A little over five years ago, I went on my first trip to Haiti. Our trip was filled with vacation Bible school (VBS), clothing distributions and work around the mission. This trip is one that I will never forget for many reasons, and one of those reasons is Wholehearted Orphanage. We only spent a few hours with the kids there, playing soccer and duck, duck goose. But those few hours led to a lasting relationship that has blessed me beyond belief.
Wholehearted Orphanage is a nonprofit orphanage located in Fond Parisien, Ouest, Haiti. It is home to two house parents and 12 children.The kids that are of age are in school at Haitian Christian Mission. They are learning every day what it means to be part of a family and given responsibilities around the home. Some are involved in sports. Their faith is being fostered through prayer and study time.
The mission of Wholehearted Orphanage is to "provide a safe, loving, Christ-centered environment." In my experience, that is exactly what I saw.
On our trips to Haiti the last two years, we spent most of our time with the kids at Wholehearted. Our time with them is always filled with some sort of adventure; from pottery classes, to playing on the playground, to movie nights. I could tell you countless stories of celebrating, worshipping and serving with these kids. I could tell you how they love to have dance parties, putting on skits and singing at the top of their lungs. I could tell you all about their abundant joy that comes only from the Lord. But what I really want to share with you all is that this home is filled with 12 beautiful children- and each of them have a story.
Their stories, so far and somehow, have brought them to Wholehearted Orphanage. While the road that led them there was hard, God brought them to this home doing good work in their lives. He redeemed them from those situations and is redeeming them each and every day. They are more than their past, more than "just an orphan." At Wholehearted, they are known. They are loved. They are part of a sweet family and now have hopes for the future that they didn't have before.
Wholehearted Orphanage is currently in the midst of a huge and exciting project, expanding from one home to eight homes. The hope is to be able to house 96 children, 2 parents and 12 kids in each home. In a recent video talking about the expansion, Mary-Leigh Zahn (founder) said this: "We're not satisfied in just sustaining life only, we long to cultivate it. It's our dream to see our children create life-giving change and make a difference in their communities." This dream is beautiful and real and fully possible, and it is made possible through the support of people like you and me.
So here's what I ask of you: pray. Pray hard for the home that Wholehearted currently has, and for the children that will come to live in the new homes, someday. Consider giving support to help cultivate life and help make dreams happen. If you have a few minutes, I would encourage you to take the time to watch this video that explores a little deeper the history and future of Wholehearted Orphanage.
