Hope for Tomorrow Orphanage

James discovered an orphanage in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince during his time in Haiti, and when I came I brought a suitcase full of toys, clothes, sandals, and medicine for the fifteen orphans and abandoned children who live there. The first day we went to visit them and distribute the gifts, I was completely shocked and overwhelmed by the whole experience. The “papa” of the orphanage, Dorleans, is a Haitian man who belongs to the church group that provides the funding for the orphanage. He is a wonderful man who has agreed to care for the children and provide for them with his meager Haitian accountant’s salary. He and his wife live with these kids in a two room hut, and have dedicated their lives to them.

They live in the Carrefour section of Port-au-Prince, a really shady neighborhood that is overcrowded and dirty, just like the rest of Port-au-Prince. Most of the kids at the orphanage have parents, but were left in the hands of Dorleans because their parents cannot afford to feed, clothe, and house them. They live in a dingy, dark, two room building that can best be described as a “hovel”. Three bunk-beds in one room for all 15 of them, and a queen size bed in the living room for the parents and the babies, and this room also doubles as their “school room”, living room, kitchen, and play-room. Outside there is a little porch. This is where the kids have spent most of their lives, and to be honest these kids are probably some of the more lucky ones, kids who have found a home where they are not abused, living on the street, or unable to eat a meal each day.

Despite the hardships of their lives, the kids all seemed energetic and somewhat happy, at least while they were playing. God bless the “mother” of all of these kids. Along with taking care of the three babies she also takes care of the other twelve of them and cooks for all the neighborhood kids once a week. She is a great artist and makes cards, banana bark pictures, and bracelets. She sewed a beautiful tablecloth for me as a present before I left, it depicts scenes of rural Haitian life as well as an outline of the country itself. She is an amazing, amazing woman.

The kids were absolutely adorable and so grateful for everything that we brought. And despite their hard situation and lack of material things, they are just like kids everywhere—always full of laughter, ready with hugs and smiles, and just wanting people to love them and care for them. It’s heartbreaking to see young people affected by poverty and even more heartbreaking to realize that unless an enormous change happens in their lives, they will never know anything except this poverty.

I know my last two posts have been somewhat depressing—but that’s what you get when returning from such a poor country! My next post will be more upbeat, I promise. Pictures from the orphanage to come.
Also-- since I've been back in the States I've been working on a website for the orphanage, so they can collect foreign donations and hopefully get some of the kids adopted to the US. Will post the link when I'm finished with it.