When we first moved to Haiti, we lived up in the mountains. We had no electricity, but we DID have a big gate. Every Sunday, we looked forward to a quiet day, but there was always a “knock” on our gate and a person in need. Sometimes, I just got tired of going down to see who was knocking and what they wanted. But then, I heard the “knock” again… Widlene and her sister, Esther, were brought to our gate in the mountains by their mother, Madanm Jesula, who was so sick.

She knocked on our gate and asked me if we could take in her children “when she died” because she was very sick. I told her, “Your name is Jesula, Jesu-la. Jesus is here. If He is here, then you will not die!” We sent her mother to a hospital, only to find out that she was weak and starving. We brought her into our “old” orphanage and offered her a job, “helping to take care of our children.” She agreed.

Widlene is now 18 and just took her last exam for Philo, which is like the “12th” grade in the States. She is a big help to me at the Children’s Home. She buys special spices, cooks special meals for the kids, loves the church, loves to eat (ha), and loves to play drums!! She wants to study “psychology.” (I told her that Haiti is an excellent place to do that because half of what they do here doesn’t make sense, and yet, it turns out right!!)

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t gone down and answered that knock on my gate…

We love Widlene so much!! She is a great help to us!

Sherry