I’ve been in Conference meetings since yesterday evening around the Haiti|5 initiative World Relief NEXT created with World Relief.

It’s been a remarkable time of learning, sharing and networking for over a hundred pastors representing 50+ churches.

Up at 4 a.m. tomorrow to start the trek back from Chicago – Oh the joy!

Check out this video that was shot while Matt and I were in Haiti – was edited by Jarod Wanner (a video and justice intern at Antioch) and that we’ll be showing next week in Chicago as World Relief NEXT helps host a Haiti Conference for 50+ churches from around North America.

I love collaboration!!

Haiti 5: Village On A Hillside from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.

I’ve been sitting here processing my time down in Haiti this week.

It’s pretty amazing how the whole problem – relief, economic etc. – is so intractable.  It’s the word that kept coming back to my mind – intractable.  It really is more complicated than anything I’ve seen before.  Most experts I spoke with speak of generation(s) it will take to fix the systemic problems Haiti has and is facing. There are no quick fixes.

Despite this, there are instances everywhere of things that have made a difference.  Aid, support and medical help have made an impact on people’s lives. The lesson for me is to always remain optimistic even in the face of such daunting challenges. Giving a cup of cold water to someone in need, as Jesus coached, is always worth it.

I’m rich, we’re rich, America is rich.  Most in Haiti were living on less than $2 a day before the earthquake hit.  The earthquake decimated the capital city which has 3 million of the 9 million people in Haiti living in it.  The whole economy of Haiti is gone. Not only were homes demolished, but businesses too. Typically, micro-finance institutions would help people begin to pull themselves out of poverty by giving them the means to start a small business. What do you do, however, when there is no market, no infrastructure and no money in a country?  The whole economy is paralyzed.  It really made me realize how much opportunity we have – how rich we are.

I thought of trying to live on $2 for one day to see what that would feel like.  I quickly gave up the idea when I realized I spend more than that in gas to get to work.  I could ride a bike, but I don’t have one.  I could get one, but even a garage sale bike would be more than $2 – and then I’d need to buy a helmet to ride it and….

The bottom line is we have so much to be thankful for.  We’re rich.  We’re blessed.

The question I keep asking myself is, “What am I doing with my riches?” Am I just trying to gain more wealth or am I leveraging it for the benefit of the vulnerable?

Lastly, there was the young girl pictured below.  She was trapped in rubble for well over a day after the earthquake hit Haiti.  As a result, she lost her left arm.  When asked about the earthquake she said, “That was a sad day.” Standing behind her, her mother choked back tears.

I think of my girls and it hits so close to home. There’s nothing I can do with that story… I just can’t get it out of my mind.

World Relief’s offices in Port-au-Prince.  The old offices were destroyed in the earthquake.

Pushing a broken down taxi out of the way on a main road.  95% of the roads we drove on were dirt or rubble.  I saw more broken axels and drivetrains than you could imagine.

If you think the palace is bad, you should see the rest of the state buildings down the street.

This tent city was erected almost entirely using World Relief tarps.  World Relief also provided a freestanding water source and wheelbarrows.  Still, I’ve never seen as much hopelessness in my life.  Without jobs and opportunity, little dignity remains.

Matt shooting an interview with Sara.

Kids playing duck duck goose.

Christians aren’t the only ones who are charitable.

A pastor who’s church was destroyed (see how the top story fell on the chairs below).

A 107 year old woman with over a 100 grandkids who was trapped under rubble for a day and vows to help rebuild her neighborhood.

A group of kids Matt was making guerilla noises at.

Noah, a church planter from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Matt has been shooting some short videos of people on our team.

This video is of Sara. She is standing on top of rubble with a mountain full of houses behind her – every other one destroyed.

Sara has an amazing attitude about her, which shows in this video (and in the game of duck duck goose she started up shortly afterward.)

Sara Simenunovic from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.

Below is a picture of a tent city just before sunset in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The degree of displacement and trauma from the earthquake five months ago is visible everywhere.  Less obvious, is the complexity involved in relief and development in Haiti:

- The hospitals in danger of having to close because of all the free medical assistance which has come to Haiti – How do the Haitian hospitals compete?

- The mothers selling clothes on the side of the streets who are affected by large scale handouts of clothing.  How do they make a living?

- The men who lose income from shoveling and discarding rubble because of the endless stream of church volunteers eager to help out. How do they find work?

The long term recovery and health of Haiti is a topic more convoluted and complicated than I’ve ever tried to wrap my brain around.

We’re here at the World Relief offices in Haiti with 8 other pastors, the CEO and his wife and several technical experts from World Relief Baltimore.  Our task is to learn, engage the conversation and, ultimately, help craft a collaborative vision for how North American Churches can partner with Haitian Churches in the long term rebuilding of Haiti.

I don’t think we’re going to be much help.  The World Relief staff here is amazing – I just want them to tell me how I can help them, and I’m in.

Here’s the final video for Haiti|5 - a long term engagement campaign that World Relief NEXT is developing in conjunction with World Relief and will be presenting to North American churches in May.

There are some amazing ways for churches to be involved directly with Haiti being developed that will be coming as a part of Haiti|5.

Stay tuned for updates to the World Relief NEXT web page to incorporate Haiti|5 as well as updates on the home page, blog and store!!

Haiti|5 Final Video from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.

Check out the poster for the March 19th Haiti Benefit Concert that Justin and a bunch of local artists are putting on.

If you live in Bend, save the date and plan to be at the Tower Theatre for the concert – all proceeds go to World Relief NEXT to benefit World Relief programs in Haiti.

(Also, make sure to check out Russ and Cheryl at Studio Absolute – all the stuff they create is amazing!!)

Here’s a mastered recording of the song Justin wrote a few weeks back called Your Love Shines.

I love it!!

World Relief just received their text-in fundraising information.

Text “Donate” to 50555 if you would like to contribute $10 to World Relief’s ongoing efforts in Haiti.

(It’s actually pretty fun if you’ve never done it… I just gave it a shot.  You have to follow up with a “yes” when you get pinged back.  Seriously, it’s so fun that it is going to kill you with curiosity if you don’t try texting in that number right now!!!)

Below is a draft mockup of a project we’re working on through World Relief NEXT.

It is a campaign around the stages of Disaster Response that will include a DVD, Web updates, print pieces and more.  The intention is to help people understand what is involved in disaster response, how long it can take and how they can continue to be involved.

Many people are beginning to wonder where all the money for Haiti went, what happens next and what they can do to stay involved.  The Haiti(5) Campaign should be a powerful resource for churches, organizations and individuals to continue to pray for and stay engaged with the people of Haiti.

Hoping to roll this one out toward the end of February!!

(Thanks also to Studio Absolute for the artwork below…)

Here’s a short video of Matt Smith the day or so before he left for Haiti.

(He’ll be sharing a report of his trip next Sunday at Antioch.)

Haiti from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.

Here are a few pictures that Matt posted today from Haiti.

Click here to go to the WR NEXT blog and read about the 60 tons of food delivered today among other things.