Yesterday a neighbor boy came over asking for food. This simply prodded me to ask him why he is hungry. We know his family owns at least 10 pigs. So I ask.
"Why does your family need food?"
His response, "we don't have any".
"Do you have pigs?"
"Yes. But those are my dads."
"Where is your dad?"
"He is not here."
"Where is he?"
"He is somewhere."
"You need to tell your dad to sell a pig so your family can eat."
"No."
"Why not?"
And the conversation continues. We told him we will give him some food if he washes one window. As he is washing our window my heart is aching. All these thoughts are running through my mind. I know it is not his fault he is hungry. He is just a boy. I know they are "poor". He shouldn't have to wash my window for food. But if I give him some food without work he will be back everyday asking for food. Oh! the battle that waged within. Meanwhile, the boy's mother comes walking to our house as her son is washing our window for food. I talk to her asking her why, if they are hungry, aren't they selling a pig so they can have money for food. I don't get a response at all. The young boy finishes the window and I give him a peanut butter sandwich and a cookie pack knowing he most likely will give that food to his family, leaving nothing for himself. This is just one story of many that happens throughout our days in Haiti.
The big question is, who is poor? I believe "poor" is based on each individual's perspective. People living in the United States look at Haiti, for example, and think "poor". However there are Haitian people who do not consider themselves as poor by any means. In fact, this little boy's family who has the pigs? They 'look' very poor yet compared to their neighbors and others in Haiti they "have money" because they have animals(the pigs). Ownership of animals is a mark of wealth here. The managing of their money might be the issue; choosing other things above needs. For Example, our family gave another neighbor family new shorts for Christmas because they were running around in their under ware. It is the end of February and the kids are still running around in their under ware. We assumed they would love getting those shorts for Christmas. So where are the shorts?
Restoring dignity to Haiti is a must. Countries around the world have told Haiti they are poor. When one is told over and over again what they are they begin to believe it when it isn't the truth. Poverty, in some aspects, is all based on perspective. I drive down roads, here in Haiti, seeing signs. Well known organizations put up signs in front of homes they built. These signs have the word "poor" in them or "needy". I don't know about you but how would you feel driving into your free home seeing a sign that reads "this is for the poor" or "(a named organization) built this for the poor"? Deep down I would think, "I don't feel poor. I have a job, house, clothes and food…but" As time passes by, hearing people tell me I am poor and seeing signs that say I am poor makes me start believing I am poor. Haiti has been given lots of things because they have been labeled as "poor" and this has crippled them. Honestly, it is hard figuring out where the fine line is between helping or crippling my neighbors. I know some of them need food. But I also know most can do things to get food.
The Bible has a great story which explains how one man handled people coming to him asking him for food. Joseph. Joseph had control over all of Egypt during the great famine. He had people coming to him daily asking for food because of this famine. First Joseph sold the grain for money. When the people ran out of money they came back to Joseph saying, "give us food, for why should we die in your presence? For our money is gone". Genesis 47 NASB Did Joseph just give them the food? NO.. He could have felt guilty…but instead this is what he said, "Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is out." When their food ran out they came back a 3rd time begging Joseph to buy THEM and their land for food. Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh because every person was out of money. The people ended up working on the land they sold to Joseph keeping 1/5 of their product for themselves. The rest went to Joseph to manage.
What we are trying to do here in Haiti? We are trying to restore dignity that has been lost. In order for people to understand God's love for them they need to be told they are worth it. If they don't believe they are worth it they won't believe they are worth being saved by grace through Jesus. We can't cripple people in order to calm the guilt we have placed in our hearts. We must live and do without wanting to be recognized. Lots of organizations in Haiti have their names plastered over every thing they have made or done for Haiti. We must ask ourselves, do we "give"/ "serve" out of the need to feel good about one's self or because we feel guilt? Or do we "give" and "serve" when the Spirit prompts? When we serve and give it is done quietly, without others knowing, not loudly so all can see(glorifying our self). All we do should glorify God not ourselves. Haiti, sadly, is a picture of people serving others to glorify oneself(not all of course..but most). Leaving behind a big mess. Dependency.
When someone comes to my door I ask the Lord for discernment. I ask for the Spirit to lead, not my emotions. I am still trying to figure out who truly is poor in a country, from our perspective, where all appear poor. My heart seems to tug more at those who are poor spiritually. That is almost everybody! The question that lies now is, how do we share Jesus to those who view us, white people, so differently than themselves? The answer is NOT gathering a crowd telling them they need Jesus and then giving them fun things afterwards. That is a false sense of evangelism. We do as Jesus did. The best example. We walk alongside each other daily. We Love despite differences. We look for opportunities to teach. We live next to them daily, sharing struggles in this world. We be their neighbor.
