It
was March 4th, the day the team would travel to Hinche, the
community where we would finally come face to face with our sponsor children.
After a long, winding drive up a mountain side and a day to settle at our
hotel, we arrived at the Center of Hope on March 5th. The team set
off to explore this beautifully God-filled and life changing building with
anticipation in their hearts. Shortly after, a busload of Haitian children
arrived at the door. My eyes scanned furiously through the crowd searching for
the face of a boy I had never met, but somehow felt so familiar to me. As I
watched the team connect eyes with their sponsor children, my heart swelled and
eyes watered. How surreal is it, to write a family so many miles away for
several years, and to finally put a voice to those letters, a smile to that
photo and a hug to that long distance connection. However, my sponsor child was
yet to be seen. A large chunk of the afternoon went by before I found out that
Kenema, my sponsor child could not make it. Disappointment and confusion rushed
through my mind as I wondered how I could travel so far, be in the same
community, and yet be so far away from Kenema.
Day
two approached and there was still no sign of my sponsor child. It wasn’t until
the end of the day that my heart would be forever changed. As the team readied
to board the bus to travel Hinche visiting the local programs implemented by
world vision, I was informed that we were to make a pit stop at the ADP (Area
Development Program). As we drove into the driveway, a large band spread across
the porch of the ADP building. The team got off the bus and was serenaded with
a beautiful Haitian band full of familiar faces of the children and youth we
spent the previous days with at the Center of Hope. As the music filled the
area it was then that I laid eyes on Kenema and his mother. Five years of
writing letters, receiving annual updates on his health and education led to
this very moment. The world seemed to stop, as I thanked God for this
beautiful, healthy boy before me.
After
the music ended, Kenema and his mother came down to my mother and I, along with
a translator. Words will never be able to express this moment. As we knelt down
to introduce ourselves, tears choked at the back of my eyes. “It is so nice to
finally meet you…” This sentence still blows my mind. World Vision went above
and beyond to give me the opportunity to meet Kenema. I later found out that
Kenema was not able to make it to the Center of Hope the last couple days
because his grandfather was very sick. This family who I have never met before
this day, paused their life in the midst of a very real struggle to meet me. Never underestimate the impact you
have on the life of not only your sponsor child, but also their entire family.
“Kenema talks about you all the time.” His mother says. “He says how much he
loves you and looks forward to meeting you and your family. We pray for you
daily! Will you please continue to pray for us too?”
Before
leaving the ADP, World Vision informed me that they would do everything they
could to ensure that Kenema would be at the Center of Hope the following day.
Sure enough, the very next day I found myself playing soccer in the hot Haitian
heat with my sponsor child. I watched as a smile spread across his face as we
kicked a ball across the grass.
I
return home with an overflowing heart. One that is still trying to process what
this entire trip holds and means for my life. But, one thing is for sure. My
life will never be the same all because of one hug. One hug from a boy I began
sponsoring 5 years ago.
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