Meet Jean Edward

He came to RHFH for the second time early this year with a very swollen stomach and little hope of surviving. He had been living alone and fending for himself because his dad, who was not in his right mind, left him to go live in a field. Jean Edward was found terribly sick by a neighbor who graciously got in contact with his mother to let her know the situation. Several days later, she came for Jean Edward. After being with his mom for a while, and growing increasingly worse, he finally convinced her to take him to get some help. 


The first time Jean Edward came to Real Hope, he got better and was sent home a healthy boy weighing 38 pounds. This time, four years later, Jean Edward arrived at the clinic weighing 39 pounds and so ill and discouraged that he told Licia to make a casket for him because he was sure he was going to die. He had many hard days, and it took a while for Real Hope to figure out what was wrong with him. As a last resort they decided to treat him for TB, and his body began to heal.

Seven months later, Jean Edward looks drastically different from the child who was brought to the clinic yard in February. The swelling in his stomach has gone down, and he has reached a much healthier weight for an 11-year-old boy. He possesses this contagious joy that can turn anyone's bad day right around, and he has the sweetest, most grateful heart. You can find Jean Edward downstairs running around with the other big kids, or loving on the babies in the ICU; always wearing pink and white tennis shoes and the biggest, brightest smile you've ever seen. 

This little boy is a shining example of the remarkable difference Real Hope for Haiti is making in this community. And his life gives testimony to the power, love, and mercy of Jesus.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

To be a part of the healing for other precious kids like Jean Edward, go here and give.

Wake Up

There is a very real tension that comes with having my life wedged between two worlds that are so drastically different. 

One moment I am experiencing the hard realities of life in the third world, and the next moment I am being bombarded with the often trivial nature of the first world via our beloved world wide web. 

This morning, I went on a 2 hour hike up one of the mountains overlooking Real Hope for Haiti. On the way up, I passed children swimming in water that may or may not be contaminated with Cholera. I walked by "houses" made of a few tarps and other scraps held together by rope and sticks. I saw emaciated animals, and people walking to church in their very nicest clothes, and children running barefoot. I passed the Cholera clinic, which houses men, women, and children whose bodies are violently trying to rid themselves of a ruthless, water-borne bacteria. 

And then I came back down to the clinic and received news that Lucianna, one of the little girls who has been with us for the past several days, had just died. She had Kwashiorkor, a really intense form of malnutrition as a result of a lack of protein in her diet. Her little body just couldn't handle the battle going on inside of her.

Soon after, I walked upstairs and got on the computer where I saw acquaintances and friends, many of whom profess to follow Jesus, making really disappointing comments concerning football. And I couldn't help but think that we're getting it all wrong. 

Let me just say, I love football. Most everything about it, really. Just walking into a stadium, I'm filled from head to toe with this excited energy that I get very few other places. I love the sights, the smells, and the sounds. I love that people all wear the same colors and put tattoos on their faces and wave pom-poms and go crazy for their team. I love that it's all about working as a team and exhibiting both mental and physical strength. I totally understand and share in the hype that surrounds the game.

What I do not get, however, is how it can so easily become the center of a person's universe. How it can turn a normally mild-mannered and friendly person into someone who spews hateful and degrading remarks to the people around them. I simply can't understand how a game such as football can be the cause of so much dissension and arguing... especially among believers.

I've had moments where I allowed the competitive nature of sports get the best of me. I think we all have. But can I just offer this gentle reminder today? Football is a trivial battle... and so many of us are putting all of our energy and emotions into this game that has absolutely zero eternal significance. 

Meanwhile, multitudes of people are literally dying because of hunger and preventable disease. Even more, all too many of them are dying without the Gospel; with no hope for eternity. Read: significant battle.

I realize that not everyone is living in a third-world country or is surrounded by people who have never heard the Gospel. But the bottom line is, our words and our actions reflect our hearts.

And how will the world ever believe that Jesus is what matters to us if we are only passionate about trivial things that really don't matter at all?

In David Platt's book, RADICAL, he said something that really challenged me:

"Wake up. Wake up and realize that there are infinitely more important things in your life than football and a 401(k). Wake up and realize there are real battles to be fought, so different from the superficial, meaningless "battles" you focus on. Wake up to the countless multitudes who are currently designed for a Christless eternity."

So enjoy football season. Have fun yelling and cheering and celebrating. But, please, don't let it mold you into someone who makes thoughtless remarks and puts forth an image that is anything but Christ-like. Don't allow the game to become central to you. Because Jesus is central... and I believe that he wants us to be passionate about things that reflect his heart. Things like justice, and freedom, and forgiveness, and redemption. 

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth." Colossians 3:2

"Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome..." 2 Timothy 2:23-34