Journal - October 8, 2022

"Poverty is not being without money, but being without hope." -Unknown

Haiti is facing a really challenging time, and lives are at risk. I won't go into details, but for more than a year things in the country have been getting worse. The past month or so, things have declined even more. A lack of fuel, government, and security are causing survival to be nearly impossible for so many. Kids can't go to school, hospitals are closing, and food has nearly tripled in price.

But the hardest part for me to see is the hopelessness being expressed by my friends and family here. When someone tells you they wonder why they were born here, or another asks "what if I would have taken the risk and left when I had the opportunity, leaving my wife and kids behind?" you pause and wonder how to respond. I feel like I must do whatever it takes to speak hope into these situations. But is it wrong to speak hope, when at times, I too see no hope? Pray for strength and wisdom as we navigate these situations in Haiti. 

Am I wrong for wanting to be here to walk alongside these dear people? Many think so. But when the Lord has put a group of people on your heart, and you've spent so much time learning, building relationships, and doing life together, you desire to go through the hard times together as well. We've already went through many hard situations in my short time here...assignation of the president, 7.2 earthquake, death of close friends, and trauma, to name a few. But through those times there was always a sliver of hope. Now, it seems that as each day passes, that last bit of hope has disappeared.

“The kind of hope that creates a willingness to position oneself in a hopeless place and be a witness, that allows one to believe in a better future, even in the face of abusive power. That kind of hope makes one strong.” ― Bryan Stevenson

Please pray for the country of Haiti and for all who are suffering during this incredibly tough time.