It’s not natural. It’s not even remotely right. No mother should have to bury her child.
But Melicia is begging for the chance to do just that.
Her family was at home when the earthquake hit Port-au-Prince. In a panic, she gathered her children and rushed them toward the door. But her six-year old son Simon Peter got scared and ran the other direction, back into the house.
That’s when the cinder block construction gave way to the twisting and jolting. It collapsed.
Simon did not make it out. And now Melicia has to live with the horrifying reality that the body of her six-year old son is still trapped in the rubble of her home. Crews have not made it to her neighborhood to start digging bodies out of the debris. The recovery work is too dangerous at this time.
Melicia and her other children are living in a squatter’s tent camp at the Church of God headquarters just a few blocks away from her home. Just blocks away from her son’s body. But seemingly miles away from being able to give him what she wants so desperately: a proper burial.
And she can’t even afford to feed her surviving children. “We have nothing,” she says, her voice cracking with desperation, “I have nobody to rescue me.”
But amazingly, the one possession Melicia does have is her faith. And it’s an astounding faith at that.
She says, “The same Lord who provided for me before will do the same for me again.”
She’s right. God will provide. And he’s doing it with your help, generous donors who are stepping up in this time of need.
As the result of your donations, this weekend we are mobilizing 500,000 pounds of relief supplies to families like Melicia’s. A medical team will be on the ground in Port-au-Prince to help with injuries—both physical and emotional.
We’ll help Melicia feed her children…and counsel her through this difficult time. We’ll even provide counseling for her surviving children.
We can’t completely restore Melicia’s family. But we can provide rescue for those who have survived this terrible tragedy. Pray. Give. Tell someone else to do the same.
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Melicia’s story breaks my heart, and yet I am amazed at her faith! Do she and her children have food now? I pray she will see God provide quickly, in answer to all her prayers!
I know what is like to lose someone special because i lost my parents in an earth quake and it was so so sad. Thank you very much.
I have tears streaming down my cheeks. These tragic events put all of my complaints into perspective, and only proves I am spoiled and have no room to complain about anything. I lack faith over the simplest things yet this beautiful, grieving woman clings to her Savior.
Thank you for sharing her story.
And she can’t even afford to feed her surviving children. “We have nothing,” she says, her voice cracking with desperation, “I have nobody to rescue me.”
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That broke my heart.
Family and friends are asking me why I read/watch the news updates about Haiti if it makes me cry and get so upset…. I can’t understand why they don’t….
I think too many people view real life like a “reality” show…. where they focus on a situation for one or two episodes and then let it slip their minds. Because, after all, there will always be a new episode! (having said that… I just want to say that I don’t really watch reality shows! Just an example… )
However, in the instance of the devastation Haiti is still experiencing… we cannot just rely on prayers and hopes that things will turn out right. These people need empathy and attention to their ongoing plight and they will need much assistance in the coming months/years.
I read the news because the miracles that come out of the destruction are what gives me hope. I continue to read the news so that I don’t let the plight of these people fade to the back pages of my own mind… like they are starting to fade from CNN’s homepage and many others.
So that I don’t forget the Melicias… even though it makes me cry. 🙁
And so that I remember that a trip to Subway or a new book is NOT as important as continuing to send money (even a little bit!) every paycheck to help RESCUE someone who feels like they have no one else…
thank you for posting this.
Is there a way to send letters and cards to families that are a part of the Compassion program. I would love to be able to send a note to Melicia telling her that I am praying for her and to encourage as she walks through this journey. I can and have sent money, and I am praying.
Thank you for sharing this very sad story – putting names and faces to this tragedy is so important. God bless them.