Let’s Go Together: A Journey of Unity and Transformation in Haiti
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
- African Proverb
For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
- 1 Corinthians 12:14
In 2011, Charlie Vittitow and I arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which still exhibited the scars of a devastating 7.0 earthquake that had struck the previous year. This catastrophic event left hundreds of thousands of buildings in ruins, displaced over a million people, and claimed an estimated 300,000 lives. The global response was swift and generous, with emergency relief pouring in and millions of dollars raised to help the victims.
At that time, Charlie was serving as the missions pastor at Southeast Christian Church (SECC) in Louisville, Kentucky. Faced with the immense humanitarian crisis, the church leaders were eager to take immediate action, organizing short-term missions teams ready to travel to Haiti. However, Charlie, having navigated natural disasters before, advised a more measured approach. He knew that while emergency relief was crucial, the real challenge—and opportunity—lay in the rebuilding and development phase.
Charlie's invitation to me was straightforward: “Florence, let’s go to Haiti and see what God is doing there. Let’s go hear Him together.”
Our mission to Haiti was rooted in a fundamental belief in the power of partnership. Both Charlie and I had witnessed the profound impact of unity in our previous missions work. We had learned that God's blessings flow when we collaborate, particularly with local churches in disaster-stricken areas. When the earthquake struck, neither of us had established connections with churches in Haiti. Thus, our first step was to assemble a survey team to visit Haiti, assess the needs, connect with local churches, and seek God's guidance through prayer.
As a Kenyan medical doctor and founder of Life In Abundance, I brought extensive experience in bringing dignity to the poor and vulnerable through transformational community development across East Africa. Our partnership, forged through challenging projects in various countries, was built on trust and a shared vision for lasting change. We had seen that unity—working together as different parts of one body—was essential for effective ministry.
Upon arriving in Haiti, we were confronted with the stark reality of the situation. Displaced people lived in makeshift tents amidst the rubble, and the initial emergency relief efforts, though well-intentioned, had fostered a dangerous dependency on external aid. We saw numerous humanitarian agencies operating but questioned the sustainability of their efforts in empowering the Haitian people.
Our experiences in Haiti reaffirmed our belief in the power of unity and partnership in mission work. After years of serving alongside one another through the organizations we represented, 1 Cor. 12:14 affirmed that we each had our unique part to play in ministering to the Haitian people. We invite you to join us on this journey as we continue to share our story and insights. By working together and seeking God's guidance, we can create lasting, transformative change.
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Blessings,
Florence Muindi and Charlie Vittitow
#Missions #GlobalChurch #TransformationalDevelopment #UnityInAction #TeachAManToFish
