I have four cousins from Haiti.
One is a missionary in Africa. One is attending West Point.
None of them would be where they are today if it had not been for the love of Uncle Dick and Aunt Dixie in adopting each of them. That love which is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. That love of our Lord who adopted us (Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:5).
Uncle Dick and Aunt Dixie worked as missionaries in Haiti years ago. They raised many children together, including my Haitian cousins. Then Uncle Dick was called home to Heaven. And Aunt Dixie’s love for his memory and for Haiti became Hope in Haiti, an organization that builds schools and sponsors children in rural mountain villages of Haiti.
I’m guessing that Uncle Dick is part of the welcoming committee in Heaven this week for the believers and little ones from Haiti that are crossing Jordan’s shores.
Meanwhile, Aunt Dixie’s is part of coordinating a relief effort to give Hope in Haiti once more.
Has your heart broken this week at the news coverage? Or are you already calloused to the images, deaf to the news broadcasts?
Have you come face to face with how different their reality is from ours? My friend Ashleigh has.
Few of us actually landed in Port a Prince the day before the earthquake. But my friend’s sister did. Annette is right there, to be the hands and feet of hope.
But the hands and feet need the rest of the body. They need us to hold them up in prayer. They need us to hold them up financially. They need us to hold them up by spreading the word. They need us to petition to let adoptive parents bring their children home to the states now.
That is how to give hope to people just like my cousins Micha, Jeremy, Evens, and Jesse. That is how to give Hope in Haiti.
I have a friend who arrived in Haiti to help with GLA a few days before the earthquake. She’s being evacuated back to Canada right now, soon to return to the States again. We are praising God for His protection on those with GLA… and praying with you for those who have lost so much.
Just heard from her… the airport was too much of a mess to get her out so she’s back to GLA for a while. God is sovereign.
Gretchen,
I have spent a lot of time in Haiti and lived there when I was twelve and thirteen. I know people who live there and people who are on there way to help. And of course, my heart is there. I want so badly go and help…but I know that it isn’t God’s will for me at this time. Thank you so much for raising awareness and for praying. Any time I hear of someone else who is praying, it raises my spirits a little. The news is heart-breaking (especially when your recognize places,) but nothing compares to actually being there. I am also just simply excited to hear that you have Haitian cousins! I have Haitian brothers and sisters!
God bless,
Everly
God bless your Aunt. What a dear woman she must be…
P.S We lived in the Duvall area until I was almost 6. I wonder if we were close-to-neighbors at some point?
Wow, I used to live just down the road from GLA! Small world!
E