Day 3: Wings

Our third day in Haiti took us to the site of St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Port-Au-Prince.  Many of you out there are familiar with their organization, or their dance troupe, the Resurrection Dance Theater, touring to a city near you this Fall!

For those of you who don't know about them, the home started in 1985 as a response to young boys stranded on the streets of Port-Au-Prince, or boys forced into brutal house servitude.  They have 20 something boys at the Port-Au-Prince location, and even more in Jacmel.  However, after the quake, this is what remains of the Port-Au-Prince house:

The several story building collapsed, killing a couple friends, but none of the kids.  One of the directors of the program, Bill Nathan, was on the roof of the building when it collapsed.  Here's what happened to him.  Now, he tours with the Resurrection Dance Theater, promoting St. Joseph's and telling his story.  We had a chance to hang out with him and hear his drumming skills.

Younger boys from St. Joseph's have been moved to the Jacmel "Trinity House," while the older boys and some graduates of the home are living at a rented house next door, carrying on the home and assisting in clearing the lot/rebuilding:

That day, we also got to visit "Wings of Hope," another house of St. Joseph's which cares primarily for disabled children.  They had around 39 kids (may be off a bit) at their site, all receiving fantastic medical care and attention.  They even had a fat ol' chocolate lab running around the house, giving the kids some extra love!  Given how Haiti often responds to people with disabilities, as second class citizens, it was so beautiful to see a place where they are cared and love for as the children of God that they are.  The wings have truly set them free.

On the way back from HOM that day, we stopped by a tent city location on what used to be a golf course.  We walked around on the higher elevated part and looked down on the vast expanse of tents down below.  This was one of the more shocking parts of post-quake Haiti, seeing every possible public space in the cities taken up by tents.  Even statues and historical landmarks are often covered up (like the statue to the left) because people need space to live.  At the rate rebuilding is going in the cities (VERY slowly), people could be in these tents for YEARS.  Just imagine how difficult this must be, especially over time as more and more people move into the city and all must readjust.

That evening, our crew reflected on the ministries we've witnessed thus far, comparing their approaches. HOM has a larger scale view: building churches and houses for as many people as possible, to raise the quality of living for a part of the city.  St. Joseph's view is smaller, aimed at transforming individuals who can grow up to be agents of change in the city.  Both have elements that could be challenging to deal with, issues of sustainability, funding, stewardship, etc.  However, among some critiques we drummed up that night, we kept coming back to the admiration of enactment.  Some amazing people are committed to working in Haiti to shape areas of great poverty and despair.  One of our group members reminded us of a phrase he heard before in regards to mission organizations that may be difficult to deal with: "this is what it means to be in relationship."

The work these groups are doing in Haiti should call us to action.  They should invite us into relationship with them and with organizations in our own communities.  They are a reminder that the gospel of Christ is an ACTIVE gospel, that is boldly serving the world beyond its own means.  This work is never perfect, in fact its often messy.  However, it's rooted in love.

May these wings set us free.