Working for World Vision has allowed me the unique opportunity to visit several third world countries. As a result, I am just now coming to grips with the magnitude of the challenges that many countries face, largely, though not exclusively, due to lack of clean water. I've read the statistics and I've seen much of the suffering face to face. However, I am coming to realize that when I travel back and forth, I want to "solve the problem" when I come home to the U.S. and start to believe that "solving" the problem "simply" requires doing XYZ. The sad truth is that there are no easy answers to the lack of clean water which is destroying so many lives across the globe.

The trip to Hait in March 07 allowed me to understand Rotary’s beliefs first hand. I truly enjoyed traveling with such a great group of individuals. These Rotarians had amazing hearts and have a real desire to help those in need both near and far. I am impressed with Rotary’s commiment to help the Central Plataeu region of Haiti. The Central Plataeu desperately needs clean water. It was a wonderful sight to see firsthand how Rotary’s commitment to fund water wells through World Vision is saving lives. What an amazing thing to be able to say you have played a role in saving thousands of lives in the coming years. I was praying the other morning that one of these kids whose life will now be preserved, would grow up to be the kind leader that this country deserves.

During this visit to Haiti a side trip was made by two of the Rotarians and myself to an island off of Haiti called La Gonave. The purpose of this trip was to visit possible future Rotary projects with World Vision. There really is no way to put into words all that we felt because it is really something you have to experience: see, smell and taste firsthand to understand fully. The island of La Gonave has such a lack of water that the average usage is only 1 gallon a day. To put this in perspective, the average usage in the U.S. per person is 150 gallons of water per day. There was a moment that really resignated with me. While we were being driven around, on these roads that resembled an off road 4 wheel drive course you see on those truck commercials, we saw a woman gathering water out of the deep muddy tire rut. She was scooping the muddy water out with a coffee cup and putting it into a big bowl. I first wondered what on earth would she use this dirty water for? Bathing, laundry, to make her children something to eat, or even to use as drinking water? Then I realized this was all she had for water and I wondered how she actually is able to survive off this dirty water and even have a will to live. I thought we saw poverty in the Central Plateu but now in La Gonave I believe I saw the greatest level of poverty.

I, like all other Americans would love to see the singular BIG IDEA that is going to very quickly (and efficiently) do away with the mess. But, I'm afraid, it does not exist. What I did realize was that I also had witnessed how critical the World Vision model is to breaking the cycle of poverty. The traditional community development that World Vision does around the world, empowers communities to address the causes of poverty in their own context. This was evident in the area where Rotary has been funding water wells for the Central Plateau. In the Central Plateau poverty still exist; however, you no longer see children with the bloated bellies and the community is showing signs that it is moving forward – the community had formed committees, discussions and implementation are taken place with their schools, how to grow better crops, and plans to start a new businesses funded with a Micro-enterprise loan. The World Vision model does not bring about change in an instant but it does tackle the root causes of poverty and through this model it creates a community that reaches a point of self sustainability.


Paradoxically, the extreme brokenness does not leave me depressed. Overwhelmed at times, but not depressed. I've concluded that (unfortunately) we only have two choices when it comes to facing suffering and brokenness: 1) Quit, disengage and/or become cynical (an understandable option but unfortanate) Or 2) Keep showing up and somehow trust that the little we do is being multiplied in ways that we just can't understand. I guess this is faith. (And by the way, keep pursuing, praying for and working towards Big Ideas because it will be the collective sum of big ideas that will ultimately improve life for millions...)


The good news for us long term and for those of you in Rotary is that we can all make a difference from where ever we are sitting...A sincere prayer offered up, a financial gift that provides clean water, a home, an education or a meal, a visit to Haiti to meet those you are helping, an encouraging letter written and on and on...It all matters.


Contact Info:
Rynell Heiser
Rheiser@worldvision.org