Collaborating Together

Christi Gabhart shares how team collaboration is bringing an amazing unity to the Many Hands staff, as we are reminded of the truth in ‘pi bon ansanm”.

In a routine, weekly Wednesday afternoon Many Hands Haitian Staff meeting some beautiful team collaboration was revealed. The meeting began with the announcement that the next day was a holiday of which no one was really aware… including us. This is a day by day culture!

Many Hands staff meeting

Next a recap was given about projects around the compound, the Early Childhood Development Center and a storage building, that were coming to a close and then giving an introduction to one new project to begin on Friday. The building of a permanent gate will be underway at one of the two entrances to the Many Hands campus in Sylvain so instructions were given on how to redirect the traffic pattern while the area of the gate will be a construction zone.

Early Childhood Development Center New storage on Ag Center Old gate

The Many Hands Haitian staff is divided into various areas of work and ministry but the afternoon meeting brought to light the humble collaboration that God is fostering among the entire team. An extensive list of programs and projects could be compiled from the updates each staff member shared but what stands out is the teamwork being demonstrated.

As this became evident a beautiful visual came to mind…a spider web. Think of how one strand isn’t much but when the whole web has been ‘woven’ the result is strong and effective. That describes our “Pi bon ansomn” (Better Together) Many Hands moto. We are better and stronger and more effective for Christ as we work together, crossing over and working in partnership with our team members.

Here are some examples:

The Many Hands Agronomy garden that is being worked to provide food for the Thrive Education program as well as food to be used for short-term team meals. There is Leadership Development coming together with Agronomy with a newly revised goat program that incorporates various community leaders who are offered the opportunity to DO leadership.

Goats and leadership

Also Leadership Development paired with Many Hands “Do Something Concrete” concrete floor project. We have some of the students of the Agronomy class volunteering their time in helping prepare the ground and planting Congo beans and peanuts that will benefit the Thrive Education program.

Lumanes, Many Hands Chaplain, has been connected to each area of ministry to complete the loop with follow up of spiritual development for people touched in some way by Many Hands. The PET cart distribution program was one area of collaboration for Lumanes as he accompanied Many Hands 2-man PET team to the home of Fordue Pierre, a man receiving a PET cart.

Lumanes with Fordue Pierre

Just in the past months since beginning his employment with Many Hands, Lumanes has seen 16 people come to know the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. Earlier this week he made a follow up visit to a man, Francios St.Louis, whose family had received a gift of food from a team of college students that Many Hands hosted. Lumanes demonstrates confidence alongside gentleness and humility while he shares common, ordinary parable type stories and examples as a way to introduce people to Jesus.

(Left to Right) Richelin, Francios St Louis, Lumanes

During the afternoon staff meeting Lumanes shared many encouraging thoughts. He said he certainly sees the hand of God on this work we are all doing together in and around the Sylvain/Pignon area. He thinks God has His plan and is using Many Hands to execute the plan. The various works of Many Hands he feels are tools in the extraordinary work being done, not with selfishness but with collaboration and humility because he sees Many Hands following the way Jesus did His ministry.

Lumanes asks that we pray for Many Hands to be even more effective and not neglect the people that are being welcomed into the family of God. This is just the first step. We need to follow up and disciple the people being touched.

Lumanès walking to house visit Lumanès on a house call

Finally, our team of guys, in charge of security, are working selflessly to watch over people, property and belongings so that work can continue uninterrupted. We recently purchased a set of multiple two-way radios for use on the property. One radio is always on in the guest house and we can hear their collaboration as they communicate back and forth together making sure all areas are covered.

We feel God used this brief hour long meeting to develop and build unity among the Many Hands staff as each could see the impact being made for the kingdom. That impact is magnified because we are collaborating together, standing together, fighting together, working together for Christ.

Philippians 2:1-5 ‘Have the attitude of Christ’

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.