The Desires of Your Heart (Roseline Part 2)

About a year ago, in 2009, I wrote about a little girl that I met in Haiti on the first trip with Project Eden, an organization that will eradicate poverty in that nation, one community at a time. Her name, I later found out was Roseline. She touched my heart and changed me forever. I began to sponsor her through an organization in the United States, and hoped that I would get to know her. I was really expecting the kind of child sponsorship relationship that would have included updated pictures, multiple letters, maybe even a phone call. Turns out, it was not like that at all. The communications from the organization were pretty general, and included a picture of Roseline, and campaigns and requests for additional funds for other projects. I did receive one handwritten letter though, but it didn’t have my name on it, so it too was general.

Fast forward to this year, 2010, when the devastating earthquake occurred in January, I was able to contact the organization via email and Facebook and find out the status of Roseline and the others at the orphanage. None were hurt physically, Glory to God! In the spring, as planning began for the second trip to Haiti, I was not even sure that my budget could handle the cost of the trip. I kind of did and kind of didn’t want to go. I had so many life-changing experiences on the first trip and I did desire to possibly see Roseline again. The PE fundraising team provided us with guidelines to raise funds for our trip, and my campaign was successful.

As I began to pack and plan for the trip, I was not sure whether or not we would be visiting the orphanage where Roseline lives. I considered picking up lots of gifts and toys especially for her, but then realized that it was probably not a good idea to try to shower one when there were now literally, thousands of people including even more orphans on the grounds where the orphanage is located. As I strolled through a local drug store, I looked for a small gift just in case. I saw a shelf full of small water and glitter filled balls, and grabbed a gold one…just in case.

The team set off on Sunday 7/25. The week was jam packed with activities including a visit to the compound to speak to all of the youth on Friday 7/30. I packed my backpack with snacks and water for the trip and also the small glitter ball….just in case.

When we got to the compound I was not prepared for the sight of so many makeshift tents filled with displaced Haitians from the surrounding community. As far as the eye could see, the once grassy open land was filled. When the earthquake struck, and people saw that the buildings within the walls of the compound did not collapse, the people wanted to be within the ark of safety. We toured the area and then headed off to the now outdoor classrooms. I was somewhat excited because I figured that surely I would see Roseline. As we turned the corner, I saw many girls…dressed exactly alike in adorable turquoise uniforms and white barrettes and ribbons. Uh oh!

We were paired in teams and had to go to several classrooms to tell the children about our profession, and speak life into them. In each of the three classrooms that my teammate Demitrus and I spoke to, I scanned every face, but didn’t see Roseline. I considered asking our guide if he knew her, but he was seriously multi-tasking acting as guide and also handling other responsibilities. He would be with us one moment and then dash off. I was mildly discouraged as we began to wrap up our visit. We all gathered and were given candy to distribute to each classroom. I walked back towards one of the classrooms that we had addressed and began to pass out candy to the children. As I walked along to another room, I heard one of my teammates, LaMeisha, call out, “Here she is Yolanda!” She had found Roseline! I ran over and she immediately shyly leaned forward as if to put her head down, the way that little girls do. Through the interpreter, I asked if she remembered me. She said that she did, and continued to smile shyly. By this time the team was being summoned to leave. I asked her teacher if it was ok to give her something and she said yes. I reached into my bag and gave her the glitter ball. She accepted it and continued to smile. I had the interpreter to ask if she would take a picture with me. She agreed and we hurriedly posed and my friend Betty took the picture. I then hugged her and told the interpreter to tell her that I prayed for her everyday and that I loved her. I then rushed off to finish up our visit to the compound.

My heart was absolutely singing. I never asked LaMeisha to look for Roseline. As I think about it, though, it’s not surprising that LaMeisha found her, after all she was the one who first noticed that Roseline was following me around on our first trip. The Lord knew the desire of my heart. The Amplified version of Psalm 37:4 says Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. I didn’t even have to speak it. And He again used LaMeisha, to take notice and make the connection. So awesome!



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