Haitian Proverb

Here is a Haitian proverb about power:

 

Ti nèg fè sa l’ kapab. Gran nèg fè sa l’ vle.

 

“The little guy does what he can. The big shot does what he wants.” Those without power don’t have the luxury of choice.

The Fall

I recently finished reading an excellent book called “When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself” by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett. I thought I knew what to expect from reading the book, but I was challenged and convicted so much by reading it.

In one of the early chapters, the authors discuss the Fall and the effects on our lives today from that event. Throughout their book, they talk a lot about broken individuals and broken systems. In reality, the richest person in the world can simultaneously be the poorest person in the world and vice versa because poverty is so multi-faceted. The following quote really stood out to me:

“The fall really happened, and it is wreaking havoc in all of our lives. We are all broken, just in different ways.” –Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert in “When Helping Hurts”

Faces of Haiti: Prayer

Please take a moment to pray for a team from Michigan that will be ministering on La Montagne this week! Several members of the team went with me last summer, and others are good friends of mine. Please pray that God would use them to minister to the Haitian people, and that lives would be changed as a result of this trip!

Haitian Proverb

Here is another Haitian proverb:

 

Kouri pou lapli; tonbe nan gran rivyè.

 

“Run from the rain to fall into the river.” To flee from one disaster to a bigger one.

 

Orphan Care

“The goal of orphan care is caring for orphans, not the good feelings we get from our generosity in building or supporting an orphanage. Orphan care is not about us; it’s about them.” –Johnny Carr in “Orphan Justice”

Faces of Haiti: Face-to-Face

“I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.” 3 John 1:14

Haitian Proverb

Here is a good Haitian proverb about bad habits:

 

Bonbonou renmen se li ki fini ak kòb ou.

 

“The sweet you like is the one that finishes your money.” Bad habits are expensive.

Your Best

“Do not allow yourselves to be disheartened by any failure as long as you have done your best.” –Mother Teresa

Faces of Haiti: Ache

My heart aches to be with this little girl and to hold her again.

Haitian Proverb

Here is a good Haitian proverb about the present and the future:

Wè jodi a men sonje demen.

 

“See today, but remember tomorrow.” Live in the present, but plan for the future.

Optional

“Some things in life are optional and some are not.

Wearing shoes is optional. But eating is not.

Driving a car is optional. But once you choose the option, driving on the right-hand side of the road (here in America) is not.

Becoming a Christian is optional. But once you decide to ask Jesus Christ to take control of your life, involvement in world missions is no longer optional. I’m not saying that these things are impossible. You can choose to go without eating, but if you do, you must take the consequences. . . You can choose to drive on the left but you will pay fines and cause accidents.”

 

–Peter C. Wagner, On the Crest of the Wave (Glendale, Calif.: Regal, 1983), 5

Faces of Haiti: Stories

We met an innumerable amount of beautiful Haitian children last summer. Each face tells a story. Each child has experienced joy and pain. I only wish I knew more of their stories.