A couple of weekends ago Alix, Roodveens, Samuel and myself went to visit the houses of the potential new students that might be attending our school. I was more of a chauffeur than anything. Roodveens and Alix did the interviews and checked out the houses where the students are living.
I have lived in Haiti for a year now and have seen a lot, but this opened my eyes yet again. I visited some places that I had never been before; I saw some houses that I didn’t know existed. My heart was torn on these days because I had no idea there were people that lived in these conditions.
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.’ Matthew 5:3
During our visits to some of the houses I could not fathom how these people are happy with what they have. They were friendly and very hospitable, graciously offering me a chair to sit on. They are content with what they have. Yes, you could tell that they wanted more. Yes, you could tell that if they could they would move out of the place that allowed a tonne of water in when it rained. Yes, you could tell that they would appreciate more than one bed for their families to sleep on. Yes, you could tell that they would like something better for their children. But this is their reality. I have seen a lot of things in my life, nevertheless, when I left some of the tents cities and concrete villages, where you had to go sideways through just to get to a house, I was saddened. I’m saddened by the fact that over 80 percent of the world lives in poverty much like the living conditions of these people’s houses. Try as I may, this doesn’t come close to describing what I saw and felt.
There are a lot of people in this world that make a lot of money. When much is given then much should be given to those in need in return. And this does happen! Many people who have a lot also donate a lot of money to certain charities throughout the world. I have experienced this not only here in Haiti but also back at home in Canada. And for that I am truly thankful. Adoration Christian Centre has a lot of supporters, a lot of people who are willing to give to this worthwhile cause.
As many of you know, I am a huge sports fan. I follow pretty much any sport and love to keep updated on the latest happenings. I have been watching the money fly from one organization to the other. I have seen athletes sign outrageous contracts and have read about athletes who will hold out because they have not been offered enough money. To see that much money being given to one individual to play a sport for the year and then walk through a tent city and see all of those people that will never make what that one athlete make in one year really hits my heart. This is when I am not sure if people really know what is going on in this world. When one has been given a lot one should give lots in return. I do not know if these athletes give money back to organizations and charities but with that much money I really do hope so. ‘I pray that God would use the situation in Haiti to open eyes to His grace and mercy and that people would open their hearts in response.
Once again we are thankful for the moneys that we receive from our supporters. We are thankful the funds to run our school. At this school our teachers are teaching the children about their relationship with God. While we are teaching we are also focusing on teaching the children that there are four main relationships in our lives that need to be fixed: our relationship with God, our relationship with ourselves, our relationship with others and our relationship with creation. Fixing those relationships is a good way to help those in poverty. (When Helping Hurts is a book that addresses this topic and if you have not read it then I would recommend it) Today I addressed the new parents that would be sending their children to our school and I told them that we are working together, parents and school to help our students. To help them receive a better education, where they can then in return give back to their own communities and help out there. That is why I love working for Adoration Christian Centre.
‘You will always have the poor among you but you will not have me.’ John 12:8
