{rice, beans & love}

This story starts a year ago when I met Marie Maude: a 22-year-old, homeless mama pregnant with her third child. I was 7 months pregnant at the time and boy, did my heart break for her. We quickly admitted her into the Starfish program, found her housing and reunited her with her two beautiful girls who had been living with their grandma.

Marie Maude a year ago with her vibrant daughter, Nedgie and her little shy daughter, Esther

I left for the States to go on my own maternity leave and prayed for a sweet reunion with Marie Maude and her baby upon my return to Haiti with my own new baby. Unfortunately, Marie Maude lost her little one during labor, but I still returned to find a hopeful, young mama.

Several months later Marie Maude started working with me at Rosie’s making our gift cards and this lady is full of sass and joy. Her little shy Esther now gives me lots of kisses and the two girls will start school up on the mountaintop this fall!

Marie Maude, in the hat, proudly working with Juliette

Yesterday a twenty-one year old mama with a tiny, malnourished 19-month-old babe stood before me after Starfish had dismissed. Some of the women were still hanging out under the gathering space at Tytoo and this woman not only caught my attention, but their’s too. First, my always rambunctious friend, Filane, who is a mentor to the Starfish program, started asking her questions as we noticed just how little and sick this sweet baby was. She clung tightly to her mama as the mama would tell us we should take the child and put her in the orphanage. Quick to respond, Filane said, “Oh! Don’t you see how much this baby loves you! She needs you the most!”

Quickly other women would gather around us and before I knew it they all had a plan to take care of her. Some volunteered to make a special meal for the child, another went to the back kitchen and made them a plate of food and lastly, Marie Maude volunteered to house her.

My entire heart just about exploded.

This is it, people: if we empower one, how quickly they will be able to turn around and empower others. I whispered to God then, “is this what it’s suppose to look like…the gospel? Your kingdom coming to earth? Is this what you meant when you told us to take care of the widow and the sick? To take them in, just like that?”

I suppose it is. I suppose when you stop and just let the Holy Spirit work, He will indeed work and miracles will happen. Even in the mess, the really ugly mess of it all, miracles still get to happen.

This was my miracle yesterday and boy, am I clinging tight to it.

I’ve been somewhat drowning in the mess of life lately. Yesterday alone the security guard at Tytoo turned away nine women. All nine of them I’m sure having valid reasons to come talk to me. All of them desperate for some type of help. But, I just couldn’t face another need. This alone – the needs out side the gate – can kill ya and burden ya and wear ya down to just about nothing, but a sweet friend reminded me with these words just when I needed them most: “Remember that God is ultimately the one responsible for His children, don’t try to carry the burden. You can be part of the story, as God calls and allows, but don’t try to carry God’s responsibilities.” So, with those wise words, I moved forward with my day.

The needs of the twenty-two women in Starfish alone yesterday was enough to face as we prepare to register and send their combined sixty-eight kiddos to school in a month. But, the one who I allowed through the gate yesterday, showed me that God must have already set her and her babe apart, because it seemed all so ordained. I didn’t have to do anything. My sisters in Christ were there to ask all the questions and take care of all her needs; all I had to do was show up, love them and meet them in the mess.

Before going home at the end of the day, I stopped to see Afaina and her mama in their new place, making sure they were okay with the new living arrangements. A large bag from market full of food had been delivered, Marie Maude and another women in the community had already begun mopping and preparing a room for them and most sweetly of all, Afaina smiled at me and let me hold her. Boy, is it going to be sweet being a part of her story and loving on this precious child of God.

Love from Haiti,

Kayla