The Gospel of Trees

This is a complicated memoir. Much of the book is depressing and disheartening, but I encourage readers to stick with the book. The missionaries and foreign aid workers were often paternalistic and prejudiced. The reader will probably dislike many of the main characters at times -- including the author and her parents. Even those who meant well often did not trust the Haitian people to properly manage projects. Dr. Hodges, who ran the mission hospital, spent decades healing the sick and wounded, saving thousands of lives in the process. His family adopted some of the orphaned children and treated them the same as the biological children. He was fascinated by Haitian history and even created a historical museum. He helped train Haitian medical staff. However, he and his family insisted they had to run the hospital -- no matter how educated or dedicated, no Haitian would ever be capable of overseeing the hospital; he was convinced that without him, the hospital would collapse. Most of the foreigners made little effort to really get to know the local population outside of the Haitians that worked for the missionary hospital, school, agricultural center, etc. The people that the author's family and the other missionaries were trying to help were often poor and hungry, which made them understandably short-sighted. The author's father wanted to reforest Haiti and started multiple projects to plant large amounts of trees and get local farmers to recognize the importance of trees, as the trees would help strengthen the soil, producing better crops, and help reduce or prevent soil erosion, which was a major problem. However, faced with hunger and other needs, many of the locals would cut down the trees for firewood and charcoal, which they could sell. When the next big rain came or the next hurricane or earthquake hit, homes, fields, and lives were lost in mudslides.

The most depressing part of the book deals with the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and the failed efforts of the UN and other foreign aid organizations, which often went about recovery efforts in the worst way possible -- not involving the Haitian people in decisions about recovery efforts; shipping in large quantities of foreign donations or purchasing from foreign countries/companies items (food, furniture, etc.) that local farmers or artisans were capable of providing/producing, which meant that the local economy was not stimulated; focusing on projects that would satisfy major donors or would make for good optics (and cutting off assistance to local organizations that would fall into line).

The author and her family, especially her parents, had a dysfunctional and at times very turbulent relationship during the years they were serving in Haiti and the years in between their time in Haiti. The author and her father were both stubborn and opinionated and did not communicate with others in the healthiest way. It has taken years and writing this book for the relationship to start to repair.

My favorite person in the book is probably Zo, who spent a lifetime working to reforest parts of Haiti and not letting obstacles deter him. He loved the land and the trees and he knew that if given the opportunity, the earth could reawaken and the land and trees thrive.

While much of life in Haiti is still bleak and dismal, especially when viewed through Western eyes, the author, as she explores and comes to terms with her relationship with Haiti, especially during her visits back as an adult, describes the beauty of Haiti -- both the natural beauty, as well as the beauty and quiet dignity of the Haitian people. She also discusses what can happen when foreigners actually listen to and uplift Haitians. When she returned to Haiti to report on the earthquake recovery for This American Life, she met up with Dr. Steve James, who had worked at the mission hospital and briefly oversaw it after Dr. Hodges died. He did not like that experience and he instead began working in small clinics where a sense of community was fostered between the staff and there was more participation in decision-making. The dentist at one small clinic was able to do major reconstructive dental work because Haitians, utilizing what was available to make what was needed, had constructed a pressurized drill and water spray operated by a bicycle pump. Dr. James commented to the author that the past few years had been the best years of his time in Haiti because he had gotten to witness and participate in the resourcefulness, resilience, and strength of the Haitian people in solving their own problems. That is a good lesson for all of us, especially when it comes to foreign aid or even aiding local communities other than our own -- we need to utilize the strengths, abilities, and knowledge of the native/local population, providing assistance as needed, but remembering that these people survived for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years without us (where "us" is often Westerners), will continue to survive after we are gone, and likely have things they could teach us and that we would benefit from learning.

I am glad I had the opportunity to read a copy of the e-book via NetGalley.