Even with so many students we are always surprised at how orderly the young people are as they gather in an outside common area (the basketball court) during their periodic testing weeks. They seem to know where they are to sit and they listen attentively to Bishop Francoise as she gives directions for the exams.
What we were unprepared for on this occasion were the faces of the parents as they stood near CONASPEH's entrance gate watching their children. Almost instantly tears sprang to my eyes because what I saw so clearly on their countenance was hope. Despite the school's Scholarship Fund these parents still sacrifice for their children's education in a way the majority of us cannot imagine. With an average income of US $2.00 a day most families spend 80% of their income on school tuition and do so willingly because they believe education is the key to a better life for their kids. Sometimes the face of hope can be so powerful it brings tears to your eyes.
We learned a long time ago an expression from Habitat for Humanity founder, Millard Fuller, who used to say, "It's not coincidence, it's God-incidence", whenever something happened that could not be explained. We experienced such a revelation last week when a dental team ended up not going to a designated clinic but instead to a church and its community. Dentists are like gold in Haiti and whenever these doctors bring their skills to a neighborhood the word gets out fast and soon patients are lined up.
Dr. Mike told us he knew it was not a coincidence when he and his wife, Nina, and other team members went to the church because there he met a 20-year-old young woman who was in great pain as well as malnourished because she was unable to eat. As he examined her, Dr. Mike found a mouth full of infection and decay and spent several hours extracting 18 teeth (allowing the woman periodic breaks). Nina said the young person could have died if she had not received this unplanned dental care and antibiotics. If you don't think hope saves lives, talk to a Kansas City dentist.
It is Hope that has kept us in the mission field all these years. Oh sure, we have seen some pretty unbelievable sights: lightning flashing behind clouds so thick they make that tremendous electrical display look like the proverbial "silver lining"; and waves of women
walking early in the morning to their jobs at various garment factories and creating a swath of rainbow colors in their brightly-colored shalwar kameez outfits, a display so beautiful we simply stopped and gazed as they passed by.
While each of these moments has created rich memories it is the interaction between those whose skills have tapped into a God-given hope and those who remind the "experts" of their own humanity that renews us daily. We are strengthened in such renewal.
What we were unprepared for on this occasion were the faces of the parents as they stood near CONASPEH's entrance gate watching their children. Almost instantly tears sprang to my eyes because what I saw so clearly on their countenance was hope. Despite the school's Scholarship Fund these parents still sacrifice for their children's education in a way the majority of us cannot imagine. With an average income of US $2.00 a day most families spend 80% of their income on school tuition and do so willingly because they believe education is the key to a better life for their kids. Sometimes the face of hope can be so powerful it brings tears to your eyes.
We learned a long time ago an expression from Habitat for Humanity founder, Millard Fuller, who used to say, "It's not coincidence, it's God-incidence", whenever something happened that could not be explained. We experienced such a revelation last week when a dental team ended up not going to a designated clinic but instead to a church and its community. Dentists are like gold in Haiti and whenever these doctors bring their skills to a neighborhood the word gets out fast and soon patients are lined up.
Dr. Mike told us he knew it was not a coincidence when he and his wife, Nina, and other team members went to the church because there he met a 20-year-old young woman who was in great pain as well as malnourished because she was unable to eat. As he examined her, Dr. Mike found a mouth full of infection and decay and spent several hours extracting 18 teeth (allowing the woman periodic breaks). Nina said the young person could have died if she had not received this unplanned dental care and antibiotics. If you don't think hope saves lives, talk to a Kansas City dentist.
It is Hope that has kept us in the mission field all these years. Oh sure, we have seen some pretty unbelievable sights: lightning flashing behind clouds so thick they make that tremendous electrical display look like the proverbial "silver lining"; and waves of women
While each of these moments has created rich memories it is the interaction between those whose skills have tapped into a God-given hope and those who remind the "experts" of their own humanity that renews us daily. We are strengthened in such renewal.
"But now faith, hope, love, abide these
three; but the greatest of these is love." I Corinthians 13: 13
