Hard Things

*all pics of orphans removed from post per request*

This morning I was in the bathroom getting ready when Loumy came in complaining about a sore on his wrist. We had covered it with a bandaid earlier but for some strange reason four-year-old boys are not known for keeping themselves excessively clean, so his sore looked like it was festering a bit and was hurting him. As I put on Neosporin and a clean bandaid he looked up at me and asked very seriously and sadly, "Mom, why do all hard things have to happen to Haitians?" I was shocked for a second and then I thought I might cry. "I don't know bud," I finally responded with a sigh. "I've asked myself the same question a thousand times."

Last week my sister, Kathy, went to Haiti for the first time. I was sad not to be going with her but was so glad she was able to go. She works for Wasatch International Adoptions, so she went with Chareyl to do adoption stuff and also she and Chareyl were able to do some things for Haitian Roots. We have added a new, amazing Haitian coordinator, whom I'm SO excited about (but will save details for another post). We are also adding 20 new children, so we are hoping to send 135 children to school this year. Our fundraising is only about 1/3 of the way there for the year so please feel free to spread the word about Haitian Roots and the need for education in Haiti to end the poverty cycle.

Anyway, Kathy has always been supportive of Haitian children, but of course she is even more passionate about it now. She is a very giving and loving person and has special ties to Bulgaria and China, as well. I was worried about Kathy because I love Haiti so much and I want everybody that I know to love it to and care about it like I do so when somebody is "meeting" Haiti for the first time I always pray that their hearts will be touched. I have rarely seen somebody come back with a passive reaction for Haiti. Most of those I've known have one of two reactions: 1. Either they are so horrified and disturbed by the whole situation that they can't wait to get out and never have a desire to go back (even if they feel compassion and would still like to help); or 2. Something gets into their blood and they are forever changed. Its like an addictive chemical that makes you crave Haiti fortnightly. Luckily I know that Kathy is now hooked to Haiti forever.

The addiction usually only takes place after experiencing a lot of "hard things". Here are a some of them:
*lots of needy orphans!

*lots of garbage! these dumpsters were donated by Unicef but nobody manages or uses them.*lots of poverty
*lots of rain! a short rainstorm in Haiti can mean a lot of destruction. Hurricanes are devastating.
*lots of sick babies

* And then there was the hardest thing of all...FALLING IN LOVE WITH JTI think I'll do a separate post about gorgeous JT.

So, now you ask, with all of these "hard things", why would one ever want to go to Haiti, why would you want your sister to fall in love with the place, and why in the world do you feel like it is your second home and the place where half of your heart belongs? Hm...I guess you'll just have to come to Haiti with me some time and find out!