Friday, April 23, 2010

Hidden Angels

I am convinced that there are angels who walk amongst us.
I saw many in Haiti.

Pictured below is a young man named Jean 
(seated with his arm around a boy).
Jean is a 26 year old man who lives in Haiti.
Jean was born in Haiti and lived with his family 
until he was 7.
His family moved to Boston....leaving Jean behind.
(I don't know the story behind that decision)
Jean was raised by an "old lady"... a friend of the family.
He attended school, he studied hard, he stayed off the streets.
He was a good boy.

January, 2010... the earthquake hit Haiti and life changed for Jean.
He was one of the lucky ones...his home was not destroyed.
He was deeply touched by the suffering around him and decided
 to head to the Adventist Hospital to volunteer his time.

Monday thru Friday, every week since the earthquake,
Jean has stayed at the hospital.
During the daytime he works 
(without pay..only tips from the volunteering medical workers.)
for the operating room as both transport and translator.
His English is impeccable.

When things slow down in the OR, 
he heads to the children's ward to sit
with the children.
This is where he spends his evenings.

He dishes out huge helpings of love and care
to those children...just because.

You will notice that in this picture there is also a 
boy sitting with Jean.
Look a little closer and you will see
 that this boy has only one leg.
This is Mavins.
Mavins has a brother....and that is all.
His parents were both killed in the earthquake.
His home was destroyed.
His leg was amputated.
Mavins and his brother have no where to go.
They have been living in a tent outside the hospital.

Until now.
Jean has decided to take the boys in and
finish raising them and schooling them....
himself.
He saves the money his family sends him
from Boston, for his schooling
(he wants to go to nursing school some day).
After the quake, he took that money ($585) and 
paid a year's rent on a bigger apartment
for the boys and himself.

I spent quite a bit of time talking to Jean.
He told me his story,
but not of how he was going to take in the boys.
That I found out through the grapevine.

So I asked Jean...
"Why didn't you tell me that you were
"adopting" Mavins and his brother?"

Jean simply said
"I keep it secret...
Because Jesus would want it that way."
Jean wanted no praise.  He was doing this
simply because it was the good and right thing to do.

Jean is an angel.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a witness Jean is! Thanks for sharing his story.

Unknown said...

Totally!!! What a wonderful ray of sunlight in such devastation! What a truly remarkable young man. Thank you for sharing this story!

Farm Girl said...

Wow!!! Gosh what a sweet story, the part about "I keep it secret... Because Jesus would want it that way." Is the most wonderful thing I have ever heard. I will remember it always.
I am so glad you went and that you are telling of your adventures, and of course, Angels you met.

Unknown said...

Beverly,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. It was overwhelming and a good reminder to us who have such access to good doctors and medical care here in the states. Angels are everywhere.
Thanks for making the time to do what you did.