The kids are writing sponsorship letters to their supporters.
This is something they do at least once a year and they really like to do it.
This time we’re asking them to write about the earthquake.
It gives the letters a focus and the kids have a chance to share something personal with their sponsors.
Those of you who are supporters, you’ll have to wait until July to receive your letter, but I want to give the kids a voice & share a few of them with you now.
Those of you who are not supporters… email me and I’ll assign you one of the kids that still needs a sponsor, we have several!!
Boaz Moline (with his little sisters):
Boaz is the son of a H2H teacher, Amos.
He is also my neighbor and he and his 2 sisters hang out in my yard whenever possible.
“…when the earthquake hit I was sitting in my house. I was watching t.v. with my friends when I walked into the dining room and heard a loud noise. I ran outside. Everyone was yelling “Jesus”. I yelled too. My mom wasn’t there. I kept calling for her. It wasn’t until evening that I found out she was killed. I cried so much. She was everything to me. Since then my dad has been doing his best to care for us, and help us grow up. Thank you because you have chosen to be my supporter.”
Boaz’s mom (Amos’ wife) was killed in Leogane.
She was pregnant and in Leogane seeing a doctor.
Our driver, Enorck, searched for her body for 2 days before finding it… it was in a dump truck, with dozens others, on its way to a mass grave.
They brought her body back to Grand Goave and buried it.
Hers was one of the few bodies we were able to recover.
Boaz’s house did not fall but it was damaged enough that they cannot sleep in it.
They are sleeping under a tarp in their yard.
Ketteline Honorat:
Ketteline lives at H2H and is my sister-in-law now.
She is very shy but always willing to help out when asked.
She washes clothes for the younger kids and sweeps the yard every morning.
“…when the earthquake started I was in the dining room eating. I felt the shaking and ran out. As soon as I ran out the dining room collapsed. A brick fell on my foot but I was not injured. I have a brother, Keke, that was killed. It was God’s will. I will continue to pray for you. Thank you for your help and support.”
Ketteline doesn’t like talking about the earthquake or losing her older brother and when she wrote this letter she took the paper to her tent to write it in private.
Despite being short, this letter was very difficult to write and contains a piece of her heart that isn’t shared with many people.
Donami Sanon (with his little brother Eliyou):
Donami is the energizer bunny of the compound.
He doesn’t sit still for more than a few seconds at a time and he usually has his little brother, Eliyou, trailing behind him.
“…when the earthquake started I was in the kitchen washing the dinner pots. I ran and dropped the pots on the ground. The propane tanks fell and blocked my path. A girl, Samantha, came and helped me. I was very scared. I cried. Yesterday (May 12th) we had an aftershock. I don’t want to go inside buildings.”
This letter really affected me.
I knew there were several kids in the kitchen and dining room but hearing Donami recount his experience made me realize again how close we came to losing so many of our kids.
It also took me back in time and I remember what it was like the first few weeks after the earthquake… people survived because people helped each other.
Donami got out of the kitchen before it fell because Samantha (a deaf girl who lives with us as well) cared enough about him to help him… I can’t even imagine how scary it was for Samantha.
Writing and translating these letters have been a long process, and I’ll be honest, it’s been draining on me emotionally.
I knew most of the kid’s “stories” already, as I experienced the earthquake with them, but some of them still brought me to tears.
We have had several weeks since there’s been an aftershock and you’d think that would have a calming effect on me… I was calm through the initial earthquake and the months that followed but now every truck that drives by makes my heart skip a beat.
Last week I was showering and a dump truck drove down my little street.
I was positive it was the next “big one” and I ran out of the shower… luckily I didn’t make it out of the house before my good sense kicked in.
