An Inspiring Story from a Promise For Haiti Volunteer , Abby Raska!
Abby Raska traveled to Pignon with Hope Reformed Church from Spencer, Iowa in February 2011. In her own words, she wrote about her experience.
In February of 2011 I went on a trip to Haiti with 15 other people. While planning for this trip I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that what I was about to experience would change my life.
This is a story about a girl named Neasley. There were three or four nights that we went to the hospital to sing to and pray for the patients. When we first entered the hospital I was overwhelmed by the hospital beds that lined the hallway. In front of me was a girl lying in a bed with her mother sitting next to her in a chair. As we started to sing the girl said she thought I was her sister. Instantly my heart broke and all I could do was cry. When preparing for this trip I was inspired to make a quilt to give to a little girl while I was in Haiti. I prayed for the girl each time I worked on the quilt. After hearing those words come out of Neasley's mouth, I knew this was the girl I had been praying for.
During the next day I was continuously praying that she would still be there when we came back to the hospital that night. I wanted to give Neasly HER quilt. That evening, there she was, sleeping with her mother by her side. We sang and prayed and when it was time for our group to move on to another part of the hospital I stayed behind with a few other team members to give her the quilt. I went up to her bed and smiled at her mom and I took the quilt out of the bag and laid it on her while she was sleeping. That night was incredibly overwhelming for me. We came back two nights later and she was still there. She only had a little sheet on. I could tell something wasn't right. She was breathing heavily, shaking, and sweating. Her mom looked very concerned. The look in Neasley's eyes was terrifying. She was so frightened. All we could do for her was pray. We found out that she had an infection in her tooth that had spread throughout all of her body. She had been in the hospital for 20 days now.
Later the next day I was told, "Neasley passed away this morning." My heart sank. I will never forget those words. We were nearing the end of our trip and I was already emotionally overwhelmed. So hearing this news pushed me over the edge. I knew she was in Heaven; her mother talked about it the night before. I hurt for her family. I will never forget her face or the face of her mother.
I prayed months ago while making that quilt for whoever would receive it that the person would be blessed by my gift, but little did I know that Neasley would be the one blessing me. Now that she is gone the quilt can serve as a reminder to her family and to me of just how short and precious life truly is.
What really struck me about this experience was just how much need there is in Haiti. As much as we 16 individuals could do to help, it would never be enough. I know that what we did there made a difference, but it breaks my heart knowing the needs are so great.
James 1:27 says; "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." And in Deuteronomy 15:11 it says; "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
It is hard for me to understand why I was born in the United States and why Neasly and her family were born in Haiti. But, I must know that God puts us where we are for a reason.
Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. "
God has told us that there are going to be poor people in the world and He calls us to help them. We should not feel guilty about how much we have here in the United States, rather take what we are given and share it with others. I know that I have been given much, so much is demanded of me.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
