.We pray that we mission co-workers
and the national staff take this financial difficulty as an opportunity
to examine and realign our work and to communicate effectively
throughout the church. Mission energizes the church and brings
the light of hope into darkness. After all, is that not what all
Christians are called to do?
Let us not dwell on the difficulties. Simon just returned from
Leogane, Haiti, where he was working with the leaders of Hopital
Sainte Croix, searching for ways to continue their medical services
to the poor. Port au Prince can be reached by air from Miami in
less time it takes to travel 24 miles from the airport to the
hospital by car—an apt description of a country, so near
yet so far. The hospital was always on the radar screen receiving
much financial support from many churches in the United States.
Due to political unrest, the Americans could not visit for almost
one full year, and the real situation of the hospital came to
surface. After years of bad management, the hospital was in terrible
financial health and the future of the hospital is in doubt. Simon
was asked to join the first team returning to Haiti after the
recent presidential election. His task was to review their financial
state and make suggestions for eventual self-sustaining operations.
After a few questions, a few things became very clear:
- The hospital did not have funds to pay salary for the workers,
diesel fuel for vehicles and generators, nor for medicines and
other medical supplies. Our arrival was seen as the opening
of the tap to renew the flow of funds.
- There is not, never has been, a system of management to serve
the patients. Operations and salaries did not depend on the
patient income, but on donations.
- Reliable historical data allowing an analysis did not exist.
It fell on Simon’s shoulders to speak the truth that
- The hospital might have to close soon.
- He cannot provide any meaningful analysis.
- He cannot recommend that the supporters continue to infuse
funds for short-term bail out.
For a consultant working on daily fees, it would have been proper
to pack up the bag and leave at this point. But, as a missionary
called to be in community with the people who are poor, Simon
and the leaders continued on. The part of “love” in
“speaking the truth in love” is to find “hope,”
for in faith hope dies last. Our hope is based on God’s
faithfulness and the resurrection of Jesus.
We sat down to discuss ways where we can work as partners and
not to be anxious about the immediate hurdles we faced. We agreed
that the use of donated funds should be tied to the medical care
rather than the salary, vehicle, or the fuels. Since the economy
of Haiti does not allow for full recovery of costs, a subsidy
is necessary and the outside donations can provide this subsidy.
But for now, this is a task beyond Hopital St. Croix’s capacity.
We started with a modest task of recording the number of patients
receiving medical care from the hospital, and the number of patients
spending the night at the hospital.
The night before Simon’s departure, a member of the visiting
team shared her joy. “Simon, seeing you working with the
staff with such energy encourages me. It is obvious that you believe
that this situation will be salvaged.” Simon replied that
he would be happy to bat .200, maybe even .100. Although he knows
that the result will be disappointing 80 to 90 percent of the
time, he must approach each encounter with the conviction that
this is the event that will be successful. Our Lord deserves no
less, and so do God’s children! Mission is not solving problems
for them but to struggle together in search of durable or sustainable
solutions.
The situation we face at Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a body
of Christ is just as difficult to admit and the light at the end
of the tunnel seems very dim at best. This is especially hard
for proud Presbyterians. But let us not lose hope. Let’s
make it an opportunity to minister to each other. We know many
friends who are going through a period of personal disaster. To
you all we send our prayer of hope.
Simon is leaving for the Gulf Coast in a continuing effort to
tell the complete story of how your gifts at the pews get spent
in the hurricane relief efforts and give hope to many people and
congregations. More on this next month.
In the meantime, let us continue to pray for ourselves and for
each other.
Simon & Haejung
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
261 |
