I did not want to go to Haiti. There was no part of me that was looking forward to kicking off my year in one of the hottest, poorest countries in the World. Now that I’m here, there’s no part of me that wants to leave. I’ve heard their stories and seen the wreckage they live in, I’ve sung their songs and danced their dances, I’ve held their children and prayed over their sick, and every day they win over more of my heart.
For this reason, I’m doing what I can to share their needs with all of you and my hope is that you’ll be moved to take part in the solution.
In the last post, I introduced the I Can Project. This is a financial campaign for education sponsorship based on the Mission of Hope (MOH) curriculum known as Mwen Kapab (“I Can”). This curriculum teaches Haitian students that through Christ they CAN work hard and achieve their goals. Education is absolutely key for fixing the cycle of poverty and corruption in Haiti and it’s the greatest potential this nation has for turning things around for the better.
It was not until I met MacArthur during one of my visits to the village of Minoterie that I understood this reality. MacArthur is a twenty-three year old male who did not receive an education and therefore had difficulty finding a job to support his young girlfriend and their nine-month old daughter. He welcomed us into the blue tent that his family was currently living him and introduced us to his beautiful baby girl and her sweet mother. MacArthur asked for prayer to find a job so he could make enough money to buy a home and provide for his family. We were eager to pray for his life to be transformed, because he clearly had a heart for the Lord and a passion to change his circumstances.
It was not until we left the home that our Village Champion explained how serious the situation was. The blue tent they were staying in was a temporary shelter that was never meant for long-term living. During the day, the sun beats down on the tarp and creates an incredible heat inside. At night, the opposite problems occurs and the tent becomes very cold. This often leads to pneumonia and other serious illnesses. After hearing this, we began to understand how important it was for MacArthur to find a job so he could provide a better place to raise his baby girl and protect his family from sickness.
We then learned about another difficulty that MacArthur had the potential of facing. The expectation in Haitian culture is that the man is able to provide food and shelter before he can get married and start a family. In most cases, the man cannot do this because he cannot find a job on account of being uneducated. Therefore, young Haitian couples start their family before marriage and depend on other family members or neighbors to provide a shelter until they can provide their own. More often than not, the man remains unemployed and unable to buy his family food and clothing. The woman believes it is her duty to find a new man who can provide a better life for her children, so she then moves from one man to the next looking for provision.
Sadly, this easily leads to prostitution and more babies being born without a good father or a stable home.
This cycle of poverty, split homes and corruption continues to be the norm in Haiti. Underlying all of these issues is a lack of education, because without education, the cycle continues, and even worsens.
Through Mission of Hope, things are beginning to change. Children who attend school and villagers who attend church are being taught “Mwen Kapab ak Bondye,” “I can with God.” Ask the students at MOH schools what they want to be when they grow up and you’ll hear confidence in their voices as they respond with doctor, engineer, musician, photographer, or teacher. Talk to the adults who attend church and you’ll hear about the plans they have for a better life. Because of the Lord, there is a vision of hope for those being told, “Mwen Kapab ak Bondye.”
With God, these people can change their circumstances. We believe in their ability to transform because we believe in the One who authors their lives. With the gift of sponsorship, many more children can grow up to be doctors and engineers and teachers who truly have hope in the God “who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according the power at work within us” (Eph. 3:20).
What I am telling you is real. A week after meeting MacArthur, we saw him again, this time working as a mason at his new job and doing all that he can to provide a better life for his family. He has learned through his time at church that he can turn things around with God and he has a genuine hope that does not run dry.
You can provide this sort of long-term hope and lasting transformation for a child in Haiti and ultimately play a role in breaking the cycle of poverty and corruption in Haiti. Please consider becoming a sponsor through Mission of Hope and you’ll quickly see how huge of an impact thirty-five dollars a month can make for the Kingdom of Heaven.
God is moving, and you’d best believe it.
To join in the “I Can Project” by becoming a sponsor, follow this link to select a child online http://mohhaiti.force.com/sponsorship or you can email [email protected] with any questions you may have.
