Seeing what God is doing through Plant With Purpose in northern Haiti blew our minds!

Our Denver friend, Corbyn Small, Regional Director for Plant With Purpose(PWP), hosted a contingent from CHCC at Acul de Norde or the north coast of Haiti, just outside of Cap Haitien. What an experience! This village is pulling themselves up by their very own bootstraps, fighting the oppression of poverty. Haitians are caught in a "catch 22" where they need charcoal to heat their homes and cook with, however they have to cut down trees to make charcoal. This practice coupled with overgrazing, has wiped out their hillsides of tree cover, which also kills the root systems which holds together fertile top soil that would be good for growing crops; erosion and landslides ensue during rainy season and the distressing cycle continues. PWP works with a village pastor to empower a village to reverse this trend and helps with spiritual development and understanding Godly stewardship . PWP teaches farmers how to grow crops on the abused hillsides so villagers can feed themselves and have produce left over to sell at the market. Furthermore, PWP's economic development program institutes a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) which is essentially a savings club. They create their own 1st Bank with a green steal box that has 3 padlocks on it. Three keys are distributed to VSLA leaders and everyone gets together weekly to feed the bank with a savings commitment as well as loan out money to members as business loans, or for education and healthcare. These villagers can earn >30% ROI on their savings! PWP's program is AWESOME to witness! I asked if I could make a contribution to their bank and I was scolded!? "These folks realize they need to stop taking hand-outs from the developed world and pull themselves out of poverty. They need to have the dignity of a job and the encouragement they can solve their own problems their own ways". What a great lesson we Americans can learn, diluting our god complexes, and realizing we wealthy Coloradans are no better in the eyes of God than our poor friends in Haiti. In fact, I would claim Haitians are more faithful than we are because they rely on God for their meals every single day! What a privilege it is to go learn about Haiti, how they worship the same God we do, and then come along side them to help them with a hand up vs. a hand out. This experience rocked my socks off, humbled me, and opened my eyes to the herculean effort it will take to help Haiti. It has made me appreciate more how blessed I am to live in Centennial with the many comforts and lifestyle I probably don't deserve. It fills me up to participate in what God is doing in Haiti! How exciting and rewarding!
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