Conflict

This afternoon we got to go visit Pastor Dari and his wife who run a children's home for children with special needs.  In Haiti where life is complicated and families will often find the task of providing for the basic needs of families a difficult task, there is a cloud surrounding the treatment and care of those who have special needs.  Often ostracized in the culture and at times abandoned in childhood, those with special needs can have a difficult time getting access to the support they need.  I've heard some people say that Haitians sometimes attribute disabilities to voodoo and use this as a reason to mistreat those who most need help.

We went to visit Pastor Dari's home to take photos of the children to start a sponsorship program in order to get the children access to schooling and to help care for their medical needs.  It was a short visit of taking photos and writing down names and ages and medical needs for each child.  I wish we could have spent the whole day with these sweet little ones, showing them the love and attention that they have not always known in their short lives.  

My friend Amber, who is partnering with Pastor Dari, explained that most of the children have very traumatic histories.  One of the youngest children who recently joined the home was in a little walker when we entered the gate.  She explained that he was rescued from a trash can.  It's enough to make your heart break as you hold his little hand and think of the beauty and value of this life.  Your heart breaks as you think about the mothers and fathers and families and communities who believe that they can't care for such precious little ones.  It makes me so thankful for people like Pastor Dari and his wife who are confronted with a need and step out in love and faith to meet it.  

One of the reasons that we weren't able to stay for a longer visit is because of the landlord of the current property where the children are staying.  Since special needs and disabilities are not understood or respected here, it has been difficult for Pastor Dari to find a stable home situation for the children.  The current landlord recently moved back onto the property and is trying very hard to get the children to move out.  I was told that he has taken to walking around the property carrying his gun just to intimidate the children and nannies who are caring for them.  He has even refused the admit visitors onto the property recently.  With this kind of conflict, Pastor is again searching for a place for the children to call home.  

We took the Pastor and his wife to look at a new home they are hoping to start renting in the next few weeks. It looked like it would suit their needs well, as soon as some repairs can be completed.  The landlord has even been very welcoming about the fact that they would be caring for children with special needs on the property.  It all felt very encouraging and hopeful on the drive over to the house.  

As we wandered from room to room and around the yard, we started to hear shouting.  The Pastor and his wife had gotten into a heated discussion with a neighbor who overheard talk about the possibility of a children's home moving into the neighborhood.  He was shouting and threatening them and saying that he would call the police to come and send them away if they tried to move the children onto the property.

I couldn't help but feel discouraged.  Just when it seemed like they had found a good situation with a welcoming landlord and a comfortable facility to care for the needs of the children, now another point of conflict has arisen.  And so, I'm writing this blog to ask for you to pray.  Please pray for Pastor Dari and his wife to have courage and wisdom in their search for a new home and to continue in the grace and compassion they have been showing towards these children.  Please pray for the hearts of these little ones to be soft and trusting of those who are trying to care for them now.  Please pray for the practical needs like medication and clothing and food.  And please pray for the truth of the gospel to break into this situation so fraught with conflict.  

Before we said goodbye, we gathered together and the children sang a few songs for us.  One little boy with a particularly handsome little smile has taken on the role of "song leader."  His little voice echoes in my mind as I write, "This is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it..."  

Thank you for following along on this summer in Haiti.  If you're interested in learning about ways to get involved in supporting Pastor Dari and his work with these children, their information should be online at the Don Shire Ministries site sometime this fall: http://www.donshireministries.org/sponsor.html. 

Much love in Christ, Jessie