Visiting the Handicap Orphanage

I have thought for a long time about what I should write about this last Orphanage that we went to visit.  I am sure that if I sit and think too long about it, I will lose all hope in truly being able to help them.  A year ago, when I was in Haiti, Francois Mezilien, the founder of the ASHCA or (Haitian Handicap Orphanage) approached Kristen and I and simply asked us for our help.  He told us that when we went back to the United States we needed to tell everyone we knew about his orphanage, because they so very much need help.

I have to say I have seen a lot of progress in around Port au Prince since the Earthquake, and although this progress may seem small to those who have not been, things have gotten better.  Tent cities have been taken down- which I can only hope are gone because those people have found a place to live, and not just the government forcing them out.  Crooked or crumbling buildings have been demolished, and in some places new structures have gone up.  Things are getting better.  But when I walk in to Francois' orphanage I see little, if no change.  Their buildings still stand- unlivable, and unused.  The tents issued to them 2.5 years ago are still standing, and still in use.  A very large tree with roots poking out of the ground runs along the main pathway between tents, making it difficult for wheelchairs to get in and out, and cots and steel frame beds lay exposed to any weather that may come.  This year Francois was not in Haiti when I was, but was in the United States with his wife who had given birth.  It is more difficult to communicate with Francois because he does not know English, and considering he was not there, there was not a whole lot that we could do while we were there.  But I can at least tell you a little bit about what I have seen, and encourage you all to pray about Francois and his orphanage.

The first little boy I would like to tell you about is probably 5 or 6 by now.  I met him in August of 2010, and at that time he was 4.  There is not much known about him, at the time that I met him, they did not know what was wrong with him.  He can not speak, he can not walk, or really do much of anything.  He just sits in his wheelchair, cute as could be, looking at you.  As soon as we got to the orphanage, Collyn immediately began looking for the little boy, and spent the entire time near him.  This boy is special, he is beautiful, and his favorite thing to do is fist bump!  He would go around and around putting out his little fist for everyone to bump.  And then when he got through everyone he would rest his hand for a minute and start over again, going through the crowd, fist bumping, it was so funny!

The next story I want to write about involves Herwine.  She is one of the girls at the GSO, and she came with us to see the children.  I have watched Herwine grow over the past few years, she is one of my closest friends at the Orphanage.  But she is young, and she acts young, she is probably 15 or 16, abandoned by her father when she was only 11.  Dropped off at the GSO with no more than a 'See ya later!'
Earlier in the day, we were at the school waiting around for the bus, and Herwine was playing keep away with some of the younger girls book bags.  That is when one of the boys from our group who was watching what was going on said "Herwine can be kind of mean", and I just kind of agreed and rolled my eyes, knowing how much she loves to tease people.  But later that day when we were at the Handicap orphanage I saw a different side of Herwine, a loving, and tender side.  I was sitting there, watching everyone interact with the kids, taking a few photographs, and Herwine knelt down next to a little girl in a wheel chair and began to sing songs with her.  First a hand clapping song, then a wonderful little song that sang about her ears, nose, lips, and eyes.  It was very touching to see Herwine treat this little girl with such love, and care, when I had seen her tease so many others.  Later that night Juliet asked if we had seen God working through anyone that day, and I had to say Herwine, the way she treated the little girl was beautiful, and I know that Herwine will do great things with children one day.

This orphanage is hard to go to, and even harder to leave. many children in Haiti have been abandoned for one reason or another, but for certain every child there has been abandoned because they were not perfect, or they were too difficult to care for.  The only one who has not abandoned them, are those who care for them at the Orphanage, and to be honest things there are bleak.  They are scraping by, and I guess they will continue to do so, but I struggle everyday wondering what more I could do for them.  Perhaps someday I can do more, or perhaps one of you could so more now.  I don't know.  But Francois is a good man for what he has done, and he needs help, a lot of help!

Francois Mezelien
assoho8ca@yahoo.fr

Many Father's and lots of Love

I am sure that when you think about orphanages you think about children who are parentless, or abandoned, left to fend for themselves. And then in turn children at orphanages are adopted to families around the globe. In Haiti that is not always the case.  At Le Bon Berger (The Good Shepherd) orphanage, a lot of the kids still have parents, and are still in contact with them.  Some families in Haiti are unable to provide for all of their children, and it is common practice to send your child to live with other families, or to live in Orphanages in the hopes that they will have a chance to go to school, and thus have a better future.  This is one of the reasons why Papa Cassey decided his orphanage would not be an adoptable orphanage. 

I am grateful for Papa Cassey’s decision because this means that every time I go to Le Bon Berger I will get to see the same awesome little boys, as I got to see on my previous visits. As it turns out, a chance meeting happened for one couple who came to serve at the Good Shepherd Orphanage, and they fell in love with a little girl named Georgina.  Now Georgina was not a child at the orphanage, but a child of one of the older men that grew up at the orphanage.  George, Georgina’s father expressed his concerns to the couple about not being able to provide for his little girl, and the couple decided they wanted to adopt. 

Considering this was not an option at Le Bon Berger Georgina had to be placed in a different orphanage that would be able to start the adoption process.  In December of 2010 I had the privilege to meet Nasson and tour his orphanage, The Way of Jesus and Green River Pentecostal World Outreach Orphanage.  We decided to take Georgina early one morning before breakfast.  George met us at the O.M.S. and from there it was only a short, rather arduous hike up the side of a steep mountainous hill.  Being a climber I am more than used to sketchy hikes through rocky pathways, but this short climb felt as if it might take us to the top of the world!  The increase in elevation from the Good Shepherd, which is seaside, to the perhaps 2 or 3 mile drive to the O.M.S. seemed slight, but in reality was incomprehensive. When we finally staggered to the gate of the orphanage, covered in sweat and dust, the building was still being built. But Nasson was more than happy to show us around, and take us to the second story where you could see all the way to the ocean, and even make out the general area that the Good Shepherd Orphanage was. He then told us stories of some of the small children he had taken in.  Nasson said in 2007 his wife and him had been considering and praying over the idea of opening an orphanage, and the deciding factor came one day when he was in town running errands.  He had heard through word of mouth that a little child had been literally thrown away in a dumpster, and no one would claim him. Nasson quickly sent someone to ask his wife if he could bring the child home.  At the same time word had reached his wife, that there was a little boy in a garbage can and she immediately sent someone to retrieve the child.  When he learned that his wife had already sent someone to get the child, he knew that starting the orphanage was the right thing to do, and they began to look for other children in need. 

Every time I go to Haiti, I now have 3 orphanages to visit, and although I am sure that Georgina doesn’t remember me, and I will never be in integral part of her life, I will never forget her, and the day her father loved her so much, that he had to let her go.  

On our week long stay, we had the chance to visit this Orphanage twice, and bring them supplies, like little girls underwear, thanks to several people, like Kathleen, Eric, Haslett Community Church, and other friends of the UK Students.  The first time we went, we were able to bring personal goods for Georgina, and also just spend time with the little children.  By the time we had reached the orphanage it was dusk, so we spent our visit sitting in the dark holding little kids that clung to us the minute we walked in the gate.  This trip was especially poignant for me because I got to hold a little baby.  I don't know if it was a boy or girl, the reason it was there, or it's name, but I did find out that it was 6 months old, and weighed approximately that of a new born.  It was so small and quiet, I could not believe it to be 6 months old, but it was capable of holding it's head up, and grabbing me with it's tiny little fingers, and I just sat there in the dark holding this baby as the other little children sang 'Jesus Loves Me' and spun around in circles.