Beauty from the Ashes

In school today we will take a moment to think about and reflect on the devastating earthquake that shook this country 11 years ago. We sadly will think about lives that were lost and people that were severely injured. We will think about how this country will never be the same. We live pretty far from Port au Prince, but hardly a person in this area was not affected in some way by the damage this earthquake caused. You cannot enter most towns without seeing a memorial from this day.

As devastating as this day was, there was also beauty that came from it. There were people who stepped up and helped to get others out of the rubble. There were medical professionals that worked over time to help those in need. There were aid workers, who came to give relief and to start help to rebuild. 

I was not hear for the earthquake, honestly I had no real connection to Haiti till later that year. I remember seeing on the news and thinking that it was horrible and kept going with my day. But something happened that day, that has forever changed me.

There was a little boy found in the rubble after the earthquake, some aid workers were pointed in his direction. They touok him to their hospital, where he received much more than medical care, he received love. When the aid workers had to leave, they were still concerned about this boy and registered him with social services, and he finally ended up finding his forever home here, at the Miriam Center. This sweet boy, Joshua, I have watched him as he is turning into an amazing young man who loves God. Even though there was so much loss that day, today I also want to take time to think about what was gained that day. I can’t imagine the Miriam Center without Joshua. Also, all the people who stepped up to help others, it is a day to mourn what was lost and a day to commemorate what was gained and how lives were changed.