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.

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…)

Thomas Malthus theorized that as the world’s population increases, the amount of resources available for each person decreases. Charles Darwin expanded Malthusian theory and proposed that natural selection (survival of the fittest) occurs when the weak in body or mind are eliminated due to defect or to an inability to access the resources needed to survive and reproduce.

While in Miami last month, some friends took me to see the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, with Ben Stein. Expelled contends that those who champion the subtle views of Malthus and Darwin supply the building blocks for horrific applications of hereditary improvement by genetic control. Stein illustrates how opponents of an “Intelligent Designer” court a dangerous worldview that diminishes the sanctity of life.

The 869-page, Written in Blood: The Story of the Haitian People 1492-1995, by Robert, Nancy and Michael Heinl, is arguably the most complete history of Haiti in print. In the introduction, the authors state, “Besides having too many people, too little land and few roads, Haiti has practically no natural resources.” Among those who visit and assess Haiti, this is the simple definition of the problem and the majority view.

Why is this significant? (more…)

The following letter was mailed to our family and friends in December. Since then we have received a considerable amount of positive feedback and felt it appropriate to post online.

December 4th, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

There’s a story about two farmers who desperately needed rain. Both of them prayed for rain, but only one of them went out and prepared his fields to receive it. Which one trusted God to send the rain? God will send the rain when he’s ready. We must prepare our fields to receive it. (more…)

When mom and dad were visiting us last month, they met and quickly fell in love with, Naomi, who works for us, and her two children. Recently, my parents sent us some Christmas packages, overflowing with goodies! Naturally, one of the packages contained some gifts for Naomi’s family. My mom had bought an adorable little doll for Eman, Naomi’s five year-old daughter. Though my parents had sent these gifts with the purest of intentions, it presented us with a dilemma.

(more…)