The Creole Proverb says, “Haitian blood is thicker than water…”
Florence is the sister of Julia, who passed away during childbirth a few days ago. (For those of you who are reading this for the first time, Julia was our lab tech at our Birthing Center. Florence was her “baby sister.” There were four children in the family. Julia died a few days ago during childbirth.)
Florence has been in Italy for about three years. She got a partial scholarship to a university there and studied Radiology. She is just lacking a thesis and her final exam to pass. In the meantime, her sister, Julia, died during childbirth (but the baby lived).
Florence has been trying to raise her own money to come to her sister’s funeral. She wrote me this morning, “Mom, Julia wasn’t just my sister; she was like a mother. When I finished High School, I moved in with her. She said, “Florence, I will never marry if you are in Haiti (because Haiti is a violent country now)…”
Julia had told her, “I would do anything to have you leave Haiti because it is a violent country. I will wait not to marry nor have children until you leave Haiti.”
That is why Julia married at an older age. She had waited until Florence was safe overseas and getting an education that could give her a job “out of Haiti.”
Florence feels partly responsible for Julia’s passing. What if she had married younger and tried to have the baby? We will never know. This was the great sacrifice that Julia made for her sister, Florence.
There are many things we do not understand in this life…
Why does God take the good people and leave most of the bad ones? I believe those loved ones were His all along… we just “borrowed them for a while.”
Florence’s round-trip ticket is over $2,000. She has raised 1200 euros, but she is on her way. Love A Child will raise the rest of the money. If you would like to help, please contact our office at 239-210-6107.
Another Note: Some of you know Widelene… She is one of the older girls at the orphanage (Children’s Home). She said, “Mom, I cannot look into the faces of any of my sisters, young or older… they just burst out crying.” These are some of the heartaches one experiences when raising children in a large orphanage. God will make a way. Thank you all for your prayers and the sweet thoughts you sent.
We love you all.
Sherry