51 children call this home.
They call each other family, and Smith and Katia, "Momma and Poppa".
They live behind tall concrete walls topped with barbed wire.
They rarely leave.
Their bedrooms are concrete, metal and foam. No AC.
They share clothes and use this as a closet.
Bathrooms are a community experience.
Everything, in fact, is a community experience.
5 nannies cook three meals a day in this "Haitian" kitchen.
Endless streams of laundry are washed in the "laundry room".
The "pantry" stores rice, beans and cans of powdered milk.
With the help of the older girls, nannies prepare one glass of powered milk for each child, each day.
The kids eat every bite given, without complaint, from large metal bowls.
There are no choices.
Large containers of potable water and two shared metal cups serve as the "water fountain".
The older boys, and orphanage host parents, Mr and Mrs. Noelle,
run the "Bread of Life" bread making business on the orphanage grounds.
People (in this case, a woman with a basket on her head),
walk up to a window to make a purchase.
walk up to a window to make a purchase.
(So happy to know that our church helped
kick start this business through a donation.)
kick start this business through a donation.)
The kids all make clay pottery to sell, and find great pride in their work.
Most pieces are a community effort.
We did a prayer walk through the orphanage,
praying over each room.
I shed tears for what they don't have, and for what my kids do have.
These kids are the blessed ones of Haiti.
They are safe and off the streets.
Three meals a day are guaranteed, as is a roof over their heads.
Unlike most Haitian children, they can go to school.
I shed tears for these kids, but I also shed tears for mine.
These kids have found joy despite extreme circumstances and sparse living conditions.
They know that joy doesn't come from things.
They share everything, and live in full community all the time.
It is just how they live.
They love, hug, hold hands, and sit closely.
They do intricate drawings and paper weaving.
They are creative.
They sing and dance.
They play soccer and breath fresh air.
They do intricate drawings and paper weaving.
They are creative.
They sing and dance.
They play soccer and breath fresh air.
Big kids watch out for little kids, and little kids learn from big kids.
The Lord is their hope.
In a very real way, He is their provider.
I want what they have.
We want our kids to have what they have.
We want our kids to have what they have.
6 comments:
first of all, that pottery is amazing! wow!
we noticed so much of what you are saying when we were in Ethiopia. people were so happy despite having so little. i guess God's upside-down kingdom can be crazy like that. :)
hugs
Definitely joy is there and in your heart as you look back. XOXO
So wonderful to know that these kids have joy regardless of their circumstances. It shows the strength of the human spirit and the depth of God's love for all of mankind. It is wonderful to read about your trip through the blog with the pictures. I thought of asking you to tell me about it while we are together, but decided that this is the best way to learn about the trip, since you are able to think and process how and when you'd like to tell.
Also very similar in Uganda. It is easy to "feel sorry for them" because they have so little. But for many, it is all they have ever known, and they never take anything for granted. Some of us (myself included) could learn a great lesson from that!
WOW.....I have been enjoying reading your posts about Haiti, but wow. This one is just so....I'm not sure the word. I cannot imagine how it must be to see this in person, because it's pretty impacting and perspective changing just in reading the blog post.
Beautiful......and so hopeful while being so incredibly difficult to fathom.
Thanks for sharing!
again, beautiful
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