Pursue Justice

-From Carl and Sigi

It’s been a hard week for us. Sunday we began saying our goodbyes, we had a

goodbye party and by around 7pm I was already emotionally exhausted. Monday
we said goodbye to the children. The little ones didn’t quite understand
what all the fuss was about, but the older girls and I had us a good cry.
Some of the little ones asked if we could take them with us to Israel and
the older ones kept asking when we’d be back. How was I supposed to answer
these questions?! Tuesday we said goodbye to Pastor Francois and the
Romelus family and headed by bus to the Dominican Republic.

It’s as if life stops on the Haitian side of the border. As soon as you
enter the DR you feel you have entered a whole new world; a paved road,
cars and even electricity! (Can you sense the sarcasm in my voice?!) As we
continued into the DR we were exposed to all the regular, day to day
things, which we completely forgot existed, supermarkets, shops,
restaurants. The DR is not a special place, Haiti is the exception.

I guess being in the DR makes it harder. Unemployment rates in Haiti are
high and those that do have jobs earn an average ANNUAL salary of
$400. Morethan 80% of Haitians live under the poverty line and 7
million people, out of a population of about 10 million, are considered
food insecure. It is not hard to understand why so many Haitians cross the
border into the DR in search of a better life. The man on the corner of the
street shining shoes is Haitian, so is the lady selling bananas and the man
with the cart we bought water from today. Since we arrived in the DR we are
constantly reminded of how unjust this world is.

Today at breakfast, while I stuffed my face with a cream cheese toast and
cereal, I wanted so much for the kids to taste real cheese and milk. I was
imagining them at an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet and how they would
never believe such a thing existed. Last night after my hot shower, as I
lay in bed covered by a feather duvet and with the air conditioner on, I
thought about the kids all curled up together in the Children’s Home.

Don’t get me wrong, I do not feel guilty for my hot shower or my cream
cheese toast and I’m not saying you should either.  I just think this world
is unjust and we shouldn’t sit around doing nothing.

Whatever your cause is, whatever is on your heart, be it Haiti, domestic
violence or the homeless in your neighborhood, don’t just sit around. In
the book of Deuteronomy God instructs the people of Israel how they are to
live in the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 16:20 says, “Follow justice and
justice alone…” I like the Hebrew translation more, it says, “צדק, צדק תרדוף”,
which literally means chase and pursue justice! It will try to get away,
but you are to chase after it!

I pray that justice will be done for the kids!  I miss them so much! I miss
Katelove running down the hill, running past Carl to give me a big morning
hug. I miss the kids showing me all their latest cuts and blisters and
asking for me to clean them and put plasters on. (For you Americans that’s
a Band-Aid). I miss playing and drawing with the younger kids and having
funny conversations with the older ones. I miss being called “Manmi Sigi”.
I miss being Manmi Sigi!