Post on Wesleyan Church Dept. of Communications

Missionaries Write Book to Benefit Haitians’ Health

Nov. 15, 2010

The Cholera epidemic hit Haiti near the end of October. Around that same time, Dr. Kris and Cory Thede, Global Partners missionaries with The Wesleyan Church, self-published a book with hopes to educate Haitians in various ways.

Konsey Pou Viv Pi Byen (Creole for Advice for Living Better) offers agricultural, medical, and spiritual education to its readers.

“Through spiritual, medical, and agricultural education we feel we can assist the Haitian Christians to better reach their own people and others with the love of God,” says Dr. Thede, who has served in Haiti with her husband and two children for 12 years. “The [January 12] earthquake reminded me as a first responder on how little the average Haitian knows about health and first aid.”

The book explains medical advice such as emergency care, prevention of injury and sickness, home remedies, signs and symptoms of life-threatening diseases, and ways to live a healthier life via water treatment, nutrition, and gardening tips. According to Dr. Thede, “each book contains the potential for a big impact in the home, community, and church as folks learn how to improve their health.” This is highly important since many Haitian houses “generally have eight or more people living in it.”

While medical advice is comparable to gold in a poor country like Haiti, the Thedes realize that spiritual health is ultimately most important. One section of the book outlines the plan of salvation and also offers Scripture about good health. Hundreds of copies have already been printed for Haitians.

Yet, good spiritual and physical health also benefit the other.

“We pray this book will assist the Haitian people to live healthy spiritual and physical lives,” says Kris. “Healthier people work better for the kingdom of God.”

A children’s version of the book has also been produced. This 40-page book includes first aid information, healthy living tips, and care for sick children.