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Thoughts on Dominican

February 1, 2010 in Church, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

The true team - Dominicans, Haitians, and Americans (and a couple of Canadians thrown in.)

I returned Saturday evening after eight days in the Dominican Republic working with Servant’s Heart Ministries. I led a team of six others from our church.  It was an amazing week of ministry, of relationship-building, of warmth! (literally since it is snowy here and sunny there).

I love to travel, to immerse myself in other cultures, to meet the large family of God. I find joy in bringing a team along – especially newbies who remind me of the first-time awe and joy of a mission trip.

I’m grateful for the physical reminders of what daily life is like for the majority of the world.  Did you know that if you make $35,000/year, you are in the top 5% of the wealthiest individuals in the world? Rich is relative.  Riches are relative.  I’ve met more joyous and grateful individuals in my travels around the world then I do in my community here.   I’m not romanticizing third-world nations or pretending that everyone in these communities are just simply happy folks and pure of heart.  They are human and there are individuals in every community that are negative, opportunistic, greedy, and self-centered. Every community has them.

But there are so many who demonstrate joy, hope, and peace regardless of their wealth or possessions (or lack thereof.)

One of the things that continually impressed us during our week of service were the volunteers.  They came from the community (not all from the church) and they gave their time and their strength to the construction project.  We were amazed at their hard work.  We were humbled by the shoes they wore that were literally held together by threads.  We were challenged by their since of community – sharing what little they had with one another.  If someone brought a bowl of rice and beans for lunch, one would take a bite then pass the bowl to the next person.  No one took more than their share.  The same with water and with tasks on the site.

In our culture of individualism and self-reliance, we have much to learn from those cultures, who often out of necessity, developed a value for community and continue to protect and nurture that value. Working together, we accomplished an amazing week of work.  Working independently, we would have nothing to show for it.

Hope for Haiti

January 15, 2010 in Church, Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Since Tuesday afternoon, our hearts and thoughts have been held captive by the aftermath of the 7.0 earthquake that rocked Haiti to its core. As stories are told and media is shared, we are seeing the awful reality of the death and destruction that is the reality now for the millions that call the area around Port au Prince home.

It is so heartbreaking to imagine what these men, women, and children are going through. It is unfathomable for most US citizens.

And it is just one more thing to happen to a country that has endured disaster after disaster and years of abject poverty.

Each evening as I head to bed  I think about the thousands that are still buried alive in the rubble and have yet to be found. People who, hurt or not, are in complete isolation and have been wondering for 50+ hours if anyone will find them or if they are slowly taking their last breaths in their personal tomb.

Each day I think of the family members who do not know what has happened to their loved ones. If they have perished or if they are still alive under the rubble.  I imagine someone who has received a miracle text from someone buried under levels of a building knowing that there is absolutely nothing they can do.

Each day I think of the humanitarian workers who have worked tirelessly in Haiti for years only to see everything devastated in a matter of minutes. I think of the Haitian, who against all odds, built themselves a life and a business and provided for their family and in mere seconds, they are back to ground zero.

In the days months ahead, may we continue our faithful and ceaseless prayers. May we be generous with our money.  And may we commit to staying the course with Haiti in the years of recovery to come.

Gracious, Emmanuel. Grant peace in the midst of the chaos and pain in Haiti. May Your light shine in all the darkness that covers this land.  Give miraculous strength to all relief workers, humanitarians, and volunteers.  Flood the Haitians with your love and comfort and may you soften our hearts and move us to action out of love for our brothers and sisters. Amen.

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