Yesterday I was sitting in my office and I noticed Momma Gigi hanging outside my door. I asked her what was on her mind and invited her to sit down. I could see that she felt uncomfortable and she looked embarrassed to even talk. She sat there for a moment in silence. I told her – “Momma Gigi – You know you can tell me anything”.
She began to tear-up. She said she knows that we do a lot for many people and she is very blessed to work for us. It is not easy for her to come and share her problems with me because she knows there are others who have greater needs. She said, “Today will be the 3rd day that my children have not eaten. I didn’t want to bother you and I don’t need any money. Maybe if you could just give me a little bread – I could take it home for them to eat. My husband and I will be okay – if you could just give me a little food to feed my children.”
I sat there surprised with tears flowing down my cheeks. Momma Gigi has taken in several distant family members since the earthquake. She also took in a little girl and her mother who’s mentally-challenged. This mom was sleeping on the street with her 4 year old and Momma Gigi took them in. She is the only person in the household with any sort of income. Her household has nearly tripled.
I would consider Momma Gigi one of my best friends and yet I really never knew her struggles. I never even thought about her children not eating. I never even realized that she too might be really effected by this earthquake. It has haunted me all day. How could I not see it? My family is eating every single day and here is my best friend who cannot feed her family.
I keep imagining her with these thoughts:
I’m standing right here – but you don’t see.
Look – I’m right here – please notice ME.
I’m not some distant thought – I’m standing right here.
But you ignore my struggles and you don’t see my fears.
We’ve been working together – every single day,
We’ve been the best of friends – in every little way.
Yet before you I stand – timid and ashamed,
I am poor and hungry – with nothing left to gain.
You know me by name – and still you can’t see
I’m standing right here – oh how can this be?
God has opened my eyes to those who are around me. Those that are right in front of me. Those that we call friends and dear-ones. Are they hurting and we just don’t see? The people here really do pray for their daily bread. Something that my family has taken for granted.
I have spent the last 24 hours praying the very words of this song:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
***
I thank you – Lord – for my daily bread. Please help me -in all that I do – help me – to always think about YOU.
You make me cry almost every time you write on your blog and your talent for writing amazes me! Thinking of you — praying for your “eyesight”, your health, your spiritual well-being and for you to have wisdom!
This is sad indeed and to think that here in the USA there is so much waste and easy access to everything that people tend to forget that a home cook meal is indeed more economically and healthier than any restaurant food.
Hi Jody,
This is so touching & my heart aches for those who are in this condition. But, don’t chastise yourself too severely. I do know that are trying to cover all the bases of work that are doing, both in your own family & for those at the mission & in surrounding areas of need. Your words are very heartbreaking, but yet it gives us a clearer picture of the need there. Know that you are in our prayers & I pray that more help will be coming in a steady stream to meet the needs of the people there.
A couple weeks ago Shelley took a load down to FAME. It was a loaded trailer of medical supplies, durable medical goods & all sorts of items needed for daily use for hygiene. Our church responded with a huge amount of goods that so pleased me. People here really do want to help, but they seek places that will truly do what they say they are doing with the funds & supplies. Some of these places who have asked are reserving monies etc. for other purposes, or for later use & that has frustrated the people here who wanted their offerings to be used NOW! We hear many messages from several groups who are appealing, but I have been trying to direct them to NWHCM, as that is the one I know. I do have friends who still want to go down to help, as we know it will be longterm need there in Haiti. What do I tell them?
In His love & mine,
Sadonna
Ah, I love Brandon Heath. I’m a volunteer at Children’s International Lifeline in Le Digue, Haiti. Another song that keeps me going whether I’m in Haiti, or anywhere else in the world doing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s work is “There Will Be A Day” by Jeremy Camp…there will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears, there will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more…we’ll see Jesus face to face. You guys keep up the good work and God bless you. As you already know, Bondye bini tout travay (God blesses all hard work).