The old expression, “out of sight, out of mind” is applicable to the present situation in Haiti. Just because it seems there is more need in this world than could ever be met, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try our best. I received this email from one man who is doing his best. The desperation he expresses compelled me to share:
Dear Friend,
Thank you for your interest in the fight on poverty in Haiti. This
year, Haiti suffered one of the most destructive earthquakes in
history. Over a quarter of a million people lost their lives. Hundreds
of thousands more are homeless, hungry and still months later, require
urgent medical attention.
In the aftermath of the quake, our friends around the world were very
generous with their response. But now that the media has packed up its
cameras and gone home, many Haitians are afraid they have been
forgotten. This fear is understandable as conditions in Haiti seem
incorrigible and the suffering is unending.
The earthquake has crushed an already fragile infrastructure,
preventing the flow of food and supplies throughout the country.
Because roads and bridges have been destroyed, humanitarian aid is
held up at the epicenter and capital city, Port au Prince. Ironically,
many people evacuated Port au Prince and fled to rural parts of the
country where distribution of supplies is next to impossible. One such
rural location is home to our main property, Hope Village, in Les
Cayes. At Hope Village, we provide housing to over 800 children,
education to almost 3,000 students and meals to thousands more. Les
Cayes has been flooded with refugees, seeking shelter since the
disaster. You can't imagine the chaos that we have seen in the
last few months. We face many new challenges every day.
We have come a long way since 1998, when we began our mission of
helping homeless Haitian children. The problems we've
encountered over the years were many. We have made enormous progress
in providing shelter, food, education and medical care to thousands of
impoverished Haitians. We've survived hurricanes, outbreaks of
malaria, typhoid and TB. We've seen times when food and gas
prices were so inflated that many had to go without meals, sometimes
for days. We've seen desperate mothers baking dirt cookies, so
that they could offer their children food when there was none.
Our latest cross is in the form of record-breaking homelessness and
poverty, as a result of earthquake destruction. Every day we face
enormous challenges as a consequence of the disaster. I suppose after
12 years, some might think we would be accustomed to these conditions
by now. I will never become desensitized to the cry of a frightened
child, whose family members are all missing. We must continue to do
what God has called us to do - to bring comfort where so many
suffer daily.
There are many ways that you can help us with these tremendous
challenges. In the coming months, you will receive newsletters from us
with updates on our progress, as well as ongoing challenges we face.
It is vital to our success here, that you spread the word of our
mission so that more people can get involved and help the poor and
suffering of Haiti.
We are grateful that you have decided to get involved so that we can
have an even greater impact on these, the least of my brothers and
sisters.
God bless,
fr marc signature
Fr. Marc Boisvert
***************
From the desk of
Fr. Marc Boisvert
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