a story of perseverance

Persevering at all odds is a strong Haitian characteristic. But, what do they do when the road feels too long and too steep to keep going? Accept less than the best?

Contrast a trait of Western American culture... There was an eighty-foot tall antenna positioned at the top of the mountain that we hiked with a recent mission team hosted by MH here in Haiti. About a year ago, three of the sections of the tower had been taken down leaving about twenty feet of antenna still standing. One team member who had been to the top of that mountain before expressed her relief, "I am glad it is only that high. If it were highter, I would have to climb all the way up." There are those times, because of resources and personal confidence, we as Americans may choose the highest, the most, the best, the ultimate, for the reason...because it is there.

Here is a story of a family that has faced much hardship to the point of feeling overwhelmed into weighing the choices at hand.

We have known Tibens and family since Christmas Eve 2014. We were going door to door in our Haitian community, in fact with our son Michael, sharing a Christmas greeting that a baby had been born and his name was Jesus. We had a small package of food and a Creole New Testament Bible to share. We visited the family and encouraged Tibens by indicating we thought he had such a beautiful family.

Over three years have passed. January 2018 we see Tiben's eight-year old daughter, Anaika, with an injured leg.

  

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Weeks and months passed before we would see Anaika again. Tibens was not able to seek medical care for his daughter because he did not have money. He works as a mason with his main source of income being working on occasional concrete floor projects arranged by Many Hands for Haiti.

We meet again late April. Anaika is unable to walk because her leg cannot bear her weight, as slight as she is. There is infection oozing through her skin. On May 1, a Haitian holiday, we take Anaika and her mother to the hospital in Hinche, 15 miles, one hour away.

A resident orthopedic surgeon sees the urgency and calls for a 'radiografi', an x-ray. The doctor's eyes say it all when he reports what he sees; infection in the bone of the broken leg. Within hours, Anaika is in surgery; an incision from her knee to her ankle is needed to thoroughly wash the infected area. By early evening Anaika is in recovry with the prognosis that she will have multiple surgeries to continue to rid her leg of the infection which may mean staying in the hospital two and a half months.

Tuesday, May 15th, Tibens finds us on the road into Pignon. He has a worried look on his face. He says the doctor "pral koupe pye li jodia", the doctor will cut, amputate, her leg today. With a rush of panic we make a few phone calls to see if this is true. We alert MH staff and other friends to be in prayer, asking God for miraculous healing for Anaika.

We are relieved to hear no amputation was done, things were holding, "Nap kenbe",  but there was still an urgent need to see some healing. We provide some Pediasure, some powdered milk, some mamba, (Haitian peanut butter) to make Anaika's body stronger. A visit was made by a mission team that was serving with MH at this time with prayers calling for a miracle for Anaika.

During that visit to the hospital, Anaika's mom made a disturbing comment. It seems as though Anaika's mom was considering a choice she felt they could make. As she drew an imaginary line above Anaika's knee, she said, "Si yo pral koupe pye li, nou ka retounen nan kay nou"... If they cut her leg, we can go home.

As we were suspecting, the mom had approached the doctor with the question, "How long would they have to stay in the hospital if they would choose to amputate Anaika's leg instead?" It seems the two-plus month stay in the hospital, in order for the leg to heal, seemed insurmountable to the mom. The suggested amputation came from Anaika's mom as a strategy to be able to return home sooner. With prayer and sharing the love of Jesus... weeks later... "Nap kenbe", we are still holding. Healing is evident, prayers continue, and there is HOPE in the hearts and minds of Anaika and her parents.

                                         A visit from another mission team serving with MH

       Anaika with her mom, her big brother, her little sister, and her baby brother.
            Far right is MH Chaplain, Pastor Sainphirin.

Now, for Many Hands for Haiti, this help is outside of our regular developmental approach of ministry work. BUT, when this comes right up to your front door, it cannot be ignored. A clarion call was made asking for support of medical expenses.

The call was immediately answered!

Another mountain to climb is the skin graft that is needed. Anaika has been anemic since the beginning of this process which has caused the healing to be slow. The doctor said they can't do the skin graft until she shows improvement in her blood count. Because of the generosity of financial donors, MH has continued to help with nutritious fresh foods, peanut butter, powdered milk, and an iron supplement.

We find encouragement for Anaika and her family and for us in the words found in Hebrews 12:1-3

Discipline in the Long-Distance Race...
Do you see what this means---all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running---and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed---that exhilarating finish in and with God---he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Anaika's dad has shown incredible faith. Each time there has been news that is hard to accept, Tibens has been the encourager. Just last night, he shared that the skin graft is still on hold because now there is a 'fever' in Anaika's leg. He saw our discouraged look and came at us with "Discipline in the Long-Distance Race". He said he was still confident, healing will come. He has continualy expressed deep gratitude for what MH has done for his family. He says if MH had not been here to help, he knows Anaika would have died.

There is a lot more to this story that we hope we could, at some point, share with you in person.

Currently, Tibens is able to help provide for his family himself because he has work through a MH Safe Homes project. Money was given from another faithful donor to build a house for a family of 10 whose house collapsed. Tibens' mason skills are being utilized. HE is CHOOSING to persevere, run the race, and reach for the top even within the limitations of impoverished living. Anaika's dad is modeling the words found in Hebrews 12:1-3, where God demonstrates how he doesn't settle. He takes it all the way.