A Lesson Of Living Faith

Few months ago I embarked in a new project with great hope that I will send a few barrels to Haiti that is in a crisis situation. This island whose independence was gained as a successful slave rebellion became independent in 1804. Haiti that is the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world has never known a period of prosperity or growth, it seemed to me, and is considered to be the poorest in the Americas. It was the first time our non-profit organization was doing anything in that scale and we were excited about it.

My thoughts originally were to focus on helping the children in the school and the church people who are in much need. I decided that I will purchase some bare necessities such as dry goods, some school supplies and toiletries to fill one barrel and send it to the church Pastor I knew when I was in Haiti . As I thought more and more about this project, I felt that the Lord would bless this project and I knew that more can be accomplished if we could get more people involved. Then this trip of faith started that will open my blind eyes in a new way and demands a new level of faith that I was not accustomed to.

I was unsure as to how to start because it was the first time we would embark in such an affair. Although I don't like to impose on people, I knew that if I wanted to send more than one barrel we needed assistance. I did a flier that I passed to a few people at my work who I felt comfortable with, posted some at church, and asked my husband to contact some friends at work. I thought that two months will be enough time to receive enough donations to accomplish our goals. The first two weeks went really fast as we were receiving items here and there.

We started accumulating donated goods and other items picked up as we went to the store. My plans were to send the barrels by early July so they can arrive before the end of August because the voyage to Haiti from California will take about three weeks. But a time came when everything seemed to come to a halt. It was week five and I had collected items now for two barrels and had enough funds to ship the two barrels. But to me that wasn't enough. I really wanted to send at least three barrels but had great hope of sending a maximum of seven fully loaded with food, school supplies and children clothing.

Then my attitude about this whole thing started changing. Although I know that God would help, I never planned on the little inconveniences of this trip of faith. I remember that I was becoming more irritated when another week passed and I didn't get any donation at all. People I thought would help because they promised to do so keep on telling me that they didn't forget me and that they would get back with me later. By the way most of them never did. Little comments by well-intentioned people that some people have it hard also in the United States sank into my heart really deep. Stained clothes were donated that are not really appropriate to give to people even if you know that they are poor. Dry goods donated were some with months and for others with at least two years expiration dates that no one would even want to give them to an animal. I became annoyed so deeply that I started complaining to God.

Now that I am looking at that experience and knowing that God does his work through people, I can say that I got mostly disappointed when people I really counted on left me down. Isn't it life? In one of these discouraged moments, a simple comment from one of my children about the food caused me to tell him sarcastically, “Why don't you go and pray over the food and ask God to multiply it.” It was so funny afterwards when he came back and says, “Mom, I pray and ask God to multiply the food!” What was funny is that it wasn't but a couple of days later that we received multiple goods from an unexpected source. The strange thing about the situation was that, although I had forgotten this whole incident, my child came to me and reminded me, “You see Mom, God did multiply the food.” To that, I couldn't but reply, “Yes he did; Let's thank him for that!”

My children were as involved throughout this whole project as they help carry, load and unload the car, and bag the goods for distribution. The whole family was praying together for this project which brought us closer and more in unison. I was also privileged to get help from a few youth from church and precious friends. I can see that the children were affected positively. An example that this project produced a life transforming moment is that one evening while flipping through the television channels we came upon a Christian's station broadcasting news that focused on a few missionary workers in Haiti . These people were feeding and doing medical work on the disadvantaged people in the mountains of Haiti. I was surprised to hear the children tell me to watch that show instead although we were already watching another show.

We were able to send twelve 50-gallon barrels with at least 1300 pounds of dry goods, along with some toiletries items, school supplies and some new and gently used clothing. Thanks to God who blessed us supernaturally and send along some precious friends to help! Although we didn't know what to do, the Lord guided us. When the barrels arrive in Haiti we had great delays and had to deal with bureaucratic mindsets and corruptions that changed the outcome of our efforts. Through this ordeal the barrels went to benefit another group who are also helping the needy in Haiti . Father allowed it to be so and it is fine with us. We believe that the work of our hands is the work of his hands and he does what he wants when we are living in him and he is living in us. There is nothing we could have done differently once the barrels reached Haiti .

What did we all learn from this experience? First, I was humbled when precious hard working people I know gave stuff and apologized to me for not being able to give much more. I was reminded of the Word of God that says that it wasn't really important how much one is able to give. What really matters was that each person should give from the heart, from what one has or from what one doesn't have, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God love a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7-9).

Second, with questioning moments we had when dealing with some people, I was also reminded of the Word of God in Proverbs 3:27-28 that goes, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, “Come back tomorrow and then I'll help you.” At last, the Word of God in Proverbs 14 verse 21 and 31 say that those who oppress the poor insult their maker, but those who help them honor him and will be blessed.

Where does that leave us? Although our little effort seemed like a failure when we didn't reach the intended group, we know that Father has always guided our humble efforts and is still leading us step by step, day by day. Our role is to stop being doubtful, faithless and impatient when things do not go the way we planned them. In our situation, as God was leading and we were following, he taught us to walk this walk of faith and we know that we are secure in him.

Our main assurance is that we believe that he is in us moving all things according to his perfect will for us and for his glory. We must all learn to follow Father's lead with all confidence that what he promised, he is able to perform. We must know the Word of God, and learn to have faith in God and his Word because faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). We must strive to discern and go for the will of God in all we do. Doing so will keep our faith alive, powerful and active, and the kingdom of God will be manifest in our lives.

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28)

Marie Monaus 29 Jun '09