As we have mentioned before in this blog, the Community of Saint Paul runs a physical therapy center in La Sagrada Familia parish of Sabana Yegua. Last week, a group of friends from the USA came from Wisconsin to visit: Chad Novasic and Kim Jansen were dedicated to physical therapy, while Suzanne Nickolai and Susan Masiakowski had the opportunity to be present at the opening of a new Childcare center for Haitian immigrants in one of the parish’s villages. We’d like to thank them for their help, and share their witness with you:
«This morning Kim and Chad saw 29 patients in the clinic. Strokes. Motorcycle accidents. Childhood illnesses. Post-operative orthopedic surgeries. Birth defects. Traumatic brain injuries. People and families literally came from miles around and some waited hours to be evaluated. All grateful for whatever advice could be given to improve their quality of life. In the afternoon, Sue and I rode out with Indhira, the child education coordinator, and helped set up and open the first Haitian Childcare Center in the province of Azua. We made wall decorations and brought games, coloring books, and puzzles donated by the children at St. Mary's grade school and preschool. Words cannot begin to express the humbling feeling of a classroom full of 25 children on the first day of school with no running water, a caved in roof, a single box of toys, a single tub of supplies. No fancy backpacks or supply lists. No aide or substitute. It is a feeling of inadequacy to know that so simple an action this afternoon is potentially life altering for these children. There is no alternative or choice. As we cut flowers to decorate the blank concrete walls, the thought was that this flower better be the best flower that we can make because this is the only gift that I can give. We may be tiny pebbles thrown into a pond, but even tiny pebbles can create a broad ripple of waves that touch every edge of the pond.»
