Friday, January 15th, 2010
Every picture tells a story
I’m paging through the posts and photos from Real Hope For Haiti Rescue Center, operated by the Zachary extended family. I received my online introduction to them from my son Abraham.
The Zacharys have been in Haiti since 1994. In the best of times which are never very good in Haiti, RHFH houses about 60 children who are sick and suffering from severe forms of malnutrition. A scroll through old posts shows before and after photos of some children now healthy and smiling and and other sad photos of little caskets for children who couldn’t be saved.
Now, times are far from the best. How do you find or make formula for the babies when the supply runs out? Will the visiting US pastor be able to get out of the country? With each aftershock, what will comfort 60 terrified children? Will their long-time coworker find his mother alive? Where will they find gas for their vehicle?
They have posted a number of photos taken in Port au Prince, some distance from the center. Some pictures in particular grab me and say: Every person here has a story. Each has her own pain or his own fear. These are not masses of millions. They are persons, one by one–persons frightened and grieving.
This is one picture that makes me want to beg for the story. What is his name? Where was he when the earthquake struck? What is is injury and how bad is it? Where is his mother–is she still alive or is she trapped nearby? Who will help him?
Who will bring hope to his dazed eyes? May God help him.
In addition to the children who are being cared for at the center, people are coming there from the city to try to get help. This requires more than ordinary resources for a ministry that already works on a tight budget. Please consider helping financially; there are easy links at their website for making a donation.
8 Responses to “Every picture tells a story”
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I appreciate your mention of the terrifying aftershocks to these children. I was 16 when southern California was hit with a massive earthquake, we were evacuated from our home, and slept outside at a high school some distance away in paper sleeping bags distributed by the American Red Cross. Nothing was worse then the emotional torment each aftershock brought, especially if indoors. I can remember it as though it was yesterday, and it was Feb 1971. These same questions are on my heart and in my prayers. Thank you for letting us all know of work there in place.
We lived in Pasadena in 1971 and experienced the same earthquake there. From your description, you must have been nearer the epicenter. For us it was a few books knocked off the shelf and the refrigerator walking across the kitchen. But I do remember the start reflex with each aftershock.
Noel, I too have an image in my mind. I haven’t watched a lot of the TV footage, but the other day on CNN I saw an image of a 20-something man carrying around a very young boy wearing a blue shirt. The boy was no older than 5…he looked dazed, limp and the man was holding a blood soaked t-shirt to his little head. I immediately cried and prayed for him…since then I’ve been thinking of “The boy in the blue shirt”, wondering what became of him. What a comfort to know that Jesus DOES know each and every one of these stories — that he is shedding tears for them, “collecting them in a bottle”.
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[...] January 16th, 2010What is his story? updateI didn’t know the story of the boy in the picture. Today I know just a little more. But even he doesn’t remember his name.Leave a Comment (0) [...]
Thank you for sharing! I just can’t seem to stop crying and praying. But that is a good thing I guess…I would rather continue to cry if it will draw me to my knees! On the same site is a picture of a little baby girl getting stitches on her forehead, her eyes closed. Why is she seemingly calm? Is she sleeping, unconscious? I too have thought the same thoughts. Is she ok, where are her parents God comfort these little ones, make your presence known to these !
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Dear Mrs. Piper,
I just came across this blog post as I, too, was going through older pages at RHFH. Thank you so much for sharing this ministry through your blog. I’ve been praying for the children in the photos, too, and looking for a way to help. Our little church already gave money to another ministry in Haiti, and our family decided to donate to Heartline in PAP, but I just couldn’t leave RHFH out. My oldest daughter and I are making pillowcase dresses for the rescue center now. Such a tiny, tiny thing – but may the Lord Jesus use it to care for these little ones.