Thursday, April 01, 2010 – Tonight, I had a little free time at the CMBH house in PAP. The internet was working much faster than normal so I tried to catch up on Facebook. While there, I noticed several posts about the Buckets of Hope and became amazed how the whole bucket thing has gone viral. Seeing the pictures, videos and news articles was truly amazing. The first containers are on the way, I hope at least 1 clears customs before I return to the US on 4/14. We have been telling the Haitian pastors about the buckets but I still do not think they fully grasp the concept. It will be fun to watch them as they open the first container. Imagine them as they look inside and see 1,300+ buckets. Then imagine them opening one to see what’s inside the bucket. Only then will they realize what folks in the US have have done for Haiti. (I would love to have a camera inside the container to catch their expression.) In case you are curious, here is how the bucket project came about.
We were in Haiti the first week after the quake with the SBC DR assessment team. We were talking about ways to give people in the US a tangible project o help the people in Haiti. As we talked, we combined a couple of ideas and came up with a food bucket concept. Everyone thought it was a good idea but no hard plans were put in place. As we were winding up the trip, I felt compelled to not let the bucket idea die. So, I started asking several of our Haitian cooks about the types of food items that a Haitian family would like. As they talked, I took notes. After I returned to FL, I asked my family to help me try to put a food bucket together to see if it could be done. So, we went to Wal-Mart. We started with the white bucket with white lid and began going up and down the grocery isles. We would find an item on my list, discuss the amount to buy and then try to pack it in the bucket. My wife, Deborah, made the final call on the items and the size packages. After about 45 minutes, the Wilson family had completed the 1st of 150,000+ buckets.
The following Tuesday, I showed the bucket during a Haiti response planning meeting. The group loved the idea. That same day, the convention PR department video taped me talking about the bucket project. During the taping, I used the term “Bucket of Hope.” The name sort of stuck and the rest is history.
Thanks to everyone across the country who made the Buckets of Hope project happen. A big thank you goes to my associate, Terry Ryan. He was the one who had to make the logistics work. Allison Walker, my secretary, also deserves credit for handling the phone calls and processing the shipping funds. (Sometimes @ $10 a check.) Most of all, I want to thank the 100+ FL DR volunteers who are handling about 140,000 of the 150,000+ buckets as they flow through FL to PAP. You folks are the best!
Pray for the buckets to get here and clear customs. Also pray for the folks doing the distribution as well as the families that will receive them.
April 12, 2010 at 8:18 am |
It has become a great ideal. This last Sunday (April 11) spent 5 min telling congreation where our 76 buckets should be and how they our part of the 150,000. Used mathew 25 about the sheep and goats story to encorage people and get them thinking about being part of the Sheep on God’s right hand side. Please keep info coming about where the buckets are and what has been accomplished thru this ideal.
April 12, 2010 at 11:22 am |
The bucket idea was a winner. Thanks for your hard work. After all the buckets have been distributed, may think about a second round. They are going to need food for a long time.
April 12, 2010 at 12:12 pm |
My prayer is that “The Hope of the Lord” will reach every Haitian Heart and remain there to tell others about Jesus as their stomachs receive the food in the Buckets of Hope. Surely they can see and will accept God’s Love in sending Jesus as The Saviour. Jesus makes all the difference. Thank you for listening to His voice and pursuing what He was leading you to do. He still speaks. I Praise God that you listened. Such a great blessing to be used by God in such a visible way “that they may see!”
April 21, 2010 at 3:46 pm |
I thought about making the little Haiti girls some dresses. It is a simple to sew dress and easy to put on. The dress is all one piece, has a drawstring neckline that can be adjusted, sleeveless and a simple hem. I would use pretty fabric especially for little girls. This style could be adjusted to fit any size little girl. As I can see, the little girls are not over weight and therefore hard to fit. I could get some of the women at my church, Tallahassee Immanuel Baptist, to help me make these dresses. If you would like a sample of one I would be happy to get it to you. My only problem is transporting the dresses to Haiti and getting someone to see that they get in the right hands and not some vendor making money off them.
Please let me know if I’m on the right track and if you could help. I would LOVE to come to Haiti to help you but I am 74 years old and I probably couldn’t handle the heat, etc.
Thanks for this means of communication. I’ve looked high and low for help with this idea. If it’s not a practical idea, I will understand.