Hey Everyone,
We often celebrate the launch of a new vision, but the enduring measure of transformation is found in those who refuse to quit when the adrenaline fades. Today, I want to share a story about the gritty endurance required to build something that lasts. This story embodies our 3…2…1 Impact framework: three points to ponder, two quotes to share, and one story of lasting impact.
1 Story of Impact
On Monday, June 8, we will gather at our main campus in Pignon, Haiti, for a celebration I once doubted we would see. We are honoring 14 Haitian staff members for 10 years of faithful service and marking the 10-year anniversary of our Sylvain campus.
To grasp the weight of this milestone, you must remember our origins. In 2014, we lost our original campus in Savanette. It was a brutal season of betrayal and loss. Moving to Sylvain felt like stepping into the wilderness, starting over from scratch in a rural, overlooked area.
These 14 leaders elevated their roles from staff members to individuals answering a calling. Over the last decade, they absorbed far more than a few bad days. They stood firm through a global pandemic, the political assassination of their President, government overthrows, and gang violence tearing through the southern sections of their country. Many buried family and friends along the way.
Surrender was the logical choice. The world gave them every excuse to pack up and walk away. They stayed. They became the unshakeable heartbeat of Many Hands.
Because they refused to quit, the impact is undeniable. Over the last decade, these 14 individuals helped Many Hands expand to five different campuses. They launched the School of Light, driving a successful initiative that transforms the next generation. They poured the sweat equity required to install over 1,100 concrete floors and build 138 safe Many Hands Homes. They distributed roughly 18 million meals to the most vulnerable families in their communities.
This transcends the celebration of a building or a calendar date. It stands as a testament to staying power. When the world around them descended into chaos, they refused to flee. They picked up their tools and built an oasis in the midst of a paradise of poverty. Their endurance establishes that when we commit to Transforming Together, the darkness fails.
3 Points to Ponder
- Endurance over Adrenaline: Anyone can start a project when passions are high. Generational impact is forged by those who stay in the messy middle. Evaluate your current trajectory. Where in your leadership do you rely on fleeting motivation, and where must you commit to long-term endurance?
- Building in the Dark: These leaders built schools, homes, and futures while their nation faced historic instability. We often wait for perfect, peaceful conditions before we step out in faith. What is the “storm” you are currently using as an excuse to delay your calling?
- The Power of Together: No one survives a decade of hardship alone. These 14 staff members endured because they shared the weight, bearing one another’s burdens. Examine who stands in the trenches with you right now. Have you intentionally cultivated the relationships required to survive a crisis?
2 Quotes to Share
“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” — Walter Elliot
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12
Our greatest legacy transcends easy victories. It requires a steadfast refusal to walk away from the people God calls us to serve. The next time the chaos feels insurmountable, remember the 14 leaders in Sylvain. Keep showing up, keep loving, and keep building.
Hit reply and tell me where you need to sustain over the next two weeks. I read every single response.
Live with impact,
Tim
