So why run? Simply put, it is the right thing to do. In my experience, there are two types of service. First is to give your money. You could send a million dollar check every day to small desert tribe in the the Middle East struggling with hunger and for awhile they won't be hungry , but eventually you'll create another situation. The tribe doesn't know what to do with the money. Maybe they buy a thousand boats. Maybe they cure poverty across the region with new super cities. Maybe they build weapons for newly engaged wars to wipe out neighboring tribes. Or maybe, they just get fat & lazy. Do we serve people well just writing a blank check and disappearing into the sunset? Absolutely not.
Another type of service you can give is with your time. You could go to a poor tribe in Nigeria to teach English, support building projects, and play games with kids. You would leave a positive impact in the community. Maybe people remember your kindness forever. Maybe they forget you. Maybe the family you serves dies of hunger or disease the next year. Maybe you come back yearly to reunite with hugs & laughter. When you return, you would be motivated by the one or two weeks of service. You would populate your social media pages with photos & postings about how you constantly think about where you served, yet when you go home, in Nigeria hunger still exists, houses are still falling down, clothes of young children are still torn & undersized. Sure, we leave a part of our heart there, but is that enough? Not likely.
So service isn't just money and it isn't just time. We need to combine our efforts to together with our talents & treasures. Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-40:
31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
The words of Christ are both those of talents & treasures. We give our talents (time) by stopping to visit sick people or preparing a place for them to stay. We give our treasures by sharing our surplus or what we own in clothes, food, and drinks.
It is why I cannot allow myself to go back to Haiti next year without the completion of Pastor Marc's home. He (including his community) has invited us into home for several years, me personally for three years, by preparing us food, drinks, a place to stay, and even with my shoe story finding me something to wear. I went to serve him as he served me like Christ so desired above.
Sometimes, we say we want to be back in Haiti, because life is simpler there, but even in Haiti, we aren't truly in Haiti. Food & drinks were provided for us when we needed it. We always had clothes & medicine quickly ready for us. Our tents were, in most cases, operable throughout the week. In a lot of ways, we were living like kings in the poorest country in the world.
Sometimes, we say we want to be back in Haiti, because life is simpler there, but even in Haiti, we aren't truly in Haiti. Food & drinks were provided for us when we needed it. We always had clothes & medicine quickly ready for us. Our tents were, in most cases, operable throughout the week. In a lot of ways, we were living like kings in the poorest country in the world.
From this year's trip, I have posted hundreds of photos of smiling American volunteers & Haitian children enjoying each other's company. I've contributed to the team by bringing smiles & spreading the message of Christ through trip projects including Hut to Hut prayers, music, games, crafts, hanging out, and even my own missteps into the mud. I am proud of these moments and I will never allow these accomplishments to be minimized. Nevertheless, I want for him to invite me into his finished house, not a torn UNICEF tarp as a lean-to next to a ripped & torn tent.
Yes, of course, I will return to Haiti. Probably even this next year to see his finished house. We will finish that house. Many people have seen my posts advertising our race over and over and over again. Yet I'm motivated to complete a task that my talents are perfectly assigned to. Motivated to serve someone in need who has offered me so much more. They welcomed me into their house with very little making sure I had everything I ever needed. It is my time to return that favor... It is my turn to show them Christ's love one more time.
Leaving you with some pictures:
1) Pastor Marc's "House" Today:
2) The Site of Pastor Marc's New House?
3) Pastor Marc's Family (pictured below are his two sons)
