Tim DeTellis

The relief efforts during the first week after the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in 200 years has proven a daunting task. The widespread need for food and water seems endless. Why? Because those needs were there before the earthquake arrived. Yes, there are urgent medical needs and victims of the earthquake are in crisis. Yet, for 90% of Haiti, they were hungry the day before.

When I listen to news reporters talk about people coming up to them asking for food and how the relief is not reaching the people fast enough, it makes me angry. Why? For decades my family have screamed as loud as we could “Help Haiti!” and thankfully, many heard. Thankfully, for the 9,000 children of New Missions from the Leogane Plane that have safe drinking water because of wells, food and medical care, plus education. Yet, that is not the case for millions more. That is why the needs seem endless; they are.

How can we change Haiti in the next 12 months. The task seems overwhelming. I agree the heaviness of the burden is impossible to fathom. Many nights, I am unable to sleep because of the debth of need in Haiti. The major load of need could be made lighter if these three priorities were addressed in Haiti, immiedately, now!

1. A free port.
This idea is not my original thought. It comes from my brother George and the concept is brilliant. All ports to Haiti should allow free import of any goods or supplies without tax. Haiti would receive and endless out pouring of resources to build a new Haiti. Follow my brother at www.georgedetellis.com. The fact is, all Haitian families overseas, mission organizations, businesses, and investors would have an open door to infuse Haiti with resources.

2. Drill wells
Along the Leogane Plane, we saw a miracle of change when UNICEF partnered with New Missions and began drilling wells after we drilled a well in the village of Neply and at Bordmer where both wells were artesian. A geological discovery was made that there was an acquifor at 185 ft below the surface. Wells were drilled all around the surrouding villages. When I was in Haiti the week of the earthquake, I left our Amber-Pere church and as we were driving away, we passed a well, drilled by UNICEF in partnership with New Missions and I thanked God because that means disese in that area would be cut by 50% just because of clean drinking water. Haiti needs wells. There are not enough relief workers to pass out bottles of water to 9 million people in Haiti. Maybe for one day, but not for life. A well saves lives and provides safe drinking water ongoing.

3. Population Control
This is a very difficult subject. This is why I am publishing this on my personal blog. First, allow me to say that I do not believe in abortion as an option. Second, all me to state the fact that the average woman in Haiti has six children. Thirdly, let me confirm that of those six children, they could be from three different men. That is a hard reality, but this is real in Haiti and is not making the news. For the record, when I was in Haiti this past week I spoke with a women who had 10 children from four different men. The men in Haiti need surgeries and so do the women to prevent additional childbirth. It comes to a point of management and dignity. Also, as true family units develop through marriage and faithfulness, then a modest family of several children makes sense. However, when you live in poverty and cannot afford to care for five children, why have more? The reason is because the woman is hoping the next man will stay and help support the family. I don’t blame her in the dyer need she lives. However, we cannot ignore the root cause for a country that has doubled in population in 20 years. Did you know educating a female in a third-world is proven to motivate her to wait and have children until marriage? Just a thought in reference to this blog series part 1 on helping bring change to Haiti.

Personally, I believe we need to be problem solvers if we want to make the world a better place. Haiti has many problems. Above, I listed a few. Only three, actually. What problems do you see Haiti has and what solution do you propose?