Today I walked around the mall expecting to find some clothing that I just couldn't live without. I went home empty handed. I tried lots of things on, some worked and some didn't. The truth is that I just couldn't bring myself to buy the overpriced pieces of material. I didn't want to pretend that buying this shirt would somehow satisfy me, fulfill me when I know people that live off of a dollar a day. The top that I was wanting was 68.00
I went to Haiti to learn, to make new friends, to fix and humble myself. That happened. I've grown and changed and have taken so much back with me it's been amazing. One thing that I didn't count for is how hard it would be coming back to America where most people don't understand what you just experienced.
For example I learned that one of my friends is sick. I've know this for a while and have been fearing finding out the true facts of why his side hurts, why his eyes are yellow. Tonight I learned that he has bleeding ulcers. I know that he doesn't have the money to go to the hospital for surgery, for meds, for help. He told me that he misses me and is scared to die.
His name is Junior. Junior is my dear brother and acted like my big brother while I was in Haiti. He took care of me, he made me laugh, we played soccer together and fell asleep under the stars together. Junior honestly acts like a 7th grader but I love him very much. I don't want him to die. He has faith, he has morals, and is such a great guy. When I will tell people about this most of them will say, that sucks...I'm sorry and I'll pray but Megan you can't save them all and if he dies then he dies. NO, that is where you will not understand. It sucks when death can't be prevented but this can. You could do something about this, you could help. I hate money but the fact is that money does matter and in this case it could save Junior's life. People just don't
understand that poverty is personal to me now. I know the names and faces of the people that live in poverty, that will die because they lack basic humanitarian needs. These people are no longer numbers or facts, they are my friends.
Most people just don't even know what to do or to say when I tell them things like this. News like this first brings tears to my eyes and then comes the fire. This is something worth being angry over, this is something worth fighting for, this is something worth crying over. I know you will never understand and I can't ask you to but I do ask you to care, to pray, to donate and
educate yourselves. You truly can make a difference so start now, open your heart, listen to their cry.
please pray for Junior.
4 comments:
Megan,
I can't even begin to imagine all that is in your head and heart right now. I sit here and try to understand, knowing that I will be suffering with you in the next few months. It scares me to death...i fear feeling that kind of pain. Maybe it's what we need here since in America our pain is small in comparison to the pangs of hunger or sickness. Know that you are not alone in your suffering and in the groanings of creation. Your comments are so convicting...I sit here and all I want to do is to comfort your sadness. This kind of suffering seems so widespread that we cannot solve it. But as you have said...just anger leads to problem solving. So I guess that's the next step...not to stop at grieving, but to push to make a difference. To inform people and pray and take/make donations. We are young...and able...and I truely believe that we can make a difference. Never let that spirit die...never become too overwhelmed to love.
Ellen
its so silly but i read the line ellen wrote about how we are young and i got 'love is a battlefield' stuck in my head. it is, i guess. anyway.
reading what you wrote has made me feel so much. concern and love and anxiety and helplessness and hope. the ways that you have changed and how the world you live in hasn't must be overwhelming in a way i don't know. i want for there to be peace somewhere in it for you, but what i pray, albeit too seldom, is that the world will catch up with you. that we will. that i will.
i love you. i love all the stillshots from haiti, megan. i'm so happy those can be put to such Good use. at any rate, they are beautiful. money is what will solve problems but that you took those photographs... that is worth more than anyone could pay. and i'm so glad.
megan, we at three angels are opening a clinic this summer. it will be called halos! junior is now employed by and living at three angels! praise God for His provisions through an incredible board of directors! i'm not saying that junior and the clinic don't need support, prayer and financial, i'm just saying please don't despair! the Lord has a plan for junior! He's holding him up, okay?
Oh you you! This is great news!!!! He was so awesome when us moms went up to the Baptist missions in April. He took his job of watching over us and the kids VERY seriously!
I have been concerned about him because at that time he didn't have a job. So praise God for his provisions!!!!!
Megan, I agree with you you, God has a plan.
And I was going to say ALWAYS pray for God to make a way where there seems to be no way. I htink the Lord delights in our asking him to release his power into the situation!
I have really enjoyed getting to know you and your heart for Haiti!I hope someday to meet you in person!
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