A few folks have asked for my thoughts about the tragic earthquake in Haiti. I visited Haiti back in my Target Earth days, and it had a profound impact on me. Upon my return I was, for the first time in my life, in culture shock. Or at least something close to it. Now please realize, I’ve seen poverty all over the world. I’ve been to dozens and dozens of countries. But my experience in Haiti was beyond anything else.
Part of this stems from the timing. I arrived in Haiti just a few weeks after the United States negotiated the removal of a dictator, and then President Clinton sent our military to occupy the country. There were US military men and women everywhere. At night you could hear shots fired, and at times we heard them in the daytime.
Another reason for my reaction were the incredible experiences I had. This was not the normal “church group goes to Haiti to help” kind of thing. I walked through the poorest neighborhoods, listened to the heartbreaking stories from mothers with sick children, and saw the scoundrels who preyed on the weak. There are many images in my mind, but one that will always stand out is a man in a dry riverbed breaking rocks by hand. In doing so, he was creating sand. After 50 lbs of sand was created, he could carry it 3-miles and then sell it for a nickel. I’ll never forget the sadness of that image.
There were many more images like that, some that I prefer to keep to myself. When I got home there was a lot to process, and as always D’Aun was wonderful about that. She listened and, occasionally, offered insights. I married the right person.
Gordon Aeschliman, my good friend and long time ministry partner, had just left Haiti a few days before I arrived. Gordon has seen more human suffering caused by poverty than almost anybody I know. He is also a positive person who wants to make life better for the oppressed. He believes in hope and opportunity. Despite all the pain he has seen, he dedicates himself to making positive change.
His thoughts after his first trip to Haiti? “It’s a basket case.” I’ll never forget that short sentence. Here was a man who has seen poverty at its worst, who has always maintained hope in the face of insurmountable odds, and he was telling me the country was a basket case. How sad. Not sad for Gordon, but sad for the country. Because as I reflected on it, Gordon was right.
There are a lot of reasons for this. Too many for me to get my brain around. And now is not really the time to dwell on those issues anyway. I applaud those wonderful people who are sending aid, resources, and their own time to the relief efforts. That’s where are efforts and our prayers need to be focused.
Somebody asked how they could best make a difference. In this situation, the best thing we can do is pray and give financially. Who do we give to? There are many great groups, but the ones I’m most familiar with are Plant With Purpose, World Vision, and Haiti Partners. Friends of mine work and lead these three organizations and they are all going to use your gift wisely.
Pray for Haiti. And when the earthquake is out of the news, keep praying. And when the rebuilding is done, keep praying.