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The following is from Br. Michael McCarthy, CFX (Xaverian Brothers) who is currently living in Haiti at Maison Fortune Orphanage. I felt it worth sharing with everyone.
…KNOCK AND THE DOOR SHALL BE OPENED…
Michael McCarthy, CFX
Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel resound with new meaning at Maison Fortuné since the disaster of January 12th in Port-au-Prince. Our doors have been swinging open making room for sixty new young folks who lost their homes, and some their families, in the earthquake. With the rental of the four story ‘apartment’ building next to the girls’ dorm, we are able to house the nearly 40 boys who now call our campus their home.
Before the first boy arrived, many of the present residents spent the day washing the windows and floors, painting the doors and the living quarters, all in anticipation of the newcomers. Professional painters completed the job and brought the building to life. There is plenty of room to put the newly-purchased mattresses on the floor and provide safe sleeping for the newcomers. The newly-ordered beds are arriving a few at a time, and the older boys are claiming them for their own!
The twenty new older girls now occupy the third floor of their building, and love the view from their balcony as they watch all the happenings on the boys’ campus. The new wall on the street side of the boys’ building is completed; the gate is ready to be hung. Yes, Jesus’ words take on a new meaning as Jean-Louis and Pettris interviewed kids and aunts and uncles during the acceptance process. Many who knocked found the door open.
With the addition of sixty new students here, Jean-Louis has hired ten new people to assist with the increased demand in the kitchen, for nighttime security and to accommodate the additional kids in school. Yes, the doors of employment are opening as well.
The US Army team of humanitarian relief came to Hinche to assess needs and assist with the coordination of assistance to victims from PAP. They knocked at our door and met with the adults here on campus and saw our additional kids and increased needs. The next day a team of doctors arrived with bags of meds and TLC for many of the kids here. They knocked and we opened and received. Twice since then, the orphanage has served as a distribution center for World Vision to give food to neighborhood residents who qualify. Our door was opening again to assist with some of the victims.
Each week a new group of Midwives for Haiti comes from the States to Hinche to work in the hospital. They choose Maison Fortuné to live and enjoy the hospitality and the outstanding food. They enjoy the comfort and cool breezes of the second-floor porch and love visiting the little girls and painting their nails between their tasks of delivering babies and teaching pre-natal classes. Yes, the doors have been opening to many nurses and doctors, some from as far away as Oregon. They come with ample meds and experience to further their mission of empowering Haitian midwives to help reduce the infant mortality here in our country.
In early March Francklin Louima, one of the older boys here, completed his second year of apprenticeship in welding. He proudly carries his laminated certificate looking for employment. Recently he knocked on the door of the Haitian Endowment across the river from us, and began a temporary job, earning money and rejoicing in a new level of independence and maturity.
Thank you, Jesus, for opening many doors to us; help us to continue to open our doors to those who seek and knock. Thank you, Jesus, for all the people who have opened their hearts to us and assist us in the growing mission here at Maison Fortuné.
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