When we talk about having programs and outreaches to help people develop for sustainability, we are talking about helping develop new skills or life behaviors by offering things like training, teaching, demonstrating, mentoring, and even spiritual discipleship and life discipleship. As people develop deeper skills, they can become more independent, requiring less from others and more from themselves. Sustainability is when something no longer requires a lot of outside “inputs” or help. Once you get something going that is “sustainable,” it keeps on going without you having to continually give it more and more resources.

For example, our Gwo Maché Mirak Marketplace provides a beautiful, secure, Christian environment for vendors to come have a little business. Their business makes them independent and self-sustaining. Farmer John’s butcher shop does training, teaches new skills, offers employment, and even disciples many of their customers. The Marketplace and Farmer John’s are “sustainable” businesses that benefit the community and also give discipleship, both spiritually and in life lessons, as they demonstrate success.

Our Agricultural Training Center demonstrates, teaches, and trains in agricultural skills so families can become food-independent and even have a small business selling excess produce. Once we provide training and some seeds for their gardens, families then save the seed from their “first fruits” harvest and no longer require “inputs” from others… they have been developed to be sustainable.

God has a beautiful system for helping people achieve sustainability and together we are a part of it.  Thank you for your heart for caring and sharing with our neighbors in Haiti.

Rad Hazelip, Assistant Executive Director