What's the Big Idea?!

The other day somebody asked me about Floresta. “What is the big idea?” was the way they put it. It is an excellent question. I think there is one big idea and three very important secondary ideas.

I think the big idea is that we can make environmental restoration profitable for the rural poor at the same time we are making poverty reduction beneficial for the environment. That is the Floresta idea. In other words, we are creating virtuous cycles or spirals in places where vicious cycles existed before. In so doing we are solving two enormous problems that taken by themselves seem intractable. The big idea is that it is actually easier to address both problems together than it is to take them on one at a time. This is unique, and I think it is what sets Floresta apart from most other organizations and solutions.

Almost as important is the idea that the poor are the most important allies in solving these problems and are probably the greatest untapped resource on earth. They have the skills, insight and vested interest in solving their problems. They have far more intelligence and initiative than people give them credit for. Often they only lack tools or opportunities. Perhaps all they lack is self-confidence. Yet far too often those who want to help see the poor as an obstacle. The temptation is to try to solve their problems for them without involving them. One of the most important things we can do is empower the poor to realize and use their God-given talents to change their communities and restore their land.

Another idea - one that almost seems self-evident - is that any long-term solution to the problems of environmental degradation and rural poverty must be holistic and must focus on root causes. Distributing food and medicine may solve immediate problems but they won’t change the world. Giving away a shoebox with Christmas presents or a disaster kit may be a nice gesture, but probably won’t change someone’s life. Building a low cost home may be a tremendous blessing to a family. However, the family is probably not poor because they don’t have a home; they don’t have a home because they are poor. This is not to disparage any of the ministries who build homes or distribute food. God calls each of us to different tasks, and each of those has its place. However, at Floresta we feel called to changing peoples lives through long-term holistic solutions that get at root causes of poverty and environmental degradation and leave the people transformed forever.

Finally, we believe that for lasting change to take place, Jesus must be involved. There is a spiritual dimension to all of the problems we deal with. In order to succeed in our task, Jesus must empower us and walk with us. In order for lives to be transformed, Christ must be working in those lives. That is not to say that we force our faith, or even our “witness” on anyone. We serve the poor out of our love for Jesus, and it is our desire that people would come to know Jesus, but we absolutely do not want to manipulate people in any way. To even imply that one would have to “convert” to receive help from Floresta would be manipulative, so we go out of our way to make it clear that the spiritual activities of Floresta are optional. However, it is only Jesus who can take a virtuous cycle of economic opportunity and environmental restoration and turn it into something that resembles the Kingdom of God.

All of these ideas are important; it is the first idea that makes Floresta unique. We share the other three with many fine ministries.

I was recently at the Global Leaders Forum of the National Association of Evangelicals, in Washington DC, and was participating in a workshop on “Creation Care.”

The facilitator went around the room and asked each of to tell why we were there. Most people gave the kids of reasons that you might expect: to learn more, or because the environment had been a long-time interest, or because of something they had recently learned. However, one participant, an older gentleman with a long background in religious broadcasting, nearly brought tears to my eyes when he simply quoted:

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

What a powerful reminder!

All of creation exists to praise its Creator. And as we have dealt with the fires in San Diego, the flooding from Tropical Storm Noel in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and all the personal tragedy wrapped up in these events, it is a powerful reminder that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!

Images of Noel

Most of these photos were taken in the last couple of days around the town of Piedra Blanca, in the central Dominican Republic, near Floresta's field office.

Tropical Storm Noel: Fernando's Story

Testimony of Fernando De la Cruz Díaz
Discipleship Promoter for Floresta RD

At 2:45 in the morning on Monday, October 29, the electricity in Piedra Blanca was interrupted by the intense rains. Cries and voices of neighbors could be heard everywhere as the Maimon river was coming into their homes. The neighbors were knocking on each other’s homes but the voices were not distinguishable because of the loud noise of the rain and the rising of the river. I got up and looked out the window of the room where I sleep and saw dead horses floating and dragged by the river. I could sense that the water was coming into my house and I exclaimed “Oh Lord! Everything is coming to an end!” The first thing I did was go to my daughters’ room: Fernanda and Esmirna. I woke them up and got them out of bed, we ran to leave the house, but the door wouldn’t open because the currents were so strong, they held it shut. I decided to break through the roof of the house to go out the top, but I couldn’t lift up the girls by myself. So I climbed through alone, then broke the door from the outside. The water rushed in and knocked down the girls, but somehow we all managed to leave the house. The water was up to my chest, because it had risen four feet. I carried the girls in my arms and all the neighbors left our houses for the highest part of the area where we live in Piedra Blanca.

The current pulled Fernanda, my oldest daughter (7 years old), towards me and I fell. I held on more tightly and lifted myself with my two daughters and continued forward, with difficulty, towards the Floresta warehouse. When I arrived, Beato, the caretaker of the warehouse didn’t know what was happening and I explained that at this moment the community had water up to 6 feet high in all of the houses, due to the overflowing of the river. He allowed us to stay, along with all of the people that fled to the highest part of the place. The hours passed. The 60 of us in the Floresta warehouse waited for the daylight to arrive to see what actually happened. When the day dawned, I went to see my house and it was full of mud. Even the fridge, beds, stove, dresser, clothes and plates were full of mud. The mud was at least a foot high throughout the house. The rain kept pouring and I went back up to where the girls and the rest of the people were, because they hadn’t been rescued yet due to the strong currents of water that knocked out the main bridge that connects the area to the rest of town.

In the midst of cries of desperation of many people, due to the loss of children, mothers, family members and friends, we encouraged one another. The rains died down a bit around 11am and we were finally able to cross back into town. Around 1pm in the afternoon, my sister in-law rescued my two daughters and me. We began to realize more clearly that we would no longer see some our neighbors and friends in this life, as the river had taken them away. [At least 15 people died in Piedra Blanca that night.]

I thank God that my daughter Fernanda, especially, was not carried away by the currents. She said to me “daddy, the water is going to take me, don’t let me die.”

And now the trauma continues, together with a great gratitude to God for giving us life anew.

A book for all parents

Highly reccomended for all of us but especially parents. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv.

The poor you will always have with you.

This morning I was reading in Deuteronomy chapter 15 about the forgiveness of debts in the seventh year. I have taken to reading The Message in the morning as a change from the NIV. I arrived at the verse concerning the poor always being with us and it took on a new meaning for me. I have often heard that verse quoted in the context of "yes we will always have the poor and therefore there is nothing we can do". That is not what Moses was getting at. Instead of a lament it was an exhortation. We will always have the poor so get to work! That is the meaning which became clear to me this morning. The work of Floresta allows us to act on that exhortation. As we learn about the devastation in Hispaniola we should be encouraged that we can be involved in the work of helping them to heal their physical and spiritual wounds. It is a blessing to be involved.

Communities affected by Tropical Storm Noel in Central Cibao

We just received this report from Carlos.

Dear Scott and Armando:

Your prayers are extremely precious in this difficult time for the Dominican Republic after the great destruction caused by the storm Noel. Many Floresta farmers and small business owners have lost a great part of their crops, animals, and businesses. Fernando, the Discipleship Promoter, lost all of his household belongings in the flood of the river Maimon, but saved his two daughters at 2:00 AM swimming with water up to their chests. He and 50 others in the region near the Floresta warehouse saved their lives because they went to the highest part of the warehouse and the pineapple demonstration site. The communities of Juan Adrian, Zumbador, and La Yautia were out of communication for three days. El Duey, a new community of enthusiastic farmers, ready to work with Floresta in 2008, was destroyed by another river named el Duey, which left more than 20 dead in its wake. Please pray that God grants strength in Floresta's recovery efforts on behalf of the farmers, business owners, and community and spiritual leaders affected by this great tragedy. The president of the La Yautia association of farmers stated that in the last 40 years he has never seen a flood as great as this one, not even that of Hurricane David. The farmer's crops in La Yautia were destroyed: bananas, oregano, passion fruit, aji and yautia.

El Café:
In this community, 50% of the crops were affected, such as oregano, rice, plantains, beans and yautia. There was a lot of erosion in higher altitudes. The local roads were affected by the rain. The aqueduct was affected by the rain, as were some household possessions. Thank God that no human lives were lost.

Los Mogotes:
In this community, 50% of the crops were affected, beans, rice, vegetables, corn, yautia and plantains. The community's aqueduct was affected by the rains. There was erosion in higher regions. Thank God no human lives were lost.

Juma:
In this community, the river overflowed and flooded more than 90% of the houses, soaking mattresses and other household possessions. In the house of farmer Nicolas Maria Ruiz, it soaked everything, including furniture and doors that were being manufactured in his small cabinetry workshop. The crop most affected in this community was rice. Despite the flood in this community, the most important thing is that no human lives were lost.

Sonador:
In this community, the largest effect was from the rise of the river Yuboa. There were a total of 4 deaths. The houses nearest the river were flooded; mattresses, clothing, and personal possessions were soaked. Crops and livestock were affected as many of the cattle were swept away by the river.

Piedra Blanca and the La Leonora sector:
A group of farmers* expressed that 40 to 45 percent of their crops were affected by the passing of Noel. Furthermore, animals were lost. The crops most affected were basically yautia and pigeon peas. In this community, 15 people were killed and 30 to 40 percent of the roads were destroyed. Over 15% of homes were affected.
*among the farmers were: Simón Fragoso; Margarito Pozo, Hipólito Peñaló. Santo Brito, Leonidas Sierra, Luís Sierra, Eulalio Sierra, and Nicolás Sierra.

Maimón:
In this community, 95% of the crops were affected, as well as livestock. As to houses, only one was destroyed. As far as household items, 80% of bedding in other houses was affected. Thank God no human lives were lost.

Tocoa:
In this community, 25% of crops were affected by the rain, cacao, plantain, chinola, granadilla, and yuca. There were some landslides in higher, unprotected zones. No human lives were lost.

Juan Adrián:
In this community, 80% of crops and tree plantations suffered damage due to the effect of the rain and the landslides, including cilantro, oregano, berro, and bananas. The rising of the river took 3 houses and badly damaged 20 more. The access road is destroyed as is the water pipe system. 80% of the animals, especially pigs, were destroyed and 40% of the livestock. 50% of the electrical system was destroyed. No human lives were lost.

Zumbador:
In this community, two people were drowned when their car was swept away by the current of the river Zumbador. 90% of crops were damaged, especially cilantro, oregano, berro, and cilantrico. The pig nursery was badly damaged by the river. The road was impassable and destroyed as was the bridge. The aqueduct in this community was completely destroyed. Three houses were destroyed by water and landslides.

La Yautia:
In this community, the river Maimon destroyed two houses and the torrential rains destroyed crops: cilantro, oregano, yautia, chinola, and lumber trees were also affected. The aqueduct was destroyed. Thank God no human lives were lost.

The personnel of Floresta Dominican Republic are grateful for the solidarity demonstrated on the part of Floresta USA, who give us courage to transform the conditions of destruction, with God's help.

Blessings,

Carlos and the personnel of Floresta DR

Global Warming: What's really boring is the perpetual push to polarize everything.

Dick Meyer of CBS News had a great editorial last week on the growing consensus among Christians concerning the reality of global warming. Read more about it here.