Never Say No; Say Poko

More than 40 years ago, a wise Haitian man gave me advice on how to have good relations with the Haitian people.

He said that when a Haitian asks for something, always give hope with an answer of “not yet” or “let’s wait to see what God gives me to give you.” His reasoning was that they needed hope to survive. And their surviving was mostly a suffering survival. Hope gave them the emotional strength that there could be a miracle of change.

I am blessed to see this hope when sharing Jesus with the Haitian people. At times when asked if they are saved, their response is “poko” (not yet). They are saying that there is hope; maybe not today, but someday. Let’s saturate our faith with hope to see and receive what God’s good will is for us. 

Happy days in Haiti were when I got to register children to come to school. Although I might have to ask the same questions 100 times in a day such as, “Do you have a mother, a father, how many sisters, how many brothers…?” It was pure joy to give a child that hope of school which meant not only an education, but spiritual opportunities and nutritional benefits. I remember one day a mother with five children arrived after the school had reached capacity. She was shattered; I asked her to wait. I went to my husband, in tears, and we decided to give her a note that her five children would be registered next year. This mother smiled like I gave her gold; she had hope. Next year, her five children would be in school.

Recently, I have been praying for a person with cancer. Medically speaking, there is no hope, but I have hope. Praying with hope is different than praying with a defeated surrender to death. My hope gives me excitement. And I know that whether we live or die, we have His constant, close presence. “And this hope will not lead to disappointment...” Romans 5:5

Last year, I accidentally stabbed the palm of my hand near my thumb. A few months later, my thumb froze. I began to have less and less use of my hand, and it was my right (writing) hand. I didn’t get physical therapy until 10 months after the injury. My therapist was filled with hope. Each visit she said how quickly I was healing and had more range of motion; I was discharged shortly thereafter with 12 visits in all. Sometimes we need others to have hope for us. These are blessed friends who hope in God for you.

I also had a hand surgeon appointment after the injury and Haiti became the conversation. The doctor knew some missionaries who were kidnapped in Haiti. As the conversation closed he asked me, “Is there hope for Haiti?” I stared into his eyes and asked him if he believed in God. I will forever say as I believe in God, “There is hope for Haiti.”

Against all hope, Abraham believed God (Romans 4:18). Let’s unite and hope against hope for Haiti. And my hope for Haiti keeps me praying, encouraging our Haitian people, and doing what I can to see God give them peace and security with a future. Don’t say no...say “poko.” ~Jeanne DeTellis Loudon