Hard questions to ask....

There are so many questions that have been raised in these past five days for me. There are questions of how to help most appropriately, how do we contribute to the long term sustainability of peoples' lives. We have talked much with the MCC staff about the issues surrounding relief and aid in Haiti. One of the things that have impacted me most is the realization that as much as we want to provide material support (ie. medications, medical supplies, toiletries, etc.), what is really needed is money.  My eyes have been opened to the reality of what post disaster care looks like and how it can impact a local economy.  There is absolutely a place for initial provision of certain necessities like food and clean water and sanitation.  Post disaster though, what happens to the local Pharmacies, the local markets, the local farmers, when food is being handed out to people.  There is a cycle that happens in Haiti...produce can be grown (although this is a tremendous area of need for teaching and coming alongside), a street side seller sells some oranges and money comes to that person.  That person then turns around and buys some shoes from the shoe maker down the road.  That person then buys a medication from the Pharmacy.  And so the cycle of production and economy grows.  So what happens when we take away from that?  How can a community rebuild when all we do is provide?  It may sound like a hard question, but it is a necessary one.

There is a warehouse at the back of Hopital Espoir...it is HUGE and it is filled with a ridiculous amount of stuff.  There is an entire container that arrived filled with hand toilettes...like the ones you get when you eat wings.  95,000 dollars worth of them.  Can you imagine what that money could have done instead?  Can you begin to imagine how it could be invested into the local economy?  Water filters were needed and you can't get them in Haiti, so the MCC Haiti staff recommended to send water filters.  The Haitian MCC staff recommended what to go in the relief buckets...these are things that make a difference, and yet the amount of man power that it takes to process the buckets on this end and get them through customs and distribute them is great.  Imagine if some of those things could have been purchased here in Haiti?...again how that could have supported the local economy.  The warehouse at the hospital will takes months and months to sort through...some medications sent were expired, some equipment sent was only partial...pieces of things that can't actually function.  It is an endless room of discovery...some good and some very frustrating.

 The infamous $95,000 worth of hand toilettes

I don't mean to sound cynical, I just want to expose to you who read this blog the concepts that have opened my eyes over the past few days.  It has been absolutely invaluable to listen to the MCC Haiti staff share and to dialogue together.  I feel as though I have been given a deep, deep gift of the glimmer of some understanding through these conversations...in terms of long term impact of relief and care.

I know the previous blog has struck heart strings and it should.  I know there are some who want to give directly to this woman.  I wish I could say "yes!", it's possible.  The reality is it is complex and her story is repeated over and over and over again in this city.  I guess what you can know is that her life has been impacted and a difference has been made simply by our ability to be there with her...to provide medical care and encouragement, to slip her some cash, to nourish her spirit.  What I would encourage you to do is find local organizations working within communities in Haiti and give...give money and through the work of these organizations who focus on long terms sustainability, change can happen....slowly, carefully, and with great commitment.  It is not easy...the conversations here go round and round and round again and the answers do not come naturally.  The cruicial difference is investing into the Haitian people themselves and coming alongside and teaching and training in order for them to become independent people.