I was Thirsty...

"I was thirsty...

... and you gave me something to drink."

It's Both/And

Well, after a year of planning, we were finally able to start a program of feeding hungry kids.  We had to cut down the size of program we initially had planned because we would not have been able to continue to fund it at the pace we have been receiving funds.  But small is probably better in the early going as we learn the ropes.  Nothing wrong with taking our time and doing it right. We learn as we go.

The pictures at left were taken last week during the first feeding, a trial run.  It went really well!  I was a bit worried about order and control and stuff like that, but it was absolutely orderly and controlled.

We are feeding one hundred kids in this particular village. We hope to begin soon to feed children in a second village of about the same size.

In doing development I suppose there is probably nothing particularly strategic or sustainable when it comes to feeding hungry people. I mean, these kids are going to wake up hungry again tomorrow, right?  What I do know is that malnourished kids are sick kids and that it's hard to learn when you're sitting there hungry, and that while we set about the painstaking tasks of development it won't hurt to love on people along the way.

Besides, as we feed we will be bringing trees and garden seeds and farm animals to their homes. In the future, then, they won't need people to come to feed them. They'll do just fine on their own.

Development and compassion need not be mutually exclusive activities. It's not either/or... it's both/and.

If It's Glamour We're After...

Two great friends, Aldo and Dede

I suppose it's a bit unreasonable to think that in these hard economic times one could make a go of a business whose sole purpose is for the benefit of someone else, not us.  But there you go.  On one hand we see so many well-thought-out, well-funded business plans falling flat.  On the other hand, the simple, perhaps even silly notion that a few folks here in the States might be able to bring transformative change to an island of people they'll never meet... seems to be gathering steam.

I've had the pleasure of being witness to both ends, both here and in Haiti.  And, while it is fun and busy and all that here in Michigan, the true exhiliaration comes when you can see the fruits of our Stateside efforts borne out in a precious village whose people know (and care) nothing about golf outings and tax receipts and all that stuff.

Just days ago I wandered through the white tents of the cholera hospital where, just two days prior, my friend Jean Tinne's grandmother had died of that quick and horrible disease.  Sadly, Jean Tinne had to bury her the same day, her and the evil Vibrio that claimed her life. I hugged Jean Tinne and told him how sorry I was.

Days ago I returned to an obscure, yet precious mountain village where just months ago there were zero household latrines, and now there are 54 (out of 91 households). Our goal is for 100%. The deal we have made with families is that if they dig the hole, we will provide them with cement for the slab cover and the toilet.  They are enthusiastically taking us up on our offer.  Thanks to community development missionary Lowell Adams for doing the hard work in transporting literally tons of cement up the treacherous mountain roads.

Mundane? Probably.  Unglamorous? Absolutely.  But so what?  If it's glamour we're after, we should stay at the Ritz.

I need to catch up on my posting.  So much to share...
Blessings,
Steve