Haitian Culture

Diabetes in Haiti

Diabetes is a significant health concern in Haiti. It has been steadily gaining prevalence in the country over the past few decades—many Haitians over the age of fifty now have Type 2 diabetes—which adds to the burden of non-communicable diseases in the nation. Several factors contribute to the high rates of diabetes among Haitians, including poor diet, food scarcity, and limited access to healthcare. There is very little dietary balance among Haitians because fruits, vegetables, and protein are expensive. Their main food staple is rice for one simple reason: it’s cheap. The challenge is that the frontline treatment for diabetes [...]

Typical Haitian Orphanages, Part 2

We shared recently about the difference between our Children’s Homes and typical Haitian orphanages. What you might not know is that there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of traditional orphanages in Haiti. One startling aspect of these orphanages is that many end up being used as money machines. Haitians will go to the States, plead for support for their kids, then siphon money off the funding they receive before it ever reaches the children. In many cases, orphan care can become a lucrative business. To make matters worse, the kids are often under-fed and under cared for. Frequently, dishonest staff will [...]

Typical Haitian Orphanages, Part 1

Orphanages in Haiti are different than orphanages in many countries. When we think of an orphanage, we likely imagine a group of children who don’t have families. In Haiti, that’s not usually the case. While some children might have lost their parents, a greater percentage of them have families, but their families are unable to support them. For this reason, one of the challenges with Haitian orphanages is that kids will often go back and forth from the orphanage to their family home. If the father is out of work, then they go to the orphanage—if he gets a job, [...]

Women in Wartime

WARNING: This blog post contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children or sensitive readers. Haiti has faced varying degrees of civil war since July 2021. When President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, the thin fabric of law and order in Haiti deteriorated as gangs quickly filled the void left in the chaos of overturned lawful authority. We use the term “war” consciously. The word has strong and violent connotations that describe a severe state of conflict in any nation. What might not be immediately evident, though, is that in times of war, soldiers and adult male agitants don’t [...]

2024-02-29T17:25:14-08:00March 8th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , , |

A Darker Pandemic

Child trafficking is everywhere. Every year, an increasing number of children make the news for one terrible reason: that they have been lost. Taken. Kidnapped. It's the darker pandemic that nobody wants to talk about. Like the viruses that touch our lives each year, whether personally or in our broader communities, the reality of child trafficking is equally pervasive. But we don’t discuss it much, and most of the time, we’re quicker to think about the dangers of airborne pathogens than worry about the dangers of child predators. Our comfort makes the difference. Much child trafficking arises from poverty. [...]

2024-02-29T17:12:58-08:00March 1st, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , , |

The Bible’s View on Trials, Part 4

No one hopes for trials. We want peaceful, good times for ourselves and our loved ones, and we often pursue and reject opportunities based on how “happy” they’ll make us. God’s perspective is different. As Christians, we know that He causes everything to work for our good (Rom 8:28), but sometimes it’s difficult to remember that truth when we face hard times. Today, we’re looking at five things Scripture wants us to know about trials. Trials Show Us Who We Are (And Who God Is) Paul saw trials as proof of God’s work in his life. As he faced trials [...]

2024-02-03T10:09:30-08:00February 23rd, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , , |

The Bible’s View on Trials, Part 3

There are so many things in life that compete for our attention. Failure affects our minds and hearts as much as success—grief often as strongly as joy. Because of this, it’s important that as Christians we have a strong framework for thinking about all of the experiences we face in life; we need to know how to navigate trials as well as times of peace. Here are five truths from the Bible about trials in the life of a believer. Trials Are an Invitation to Experience God’s Grace One of the most comforting truths in Scripture is that Jesus understands [...]

Ways to Pray

Prayer is a powerful aspect of the Christian life. It is the avenue God has given for direct communication between us and Himself. While we pray with humble hearts and in submission to His sovereign will, the Bible also gives us multiple examples of ways to pray in alignment with God's promises—ways to ask for things God has already promised to give. Here are a few examples. Prayers for Wisdom. In James 1:5, the apostle encourages believers to seek God's wisdom in their lives. The verse reads, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously [...]

The Light of the World

Jesus is often referred to as "the Light of the World" in Scripture. It’s a frequent title for Christ, which makes it familiar for many of us. It carries the idea that Jesus is the truth, order, and meaning in the world, and for those reasons, the title itself is significant. Today, we’re looking at three implications this title, “the Light of the World,” has for us as Christians, and what that means for all of us as we minister to others. Guidance in Darkness. Jesus, as the Light of the World, provides spiritual guidance to those who seek [...]

Meeting Needs with RUTF

Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) are nutrient-dense food products used to treat severe malnutrition. In developing countries like Haiti, these resources make a world of difference. On our blog, we’ve shared about the struggle with kwashiorkor in many of our Haitian communities. Treating kwashiorkor requires careful and gradual reintroduction of essential nutrients, especially protein, into the child's diet, and this process must be closely monitored to avoid refeeding syndrome—a dangerous condition that can occur when malnourished patients receive too many nutrients too quickly.1 That’s where therapeutic foods like RUTF come in. What It Is RUTF is a specific type of [...]

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