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

living good news

BSM and ASPC (the places I'm working) were recently featured in Presbyterians Today.  You can view the article HERE.  I share some reflections:

The root of the word "evangelism" is "good news." The breakdown of this world in our culture is centered around what exactly this "news" is.  For some, this news is an afterlife of paradise upon acceptance of Christ.  For others, this news is more centered on the present life, a hope for "better times." I don't believe Christians will ever come to consensus on what it means to "evangelize."  The word will continue to feed megachurches who use it solely to build numbers.  The word will also continue to scare away many people because of how it has been used coercively.

I believe the breakdown with "evangelism" occurs when we turn it into a mathematical formula, when we view it simply as methods to get people in the doors of church.  If we view the gospel as the good news, we must begin to view evangelism as relational.  By this, I mean good news becomes self-evident once we get to know each other authentically and once we make room for those on the margins of society to be known.  Christ is made evident in our relationships.

This view of evangelism has been the blessing and challenge of working at BSM and ASPC this year.  I have really enjoyed witnessing the opportunities given for people to know God and know one another more deeply.  People from every walk of life are given room to explore faith together creatively and authentically.  All are empowered to love and serve one another as Christ calls us.

However, the nature of this work is the challenge.  The first author in this article says "it isn't that hard." I would take issue to say that if it isn't hard, you aren't trying hard enough.  The work of "making visible the kingdom" requires a lot of sacrifice.  Creating room for relationship building means we must be willing to deal with those who are different from us.  Creating room for relationship calls us to make opportunities for people to have a sense of belonging in the work of God.

Both venues have been exploring this throughout the year.  They recognize the importance of breaking down barriers and drawing people in, yet constantly face the challenge of how to draw people into community.

It's not easy...but who ever said the work of God was?

Clothe with greater honor, treat with greater respect

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;

24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member,

25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

31 But strive for the greater gifts.

This is one of those many segments of Scripture that go SO much deeper than what you would get on a first read.  So read it again!...

done?

I've heard this passage a million times.  I know it precedes the infamous "love" chapter in 1 Corinthians 13.  I know the context of the letter is to churches and early believers who are not getting along and arguing on who has a greater hold on the truth.  I've heard this passage in Bible studies before talking about "spiritual gifts." We ask each other all the time "what are your spiritual gifts?".  We talk about how Christians disagree and need to "get along" better.

Like it has many times this year, BSM Bible study turned this scripture on it's head.  I led the Bible study and encountered the usual variety of homeless guests (around 10-15).  We talked about the nature of the body of Christ and the need to get along and work together.  We talked about the notion of all being equal in the Spirit.  This led into verse 23: "those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;" I asked everyone what they thought of this and a few of them spoke up to say "the golden rule!" "treat others as you would want to be treated!" If this happened anywhere else, I may have just moved on, noting that they understand.

However, something caught me.  These people are struggling with homelessness and addiction.  They get by with what little change they can find and oftentimes don't get even a smile from people walking by.  This is the world they've become accustomed to.  By saying this passage meant following the golden rule, they were acknowledging their place in this world and not expecting much more than what they've received and are able to do to others.  I thought of my standards of "the golden rule" and realized they are probably much higher based on what I have been blessed with in my life.

This 1 Corinthians passage is MUCH deeper than the golden rule.  This is not telling us to "get along".  This is telling us to RADICALLY SHIFT how we relate to people.

22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

We can talk about getting along "in" our church and "with" other churches all we want.  We can talk about how the singers and the accountants are valuable elements to our congregation...but if we fail to acknowledge the WEAKER members of our society - those who go by NOT expecting to receive more than the lot they've been given in life....

we suffer.  we are not the body.

What does this mean for how we treat the poor in our nation and other nations?  Do they deserve fair living situations?  Do they deserve good school systems?  Do they deserve effective and cheap public transportation?  Do they deserve healthcare?

They deserve SO much more than these things.  We should clothe them with honor and respect!  Imagine the world we would face if we took this seriously!

The gifts of the spirit here are mentioned because we FAIL to acknowledge the gifts in ALL people.  This is a great disservice to the body of Christ.  This is not who we are called to be.

After all, we were ALL made to drink of the same Spirit.