Tuesday, April 7, 2015

March 2015

Wow.  I cannot believe it has been 3 years since I have updated this blog.  I have made at least 4 trips, maybe 5 during that time and yet was not inspired to share. People often ask me if I get immune to the culture and  conditions in Haiti because I visit so often.  My lack of blogging may indicate yes, but the truth is, each trip awakens something in me that keeps my heart soft for the work of God in Haiti. 

Over the last few years, I have begun to support a fulltime missionary family in Haiti and have had the privilege of partnering with them in Haiti several times with my church.  They are RTS Missions, which stands for Reaching, Teaching, Sending.  Their website is  http://www.rtsmissions.com/

It has been interesting watching their ministry unfold because Greg is what I call a doer.  He went to Haiti, saw a need to reach children with the message of Christ and help provide them a solid education. Greg just started working towards that goal with little or no resources.  Over the next few years, he began to bring a clear focus to the vision that God gave him, and along the way learned some valuable lessons about working in a developing country.  None of the setbacks kept him from moving forward or changing directions when needed, or modifying approach when God revealed next steps or barriers.

Today, Greg and his family, are working with a loose association of churches who are working towards equipping children and communities with God centered values, a head start on education and supporting each other in prayer and service.  Greg and the team of local Pastors are always thinking about how to improve what already exists and build for the future, whether that is the church or the schools they provide.

I write this because it is the work of people like Greg and the commitment his wife, Maria, make to be a serving partner with the people of Haiti that makes a difference.  My own experience in Kenya and Central America has shown me that "doing for" others only has short term benefits.  Serving with and helping them move forward with ownership of implementation and on going development, brings long term benefits.  It builds people up and allows them to take ownership of their own futures.

It is extremely humbling as a U.S. citizen, to know there are other ways to accomplish things, and yet still  yield to the local partners to know what will work for them.  At one point, my home church wanted to start a clothing ministry through a local church in Thomazeau.  I went to meet with the Pastor and explain how the women of my church wanted to help.  He just smiled and said that would be nice, but not really needed.  So, that led to the question, what do you really need to expand your work and support your community  His response surprised me.  He said the needed a new bass guitar.  Music is a universal language and good worship music draws the unchurched in, which draws new students into the school, which expands the horizons and world view of the children. And in the end, can only improve the economy and stability of Haiti.

Well, one bass guitar led to a new sound board, a keyboard, a generator and even new drum sticks.  This church rejoiced in the new equipment, shared their old with a new church start in another neighborhood.  Both churches have grown and the school has expanded.  God works when we listen and help meet real needs, not our idea of what is needed.

This last trip a few weeks ago, was a great inspiration to me.  We got to see progressive results from our previous visits, helped build a new education addition to an expanding church and did outreach with over 400 children in 3 different churches.  I still felt the joy of sharing the love of Christ in word and deed, and working along side Haitians who are invested in seeing their country improve without sacrificing their own culture and history. 


It is possible to be  immune to another human being's need.  It takes work to stay sensitive enough to see need and discernment to recognize your part in helping with the need.  It also can come by just practicing the craft of serving alongside others.  Staying sensitive to needs in an environment of self gratifications that is so prevalent in our American society does take effort.

Serving alongside those in need  can be practiced anywhere, not just Haiti.  Starting local is as easy as linking into your community's volunteer network.  In Davenport, Iowa that is as simple as going to  http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/department/index.php?structureid=38 or partnering in your local church's outreach in the community.  It is a good first step in helping to expand your own world vision.
 

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