| Often times we are asked why we have an orphanage ministry. You cannot travel to some place like Haiti or Liberia or India and not see the great need for abandoned children to have a safe place to live, food to eat, an eduction and medical help; most important is the need for them to have a Christian home and upbringing.
This is what has taken place at the Jesus Loves Me Home. The children are fed, clothed, educated, brought up as Christians. Prospere and Clotide have done such an excellent job that the Jesus Loves Me Home has built a great reputation among the city of Gonaives and surrounding communities and with Haiti’s Division of Social Services.
One very early morning last June, Clotide was startled by banging on the gate and yelling. She was even more unnerved because they said they were the police and to open up the gate. She hesitantly went to the gate to see what the problem was and why they were calling her and how they knew her name. She was scared.
After a few minutes of discussion and the police peering around Clotide looking at the grounds, a 7th officer came out of the truck carrying a baby. They asked Clotide to take the baby. She said no because she was not equipped to handle another baby. Honestly, she was scared this might be a test to see if she was following procedure. Since the earthquake, new rules have been put in place to keep children from being kidnapped. The police told her they had heard of her and the Jesus Loves Me Home and they knew it was a good place for this baby to be placed and if Clotide didn’t take her, they did not know what would happen. After much talk, Clotide agreed to take the baby. If the baby had a name, the police did not know. Clotide named her Chrissy.
Before the police left, they gave Clotide what information they could. Chrissy did not have a father and her mother was crazy. Chrissy was 11 months old and had never had a home or a bed to sleep in. She was often left on the streets of Gonaives until her mom came back. Chrissy was bloated and had red hair from severe malnutrition, she had several different parasites and scabies. She could sit up but she could not move. Chrissy was one very sick baby. All any of us could was get her to a doctor and pray!
The pictures above: On the left are pictures of Chrissy her first day at the Jesus Loves Me Home. On the right is Chrissy begging for food. It is so sad to see this baby, after a few months at the home, is still ingrained to beg for food.
Today Chrissy is a very vibrant 18 month old. Clotide says Chrissy eats like a 13 year old! When Zane was there in January, Chrissy attached herself to him and was calling him Poppa Zane. She repeated everything he said in English and loved to give him kisses! She showed great displeasure when anyone tried to take her from Zane! She smiles and giggles and walks all over the place.
Chrissy was saved, physically and spiritually. She has been in church since that first day. she is being taught Bible stories and Christian songs. She is learning to pray and praise God! WE pray that she will continue to grow in Christ all over her life, that she will be a leader in her church and her community. We pray Chrissy will be the shining light of Jesus throughout her days. Chrissy’s life saved is only one of many examples of why we do what we do at White Fields.
One last thing…Before the police left that day they told Clotide they knew she was a Christian and they were thankful there were Christian organizations in Haiti to help those in need. The police then asked Clotide if they could pray for her and for Chrissy. They circled around her, prayed for strength for clotide to take care of the baby, the baby’s health, the other children in the home and praising God the children were safe. Now a couple of the officers attend the Primitive Christian Church, where the children attend church. The Orphanage Ministry works hand in hand with the soul winning ministry of White Fields but in a slightly different way!
Below pictures: Left: Chrissy with her Poppa Zane. Right: Chrissy two weeks ago enjoying a big plate of food!
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