On Feb. 21, a four-member delegation of the Life Center Tabernacle of Hamilton traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti on a four-day diagnostic mission to Notre Maison Orphange.
The principal purpose of the mission was to deepen relationship with the orphanage. The delegation also desired to ensure the orphanage had access to basic necessities, with the goal of returning to Hamilton to formulate a plan to conduct a second visit to Haiti, which would engender change.
Several years ago, Gertrude Bien-Aime, director of Notre Maison Orphanage, commenced her work of caring for children with special needs in Haiti. As time passed, the government began to request of Gertrude to accommodate and care for more children at the orphanage. Today, the orphanage is a busy, bustling place, where children live, grow, and learn. They are provided with a home, food, friends, family and an education.
According to the national statistics of Haiti, an estimated 10 percent of the population (roughly 800,000 people) are disabled. Of these 800,000 people with disabilities, the number of disabled children remains unknown. However, taking into consideration that the population of Haiti is young, with approximately half under 20-years old, the possibility exists that more than 400,000 children and young adults may be disabled. At Notre Masion Orphanage, an estimated 80 percent of the children are incapacitated with severe challenges or have no ability to take care of themselves and require complete care. Many of these children were abandoned by parents incapable of providing and caring for them.
On the first day of the mission, the delegation was given a tour of the orphanage and was left bewildered with their encounter, a shocking reality of the true significance of being disabled or incapacitated. There were quarters for infants or toddlers that contained five or six cribs that had babies. It was on this occasion the delegation met 2-year old Sarah and 16-month old Bradley. Both cannot speak or walk. There were also other quarters for girls and boys that were divided according to ages.
The second day of the mission was the most difficult day the delegation experienced. We were given the opportunity to assist the staff at the orphanage by tending to the needs of the children who were unable to go school. We assisted in feeding, providing therapy and helping the kids walk in order for them to build their leg muscles. The feeding experience was very difficult because there were kids who were unable to chew or swallow due to not having any muscles in their throats. Additionally, there were kids who were wheelchair bound, blind and without the ability to talk.
After having this type of experience, it was even more daring to imagine working all day at the orphanage to provide the best life possible for these children. With many limitations and constraints, the staff performs tremendously, particularly recognizing that the ratio of kids to nanny is not enough to provide the proper care needed for many of these children. Nevertheless, Gertrude and her staff are dedicated to working with their limited resources to care for these children.
On the third day, the emotion of it all was surreal, and the orphanage appeared more conflicting. The questions and inquiries regarding life’s choices became more perplexed, especially that decision of whether to save some of the children because of the severity of their disability and the quality of their lives. It was incomprehensible, but in life’s journey there is always the reminder that God is in control. Undeniably, those kids were saved for a reason, because with God anything and everything is possible.
Reflecting on the mission’s experience, all the glory is given to God for making the members of the delegation a vessel for higher purpose. Additionally, appreciation is extended for God-sent angels amongst us and in the midst, such as Gertrude—someone who has the ability to envision life’s greater purpose and dedicate herself to accomplish the objective. Indeed, Notre Maison Orphanage is a living testimony of the power of God.
My prayer is that through my lens you can see the need to help this orphanage. My prayer is that with your help Gertrude can afford to hire additional staff, get better therapy equipment, and get more medical help for these children.
Antonia James is a Hamilton resident. For more information on Hamilton-based Life Center Tabernacle, go online to lifecentertabernacle.com.
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