One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
”Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles
of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening
politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said,
“I made a difference for that one.”
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said,
“I made a difference for that one.”
On my last two trips to Haiti, it’s
been interesting to watch the reactions of the first-time participants. After arriving in-country and being sensorily
assaulted with all the noise, smells, commotion and extreme poverty, they
wonder aloud “Is what I’m doing here making
any difference at all in Haiti?”
Fair question.
The poverty in Haiti is beyond our western-minded comprehension. Haiti is, after all, a third world country. The population is ~9.8 million. Average lifespan is 62 years. The unemployment rate is 40%. 80% of the population lives below the poverty level.[1] Other sources cite the poverty rate as 78% of the population earning less than $2 US / day, while 54% of that amount earn less than $1 US / day – extreme poverty.[2] Suffice it to say, the Haitians are struggling, in a mighty way, to survive.
Do your contributions make a difference? YES! No matter whether you have donated cash, material goods, time (soliciting donations then gathering and packing them), or even prayers and encouragement, your donations do make a difference.
The look in a hungry person’s eyes as you hand them a bag of food containing enough goods to last a month, is incredible. Hungry as in at the point of being famished from not eating for days, not just “I missed a meal today.” While some may grab their food, others reach up with gentle, humble hands of gratitude and look at you with eyes full of thanksgiving. Some smile, others are too reserved. Your monetary donations just allowed that person to survive.
Were you the child who was doomed to forever wear your older sibling’s hand-me-downs? Imagine not having any clothes to wear, or being a young boy who has only a dress to wear. Yes, a boy wearing a dress. Or you have a shirt, but no shorts or undies. Imagine being handed a brand new dress (if you are a girl!) or a new pair of shorts (if you are a boy).
We took with us over 1200 handmade dresses and I don’t know how many pairs of shorts and undies on our last trip. We gave away every piece of clothing. Some went to orphanages, some to churches, and even a local village near our compound. Perhaps the most heartwarming sight was travelling through the village the morning after we handed out the dresses. (We passed through it every morning and evening on our way to Port-au-Prince.) Lining the dusty road were the girls, who the evening before, had received their new dresses. They were proudly wearing the dresses and waving to us.
Twice now I’ve received two cash donations of $1 each. Both times, that $1 donation, combined with other donations, purchased books and sewing supplies. It’s like the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes (not once but twice!) with the 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. Small amounts combined to create a feast for thousands.
Like the lyrics to “Follow Me” by Ira Stamphill say,” If just a cup of water I place within your hand, Then just a cup of water is all that I demand.”
Give whatever you can. Don’t worry about the size, quantity or amount of your donation. Your task is to give. God’s task is to take it and multiply it for His People. And He will. He always will.
And yes, your donation does make a difference to the Haitians. A huge difference. Who knows, it may just keep them alive for one more day – long enough to reach out and bless someone else who needs it.
The needs in Haiti will always be there. We can't fix everything. But together, we can make a difference.
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