Friday, February 1, 2008

Hope

Haiti is the poorest country on the Western Hemisphere. Things that you and I take for granted - food, clean water, an emergency room, roads, electricity, toilets, police - are things to which some Haitians will never have access. People there live in abject poverty, poverty so severe, that they would give up their children if it meant they would have a chance at a better life. Their pain, their sacrifice are what have placed 60 amazing boys and girls at Hope for the Children of Haiti. And their parents' wish has been granted: those children do have a better life.

When we walk in the streets of Bolosse, our children are the best dressed. Their clothing is usually not torn and it generally fits them correctly. Instead of chewed up sandals, our boys wear sneakers or cleats to play soccer. They live in a home where they have plumbing and running water more than half the time. They get to go to a private school that is equipped with chalkboards, books, pens, notebooks, and sturdy desks. Three times a day, they get a meal placed in front of them. On school days, they each receive a morning snack of crackers or popcorn. When they are sick, nannies accompany them to the doctor's or stay overnight with them at the hospital. 7 janitors protect them from potential threats in the street. They even have CD players, a television, and a playstation.

But more than that, the children have hope. They have hope because they know that they have friends and sponsors who will see them through secondary school and who will support them into the career that suits them. They have hope because they know that the family of brothers, sisters, nannies, teachers, aunts, and uncles of HFC will be there for them. They have hope because they believe that they are not alone: God is with them and always will be. That is the greatest difference between the HFC children and their friends in the street. When our children think of the future, they have hope. "And hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit." (Romans 5:5)

1 comment:

Liberty said...

God is so faithful! It blesses me to tears to hear that these children have such an abundance of care. Growing up in a christian girls orphanage myself I know what a blessing that is. Even though I wasn't in the poorest country I was one of the most severely neglected girls they had ever had brought to them. I am thankful for Jehovah Jireh and I pray that each one of these children can be adopted into a loving, christian family.