If you have an orphanage in Haiti of over 85 children you will, undoubtedly, have a “prodigal son or daughter.” These children come from different parents… if a mother dies and the father is cruel or doesn’t want the children, this can mean that the child, especially if they are older than 8 or 9, can have emotional problems. This is what we experienced with Ezekiel. He and his brother William came to us when they were about 10 or 11.

William was a trouble-maker, but Ezekiel was a very strange child. He would never play with the other boys, or soccer, etc. He was always by himself. Many times, he would hide in the bushes… Once when I was scolding him for something, he started beating himself in the face until he had a nosebleed. I felt like it was a “spirit” in him! We kept him until he and his brother were older and got into trouble.

They were both grown, so we sent both of them back to their father… but we heard that they left and only God knows where they went. Ezekiel came back to this area and stayed with someone in Miracle Village. I was really afraid to bring him back… so I waited. One day, when Bobby and I were walking in the evening we went to the boys’ little restaurant they started. There, under a tree, was a young man… when we spoke to him, he covered his face. Someone told me it was “Ezekiel.” We felt like the Lord wanted us to give him another chance, and so we did… He was so thin and frail… and hungry.

We put him back in school, got him school uniforms, shoes, and books. We also found him a place to stay. Right now, he is happy in school. If he needs any books or things for school, he will let me know. When we work at the depot or anywhere else, Ezekiel can work harder than anyone! He is happy to be back home with his brothers and sisters. It has been a big lesson for all of us in forgiveness… Ezekiel is our “prodigal son.” He was truly in the pig pen, and now, he is “back at home.” We love Ezekiel… but, we need to put him on a diet! Ha!

Sherry