Heart of
the biggest mountain to overcome in
this country is myself. All the other
issues in my day-to-day are just part of
the path He put me on to teach me, test
me, help me grow and overcome. The
work here makes me challenge my theoby Karen Unternahrer
logical and missiological beliefs daily.
The harshness of the spiritual climate
puts my world view two inches from my
face and screams, “What do you think
by guest writer Scott Salvant
me cranky and put stress on my relaAnother interesting day in Haiti.
about your beliefs now, Scott?” These
tionship with my wife. I hate that it can challenges are tough but in reality are a
Nothing out of the norm really, but
here I am, inspired to write, what I Hate change my mood into times of negativ- spiritual work-out that builds strength
Most About Haiti. I am not talking
ity or depression. That the external can and solidifies my foundation in truth.
about the generalities of what we all
have control of the internal.
My challenge now is to realize that
hate about Haiti, such as the poverty
I hate how it exposes how I think
my daily tests are opportunities for me
and corruption that entrap millions in
that just because I didn’t get much sleep to mature spiritually; to not look back
despair. I am talking about the selfish
or I am hungry that it gives me some
and see things in terms of good days or
side of hatred, how Haiti affects me.
sort of “right” to get frustrated, or to
bad days, tough or easy, stressful or reSummer is upon us and it is now
not bestow love and grace on those
laxing; but to look back and ask myself,
officially stifling; hot during the day
around me. Like I get some sort of pass “Did I walk in the likeness of Christ
is one thing, but hot at night … It is a
from being a disciple of Jesus because I that day?” I must learn to not allow the
constant drain to energy as you sweat
had a rough day, or have a headache, or events of today to hijack the work that
typing an email, eating your lunch, and my plans just got obliterated.
the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish
even drying yourself off after a shower.
I hate that I can get so focused on
within me. Our emotions and reactions
But this isn’t what I hate the most.
all these difficulties in Haiti that I miss cannot be led by an external situation,
Is it that just managing our house
the beautiful side to this country, which we are to be led solely by His Spirit.
is nearly a fulltime job? Pumping water, is found in abundance in its people.
It is a good thing for me to realize
generator problems, cleaning batteries,
I hate that it exposes my lack of
that when Paul the Apostle wrote of
broken toilets, cold showers, no water
contentment, my pride, my weaknesses, his overwhelming joy, he wrote it from
pressure? No. Is it the rats? The tarantu- my ego, my true motives, my sinful
prison. When he wrote about contentnature, my lack of faith.
las? The ants? No. No. No.
ment, he had chains on him. He taught
What I hate most about Haiti, in
The fact that I don’t get to see my
us that our joy should not come from
actuality, has little to do with Haiti.
family much right now. That my wife
our surroundings, but from seeing
What I hate the most is to realize that
and I consider getting stuck in trafChrist magnified.
fic alone together our ‘date time’. That
lunch is what it nearly always is, beans
and rice. That I sat in the dark without power for almost six hours last
night, drenched in sweat and driven to
the point of madness by hundreds of
mosquitos. Or that I got a total of three
hours worth of sleep? Almost, but no,
that is not what I hate the most.
W hat I hate the most about Haiti
is what all of these things reveal about
myself. I hate that these things make
Missi ns
What I Hate The Most About Haiti
The Hometown Treasure · June ‘13 · pg 69