The Highway to Haiti

Go to the people,
Live among them,
Learn from them,
Love them,
Start with what they know,
Build on what they have:
But of the best leaders,
When their task is done,
The people will remark
“We have done it ourselves.”
—Chinese Proverb

In October we attended the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) Conference in Miami. The CCDA, founded by John Perkins and Wayne Gordon twenty years ago, is a network of churches and ministries committed to “bear(ing) witness to the Kingdom of God by reclaiming and restoring under-resourced communities.” Tony Campolo, Ron Sider, Shane Claiborne, and Brian McLaren have been some of the more noteworthy voices, past and present, of the CCDA.

Each morning Dr. Perkins led a brilliant Bible study about raising-up “justice leaders”. Dove Enterprises recorded the sessions, and MP3s/CDs/DVDs can be purchased on their website for as little as $7 each. If you are interested in Christian community development on any level, we highly recommend getting a copy of Dr. Perkins’ teaching. Click here to link to the ordering page at Dove Enterprises.

Two weeks ago we were at the hospital getting health certificates—documents required for our residence permit. One of the requirements for the health certificate is sitting in on an HIV/AIDS counseling session and taking a “confidential” HIV/AIDS blood test. Another part of the process included getting a card indicating our blood types. So that day we dragged Silas and Luke around the hospital: to the exam room, to the counseling office, and to the lab for tests. After we finished, the doctor told me to come back the next morning to get the results—and the health certificates.

As instructed, I returned for the papers. On my way out a nurse stopped me and told me someone was looking for me. “Who?” I asked. She led me toward the radiology room and pointed me to the x-ray tech, a guy I didn’t know. He introduced himself and began by saying, “Eske ou ka ede-m?” On any given day, I find myself in at least three or four conversations beginning with these same five words (translated: Can you help me?), typically followed by a request for anywhere from $5 to $50—no joke. This happens so much, it becomes desensitizing, and it’s difficult not to tune-out and politely say, “no” and, “I’m sorry”. Since we were at the hospital, I presumed he needed help paying a hospital bill. But his request was different. (more…)

Of all athletes in American sports today, two of the three highest paid professionals are Dominican-Americans. Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, who both lived in the Dominican Republic, are under contract to earn a combined $435 million.

We kept up with the Olympics and it was intriguing that Caribbean sprinters dominated the track. The men’s 100m dash final—won by a Jamaican—featured two American and six Caribbean sprinters. In the women’s 100m dash, Jamaicans took gold, silver, and bronze.

The Dominican Republic and Haiti have few things in common, but they are on the same Caribbean island: Hispaniola. Isn’t it fishy that one side of Hispaniola produces the highest paid athletes in the world, the rest of the Caribbean produces the fastest men and women in the world, and Haiti barely produces a competitor?

The following letter was mailed last week:

August 12th, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

Three generations ago it was common for missionaries to pack their belongings in caskets and leave for the field quite aware of the challenges ahead. Times have changed, and one of the challenges today, ironically, may be a lack of awareness of the complex environments in which missionaries serve. (more…)