Hamilton/Loween Day 2

Hunger

 

Matthew 25:35-36

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

After a day of traveling and trying to get some rest in the heat and restlessness that is Haiti; we woke up to the most magnificent cup of coffee on the planet. Today’s agenda had changed many times since arriving here at Haiti with the final plan of visiting the Home for Sick and Dying Babies and Papillion Enterprises/ Apparent Project. Despite its’ name; the Home is a hospital and place of hope for desperate parents. The nuns that work and live at the Home are truly working miracles on the very sick babies – the most common illnesses being: mumps, tuberculosis, AIDS, cholera, etc. Thanks to these nuns, most of the babies get to go home.

We were prepared to expect a very long line of parents holding sick babies upon our arrival – nothing could really prepare for that sight. Parents sit by the gate waiting for their chance to have their sick child admitted. There are only so many beds and nurses available, but the Home does everything they can to make sure that they see as many children as possible. The Home does not ask for donations – they firmly believe that God will provide everything they need. Now that’s what I call faith! The craziest thing is that they really have been provided for. No coincidence there.

Our team split up into the two rooms - my group going into the older babies room. As we walked in babies surrounded us with their arms in the sky just hoping to be picked up. The first baby I picked up brought me to tears within seconds. Trying to compose myself, all of the bug spray and sunscreen ran into by eyes making the situation worse, and my eyes redder. The baby just stared at me like I was crazy. Needless to say I tried to shape up real quick after that. We spent the afternoon loving on the babies, changing diapers, bedding and eventually feeding them (what an experience that was). Hunger effects people in different ways. For the babies it was physical – for us it was spiritual; hungry to do more, to help in any way that we could. When you pick up a baby that looks to be a couple months old, but in reality is really 2, your chest does a funny thing - it tightens, and aches, and truly hurts.

 

Silently getting back into our Tap Tap, we tried to transition into the afternoon spent at Papillion Enterprises/ Apparent Project.

The Apparent Project was started by one woman with a heart to help. She came to Haiti to adopt a child, but when she arrived, she discovered that the child was not an orphan – the parents were unable to care for the child financially.  She decided to start something to help the parents who were forced into this decision of giving up their child. She hired Haitians to create amazing art/jewelry/crafts, and provided free childcare for every employee who worked there. Not only is there childcare, but there is preschool as well. Needless to say, our team put a dent in the gift shop t0day, knowing that the money creates opportunities, which creates jobs, which creates stable families, which creates more opportunities. Hundreds of lives changed by this project, which has now turned into an Enterprise and thriving company.

This trip is fueled by hunger. An unfortunate hunger within the people here; but an ever-burning hunger by organizations like Healing Haiti who are determined to do everything they can. Can’t wait to see where the rest of this week takes us!

Brianna