If you’ve been wondering where I have been, I have been hard at work on the upcoming conference to start a movement against child exloitation in Haiti. Every day the event gets bigger. We are preparing to receive hundreds of guests, mostly from Haiti, but also from Europe, the U.S., and other Caribbean nations. We will also have media present from different corners of the world. I have a feeling that God really wants to deliver these children (well duh…). His hand is all over this thing… All of the pieces simply fit themselves together. The people that we have met in the last week and a half have saved our skin, given us access to corners of Haiti that we thought were lost. There is much left to do but we are very excited and very positive about it all.
Of course this is not really about holding a conference to talk about the issue and move on (like most conferences in Haiti). We really are after a movement, and we think that we are well-positioned to get one rolling. I also think that Haiti is ready to receive this movement. After all this time, what could make me think so? Well, all along, there have been more people in our nation that are against this system than there are people who are for it. All we have to do is convince these people to TALK. Speak out! Say “Enough!”
During child interviews this week, I caught onto something that is very key. Almost every child that I talked to (this week) has a neighbor that feeds them or gives them a little money from time to time because they feel sorry for the child. But never have I heard of a neighbor that confronts the “owners” of these children while they are in the middle of beating them to a pulp. These neighbors are friends of the family… They see each other often. They laugh together and joke around with everyone in the house. Everyone but the restavek. They help her in secret, because no matter how close they are to the family, they feel powerless to speak on the behalf of the child who is, very clearly, not in the family. I bet that some of them wish they could… Our goal is to convince them that they can… and they should. We want these caring neighbors to stop thinking “what a shame” in their hearts to saying “shame on you” to their neighbor (of course respectfully, tastefully, and lovingly). As I look at I’m really starting to believe that we can get people to start talking.
We are preparing for it. We are getting ready to make a lot of noise. It won’t be long until this issue is made a public issue. It won’t be much longer until one neighbor starts talking to another about the sad, shameful stories that they heard on the radio or saw on the TV. When they start talking to each other, the third neighbor, the one with the restavek, will start to think twice before they beat the child. They may even buy a mattress for her to sleep on rather than forcing her onto the cold concrete floor every night. In another year, perhaps the child will be in school… in the morning even, rather than being sent to a sub-par afternoon school which exists in part because there are children in our country that work during the day. Maybe afternoon school won’t even be necessary anymore… who knows.
I know that I tend to speak idealistically, but I feel this as strongly as everything else that I know to be true. On May 23, 2009 we will see the beginning of the end of child slavery in Haiti. God himself has vowed to break the chain. (Trust me, I know this because He’s a good friend of mine… 
Wow–This is really huge! I will be praying for this meeting. I sponsor a child in Haiti through Compassion International, so I have deep feelings about this country. Thank you so much for taking a stand against child slavery & exploitation! God will break this bondage, but only as you wait upon Him and let Him lead — which is what I believe is happening (or can happen now, at any rate). If you try to break this in your own strength, in your own ways, you will find only disappointment and failure. Continue to be alert to what He’s saying to you and what He’s doing all around you to bring your dream to reality. I’m with you in prayer, brother!
Junior — I could hardly believe my Bible reading today after I wrote the above comments to you. It was from Deuteronomy 24:6-22. The verse that jumped out at me first was v. 7: “If a man is discovered kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. You must purge the evil from you.” Obviously, the people that are making children slaves in Haiti are not going to “die” physically, but this evil practice of slavery needs to die. It is “time” to come against this exploitation, I think, but the question is how to do it. I thought it was interesting that this chapter illustrates the dignity of the poor and how to treat them with sensitivity — not entering their houses when collecting their payments, not sleeping in his garment that is used as a security, paying them their wages before sunset because of their great need, etc. As we work with the poor (whether the physically poor or spiritually poor) in this kind of sensitivity, God will bless (v. 13).
The other thing I noticed was that it refers often to the fact that we were once “slaves” too — in Egypt, in sin, in bondage, in slavery (v. 18, 22). As you work to eliminate slavery in Haiti, keep in mind that it is a parallel to the bondage of sin. What needs to die is the slavery for sure, but underneath that are the foundational lies people are believing — that these children don’t matter, that their lives are hopeless, that it is impossible to come up against the owners of slaves. We know they are lies because “Everything is possible for him who believes!” (Mark 9:23). Jesus spoke often of the value of children! Matthew 18:6, Matthew 19:14-15
The key to ending slavery is, like you said, for people to speak up to the owners and speak up on behalf of the children. But (like you said) it must be done in a respectful, loving manner. The owners of slavery are in deep bondage to the thoughts & lies they also have believed of themselves — that they are evil, hopeless, unloved and rejected by God. Once they see the great love of God that is freely offered to them, they will be able to love and care about the children. They need to understand the unconditional love offered even to a cruel slave owner! The last thing you want to do is highlight the shame these slave owners already have–but instead show them that they can be rid of their shame, too, in Christ.
I recently spoke up bravely (in love) to one that has been abusing me verbally — my father. The only reason I was able to speak up to him so boldly is because I finally have a strong grasp of God’s unconditional love for me, and that it doesn’t matter what my father says or thinks about me. These neighbors that are reaching out to the children can speak up boldly to the slave owners only if they are fully grounded in God’s love for themselves, and are no longer afraid of others. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
Let’s all dig down deep into the love of God–it’s huge and can demolish strongholds such as rejection, feeling unloved, feeling worthless, anger, resentment and bitterness (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). I must say that in order to be filled with God’s love, I first had to acknowledge what was wrong in me (rather than just focus on what was wrong with my dad) — I was filled with resentment and bitterness. Once that was confessed to God, He filled with me a love that could see the insecurities, pain and feelings of worthlessness in my dad. And then it was the certainty of God’s unconditional love that gave me the boldness to say to him, “You don’t have to get angry with me about this…let’s work this out.” I’m no longer afraid of him and I’m free! Yeah! Now I’m free to love and walk out my faith before him.
All of this is connected somehow with what you’re dealing with there — I don’t know how God will use it for you, but I knew there was a spiritual connection in some way. He is mighty & able to fight this battle for you! Move forward carefully — listening to His voice, waiting upon Him, speaking up boldly when He gives opportunities, loving all parties involved — children, slave owners, neighbors; and letting God do the things only He can do! Watch to see what He will do and how He will lead you, step by step! I can’t wait to hear more from you here!
Juli, you are the greatest! Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
In Christ,
Junior B.
Hi Junior
I live in London and I am really interested in getting involved with sorting out this Restavek situation in Haiti. Do you need practical help? Please email me and let me know if there is anything we can do to help (from here). What is happening in 23 May?
I look forward to hearing from you.
cheers
Rosalie
Does Slavery Still Exist?
What most people will say is I don’t know if slavery still exists. Slavery still exists in some country.
Which is sad to say. That we still have slavery in parts of the world, after 300 hundreds years. Why is the world made this way? After 300 years would you that slavery is over .