Haiti: 5 loaves and 2 fish

In January i was invited to serve as a relief worker in Haiti. I can speak for both pastors Terry Crist and Tom Moffett when i say that It was both exhausting and exhilarating. I still have a lot of mixed emotions not to mention a heavy heart. There was the frustration of bureaucracy and the joy of delivering food. There was chaos and desperation that I’ve (no hyperbole) never seen before. We were in two food riots, their capitol is in ruins (imagine seeing the white house and U.S. capitol destroyed), and yet we also saw the power of the Church. God brings order out of chaos and while it is never pleasant, as leaders I’ve noticed that often He will put us in situations to help alleviate the chaos. For me, there were two notable highlights. First, in order to reduce the risk of disease, Tom and I dug a latrine at a refugee camp. Without asking, within minutes we had a small army of Haitian volunteers helping us make our own gravel, pushing wheel barrels, and using their hands as shovels.

Sometimes ministry is like Jesus feeding the 5,000. We are told that upon seeing the desperation of the crowds that Jesus "had compassion" (Mt 14:14) and instructed His disciples to feed them. I get the theology but for the first time in my life I finally related to Philip’s analysis in that we were in a glass half empty, make that three-fourths empty scenario. It was simply overwhelming, yet as Jesus taught by example, you have to start somewhere and with something. You have to start with what you have; 5 loaves and 2 fish. God is always able to work miracles and bring a little heaven to earth with what little we can offer. No matter how overwhelming it may seem to you simply start with what you have.

Secondly, on a lighter note, immediately across from the destroyed capitol and palace there was another refugee camp where people were washing themselves and rummaging through debris for whatever they could find. I came across a group of Haitian boys lazily kicking around worn out soccer ball that you could practically see through. I went up and asked if I could join them and got in a few good kicks. Because I was the only white guy around they started calling me "Beck-ham" and started laughing when I miss-hit a header that sent the ball into the street. It was a blessing to see their big smiles at my ineptness. Sometimes, a handshake, a “good morning” to a stranger, even a smile can minister to someone. By doing so God will multiply our loaves and fish in ways that will bring some heaven to earth we may never see.