HaitiAnalysis posts an article from the Boston Globe by Paul Farmer and Brian Concannon. Dr. Farmer is Presley professor of social medicine at Harvard Medical School and a co-founder of Partners In Health and Brian Concannon Jr. is director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. Together they give a brief but incisive history of the US involvement in Haiti. Our influence has been less than admirable on the whole.

The exiting US administration of George W. Bush re-established our historical contribution to the fall of Haiti. The Haitians are watching to see what the incoming Obama administration will do to help the development of Haiti.

Now my views of Bush and Obama are not clear cut. I tend to be conservative but had problems with some of Bush’s policies. I am trying to keep an open mind about Obama but I don’t like some of his stances on abortion, etc. But when it comes to Haiti, this article adds a new disappointment in Bush.

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2 Kings 5:1-14

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Mark 1:40-45

“If you are willing…”

These words ring strongly with me right now. There are people in need of healing, comfort, strength and help. They are looking for someone to be willing. He knows that Jesus is capable of healing but he is not sure that Jesus wants to heal him. Perhaps he has seen others that he thought were capable but unwilling to do anything. I would not be surprised if that were true.

My parents came back from Haiti at the end of January. They said that many people said, “Thank you for leaving your comfortable homes to come help our people”. There is a certain surprise and gratefulness in that comment. The Haitians see the great comfort of Americans and our relative inaction. They see people who are capable but who are unwilling to help.

“I am willing…”

This statement almost slips right by us. Of course, Jesus is willing. But in human experience, finding someone willing to help is rare and surprising. Jesus shows the heart of God to heal and help those in need. How much do we need to have this kind of heart to help others!

Then after stating His willingness, Jesus does the unthinkable – He touches the leper. He enters into the suffering at the risk of religious scrutiny. He does what it takes to bring healing, no matter how it looks. He knows that He has come to bring a change in our thinking – sin does not stain righteousness, righteousness changes sin. The power of healing is greater than the power of disease.

Jesus heals this man out of compassion. Yet He knew that this man would help spread the news too quickly. Love is inconvenient. Love requires willingness, bravery, confidence, and flexibility.

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The Miami Herald has an article about the needs of Haiti. After the hurricanes and tropical storm, Haiti is in great need for humanitarian aid. At the same time, America is entering a very difficult time financially. Private donations for the needs of Haiti have dropped as Americans have turned inward to take care of their needs. I understand that most Americans have needed to tighten their belts in these times: we have had to make some cuts personally. But for all of our troubles, I would be hard pressed to find examples in the US that compare to the general situation in Haiti. Even as we are hurting, we need to remember that there are others who need our help more than we need it ourselves.

I have personally seen the situation in Haiti about five years ago during a time of relative peace and stability. I have only seen pictures and video of the current state of crisis. My imagination is not great enough to picture the suffering in Haiti. My parents, who are in their late sixties, are going to Haiti next week as part of a medical mission trip. They are not medically trained but will be serving in support capacities for the doctors and nurses who are going with them. I am proud of them for their willingness to step out and reach out to others in need. Their willingness to help is not something new: it is a part of their spiritual fabric. But this is their first mission trip after a lifetime of local missional living.

My parents are stepping out in these financial hard times, despite a fixed income, to reach to those who are much worse off than they are. Couldn’t we all use a little of their compassion to open our hearts to Haiti at this critical time? If you are not currently offering help to some charity currently or if you have cut back, please consider the needs of Haiti or another trouble spot. Please pray that God will send workers into the field.

Organizations that will get donations to Haiti:

Hands and Feet Project

Hands Together

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