Don’t Go It Alone: Discovering God's Plan in Haiti
As individuals, we all have blind spots. An African proverb says, “Nobody can see the back of their own head.” This wisdom was especially true when Charlie Vittitow and I ventured into Haiti. Partnering with a trusted colleague who knew the country well, we were introduced to people and organizations that would have otherwise been invisible to us.
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 remind us that we are incomplete by ourselves. Using the metaphor of a human body, with each person representing a different part, he emphasizes the need for God's people to work together to maximize their effectiveness. If we were to make a lasting impact in Haiti, we knew it would require a full complement of knowledge, insight, skills, and abilities. By partnering with local churches, we united our individual gifts and created a synergy that was far greater than if we had tried to go it alone.
Even a year after the devastating earthquake, Haiti's situation remained desperate. The country had developed a reputation as a bottomless pit for relief money and a black hole for international aid. Despite billions of dollars spent to help this nation of just under 12 million people, Haiti remains an island of desperate poverty amidst comparatively wealthy neighbors.
Haiti's proximity to the United States, only 700 miles away, makes the situation even more striking. Americans often try to fix problems quickly by throwing money at them, but this is not the kind of help that Haiti truly needs. We learned that 60 percent of Haitians live on less than two dollars per day, and one out of four live in extreme poverty, on less than $1.25 per day. Half the children in Haiti do not attend school, and among those who do, many drop out before the sixth grade. Access to drinkable water and basic sanitation is limited.
This dire situation isn’t due to a lack of worldwide concern or financial assistance. From 2011 to 2021, Haiti received $13 billion in foreign aid, but with little improvement in the lives of its people.
Charlie and I were acutely aware of Haiti's overwhelming needs. When he asked, “Would you go to Haiti with me to hear God together?” he meant exactly that—not “Let’s go take action,” but “Let’s go pray, listen, wait, and observe.”
Though Charlie works with ministries globally, and my ministry, Life In Abundance, operates in fourteen nations, neither of us had ever been to Haiti. This was uncharted territory for us. We believed that God hadn’t turned His back on the people of Haiti and that His work there was not finished. Our goal was to discern God’s plan and role for us in it. We both believed that if we prayed and sought God’s guidance, He would direct us. We knew that God still speaks today, and we didn’t want to miss what He had to say about Haiti.
I wasn't planning to get involved in any hands-on projects; my ministry plate was already overflowing. The trip to Haiti was like going into a forest, noticing a large fallen tree, and wondering what would become of it. Would it be used to build a fire, cut into lumber to build a shelter, carved into a fine artistic work, or simply allowed to decompose into the soil?
Charlie and I had no preconceived ideas about the outcome of our trip. We had no plan except to go and hear what God had to say. We would see what the Great Creator would do with that broken tree—and we were excited to watch and celebrate it together.
Join us on this journey as we continue to share our story and insights. Together, by working in unity and seeking God’s guidance, we can create lasting, transformative change. Stay connected and be part of this transformative mission.
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Blessings,
Florence Muindi and Charlie Vittitow
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