The People WILL Endure

It was a long-awaited opportunity for Many Hands for Haiti staff to be hosts to a group of people whose hearts were aching to serve the Lord in Haiti.  Anticipation of a relaunch of Many Hands IMPACT teams in the months to come brought excitement to the area as the local people could see those coming to serve.

It is not news that the country of Haiti is a place of chronic unrest. 

The chronic unrest of the country shifted in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 7. With the news of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, the chronic unrest turned tragic. The people became numb with disbelief. 

When much of the world had been stifled by Corona Virus, Haiti remained relatively unaffected. Social distancing, mask wearing, COVID testing were not part of the scene. 

The people are experiencing an intense new tragedy with intense uncertainty. Alongside this, many factors STILL remain as the people ENDURE.

There are STILL young people with tremendous potential that are without opportunity.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

There is HARD work of gardens that still need to be plowed. Haiti has two season, Dry season and rainy season. The rainy season should be in full force but farmers are hurting because we have seen too little rain in this area. Even Hurricane Elsa couldn't muster much rainfall here.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

This woman is a widow. She is part of a Many Hands afternoon bible study that is still concentrating on 'making disciples' each week. Having grown up in a farming family, she is growing tobacco in her yard in hopes of some income. She is praying for rain.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

With little rainfall, Many Hands goatland is STILL needing to bring in food to feed the goat herd.

An endless number of families are STILL living in homes that are not safe. This is the house where Kettie Love, a MH First 1000 Days participant, lives with her mom and grandma (pictured).

Another First 1000 Days participant. nine-month old Wendy and his mom in their house that does not protect from the elements. Wendy was born two months premature and is STILL not caught up with his development. They are using sheets and curtains to try to provide some protection. 

Where there is a will there is a way. And Haiti is a place where the people WILL endure. Electricity is not a given by any means. People have to fight for something as basic as a light in the darkness of the night. Here is an example of the wonderful ingenuity of the Haitian people. The protective, reflective 'lamp shade' is a metal bowl that might hold a meal of rice with bean sauce in the upright position. 

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

There are STILL clothes to be washed at the river.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

There is STILL gravel to be made by hand. Imagine going to the mountain to harvest rock in the early morning. Then carrying rock down the mountain by the five-gallon bucketful. Sitting on your pile of gravel, making more gravel hour by hour, day by day, only to sell a "barik" for about 250 gourdes (right at $2.50 US). A barik is a unit of measure... 5 five-gallon buckets.

Good news.... MH is STILL sharing the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here MH chaplain Jean Rubert gives the gift of a bible.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

More good news....kids are STILL kids.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

Don't you wonder what these eyes have seen throughout a lifetime of living in a place of chronic unrest? And what is HE thinking at this time of tragedy?

Back in the States, there were worried families of the 14 people who were serving the LORD through Many Hands for Haiti at the time of the assassination. That day and the days to follow, all of us with MH chose to 'stand on what we KNOW' rather than dwell in the unknown. There was a sudden lock down of all air travel but we chose to stand firm.... These were t-shirts of our own team members!

"Be STILL and KNOW that I am GOD". Psalm 46:10. "This is the day the LORD has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

AND many Haitian people will STILL get through each day the way they have in the past... through PRAYER and confidence that God will never forget them.

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

As quickly as air travel was suspended it was restored for the time being. God's grace allowed Missionary Flights International to land a mile from MH Campus on the local grass airstrip and all 14 MH short-term missionaries boarded and were OFF! MFI is a STILL a lifeline for MH.

The rental trucks are sitting empty. MH is hoping for a renewed opportunity to host servants of the Lord

(Photo by Ben Croghan)

Mount Pignon is STILL majestic and cannot be shaken. 

More so... Our Majestic God cannot be shaken.  Be STILL and KNOW that I am GOD. Psalm 46:10  

This is the day the LORD has made! We WILL rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24