Here is an excerpt from something I wrote today to a group asking some of the above questions. I hope it resonates with you and helps explain our philosophy on helping our Haitian brothers and sisters in need.
"We were ministering in the south in a remote village called Chaveneau, but pulled out in November 2012. The community we were partnering with was pretty much self-sustaining. About a mile walk to the closest town, (and through 2 "rivers" that are prone to flooding), they were managing pretty well on their own. We took a medical team there in Dec. of 2011 to determine if there were needs we could assist with. It was decided that their greatest need in the area was clean water. This would help with many illnesses the medical team saw. While ministering there, we helped connect them with those who could fund the drilling of a well and others who came to install a water purification system for the community on the property of the local church. They also trained the community about when/how to use the purified water. Were there other needs? SURE. Were the people materially poor? SURE. But, they were making it on their own and though they had their struggles, they were independent and surviving. They weren't prosperous, but they had pride and dignity and did not need to beg for foreign assistance to survive. (though, of course, some still did- learned behavior unfortunately too common)
We learned so much from this community and our involvement there---about independence (and about doing things the wrong way when we brought others in who planted the seeds of doubt..... like the serpent did with Eve- "Maybe you could have MORE". "Maybe this life isn't 'good enough'" , "I can help you get **** out here"- argh! Imposing OUR perception of what's important on others as we, the arrogant foreigners sometimes do- myself included at that point at times I am sad to admit) So, through a series of events- we mutually decided (them and us) that our time there was finished and God was leading us to other projects. We firmly believed that, though we continued friendships there (and sometimes some assistance with small projects) we were finished as an organization with any formal ministry there. But, we kept some solid friendships and relationships.
Fast forward to last week- October 2016! They were hit by Hurricane Matthew. HARD. As were so many. We are one of their only connections still (actually one of our friends stateside made contact- our local contact is too sick and had no phone service) to the foreign "aide" community. So, we/he got some text messages and pleas for immediate assistance. Texts received said things like: "About 200 of the locals are sleeping in the church without clean water/food/etc." "Two people broke their legs- one is dead". "We can't sleep because we are hungry or scared". "We are completely cut off and you can not even get in here because the rivers are too high and dangerous to cross yet". "We lost many homes and others are badly damaged". It goes on and on. Imagine the emotions of myself and my friend who still has contact with them (much more than I do honestly). It was difficult to sit in my warm, cozy home here in the USA and not let my thoughts wander to my friends there in the southern peninsula of Haiti- enduring all this hardship.
So... we could stand it no longer. We cried out to other organizations and people for help, but they were either too busy with their own ministry partners (which we TOTALLY understand) or they could promise nothing because they need to have a local contact with a phone and a guaranteed secure drop off location for food/water (again we understand that- it gets CRAZY when you try to drop off food/supplies with no security). Others have needs too and are desperate. Yesterday our staff took a "survey" trip with some relief - just to see if we could even get in because they are so remote and to figure out how we can move forward to best assist with both immediate and long term efforts. We have our own ministry partners with needs, but couldn't stand thinking that some people we know/love in the community of Chaveneau were in need and we could potentially help in some way! Our Haitian coordinator did get in and made an assessment. I am still waiting for more info. I got a brief call from him last night as he drove back but will debrief with him further today. We are a small organization so we don't get a lot in donations. But, we believe in sustainability. Coming alongside people for a period. Providing connections and assistance while working with the locals to see them gain that independence - which brings dignity and pride with the accomplishment. We have Haitian staff. We do host short term teams in Haiti but with the goal of the trips being "learning trips" rather than service. We use ministry funds from those trips to hire local labor whenever possible. We also use the teams to TEACH and share skills/knowledge they may have- especially trades. I can't imagine organizing a short term team to go in and do the work to help rebuild when Haitians need work and income to rebuild themselves.
That being said, we ARE planning to go back to the south and come alongside this community as we did in 2010-2012 (before we pulled out). We have relationships there. We know their situation prior to the hurricane and we know who to trust in the community after 6 years of knowing them and continuing friendship with them. We can see organizing a group to work WITH them, but we will see how that develops.
Funds donated will go to immediate relief (for now that is water/food/tarps) and then quickly transition to rebuilding efforts. We also need to get the water building operational (solar panels to run the batteries were lost as was a water tank when it fell). Currently they are having to boil water from the river or other sources to drink. We need to get some sort of filtration system to them before the water building is up and making clean water again. We will need to buy tin sheets/roofing nails, lumber, and hire SOME local labor (though many will just need the materials and will rebuild their own homes- working together as communities do). We need to follow GOD wherever He leads us.
Our website is www.heartsunitedwithhaiti.org if you care to donate. We maintain records for accountability and are a legal organization in both the USA and Haiti (donations are tax deductible- we're a 501c3) Plenty of people can vouch for our integrity and passion for the Haitian people and our desire to do it all responsibility- always keeping the Haitian people and their dignity in mind and seeking to lead toward independence, not continue the cycle of dependency we so often see in the country we love. LONG, but I hope that helps."
There you have it. Sorry it is so long, but responsible ministry is a passion we have and share with many others. Each has his/her own opinion on what that means, and we seek to follow God's lead always with our organization. We certainly don't know everything, but we have learned a lot in our 6.5 years of service in Haiti. Pray for us- for wisdom and discernment, for safety, and for donations to support what we believe God is leading us to do in this situation. We already have our normal ministry/partners to keep up with and we don't want to neglect them either. It has been a LOT to process and negotiate our way through in less than a week. Prayerfully consider donating- if not to us, then to someone you feel will manage that donation wisely. Thanks!
Here is a photo from yesterday- the home of one of my friends, Isaiae. She hosted us many times in that home- often sleeping on the floor so I could sleep in her bed, cooking for us, and caring for our teams with love!
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