the port in Port au Prince - makes me proud of our military! We also met some great ministry partners from Touch Global and Gain International. I'm praying this will be a "game changer" for the way things are done in Haiti.
... The conditions of "real poverty" are shocking! We talk about "poverty" in our country - but we have rarely seen absolute poverty in this great land. I read recently that the US is the only palce in the world where you can struggle with poverty & obesity at the same time! In Haiti, I watched a hundred people chase a garbage truck into a dump where they proceded to dig by hand through the refuse for something of value. They do this every day to survive. I've never seen that in the US - not even close! The living conditions of the majority of Haitians are shockingly poor. Sanitation, clean water, and shelter are luxuries. Following the earthquake damage, many Haitians are living under a sheet held up by sticks!
... The people of Haiti are resiliant and full of faith! In spite of their hardships, the people are willing to work hard - and they do. They also are people of great faith. They are not lazy. They may not be wise at times - having not learned how to make better decisions. Far to many orphans are abandoned, far too many respond in desperation to their plight. They need help . They matter to God ... and they should matter to us!
... God is blessing the ministry of Jesus in Haiti! This ministry is growing and developing strategic plans for the future. I'm honored to serve as a board member for this ministry and during our annual board meeting in Haiti we took some great strides forward in helping to rebuild homes, expand our ministry, and make disciples in this struggling nation. I'm humbled by the gifted leaders who I'm honored to serve with in this ministry.
... Church services in Haiti are VERY long! On Sunday I was preaching to the growing congregation of Victory Bible Church. About three hours into the service it was my turn - and even though I promised my American friends I would be brief - with translation it takes about twice as long to preach. About 15 of the more than 710 present for worship responded to the invitation - then after the message we had some more worship. So ... after four hours under the tent in the warm Haitian sun I was pretty wiped out!! To be fair, this is the highlight of the week for most of these folks - the opportunity to worship the living God! They do so with a passion! (We are probably just "worship wimps" in the "Western" world!)
... The local church really is the hope of the world! We can rebuild buildings and distribute aid - but without the message of grace - there is little to hope for in this life. Governments can't address the void in the human soul - neither can schools or hospitals. This is the reason I love the ministry of "Jesus in Haiti" - it is built on making disciples. The church is at the center of this ministry - the leaders of the school, the orphanage, and the various outreaches and rebuilding efforts are leaders in the church! Someday the buildings will wear out - and the aid will be gone - but the hope of Christ will last forever. Through the local church we are able to make both a temporal and an eternal difference!
... Everything rises and falls on leadership! On our flight back into the states we were joined by the President of Haiti, Rene Preval. When we got off of the plane in Miami, I walked within feet of him and his entourage. He was on his way to visit with our President at the White House in Washington, DC. He seems grateful for our help - but the reality is - the leaders of the government in Haiti have proven to be ineffective - for generations! Haiti is on the same island as the Dominican Republic - yet they produce very little and there is 70% unemployment! Greed & corruption make things even worse. I'm praying for President Preval. Reports indicate that he may have experienced a spiritual renewal during three days of fasting in prayer in Haiti. I hope that is true. I'm also praying for the young men and women that are being discipled in the ministry of Jesus in Haiti - perhaps in the future they will be in positions of greater influence in their country and can turn the tide. In the end, the nation of Haiti needs better leadership!
... I'm thankful to live in the US - and beleive we are blessed to be a blessing! Our parents and our grandparents and our great grandparents and their ancestors sacrificed to help our nation become a place of blessing. We have the opportunity to be a blessing now to others. I believe we should leverage our blessings for the glory of God in nations that do not know these blessings! I believe we are called to make a difference in places like Haiti. I plan to do that and I would invite you to join me.
Together we can change the world ... one life at a time!
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