(this was written yesterday, but i couldn’t post until today)
haiti has a way of intensifying every emotion. it’s impossible to be complacent or apathetic when you are here. things that make you sad make you really sad; things that make you happy bring the greatest joy ever. I was deeply wounded by the sights I took in yesterday. the kind of wounding that scars you…the kind of wounding that you’ll never forget. we visited an orphanage not too far from here, which is managed by 2 Americans who can only come here every 2 weeks or so. it was literally one of the darkest, most dreadful places i’ve visited. nothing in Peru compared to this. nothing at Licia and Lori’s place compared. this place felt so hopeless and helpless. Licia and Lori’s place is really heavy because of so many sick kids being around, but this orphanage we visited had horrible living conditions. the walls were covered in at least 10 year old fingerprints, soil, and who knows what else. the bathrooms were unbelievable. no American truckstop even compares to the stinch and uncleanliness that was plastered to the walls and floors of all of the toilets and showers. the bottom of every wall crawled with black stains. it seemed 10 years had passed since they had been graced with a paintbrush or scrub brush.
the children, at first, seemed lifeless. flies swarmed around naked bodies wondering from inside to outside. there were no sounds of music, no smells of soap, and no happy drawings hanging from the walls. it hurt to take it in. our team had been earlier in the week, but I had missed it because I was sick. they had already experienced the first impression of the place; for me, it was new. conditions in Haiti are bad…real bad…but, most of the religious-led humanitarian efforts down here are at least tolerable. this place, based on my opinion and experiences, was intolerable.
I know that the children living here are better off than being a sex-slave, labor slave, or homeless, but it just angered me to see them living in those conditions…especially when i know they could be much better. I saw Cayden and Deacon in each of their eyes; I imagined my own flesh and blood living there, and my stomach sunk at the thought. especially in light of visiting so many orphanages and ministries here that do have the means to live up to certain standards, I know it’s possible to have a healthy environment for children to live here in Haiti. turns out, this orphanage is connected to a Baptist Association in the US. seems this little orphanage only 2 hours from US soil has been forgotten and under-supported by the Baptists in their association. I was and am angry. I plan on calling/writing/doing whatever it takes to give my experience to the Association as soon as I get home. honestly, it’s an embarrassment to the cause of Christ to care for orphans in a half-ass sort of way. it’s a poor reflection of the heart of Christ to ever assume the responsibility of caring for orphans with disregard. orphans, even in Haiti, should have clean restrooms and showers. they should have clean walls and floors. even in Haiti.
the husband and wife that travel to the mission every couple of weeks have a full-time job in the states. they come to the mission to serve to their best ability. they receive no payment for their work here, and may not even get expenses reimbursed. these are giving, caring people that take their own time and money to the people of Haiti; but they serve Haitian children under the umbrella of an organization that should and must be doing more for this little plot of land in Haiti. they told us they would love to update, do normal maintenance, etc… but if they have to choose between paint and food for the kids, they have to choose food. I just visited the Baptist Association’s website…honestly, I was just hoping the Haiti mission wouldn’t be mentioned…that would help explain their disregard to the conditions there. however, I read things like, “This project is the full responsibility of the _____ Baptist Association and its partnering churches and agencies.” and “We are seeking to reach Haiti for Jesus!” and “It is our desire to raise a generation of Haitian children that will change their nation in the name of Christ.”
my heart races as I compare the website with the conditions I saw with my own two eyes.
there’s no way this Association could continue to budget little to nothing while actually seeing the conditions. there’s no way the churches could not give to this if they saw the children. there’s no way to justify not spending a few thousand dollars a month for such a necessary and profoundly important thing. with love, anger and conviction, I plan to call this Association as soon as I get home. i have to voice my thoughts, as well as hear theirs.
if your association or denomination claims to have missions in other countries, will you consider checking on the conditions of them? would you please ask who is holding these conditions accountable? are they providing an adequate budget to operate?
it is a shame and an embarrassment to claim responsibility of an orphanage in “Jesus name,” while the children live in dingy, dirty, rotten places. today I am angry.
keep it real A. good thoughts … have assed sucks.
t.
or HALF - assed.
darn it.
Aaron, I am moved by your continued honesty and efforts!!! I hope you will be able to literally move mountains to get the conditions in this orphanage changed….please, please, please continue to update us on the outcome of this particular orphanage and what you find out once you have been home and able to contact the particular church.
As and adoptive Mama, five children total, three children through adoption…..I just went into adoption so badly wanting a family…..more children….well, we have five, but along the way I have learned so much about God’s Love for the orphan…..how He must weep, how His heart must ache for these His precious babies….the orphan is so close to God…spoken of many times throughout the Bible…I go to bed many nights just worn out from wondering how our precious orphans will survive…you are so right ALL CHILDREN, PRECIOUS TREASURES need to be loved, laugh, play…
I so thank you for your intensely honest posts…I pray one family be moved who has not been….and not everyone may be called to bring a sweet orphan into their family….many are, but not all….but, we all as the Body have some responsibility….prayer, finances, enlightening…adoption!!
Go get em’ Aaron,
Diane
How devastating to see children living in such conditions. It brought tears to my eyes just reading it. I praise God for people like The Mchouls and the Rescue Mission who take such amazing care of their kids. I hope that you can effect some change at this orphanage.
Aaron and Jamie, we just now had time to read all of your postings. Thank you for your compassion, your calling, and your honesty as you experience Haiti. You are right that the images of this week will never be forgotten. We are praying for you as the hours disappear and you prepare to return home. We are praying especially that Amos and Story will realize very soon the unconditional love that the two of you have for them already. May God in His grace and mercy continue to protect them, provide for them, and cradle them in His presence both now and in their future as kiddos in the Ivey family. We love you guys. Kent & Shawnah
i can hardly see the computer through the tears … Aaron thank you so much for this post … It is important that none of us forget, and that we never turn our faces from the orphans of this world … i love your challenge to check into the missions that our churches are funding … we all have to take responsibility … i am sad for what you have seen but know that God will keep this in your mind to share w/others for years to come … we are praying for you all …
PREACH ON BOY PREACH ON!!!…
I hope that when you return we are able to meet finally. This bothers me… lets be honest, it does more than bother me. If you took pictures, I must see them. It will help burn a reminder into my brain to be responsible for things done in the name of Christ.
Love you guys!
This breaks my heart. I don’t know much to say, but thank you for sharing.
I also can’t help but remember you and Jamie talking about this being a “short term” mission trip and and being afraid the team might be discouraged b/c of not having much of an agenda besides hanging out and loving on the Haitian children. It sounds to me that God had so much more than you could ever imagine for this trip. If you and your team speak with the association and get them to increase their budget, you all have changed the lives of some many more children than you can imagine. I will be praying for you and your team.
Thanks for this post, I can’t imagine the mix of emotions as those kids live in those circumstances. All the while in America we build multi-million dollar little kingdoms with coffee shops in them so we can be more comfortable on Sunday morning…ughhh.
I think Jessica is right, you guys have become advocates and that is hopefully what happens when anyone goes to a place, ecspecially with so much need.
Thanks for your updates, we have been praying for you guys.
Im ANGRY reading this!!! UgH! Tell us what we can do to help. I would think send $$ to the association but then …are they doing what they should with what they’re getting now?? Do they not have enough or are they just using the funds they have unwisely?? I don’t know that anyone could drag me away from there. I’d want to stay and DO something…anything, but I know it’s just not that easy.
Many prayers continue for you and your team. I am just so stunned by what you saw. Thank you for writing so eloquently about it. May God continue to equip and strengthen each of you for what He’s called you to do.
Aaron, I hope that you were able to get some pictures of the kids and the living conditions that they are living in. I would be happy to stand with you and get this church moving in the right direction to help these orphans in the way that God expects us to. I will even write this church a letter or whatever you need to be done. This church has failed it’s duty and the church members need to know. I can’t imagine what you had to see, but I can hear it in your heart and words. Maybe this was the journey that God had planned for you. You can be their voice.
I’m praying for you and the group.
Kim
Thank you for posting your journey with honesty. I can hardly bear to think of the conditions in that orphanage. It didn’t take but a 3 second Yahoo search to figure out which Association was backing that orphanage and they should be ashamed. If they are going to do something for the children of Haiti, they should do it to the Glory of God. If you want help from other adoptive parents putting pressure on this Association, I would be glad to send in a “strongly worded e-mail” from a fellow Christian and mother whose own little one was once without parents or a sister or brothers.
You may think that you aren’t making a difference, but by the profound change you are experiencing, you will come home and share and hopefully others will be moved to do something and a little becomes a lot when many are involved.
Keri
Your blog has torn my heart. Not because of the truth in your words, but because of what you have left out. I have emailed you a comment, but after reading the impressions that other people have of “The Orphanage” I must comment here.
I have visited the orphanage 3 times. My father has been 7 times. He repaired a well that provides water for the community.
The orphanage is a good place. You may have seen grime, but did you go into the freshly painted play room where the babies play with toys? Did you go into the kitchen or the children’s rooms that were painted while I was there in March? the bathrooms are dirty. Most bathrooms of 40 children are.
However, the bathrooms don’t go unused. All of the children are bathed, fed and dressed in fresh, clean clothing daily. I have photos of the clothes on the line and the washroom if you would like to see them.
Once per month the children are given a huge birthday party. singing, playing and a good time are had by all. I have pictures and video of this as well.
I regret that you can only post what you saw in a snapshot…God sees the big picture and I feel that He would not have your reaction.
the Orphanage is full of love and full of people who visit and want to make a difference in Haiti. Please have your readers go to http://www.cabaretkids.blogspot.com to see an accurate picture of the orphanage.
As a physician who has conducted medical clinics at the Cabaret Baptist Children’s Home in Bercy, I can assure you that the children are much healthier than the children that live in the village. Their weights are all at acceptable percentliles for children their age per the American Academy of Pediatrics growth charts. They receive 3 meals/day, daily baths, vitamins, daily laundry, access to schools, churches, recreation and medical care. I have been to this orphanage twice and have visited Lori’s rescue center, so I have first hand knowledge of the places you have visited. It is unfortunate that your view was so skewed. Your readers have been asked to to go to http://www.cabaretkids.blogspot.com for a more accurate portrayal of the orphanage. I realize that blogs are about free speech, but you have only hurt this fragile ministry by posting about your very short experience in Bercy. Your words were ill conceived, hurtful and untrue. I get the feeling from your post that you believe that by writing about your experience that you will somehow be helping the situation. Unfortunately, you have only divided and discouraged those who work with this ministry. I and my wife are going back to the Cabaret Baptist Children’s Home in June 2008. I will send you pictures from my trip, they will also be posted on the blog mentioned in this response. At a minimum, you owe the caring Christian workers, children who live at the orphanage, and those who give of their time and resources an apology for your hurtful and presumptive statements. I would also recommend that you post a retraction of your comments with the apology. I would be happy to have you along on our next mission trip and will help with sponsorship so that you may get a clearer view of this small part of God’s creation. Lastly, my wife and I are adopting a child from the orphanage and I would much rather have him at the orphanage than where he was living previously. I have left my e-mail address should you wish to contact me to discuss the above.
Sincerely,
Mike White, MD
hey bro’s and sissy’s…what we are trying to say is…what can we do to help…?…well…that is what i am trying to say…
i apppreciate all everyhand does in ministry to help the ones who need help…and if there is a good work…wonderful and HIS name be praised…but if in any good work…a little more help is needed…or could be used…
then when a group is fired up to help…let them help…tell them how…
tell us how to help…
Adopt a child, sponsor a child, send supplies, give money for supplies/food to be bought, organize a team, go on a team, pray, pray, and pray some more. Pray for the safety of the children, pray for the encouragement of the workers/teachers, pray for the church, pray for God’s word to be spread through of the church/orphanage/school in Bercy. Encourage, don’t discourage, build up, don’t tear down, speak the truth in love, don’t talk without thinking about the power of your words.
As an adoptive Mother, I too, plead for encouragement and compassion for all!!!
If nothing else, we must remember, for those who have adopted from third world countries and for those who have been on mission trips the devastation that can be seen. I do not know what anyone has seen at this particular orphanage and really can only go by what is read. I listenend to what Aaron wrote and have also listened to what the White’s have written and linked over to the site they suggested. I found it interesting because the Livesay’s also had a link to this site on their blog. And, when I was on their site yesterday and she suggested us taking a peek at what the group I believe Aaron is with….I was amazed at beautiful wall mural they painted…..anything, anything for these precious children has to be better than before!!!
Sometimes (I speak from my own experience in this) when you are so moved by what you see, the extreme poverty of China(something none of us will be shown on the Olympics, but, I know because I have see)….Aaron was moved by what he saw.
I pray, as you say Dr. White, that things are not as they seem, I HAVE to HOPE…not, for what you say or for what Aaron might say….but, I have to HOPE for the children. I agree pray for wisdom, whether adoption or sponsor, whether mission trips or supporting mission trips….but, more than anything do not debate. Move your heart along with your hands and feet….there are children waiting and waiting and waiting. They are unaware of their living conditions…but, we are not. And, for one family what seems one way may be totally different in the eyes of another.
Nothing, absolutely nothing will be accomplished by discouragement.
Diane
thanks for all the responses on both sides of this post. my main point of posting the conditions that i experienced was to state that orphanages, even in third world countries, should be held to standards that are livable. i understand how someone who DOES support this orphanage would take offense, but i still have to stick with my initial point that this place should be adequately funded by an organization that claims responsibility. in all the orphanages i’ve visited, in the many years of traveling to other countries, i have not yet experienced one as unclean and uncared for.
our team visited to orphanage three times while we were here, and all three times very few children were clothed. the bathrooms were not simply dirty. they were beyond anything acceptable for a human. i did go into EVERY single room, and did not see anything hopeful for children to be living in.
my point is this: it is FACT that this place does not have the adequate, consistent funding to provide the basic needs here. and it should, especially if operated by an association of several churches.
it is NOT the fault of the family managing this place. it is the fault of the association that admits on their website they do not budget anything for this task, they simply trust God.
furthermore, it is NEVER an excuse to assume these conditions are ok because it’s “haiti.”
i understand the sensitivity of something like this, and i appreciate the comments that even disagree. i don’t intend to tear down or diminish the fact that ministry in Haiti is really difficult, and this mission is saving lives. if we’re going to do it in Jesus name, we can’t just do the bare minimum.
i’ve seen really bad third-world conditions before. i’m not green, and this isnt my first time to see poverty in real life. i’ve also seen NUMEROUS well-run missions and orphanages all over Haiti.
finally (sorry this is getting long), while we were there, we scrubbed and painted the entire eating/play area and a long hallway. we also painted a gigantic mural on one wall with an ocean scene, sun, and clouds. then, we scrubbed the tiles on the poles, and mopped the floor. cleaning supplies were incredible hard to scrounge up, because they didn’t have budget to buy these supplies.
Aaron, I must disagree with you on the topic of the the care of the children. I don’t know if you caught the orphanage on a bad day with your admitted one visit, or if your expectation is that orphanage look like they do in the US. I know for a fact that the children’s rooms were recently painted, the play area in the front room was also recently painted and the cement floor was recently tiled. New furniture/ screens/ doors were recently put up in the children’s rooms. My offer for you to go back on a team with us still stands, hopefully you will see things differently, we are going in June.
Mike White MD
Aaron,
Individual churches of this association give designated money for the haiti project. We are slowly reaching the churches and mission teams are traveling to Haiti. I am not advocating that we just say is ok to not do or give our best because “it’s Haiti”. Your point may well have been to say that - “it is FACT that this place does not have the adequate, consistent funding to provide the basic needs here. and it should, especially if operated by an association of several churches.”
The point made was a picture painted of children who didn’t have any needs met,children who were uncared for and about and people who just go when they can and do what they can to help. On the contrary, the Americans who do go give their best and I mean 100%. If you are still in haiti, I would recommend that Troy take you back to the orphanage for another look.
Your statement in reference to the orphanage: “it’s a horrible reflection of the heart of Christ to assume the responsibility of caring for orphans with such disregard was inappropriate and downright cutting. The regard of the children and the Haitian people is at the forefront of the heart of Rusty and Cheryl and myself and many others. I take offense to this statement and will make a stand with my voice to say that every child at the school, orphanage and church is recognized as a child of God and they are given love, respect, physical and spiritual food.
Instead of using your writing talent to dishearten the people who are working, use your words to encourage and uplift.
I’ve been to Haiti, time and time again because I love the people. Just as all of the team members are moved by the conditions in Haiti and even in our orphanage we don’t lash out through the internet and completely destroy the people and spirit of those who are working there JUST to make a point.
I would like to go on record to say that the children’s rooms have either bunk beds, cribs or toddler beds in them. They are complete with mattresses and clean sheets. The rooms each have a place for the children to keep their clothing and shoes. The majority of the toys for the older children are kept upstairs and the children know where they are and that they can go and play upstairs without fear of a toy being taken away by another child or destroyed. It is expensive and difficult to pack toys into the duffel bags so we know that to be good stewards we must use them wisely and the children learn to respect other people’s property as well.
I copied this from your post. “We are seeking to reach Haiti for Jesus!” and “It is our desire to raise a generation of Haitian children that will change their nation in the name of Christ.” I invite you to talk to any of the 8 or 9 older children who now know 3 languages (English being one of them). Ask them to show you their Bible that they received as a gift at their baptism. Ask them to tell you what a difference has been made in their lives because “Mr. Marcus and Mrs. Billie” had a vision for the people of Haiti many years ago. Ask them to tell you how much love they feel from Papa Rusty and Mama Cheryl and the other Americans that visit.
At least one team was in the orphanage every month last year. The people who make up the teams are doctors, nurses, pastors, teachers, construction workers, well drillers, carpenters, moms and dads and grandparents. These are people who have a love for children. If the conditions were truly as you say, I do believe that a change would have been initiated by the team members. When I go, I see something that needs to be done and I set my hands to the task. Thank you for the beautiful mural that your team painted and for cleaning the dirt off the tile floor and walls. Your work will not go unnoticed or unappreciated. However, your words did more damage to the spirit of the people than your painting did good for the orphanage.
The impression that I get from you is that a group of churches just takes in these poor haitian children who have no other place and they just provide less than the minimum for these children who should be thankful for what they have. I know the heart of the people who are on the taskforce and the directors. That is not their intention nor is it their desire to not continue to improve and make wise use of all the God has provided.
I would like to add that if the conditions were deplorable and as disgusting as you say - Why do the Cabaret Police and UN officers bring abandoned and abused children to Mama Cheryl and ask her to take them in. They are in the orphanage and they see first hand how the children are cared for and treated.
There is always room for improvement. That’s why no one has given up on Haiti or the orphanage.
Other missionary groups bring their groups to see the orphanage just as Troy brought you and your team. It is my impression that they don’t take them there to show them how to NOT run an orphanage.
I respect that you have a right to post as you wish, but I also respect that God tells us to let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable to him - destroying other’s spirits and insulting hard work is not pleasing to our Lord.
I visited my children during the adoption process….10 months later they came home to us. It was the longest 10 months of my life, aching arms and all. Honestly though, if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would do it in a second. Every kiss, hug and photo from my visit meant so much to them during thier wait and once they were home. Do not fear that they feel abandoned by you, they KNOW you and LOVE you and their mommy…you are REAL to them more than ever. When the time comes for them to come home, they will greet you with open arms and be ready for another part of their journey.
I would encourage making copies of the photos you have of you visiting and putting together a collage for a book or something for them to zip tye to their beds….it reminds them of your visit and has you as a family in it…very sweet for them to have to look at daily!
Blessings,
LeAnne The Haiti Lady
Wow. This makes my stomach hurt…
Hello Karin and Dr. White..I am not sure if it is kosher to talk to people on someones blog, but I just had to chance it. Excuse me for pointing out the obvious, but I believe you are both missing the point.
Aaron wrote “they (insert Mama Cheryl and Papa and your names here if you feel comfortable with that) come to the mission to serve to their best ability. they receive no payment for their work here, and may not even get expenses reimbursed. these are giving, caring people that take their own time and money to the people of Haiti; but they serve Haitian children under the umbrella of an organization that should and must be doing more for this little plot of land in Haiti”.
How is that “destroying other’s spirits” or “insulting hard work”. That is simply, but powerfully stating it is a far cry from enough. More needs to be done. It is a plead, on behalf of the children, for more help. I am going to assume that even though your posts are leaning heavy on the side of defending yourselves and the conditions, that your intent is to defend the fact that you love the orphanage and children of Haiti.
As for the “destroying other’s spirits and insulting hard work is not pleasing to our Lord.” Karin, Please tell me I read that wrong, and you did not really just throw a bible dart at Aaron. And, If you are even thinking of considering having your feelings hurt because someone pointed out the fact that the orphanage you love with all of your heart needs some serious love and compassion, you might reconsider.
I know Aaron. He would never destroy anyone or anything. He feels deeply. He would not lie about what he saw. Apparently the day he visited things were kind of less than par at the Orphanage. He never personally attacked anyone.
Dr. White- I do not personally know Aaron Ivey, but I don’t think for a moment that he was “tearing down” or not considering the power of his words. His posts make me stop and think. They make me think that although our family donates money, although we pray, although we sponsor a child, there is more that needs to be done. So, through his eyes, I see that just today alone, maybe I don’t need that new LaCoste shirt, or a stop at Sonic or Starbucks. Maybe there are more things that I don’t NEED, but those precious little children have a NEED for clean bathrooms and surroundings. I don’t know about you, but I am grateful for Aaron’s insight and opinions. They cause me to stop, and think. If you are willing to post an address where I could send a donation, it would be appreciated. At the end of the day, Dr. White, are we not all fighting for the children of Haiti. We are all fighting for the same thing. Let us help.
Melissa Wilkinson
I would guess that if you are waiting on your child to come out of an orphanage the best way to cope is to only see the good. that is a fine way to cope. I get that. but Aaron did not lie about anything. Nor did he tear any person down. He is allowed to see and feel whatever it is that he sees and feels. Thanks for blogging Aaron. We have enjoyed it.
Let me know if I can help. Thanks for talking honestly about this, Aaron.
Aaron,
Brother, please, please, please take a few minutes to stop, pray and talk to someone wiser than yourself before venting in such a public way.
I ran the mission you are staying at for close to three years and spent many happy days at Bercy with Marcus and Billie. They were amazingly loving and wonderful people. It would destroy Bille to hear you speak of their loved orphanage that way you have. There is a much bigger story behind that orphanage than you realize. I would love to put you into contact with her if you truly wanted to make a difference.
I’m not writing this to criticize you in any way. In fact many of the things you have said, I have felt at times. Haiti is an amazingly difficult place to understand.
I’m going to pass on a piece of wisdom that was passed on to me by someone much wiser than myself. You don’t always know the whole story. Stop and pray before reacting. Words, although needing to be expressed freely, must also be expressed with responsibility.
Wisdom my brother is a precious thing. Chase it!
Bryan Fox
PS - I live in Acworth, GA and would love to take you to a great Haitian restaurant in Marietta if your ever in the ATL area. You’d be amazed at the number of Haitians in this area.
I never saw that Aaron said a word about Marcus and Billie. He said that the people running it (Rusty and Cheryl ??? ) were doing the best they could without enough help. He said he saw kids not being cared for well enough to say that this is the cause of Christ - he wanted more for them. I don’t get how many of you keep reading something other than what he wrote. There was no attack on Marcus, billie, or any current missionary. He saw what HE saw. If you were there on THAT PATICULAR day you could possibly write your own report- but since you were not there on that particular day you don’t know that his description is incorrect. maybe the whole story is not known because that story is now the past story and now there is a new story to be told.
i speak only to a lack of funding and lack of support from an organization that owns the mission… and i speak for a group of beautiful Haitian children that deserve more, especially from gospel-carrying American Christians. i spoke highly of the family that give freely their time and energy to the mission and the kids. i also have never said anything negative about a particular person.
this is my experience through my eyes, articulated truthfully from our time there.
i have bounced this off each of my team members to make sure i wasn’t off-track, all had the same perceptions of the conditions.
no intention to hurt anyone, but i do value the lives and conditions of orphans more than i worry about offending a few American Christian brothers along the way. the most responsible thing i can do is adequately speak to the conditions, and hope to bring change through awareness.
things must change. sticking to my original words on this one guys!
Change is good…..change is GREAT!!!
We just sent five of our lives changes out the door…off to school:) Three of our lives changes, now blessings, our three youngest daughters, would have been sitting in orphanages, no not the spoken of Haiti orphanage, but, an orphanage in China. From what I know of orphanages, they are just that. I believe no orphanage can ever replace the love of family and home….but, I also believe with change you can make an orphanage a much improved environment. If the environment is improved in any orphanage the chances for these sweet children to have life and joy is improved. It also prepares these children for a life outside of the orphanage…education, social interaction, physical and emotional health. Whether these children will ever be in family and how they transition begins in these orphanages.
I can not imagine any orphanage world wide that would not be open to change, open to additional volunteers, open to additional funds.
Change is good!!!
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(Kallie) - Come on girl. We’re all on the same side here right? No need to get worked up. I didn’t accuse Aaron of saying anything negative about Marcus or Billie. I just encouraged him to think about how his comments may affect those involved.
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Aaron,
Please read some very wise words written by yourself and be encouraged, people are reading what you have to say. (that is a very powerful position to be in.) With power comes responsibility.
I have read your words and have taken into account that I may not see the entire situation myself.
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Archive for A Recluse Generation
Step into the Backyard
{ April 20, 2007 @ 3:27 pm } · { A Recluse Generation }
{ } · { Comments (2) }
by Aaron Ivey
Most things are not what they seem. Very seldom should we take something at face value; our eyes cannot offer a complete picture of everything that may be going on around us.
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Aaron, you are great! That is not said with a smirk on my face, I mean it. It’s encouraging to read the words of someone who has such great compassion and conviction. Especially for Haiti, a country that has become a part of me.
I think you’ve confused a brother who is concerned with a “brother who is offended”. No offense has been taken or felt. My comments were the result of having many of the same feelings you have, concern for a group of children that have no voice of their own.
Enjoy your freedom to say and feel what is real to you.
I’ve lived the emotions you are having, and have said many of the same things you have said.
You said you bounced this off the team before posting it and they all had the same perception. Did you bounce it off of God to see what He thought?
Please think about this one thought…don’t react just think…
Which should come first when injustice is found?
1 - Public activism to raise awareness?
or
2 - Personal Contact to plead for action?
Public Activism preceding Personal Contact has the possibility of causing more harm than good.
Public Activism is the “Cool Thing” to do and helps us put into action deep emotions that we are dealing with.
Private Contact allows for the acquisition of information and brings proper action by all parties involved.
Public Activism should be the result of insufficient results found through Private Contact.
It appears you made the first step towards Private Contact by locating the source of the issue, the ——— Baptist Convention. Consider the possibility that you may have gotten the results you were looking for by contacting them firsthand before publicly denouncing their ministry.
Then by all means, if they ignored your concerns or refused to investigate your findings, you would be negligent if you didn’t raise public awareness of the situation.
It just seems you’ve gotten the cart before the horse. Think about this.
I also realize you may be sick of all the comments regarding this post…but I’d love to hear your comments on this comment.
Proverbs 27:17 (NASB)
“17Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.”
All of us can use a good sharpening.(I am including myself here)
Bryan
this is not a public activism forum or website. it’s simply my blog. my feelings, thoughts, perceptions, on the life that i live. it’s honest, naked, and vulnerable. its not edited, clean, and ready for press. it’s a blog. it’s my personal journal fleshed out for anyone to read that is interested. i do take a deep sense of responsibility for anything that is written, but at the end of the day, it’s honest and raw. my blog is not always rational, it’s not always theological, it’s not always right… it’s MY journey with God through many crazy places in life. you don’t have to agree with me.
i really don’t have anything left to defend with what i wrote. quite honestly, i am a little tired of defending what i wrote, rather than us all figuring out what we can do to help orphans and the oppressed in Haiti. i can’t keep arguing back and forth about whether i should or shouldn’t have written my personal thoughts on a day i spent in Haiti.
and yes, i spent time “bouncing this off God.” as well as a few other wise people…i dont want to bring them into all of this, so i wont name them. also, i hardly think “iron sharpens iron” refers to correction via blog comments and emails. :)
it is what i saw, what i experienced, and the raw natural anger that goes with seeing injustice. for that, i can’t apologize.
hey brian-
the way you assume that you can determine that I am “worked up” is interesting. how do you hear my tone in the written word?
if we are to guess tone — then i might guess that some of what you write comes across with an air of superiority or a tone of condescending to aaron and others.
i won’t guess your tone - if you don’t guess mine.
K.
Aaron,
Please forgive me if my comments have caused you any unecessary frustrations.
Bryan
Hi guys - I agree that maybe we should put this to rest. I just want to weigh in with my perspective - as someone who knows both Aaron and Bryan and wants to keep things from escalating. Both are amazing men of God that I respect and have learned from.
We all have our individual opinions and experiences that God uses to shape and mold us into His image. Sanctification is a personal experience and blessing from God as He teaches each of us how to be more like Christ. We are all at different points in this journey, and from a human perspective it often feels like a struggle. I think all too often we turn that into a struggle between men - criticizing one another for not being at the same place in that journey.
I think both sides have valid points here. As someone who saw and approved of the original post I feel obligated to share in the responsibility for it being made public. It would not be right to use a public forum like a blog to criticize fellow believers by name without contacting them directly first. This is being turned into a contentious issue by those who happened to know and care for the particular ministry that was referred to. Looking back at the original post - the brothers and sisters in question were never named.
The reasons I support Aaron for sharing this are because he made no specific mention of what ministry he was frustrated with and because he honestly shared the way it affected him personally. It wasn’t a call to action for the readers, but simply a transparent and authentic reflection of what he’d seen.
I think the major issue here is that a Christian church or organization should not claim to be working to ‘reach (insert country here) for Jesus’, ‘raise a generation to change (insert country here)’, or take ‘full responsibility’ for a missions effort when those aspirations are not even included in the budget and regularly funded.
I saw the same things. I know how hard it is to do God’s work in Haiti. I know things aren’t always perfect. I know it is a battle to create change in this place without sufficient resources - and often the people with the most resources are exploiting the suffering people to raise money. Often times that money is not applied in a way that appropriately meets the real needs.
I also feel connected to parties on both sides of this issue and realize that we all want the same thing - improved conditions for the suffering people we’ve seen in Haiti.
It is hard for us all to reconcile from our limited human perspective. Fortunately, His ways are higher than our ways.
I love both of you guys and know (thankfully) that God is bigger than all of this and wants what is best for these (and any other) orphans more than any of us could imagine.
I’m praying that instead of criticizing each other we can address the real issue at hand - and take action to right whatever wrongs God convicts us of or puts before us.
T