I would love to tell you that my time in Haiti was a good, but the fact is there is still a huge need there. Especially in the area of the children. We did perform our normal mission work which was to educate the Haitian clinicians on new techniques, help do clinic improvements and implement a new telemedicine portal. However, we also like to visit the different orphanages to see if we can help meet some of their needs. It is also nice to just visit with the kids. We went to this one orphanage that would just break your heart in two. Evidently anyone can pick up some kids on the street, take them home and then call themselves an orphanage. That is exactly the scenario with this one orphanage. The problem is that the person running it uses the kids as a way to get food and money. Long story short, our friend, Laura Schick, RN is helping to make sure the kids are fed and money is spent on the children.
It’s a real sad situation in Haiti when it comes to the children. There is an 80 percent unemployment rate because there is no industry or jobs. This leaves families with the difficult task of finding their next meals. Sometimes, for the sake of the child, they have to give them up to an orphanage. Sometimes the children are just abandoned on the streets. Either way there is a continued need for support. I am not a big fan of giving a man a fish. I would rather teach them to fish and provide for themselves. However, the children are innocent bystanders and have no real control over their care. I was glad to have seen what I have seen because it makes me aware of the dire need of the Haitian people and their children. I know that I can’t save them all, but I sure as heck can help save a few. That is really my focus. Just save the ones that I can save and pray for the rest. This reminds me of a scripture in Mathew 25:34-40 NIV
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
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.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’