I just returned from Haiti, and I can tell you that your support is needed now more than ever. Before the earthquake in January of 2010, Haiti was already the poorest nation in our half of the world. So you can only imagine the effect that the catastrophe has had on our brothers and sisters there.
Despite the utter devastation, we saw some wonderful things. A baby was born right in the clinic last Friday. Thanks to the pre-natal care her mother had been receiving at the St. Rock clinic, the baby was a robust 8 pounds and perfectly healthy. Unfortunately we also saw children who were malnourished, and suffering from a variety of illnesses that are caused by the unsanitary conditions and the lack of nutritious food and clean water. We also saw adults suffering from diseases such as cholera that simply don’t exist in the United States.
I’d like to tell you one quick story. On our last day in Haiti we took a walk through the mountain jungle with about 25 children accompanying us to see the water project that the Foundation has made possible. We were handing out small toys and candy to the different children as we walked. Just before we began the final descent into the canyon where the project is located, I noticed that the small boy clinging to my hand had not received any candy or toys, while all of the other children had at least a lollipop. I called to my father, who was also on the trip and had the biggest bag of goodies for our walk, to let him know that this little boy hadn’t gotten anything. His name was Berto, and he was 9 years old and had done his very best to be a part of the excitement by keeping a firm grip on my hand during the walk. The reason he hadn’t received any candy was because he had no use of his left arm or hand and he was using his good hand to cling to mine. He also slightly dragged one leg as he walked. My father recognized right away that Berto had cerebral palsy. It was clear that he could not navigate the treacherous and slippery path ahead. But it was also clear that he was going to give it his all so he could experience something that had always been beyond his grasp. So we filled his pockets with candy, and as we carried him down through the canyon with us, it struck me that Berto’s struggle mirrors that of the Haitian people who face the abyss with courage, hope and faith. But just like little Berto, they cannot cross the abyss without our help. It’s not because they don’t have the will or the energy – it’s because they don’t have the means. Unfortunately, Berto is unable to go to school because there is no public education in Haiti and his family has no money for the monthly $10 tuition. He does not have an American sponsor, so while the other kids go to school, Berto sits outside each day waiting for the kids to join him.
$100 would pay an entire school year’s tuition for this little guy. $100 would also pay the salary of his teacher for two months. $100 would also supply his entire family with badly needed vitamins for an entire year.
Today volunteers are outside to sell $100 tickets to the 2nd Annual St. Rock Haiti Auction on January 19th. Each ticket is also entered into the $10,000 Reverse Raffle. As we begin the week leading up to Thanksgiving when we all give thanks for the gifts we have been given by God, perhaps you could reflect that spirit of thanks by purchasing a ticket. I give thanks for the gift that the people of Haiti have given me simply by their dignified and faith-filled endurance and exuberant friendship, and I give thanks to you for anything that you can do to to send a message of hope to these very special people. Thank you. |
