There is a community of Haitians that live and work at the dump outside of Juan Dolio in a place called La Duquesa.The women fight for rotten food and second hand clothes and anything else the dump trucks bring from the outside world in order to provide for their families. If they find something good, they take the chance of getting beaten up by the men who work there until they hand it over. It is a battle for survival every day.
Jackie goes to see them often, bringing food and clothes and special gifts from her orphans. She took us to meet them today. We stopped by the local grocery store and filled up about ten shopping carts. We bought enough food for 40 hungry families that will last them a few weeks. Their smiles said it all.
Santo Domingo; Dominican Republic; Monday, March 29
Some people wonder if miracles still happen; if God still reaches out and touches lives.I can tell you twenty-two times over that He does.Under the shade of a tin roof in a courtyard scattered with toys and running children, I listened to a woman named Jackie who told me so.Her whole life is a testimony to it.And now her twenty-two orphans are as well.“Look around, God has done a great miracle for each of them.”She went on to tell me some of their stories…
Rosemarie is four months old and the newest addition to Jackie’s family.Her entrance into the world was met by a grievous injustice, which will greatly impact the rest of her live.You see, Haitians in the Dominican Republic are considered worthless.They are the lowest class in society.When Rosemarie’s mother was pregnant, she refused to go to the hospital.She knew how she would be treated.But when it was time to give birth, she decided to go.Upon her arrival, she began to hemorrhage and lose a lot of blood.The doctors did nothing.She lay there on the floor, completely helpless.After much time had passed, someone said, ‘Help her or else!’It wasn’t until then that the doctors assisted in the delivery.As an outcome, Rosemarie’s twin brother died.Her mother was sent home to the dump, only to die a few days later.With all odds against her, this beautiful little girl was brought to Jackie’s House where she now has another chance at life.
Laura, Naomi, and Angelica came to Jackie’s House from different neighborhoods at different times, but their pasts are devastatingly similar.These little girls were rescued from lives as sex slaves, sold by the people who were supposed to be taking care of them.While we were there, they surprised us with a dance they choreographed.The words of their song told of how the Lord had restored them to health and carried them through their suffering.These little girls have been healed by the love of Jesus and by the peace he promises; a miracle only Christ can claim.
Israel is full of life.Hope resonates from his being and is confirmed only further when he speaks.But he wasn’t always at peace.His physical condition is the result of incest, which left him helpless and hopeless.When Jackie found him, he was on the floor of his parent’s house, severely crippled and too weak to hold a bowl of food.With his parents consent, Jackie took Israel and his sister (who has the same condition), to live with her at the orphanage.There, Israel grew in his relationship with Jesus and gained strength and confidence.He is getting surgery in a few weeks, which will straight out his legs and allow him to walk for the first time in his life.He told Jackie, “As soon as I can walk, I’m walking out of here to go tell the world about what Jesus has done.”Through all of his pain and suffering, Israel found his hope in Jesus and he wants everyone to know.
Jackie and her husband own an old truck that they use to take the children to and from the hospital.“The truck hurts our bones when we travel.”And they can never go anywhere as a family because there is not enough room to fit them all.Two years ago our High School students at The Rock raised enough money to buy Jackie a 16-passenger van.Unfortunately, it has been sitting in customs for nearly two years.We found out that after 11 months, the customs officials are allowed to sell items that have not been redeemed.So a special lawyer was hired to make sure that didn’t happen to the van.To our surprise, the van finally cleared customs and was ready for pick up the EXACT day that we were at Jackie’s House.Jackie’s children have been praying for this day for so long and we got to watch it unfold.And we got to listen to Jackie pour out her heart in thanksgiving to God who continues to provide for this very special family that he loves so much.This day the miracle from God was meant for all of us…
I looked at this amazing woman of God sitting in front of me and took in all she had to say and my faith was strengthened.Her faith and love seems endless.“It is because of how much God has done for me.It wasn’t the nails that held up Jesus to the cross…It was His love for me.”
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