“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
The last two verses of the above passages from the 12th chapter of Romans really stand out when thinking about life in Haiti. These verses in the New Life Translation read; “Be happy in your hope. Do not give up when trouble comes. Do not let anything stop you from praying. Share what you have with Christian brothers who are in need. Give meals and a place to stay to those who need it.”
It is so hard to put into words what the young boy in the attached photo goes through every day, and I will try to help you, so that you will get a better understanding of what his life is like in Haiti. Daniel goes to school at Messif in the southeastern part of Ouanaminthe. Ouanaminthe is located in northeastern Haiti along the border with the Dominican Republic. If the photo looks really dark it is because it was really dark in his corrugated metal school building without any windows; the two doors didn’t permit much light into the two classrooms nor did they enhance any ventilation flowing through the structure on this hot day.
It is safe to say that the clothes that he is wearing are his only clothes, except possibly for his Church clothes. The meal he is eating is his real meal for the day as he shared this with us in the interview following lunch. His favorite meal is beans and rice and that is what he is served at school every day; Daniel is not complaining. When he gives thanks for his daily meal, he really gives thanks for this meal as that is all there is for the day; his prayer doesn’t get interrupted with other thoughts, it is just too important.
Whether you can fully understand his daily hurdles; only you can know. You too are very important to Daniel and also to your Heavenly Father. Your existence is part of His divine plan; your gift is what was needed to feed Daniel and the rest of this School in Ouanaminthe and the other 264 schools that have Trinity HOPE feeding programs. Daniel gives thanks to ‘Bondeye’ and for donors like you who he has never met; but will one day greet you in Heaven.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay