Restoring Hope Child And Community

As I stacked concrete block, unsheltered from the scorching sun, I longed for air-conditioning, shade, or a cold drink of water! I was helping to build a small concrete block house about the size of a one-car garage for a single mother and her children. By the third morning, my tenacity had faded. Overcome by heat, I quietly snuck into the tent for rest. Somehow, it was just as hot inside the tent. I lay down, closed my eyes, and prayed for relief. That afternoon, the sky opened up and the rain poured down. I do not know how to explain the vast quantity of water that fell from the sky. I was doubtful the local family's stick and tarp shack would remain standing. My team's camping tent was luxurious by comparison. For one thing, the lined tent floor remained dry. Everyone but the children climbed in.

The kids shed their clothes and danced in the rain. Though I, of course, remained clothed and lacked the energy to dance, I joined them outside. The cool drops of relief rolled down my overheated shell. I was more thankful for that rain than I can explain.

Finally able to think about anything aside from my own exhaustion, I noticed that the shack's dirt floor had become a mud puddle. The mother had collected the few items the family owned and hung them in a plastic grocery bag hitched to one of the sticks that masqueraded as a wall stud. Yes, you read that correctly. All of their possessions, aside from the clothes on their backs, fit in a plastic grocery bag.

This is just a peek into my experience and the life of the average person in Beaudois, Haiti. I share this experience with you in hope that you will understand the value of the services Restoring Hope, Child and Community (RHCC) provides to the people of Beaudois. RHCC provides financial support to pay teachers and feed students. RHCC continues to build homes. They send medical teams at least twice a year. They provide scholarships for students to go to the city to provide professional training. They provide solar power and laptops for the school. They bring the love and hope of the family of Jesus Christ. They share the story of Beaudois to friends and family in the United States with a heart for the hopeless.