Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Three years
ago income per capita was around $300 (US dollars). Currently it is
less than $100.00 per year. Haitians have seen their buying power dwindle
due to the rapid rise of inflation and the devaluation of the Gourde
(the Haitian monetary unit).
The harsh economic environment has created a mindset of dependence
and helplessness among Haitian people. When I arrived here just over
two years ago, the church of Petit-Goave felt that the only solution
to their needs was help from the United States. They saw absolutely
nothing they could do for themselves to transform their community or
to further the work of the kingdom of God; a mindset we have been working
hard to change.
The first workshop that we (the pastor of Petit-Goave and Me) attended
helped us make great in roads to reverse this mindset. We learned that
God owns everything and that we are merely His stewards. We also learned
that God is not bankrupt. Thus the problem is not a lack of resources
but that those resources are not adequately managed.
At the first workshop we were empowered to change our mindset in the
way we viewed God's resources as we were also given incentive to put
into practice what we had learned. We were told that INTERNATIONAL STEWARD
would match up to $500.00 of the money we would raise through a small
group event. The pastor of the church and I were eager to get started.
For over two years, we had talked about the necessity of starting to
build the church edifice. This workshop moved us from the talking stage
to the action stage. As soon as we returned to Petit-Goave we put together
a committee to organize a small group event.
During the course of the evening we introduced them to our ministry
using the conversation guide. Out of the 40 people that attended, 25
responded positively and committed to participate financially. These
funds allowed us to start to lay the foundation of the church. This
is a foundation which I believe to be quite symbolic!
The second workshop reinforced what we had learned at the first workshop,
and we were able to initiate a follow up procedure with the small group.
My greatest joy has been to watch the church of Petit-Goave become better
stewards of God's resources, and to mature spiritually as well.
Only God knows for sure what the future will hold for the people of
Haiti. With that in mind I believe that we need to redouble our efforts
to teach them how to be stewards of God's recourses. It's also my prayer
that as they learn to be better stewards, they will see that God is
the source of all that they have need of, and not mankind.
About the Author:
Robert Vilmenay is a Haitian Christian leader who has recently returned
to his home country to minister to the needs of the Haitian community.
