I had a few questions to ask Keith as we sipped on some warm glass bottled cokes in their house in Haiti. With all this talk about independent programs, etc here was my chance to ask a few questions. What is the story behind this clinic? Is it something we can support on a congregational level? Conference level? What about CSI? Not like I felt authority or weight to ask on those levels, but to be honest--- they are real questions ---when you see the need and want to help in any way you can. We can as individuals can theorize all sort of solutions about what to do in Haiti in the US, but what is being said in Haiti. Thankfully we can work together under the direction of the Church. That said it has a amazed me the misinformation or opinions we spawn as a result of negligence of genuinely showing interest and checking out the facts on what is really going on.
Between sipps I would ask questions and see what Keith would say. Later there was opportunity to ask the local Haitian brethren, ministers, CSI members and other observers of their direction on the matter. And so here is the first interview.
Question #1
Are You Independent of the Mission Program of the Church?
Yes and no. We are not independent of the Church. The whole clinic is under the invitation and guidance of the Haitian Mission Board, and my family are members of the local Oriani congregation here in Haiti.
Question#2
How do you recieve Financial Aid? (They use $4-5,000 of meds/mo.)
Through private individual donations. Sometimes they are passed on by a deacon, but not officially sponsered by the congregations. However some of our workers are sponsered by their congregations: Bonners Ferry ID, United Center KS, and Pincher Creek, AB for example.
Question #3
Do you think Financing such Programs detract from the overall giving to General Mission, CSI, etc. ?
We are involved in the same work. This here does not detract from the Great Commission that Jesus left us. Our Church financial booklet shows that donations have increased in these areas.
Question #4
What motivates you?
The love for the people here, the feeling of home here, and the fact the fact that with so little you can do so much good here. Take a person in the States that is dying from a disease spending $50,000 or more. Here that bill could fund the medication needs of 10,000 people.
Question # 5
Is there a Danger of having a Clinic and Work Projects too close in conjunction with the Church Outreach? Will too many come for the "Loaves and Fishes"?
The local church members and nonmembers both express appreciation that our church came first with the Gospel and after that was established they followed up with the humanitarian needs of the community as continuation versus starting a big project and then leaving as so many other projects done in the past. This is not saying at all that what was done here is the perfect plan elsewhere.
Question #6
Would you object to be under the administration of CSI? What is your relationship with CSI?
No objection. There is a respect towards CSI as a larger branch of the church and we want to work in harmony with them. The CSI director over Haiti was consulted and they gave their support prior to starting this work.
Question #7
Is there any problem with too much interaction between our various workers and missionaries in the area?
Yes, I suppose it could be a problem if we forget what we came here for. That is if our social detracts from the outreach of the Gospel.
Question #8
This is kind of a repeat of Question # 5. But I would like to hear more on : As soon as the "Blanc" missionaries come-- Everything gets better-- Is that a Problem?
No. When you are starring at no job or very little local commerce --when things improve it is not a detriment in their eyes. As their standard of living and education in this area increases, darkness and voodou recedes. We are very careful not to use money or food as any incentive or reward for coming to church. We know that that could be disastrous down the road.
Question #9
I notice Keith's family of seven are very much part of what is going around them. People coming and going down the main path can see what is going on in their yard. All day children are coming and going through their gate. So I wanted to ask a few questions down these regards.
How dangerous is Oriani for you and your family?
We feel very safe here. After we helped save a life, a well respected man in the community raised my arm in the town and warned that if any man would touch this missionary or his family would be surely cursed.
Question #10
Is it not dangerous to have Teenagers on the field?
There are dangers, but there are also blessings that counteract that. Too many times we focus on the negative. Benefits of helping and in being a part of the Great Commission out weighs the negative. (We discussed a number of things, but some of the highlights was that his sixteen year old son was baptised in the Oriani congregation and his nineteen year old son was doing alot better spiritually. Alot of these things also have to do with the fact that life becomes more family oriented. etc.)
Question #11
How comes a congregation like Oriani grows so fast and seems so stable -- then say if it was in Mexico or Dominican Republic established in the same time period? (In 4 yrs. there is around 50 members, packed church attendance, and 106 students in school)
It seems God has opened the door for His own reasons for a Haiti-wide ingathering.Especially thinking about our missions in Jacmel, Savanne Mouton, Oriani, and other places. Haiti and Nigeria also have their own mission programs to reach there own people.
Question #12
Is there a danger of focusing too much on Humanitarian work and not enough on the Gospel? The otherside of the question: Can you spread the Gospel in a place like Haiti without humanitarian outreach?
As this question for Haiti, Yes it can get lopsided, but it is really inseparable. Jesus did not separate the two Matt.11:1-6
By this time our Cokes are done and the numerous distractions and interruptions have come and go. It is clear to me that for now the questions are over; we can get up because there is plenty more work that can be done.
Between sipps I would ask questions and see what Keith would say. Later there was opportunity to ask the local Haitian brethren, ministers, CSI members and other observers of their direction on the matter. And so here is the first interview.
Question #1
Are You Independent of the Mission Program of the Church?
Yes and no. We are not independent of the Church. The whole clinic is under the invitation and guidance of the Haitian Mission Board, and my family are members of the local Oriani congregation here in Haiti.
Question#2
How do you recieve Financial Aid? (They use $4-5,000 of meds/mo.)
Through private individual donations. Sometimes they are passed on by a deacon, but not officially sponsered by the congregations. However some of our workers are sponsered by their congregations: Bonners Ferry ID, United Center KS, and Pincher Creek, AB for example.
Question #3
Do you think Financing such Programs detract from the overall giving to General Mission, CSI, etc. ?
We are involved in the same work. This here does not detract from the Great Commission that Jesus left us. Our Church financial booklet shows that donations have increased in these areas.
Question #4
What motivates you?
The love for the people here, the feeling of home here, and the fact the fact that with so little you can do so much good here. Take a person in the States that is dying from a disease spending $50,000 or more. Here that bill could fund the medication needs of 10,000 people.
Question # 5
Is there a Danger of having a Clinic and Work Projects too close in conjunction with the Church Outreach? Will too many come for the "Loaves and Fishes"?
The local church members and nonmembers both express appreciation that our church came first with the Gospel and after that was established they followed up with the humanitarian needs of the community as continuation versus starting a big project and then leaving as so many other projects done in the past. This is not saying at all that what was done here is the perfect plan elsewhere.
Question #6
Would you object to be under the administration of CSI? What is your relationship with CSI?
No objection. There is a respect towards CSI as a larger branch of the church and we want to work in harmony with them. The CSI director over Haiti was consulted and they gave their support prior to starting this work.
Question #7
Is there any problem with too much interaction between our various workers and missionaries in the area?
Yes, I suppose it could be a problem if we forget what we came here for. That is if our social detracts from the outreach of the Gospel.
Question #8
This is kind of a repeat of Question # 5. But I would like to hear more on : As soon as the "Blanc" missionaries come-- Everything gets better-- Is that a Problem?
No. When you are starring at no job or very little local commerce --when things improve it is not a detriment in their eyes. As their standard of living and education in this area increases, darkness and voodou recedes. We are very careful not to use money or food as any incentive or reward for coming to church. We know that that could be disastrous down the road.
Question #9
I notice Keith's family of seven are very much part of what is going around them. People coming and going down the main path can see what is going on in their yard. All day children are coming and going through their gate. So I wanted to ask a few questions down these regards.
How dangerous is Oriani for you and your family?
We feel very safe here. After we helped save a life, a well respected man in the community raised my arm in the town and warned that if any man would touch this missionary or his family would be surely cursed.
Question #10
Is it not dangerous to have Teenagers on the field?
There are dangers, but there are also blessings that counteract that. Too many times we focus on the negative. Benefits of helping and in being a part of the Great Commission out weighs the negative. (We discussed a number of things, but some of the highlights was that his sixteen year old son was baptised in the Oriani congregation and his nineteen year old son was doing alot better spiritually. Alot of these things also have to do with the fact that life becomes more family oriented. etc.)
Question #11
How comes a congregation like Oriani grows so fast and seems so stable -- then say if it was in Mexico or Dominican Republic established in the same time period? (In 4 yrs. there is around 50 members, packed church attendance, and 106 students in school)
It seems God has opened the door for His own reasons for a Haiti-wide ingathering.Especially thinking about our missions in Jacmel, Savanne Mouton, Oriani, and other places. Haiti and Nigeria also have their own mission programs to reach there own people.
Question #12
Is there a danger of focusing too much on Humanitarian work and not enough on the Gospel? The otherside of the question: Can you spread the Gospel in a place like Haiti without humanitarian outreach?
As this question for Haiti, Yes it can get lopsided, but it is really inseparable. Jesus did not separate the two Matt.11:1-6
By this time our Cokes are done and the numerous distractions and interruptions have come and go. It is clear to me that for now the questions are over; we can get up because there is plenty more work that can be done.
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