He's one of the fortunate ones - Haiti, Part 2

This boy is one of the fortunate ones, at least compared to the boy I introduced to you in yesterday's post.  He, too, waits at the Poor House when Ray and Bonnie come to bring food but he has a bowl from which to eat.  He doesn't have to pull up the tail of his shirt and motion for you to spoon the rice and beans into it.  This will probably be the only meal that he has today and he's thankful for the "blanc" (white man) that brings it.  "Merci", he says, "Merci."  Thankfulness is one of the virtues that I saw again and again in the Haitian people.

We weren't there at dark but I presume that this boy sleeps at the Poor House.  If he doesn't, there are other kids that do.  Old men, men with AIDS, and children all together here.  Imagine your child sleeping here.  No, don't.  It's too painful to even imagine.

This is Haiti but still there is hope because of men and women like Ray and Bonnie, people committed to bringing hope to the people that Jesus called  "the least of these." 

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’


“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’


“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 25:34-40


Read more on Monday.