Here I am, sitting down again at the laptop,at the resort I am staying in, trying to reconcile the truth to how I feel…I met a little boy today who made it hard to accept…
I watched him the whole morning. He had orange hair and a distended belly under his threadbare t-shirt. His shoes didn’t match, and he was filthy. His hair was orange because he eats the food out at the dump and his belly is big because he doesn’t get any nutrients and probably is full of parasites: he was beautiful and stole my heart…I am crying as I sit here writing this…
My interpreter and I walked over to him to talk with him. I found out he was 13,yet he looked like he was 7. Funny how my standard of nutrition and normal growth is what I thought the world would look like… I kneeled down beside him and asked him his name. I had to lean in real close and I couldn’t understand him because he was incredibly shy and had a bad stutter. That was it, I was hooked and in love: I needed to find out this beautiful boy’s story…
I called over one of the men who work there and asked him to help me. I asked him if he knew what the boy’s story was and I was not prepared for what he told me. I asked him to clarify it for me twice, because I needed to know the truth. I found out he was an orphan. His parents brought him from Haiti when he was young and they have both since died. He has no one. There is a lady who they say helps him out, but it obviously isn’t much.
He is lost. He has no memory of what life was like before he lived in that place. He is alone. No one is there to celebrate him and to cheer him on. He is hungry. There is not always a guarantee that he will collect enough bottles to be able to get some money for food. His eyes are so sad that they are able to tell their own story, and I felt lost when I looked in them.
I asked him his name and he stuttered a response that I couldn’t understand. I got my interpreter to ask him again. When my interpreter turned to me, he had tears in his eyes: “He said that he can’t remember what his mother named him”…
Well, in my heart, he has a name. In my eyes, he has an identity. To the world,whether they choose to recognize it or not, his life is incredibly valuable.
The young boy in question may not remember the name his parents gave to him at birth, but he will always remember the incredible compassion you show every day you spend in his world. If only there were more people in the world like you and all the others who are lending a helping hand, a kind word, a ray of hope. Too many of us simply cannot begin to comprehend what it must be like for him and so many others living in utter poverty and despair.
We sit here in our air-conditioned homes, stuffing extra calories into our obese bodies when we are not even hungry, covetting what the “Jones Family” has, always wanting more of what we don’t really need, forgetting what is really and truly important. I wonder what it will take to open the eyes, and the hearts, and the pocket books of the rest of us priveledged.
Keep the blogs coming. Keep spreading the word. You are making a difference, however small it may seem at times. Your kindness and generosity will not be forgotten by those whose lives you touch. God bless all of you.
that was a very touching story christal,,you guys are doing a great job ,,,, keep up the good work.
it was great to here from you last night ashley,,we miss you
and so does abby, she is walking in your room looking for you
(so she can bite your nose?)… rained again last night,
and good job on your report card
all our love dad and leanne
xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxxoo
love you guys to
kat and stokes
Thank you for that Christal. It is so incredibly sad that there are children in this world who must endure this type of life. What have we done to these poor lost souls? I must admit that one of the first things I noticed on this picture was the small but, to me, very noticable Canadian Flag pin on the right side of his threadbare t-shirt. I am sure that all the young men and women on the trip will work their hardest to help eradicate poverty and injustice - not just now while in the DR - but also on their return to Canada.
To you Courtney - I hope you are well and happy and that you are getting lots of pictures and writing your thoughts daily. Miss you and please say hi to all those “kids” I know!
Lots of love and pride,
Mum and Dad
(Jane and Roger Williams)
My heart is moved by this story. I have been keeping up to date with the events so far and regret that I did not join you this year. My heart and prayers are with you all!
For all the kids from NEWFOUNDLAND, LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Say a special Hi to Bernardo for me!
Wow, you guys,
This is just as hard to read as I’m sure it is for you to write!
I am in tears too…………
All I can say is can we bring this nameless little redhead boy home get him out of the dump and give him a family and some love? Give him at least a chance at life?
Is there any way?
Jess, I love you, it was so good to talk to you yesterday. Talk to you again on Saturday.
Love Mum
Hey Kelli,
What an experience you and the group are going through! The difference you are making in their lives is incredible. We are so proud of the strength you have shown and continue to display to make a difference in the lives of others.
While we do miss you, we couldn’t possibly be more proud!
Love ya!
Oh, Christal
In my heart, he has a name too!!!! What a heart wrenching story! Tears filled my eyes when I read this story. What an incredibly beautiful little boy! I will be praying for him!
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Thank you for your story Christal, Emily called and was telling me about this little boy and her time spent at the dump and I, too, had tears in my eyes and shivers all over my body. You are all wonderful Heros’ and making a difference in their lives.
Emily I love you and we’ll talk soon.
Love, Mom, Dad, Donny, Gil & Angus! xxxooo
Hi, Jeannine.
Great to get your e-mail. You sound great. We are so proud of you. I know your short time there is making a huge difference for these beautiful people. We’ve been checking the blog every day and I’m so grateful for that little window into your world. I keep grandma and grandpa up-to-date as well. Keep up the great work and can’t wait to hear all about your experiences. Missing you, LOVE Mom
Such a small gift to us - the name our parents give us - thank you for helping me appreciate its value, Christal. And thank you too, to Absolute Leadership, for the gift of perspective you help provide to our attending family and friends and us, your faithful readers, through your blog.
Katrina and Melissa - we’re so proud of what you’re part of, how you and your new friends are helping “pay it forward”, and we think of you every day.
Laura
I can’t add much to the responses already given about the boy with the orange hair. I’m just wondering why, if we can fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we cant’ fight the poverty that these Haitian refugees are facing. What you young men and women are doing is as important as any mission that a Country like Canada can undertake. Keep up the great work. Love
Mom, Dad and Scottie
Wow, that was heartwrenching. Tears sprung to my eyes as I read the last line. I imagine there are many children living exactly like this boy, with no name, no identity. To you he was someone special and that was probably all he needed to make his life worth living. I wish I could have come on Hero Holiday this year, but I went on the last two trips with you and it truely changed my life. I continue to have compassion for these children and I am saving up to go on a trip to Africa next year to build a school. With the experience of Hero Holiday under my belt, I feel I can do anything. I thank you and everyone else involved in the organization of the trip for the eye opening experience you provided me with. Without it, I would have never been able to see how people live in the Dominican and other poverty stricken countries. It is truely a different world than here in Canada and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening my eyes.
All the best,
Rebecca Hill
Shane we saw a picture of you today…digging a trench!!! What a wonderful thing you are doing helping others. Give them lots of hugs!! We look forward to hearing your stories when you come home. Say hi to Max and Cam and all the others from Parksville/Qualicum on Vancouver Island. Miss you and love you…Mom and Dad
Christal –
He has a name — the one you carry in your heart. The name that keeps you and Vaden going to care for these the forgotten souls. I am amazed by all you are able to do in such a short period of time. Keep up the awsome work!!!
Ang
That was a heart wrenching story, we have never met, but your words will last with me for ever. It made me cry, sitting here in my cozy office, with everything that I need to make my life comfortable. Knowing who I am and where I came from, a stable family who all know and love one another. I wonder how many other children share that same fate. With the work that my sister and her husband do in Africa I know that there are many. You could share many stories with her I am sure.
You and your team are doing an amazing job down there. I so admire you at your young age to have such incredible insight into the plight of the “at risk” children of this crazy mixed up world of ours.
This time there will shape you into a wonderful, compassionate, understanding adult who will make this world a better place.