Haiti Has Become a Sending Nation

Haiti Has Become a Sending Nation

We are familiar with the poverty of Haiti, but are we also aware of the riches of Haiti?  There are many Haitians living in tents.  Three meals a day may be rare.  Skipping eating one or two days in the week is not rare.  Unemployment is high.  People are resourceful and hard working.  They will look for creative ways to provide for their families. 

So, what are the riches of Haiti?  One of the riches is that they have learned to be content with little and thankful for small things.  Materialism is not as rampant in their country as it is in ours.  Are we thankful for all we have or do we just complain about what we do not have and dwell on what we still want to obtain?  (Hebrews 13:5)

Another asset they have is that they are a collaborative people.  They think of others and help others.  It is not unusual for one Haitian who has a paying job to support 15-20 other people.  They are very family oriented, and they include distant relatives in their responsibility to family.  Unfortunately, many families do not have enough resources to feed their own children.  They will send their children to live with other families where the child must work for the family.  This is done so the child can eat and have access to an education.  Education is not free in Haiti.  You must pay even for public schools, and all children must have uniforms to attend school.   Orphanages are also filled with children the parents could not afford to feed.  Global Fingerprints is addressing this problem by helping families stay together.  They work through the local church so the church is the one meeting needs holistically for the family.  The church in Haiti is eager to be a part of this, because they care about others in their community.

Do we care about our community?  Do we even know the needs of our extended family members?  There are physical, emotional, and spiritual needs around us that we should be meeting.  Time needs to be invested in discovering needs.  Our conversation should not be centered on ourselves.  We need to be listening so that we know how to both pray and act to make a difference in our families and neighborhood.  We need to truly care about others.  (Galatians 5:14, Luke 11:29-37)

In recent years, Haiti has discovered the great commission in the Bible.  We are responsible to go and make disciples of all nations.  (Matthew 28:18-20)  After years of receiving, they realized they are not exempt from this command.  They must be reaching out to the world with the good news of the Gospel.  One Christian Haitian stated that if they had not been brought from West Africa as slaves, they would not have had the opportunity to hear the Gospel.  God has used something evil to bring them great blessings spiritually.  Do we see profit in the bad things that happen in our lives or become bitter and resentful?   (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28)   They are now sending missionaries back to West Africa where animism and the Muslim religion dominate to share the life changing message that Jesus came and died so people could be forgiven and have a new life.  They understand the culture and language in West Africa and are well equipped to minister to them.   But how can they afford to do this?  One pastor encouraged his congregation to obey this command by selling what they did not need.  He said, “If you own two shirts sell one.  If you own two pairs of shoes, sell one.  If you own two dresses, sell one.”  Our lifestyle may require more than one shirt, but how many does it really require and must it include designer clothing?  How much are we willing and ready to give up in obedience to the great command to love one another and the great commission to share God’s saving message with the world?  Do you need the newest model of some gadget?  Do we even understand the difference between needs and wants?  The Bible tells us that where our treasure is, there will our heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).  What are you investing in?  Have things become an idol in your life?  What will you give up in obedience to God?