But you see the trouble and the distress, and you will do something.The poor can count on you, and so can orphans.~ Psalm 10:14 (Contemporary English Version)
Below is a personal account from Dr. Mark Ottenweller, who is coordinating HOPE worldwide's disaster relief and Volunteer Corps efforts in Haiti.The generosity of churches and individual disciples has enabled HOPE worldwide to provide food, water, shelter, medical care and counseling to over 500 Haitian disciples and their families since the earthquake on January 12, 2010. Vocational training and job creation in construction have begun and plans for a desperately needed community medical clinic in Port-au-Prince are in process. In addition, volunteers have reached out in compassion to teach, mentor and be a friend to children orphaned by this disaster.
M ap sonje ou, M ap priye pou ou. (I will miss you. I will pray for you.)
By Dr. Mark Ottenweller
A few weeks ago, thirteen volunteers and I sat in a tent with some of the 80 poorest and most neglected children on earth – orphans living at the Cadre D’Action pour le Developpement (C.A.D.) orphanage in Ganthier, Haiti. Many were suffering from scabies, diarrhea and all sorts of parasites.
As I sat there I thought about the words we were teaching them in English, French and Creole. I said to them, “I will miss you. I will pray for you.” The children repeated those phrases and then it struck me...they had never heard those words nor had they uttered them to anyone. You could see it in their eyes. Then I experienced an “a-ha” moment. We are here to show them something they have never experienced or knew about -how God cares about each of them.
You can give these children food, clothing, medicine and shelter...but they crave love. They want what we provide for our children – love, respect, appreciation and validation of their worth. That’s what the HOPE worldwide volunteers are bringing to Haiti - lots of it.
This first HOPE worldwide Haiti Volunteer Corps was life-changing for the volunteers, the local HOPE worldwide team and the orphans. We taught English, math, health, science, art and dancing (or at least our dance moves). Plus, we had plenty of fun art projects and parties.
We had several great Bible lessons with the orphans. One afternoon the volunteers shared Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It was awesome.
The volunteers were the real heroes. Despite the heat, the bugs, bucket showers and sleeping on the ground, no one complained. Instead, for one week they gave their hearts and souls to the children. What a difference they made! Each day the sun, the stars, and children’s faces got brighter and brighter.
As we prepared to leave, I have never seen so much crying. Through their tears, these beautiful children verbalized those words they had never said to anyone. “We will miss you. We will pray for you. We love you.” With sincere hearts they replied, “We will miss you. We will pray for you. We love you.”
Please pray with us, for the poor, and the fatherless of Ganthier, Haiti, and others like them all over the world.
