Haiti final post: Mountains Beyond Mountains

A month ago I was finishing up 10 days in Haiti.  The immediate emotion that comes to mind is "overwhelmed." On our last day, the 4 of us were lounging on a beach in Cap Haitian, relaxing and reflecting on all that we had seen.  The nice beach was in huge contrast to the sad state of poverty and destruction that covers much of the country.  Simply thinking about the country was painful in itself.  I didn't even want to go into the city anymore, encountering people everywhere asking for money.  Most of this was due to the blitz-nature of our trip.  We never stayed in the same place twice in a row, constantly on the move, not pausing long enough to truly build deep relationships.

I've begun to discover what it means to serve a place like Haiti.  The statistics are overwhelming.  The situation is disheartening.  Hope seems to be fading.  However, within every organization we visited, we encountered a group of people who had dedicated their lives to change.  People who were motivated by the simple fact that God cares for these people.  God's preference is for the poor.  However, they were also motivated by the fact that their calling is to work towards a better Haiti.  They were all willing to make the necessary sacrifices and fight the necessary political battles.

"Mountains Beyond Mountains," is a book by Tracy Kidder, which follows the life of Dr. Paul Farmer.  Dr. Farmer is a doctor who has dedicated his life to eradicating infectious diseases around the world.  His quest began in Haiti, working in the mountains.  Although he travels around the world seeking out new locations to fight disease, he admits that he feels truly alive while serving patients one on one in the mountains of Haiti (295).  Like I witnessed in all those working for a better Haiti, the motivation is reflected in the title of the book, from a Haitian proverb, which basically states that beyond mountains, there are more mountains.  To me, this expresses the weight of the task and the calling ahead.

Discipleship, to follow Christ's call in this world, is a calling into a difficult world that asks you to take on the mountains.  Examining the plight of Haiti or any area of need is a call to action.  Kidder summed it up through reciting a Haitian proverb "Bondye konn bay, men li pa konn separe," or "God gives but doesn't share (79)." God's grace is abundant and free.  However, we are called to respond through giving, through sharing with places in need.

The airport in Port-Au-Prince was packed and lively when we arrived for our flight to Miami.  The long line out front was a unique mix of travelers.  However, what stood out, quite comically, were the church groups with matching t-shirts.  All of these shirts were, of course, brand new (you can bet poor Haitian kids loved seeing that), with fancy slogans on them about "saving Haiti," or "helping people," "loving God and others," etc..

I would say I'm not one to stereotype but I'd be lying.  Having gone on mission trips before, knowing the culture of many international trips, and through studying the message of these shirts, I had a good sense about what the general ethos of these groups was about: Come for a week to move some stones, build some houses, maybe tell people why they should believe in Jesus Christ, then pack up and fly back home with some souvenirs you bought from a gift shop.

This needs to stop.  The sad state of what "mission (hijacked term to begin with) trips" have become is a chance to show up and share some "goodness" with people in another country, then fly home with some sadness about the people, maybe say a prayer, then never engage the topic again.  There is a broad ranging lack of transformation in these trips.  There is a lack of understanding of the importance of building relationships and staying tuned to the larger implications of the trip and the country involved.

Christ was pretty radical in His interaction with the poor.  Going to meals with them, healing them, telling them they will inherit the kingdom of God.  These interactions are steeped in developed, transformative relationships, not in brief moments of giving.  So we too are called to encounter the poor places of this world.

Sacrifice a part of yourself, be transformed by the relationship, engage the larger systemic issues, and seek the next mountain to cross.  They are often right out your back door.  And you don't even need to buy a new t-shirt.

Photo by Cole Smothers