Two years ago, at 4:53 in the afternoon on January 12, 2010, the earth shrugged and added another chapter to the sequence of tragedies that define Haiti’s history. A devastating 7 magnitude earthquake killed an estimated 300,000 people, destroyed 80 percent of the capital city of Port-au-Prince and left more than a million . . . → Read More: 2nd anniversary of the devastating earthquake]]> Dear friends, donors, supporters…

Two years ago, at 4:53 in the afternoon on January 12, 2010, the earth shrugged and added another chapter to the sequence of tragedies that define Haiti’s history. A devastating 7 magnitude earthquake killed an estimated 300,000 people, destroyed 80 percent of the capital city of Port-au-Prince and left more than a million Haitians homeless. Nearly all public buildings were destroyed, and with them much of a generation of civil servants, doctors, nurses, engineers, professors and students. The world responded immediately and with a generosity and for a while things looked optimistic for the future. Today, two years later, the outlook for Haiti’s future is probably worse than ever. The poorest country of the Western hemisphere before the earthquake, today is the poorest country in the whole wide world. The media spotlight has moved away from Haiti. Cameras are gone, controversy related to human rights, lousy conditions in tent cities are old news but for most of Haitians everyday life. The big international entities with histories in Haiti, like the U.N. and the United Nations Development Program, remain, but much of the promised aid money was never delivered and Haiti is more desperate than ever. The consensus, in Haiti and abroad, is that little progress has been made, and a sense of pessimism has enveloped the country and its million-strong overseas community.
But beyond disappointment at the slow progress of reconstruction, many Haitians and Haitian Americans have begun to lose faith. Politics, racial issues and different interests need to be overcome for this poor Caribbean nation of 10 million to move forward.
It breaks my heart seeing these proud people drowning deeper and deeper but still trying to stay on the surface. At the same time it fills my heart with pride and hope seeing how much we have done with your help and prayers for the most needy ones. Blessed are you and your generous hearts for providing a better life for our Haitian orphans and truly making a difference in this world.

Thank you, God bless you and Haiti

Baby Widson is our youngest orphan. He came to us when he was only 22 days old. His mother died while delivering him, and his father gave him away because he wasn’t able to feed him. Widson was our Easter carol, and this Christmas is going to be his first . . . → Read More: “She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.” Lk 2.]]> Our youngest wishes you a merry Christmas

Baby Widson is our youngest orphan. He came to us when he was only 22 days old. His mother died while delivering him, and his father gave him away because he wasn’t able to feed him. Widson was our Easter carol, and this Christmas is going to be his first Christmas with the only family he will ever know. Like baby Jesus, there was no room for him when he came to this world, but Lord found a place for this little soul and gave him a home in our orphanage among 47 others with similar destinies.

Today, Widson is a wonderful baby  with the biggest eyes I’ve ever seen, and he has conquered our hearts for good. I was holding him in my arms today and told him the story of the most holy birth, of our little Lord. He was staring at me without blinking, almost as if he understood what I was talking about. So, he was given to us, warmed our hearts and souls and us brought new joy, and every time I look at him I find purpose all over again…

So please, keep your faith and cherish it, we need you, this baby needs you… all our kids need you…

Once again, if Widson could talk, I’m sure he’ d thank you and wish you a wonderful Christmas.

God bless you!

“Don’t be afraid!” Angel said.
“I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior yes, the Messiah, the Lord  has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”  Luke 2.

Wishes for a merry Christmas from the Children

Dear friends, supporters, donors…

Our big family: all the kids, nannies, volunteers, our staff in New Jersey and wider, on behalf of Croatian Relief Services, wish you all a Merry and blessed Christmas, may baby Jesus bring you joy and happiness, continue to . . . → Read More: Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas…]]> Jean Richard, Edly & Lovely singing Christmas song

Wishes for a merry Christmas from the Children

Dear friends, supporters, donors…

Our big family: all the kids, nannies, volunteers, our staff in New Jersey and wider, on behalf of Croatian Relief Services, wish you all a Merry and blessed Christmas, may baby Jesus bring you joy and happiness, continue to bless your hearts, homes and your dearest ones.

We are endlessly  grateful to you for helping these wonderful and amazing children in building their futures, giving them hope for a better life and changing the perspective of this sad country. As we cannot thank you enough, we know Jesus will thank you for us…

Happy and blessed holidays with best wishes,

Croatian Relief Services

After two months spent home in Croatia, I came back to my second family here in Port-au-Prince.

This time I was accompanied with Elizabeta Letincic, a 27 year old religion teacher from Zagreb as well as pastor Tomislav Debelic from the Croatian island of Susak, and father Gio’s parishioner  Mr. Albino.

Pastor Tomislav and Albino . . . → Read More: Home is where your heart is]]> Dear friends and supporters,

This time I was accompanied with Elizabeta Letincic, a 27 year old religion teacher from Zagreb as well as pastor Tomislav Debelic from the Croatian island of Susak, and father Gio’s parishioner  Mr. Albino.

Pastor Tomislav and Albino stayed with us for 5 days on their 1st visit to Haiti. As they both said, it’s very difficult to try to explain to people how chaotic, desperate and poor this island and it’s people are. And at the same time, they both agreed they’ve never seen so much willingness and hope to still go further no matter how bad obstacles on that road might be. And they are bad, trust me.

We all visited the shelter and hospital of Missionaries of Charity here in Port-au-Prince where we spent some time with the most needy ones, malnourished children.

“Bondye wè tout bagay, e li pa ta dwe frisonen …” (God sees everything (and he wouldn’t be thrilled… if I do that) came out of Faustin’s mouth when I asked him to kill a cockroach that scared me. Even though he wasn’t comfortable that he had to refuse my wish, he looked at me straight in the eyes . . . → Read More: Give, and you will receive more rewards than you can imagine]]>

Manis

“Bondye wè tout bagay, e li pa ta dwe frisonen …” (God sees everything (and he wouldn’t be thrilled… if I do that) came out of Faustin’s mouth when I asked him to kill a cockroach that scared me. Even though he wasn’t comfortable that he had to refuse my wish, he looked at me straight in the eyes and said no. But, immediately I was the one that felt ashamed. This boy is seventeen, his mother died when he was a baby, his father is terminally ill and lives far in a province. Faustin doesn’t go to school, but he is grateful for a job he does and strongly believes that God has His reasons for creating things the way they are. And he is truly happy, truly faithful and one of the best people I’ve ever met. And he taught me and teaches me every day what Jesus taught us and wanted us to follow. Of love and respect, every day, all the time. All the creatures. I apologized immediately for even asking him to do that…
I had lessons in my life, some were bad, some were great. But I never had a lesson like this one from a seventeen year old boy. And I’m so grateful for it. Teach people to love and then you won’t have to punish them, ever. Teach your children to love and you’ll secure their future. Trust me, I never felt closer to what Jesus teaches us, then when I’m in Haiti. Life in Haiti is so much more intense, in every possible way. Seeing outrageous poverty, famine and at the same time extraordinary ability of surviving, taught me not to take things and people for granted. Not to take life for granted. Because today you are, and today you might not be. And all that counts is how much you loved and been loved. And that includes helping somebody/anybody who needs your help. We have a luxury of chance, of making choices. Thank God. Well, Haiti doesn’t. Haiti made me to make my choices and decisions wiser and with more courage and compassion. And I thank God every day for that. In Haiti, when you are hungry, you die. If you are sick, you die. If you don’t have water, you’ll get sick and then you die.
Life is very plain in Haiti. And when the sky is clear, you get the better picture, right? So, my lesson was very clear to me. And I’m so proud that this kid taught me a lesson for life, that through ‘very everyday’ situation he reminded me to love and respect every God’s creature, because I do not have right to take life, I do not know which day is my last day and because I’m here to help to preserve life, from every possible aspect.

And, basically, because life is much better when you try to be better. When you give your best, all the time, as much as you can…
So Junior (21), Faustin (17), and Manis (24) are kids that taught me how to live better and how to try to be better without expecting anything in return. Because – give and you will receive more rewards than you can imagine.

And thank You all for helping us to help them… God bless you!

Dear friends, supporters and donors, As we got five new members of our big and merry family in the orphanage, we are in urgent need for some extra mattrasses, tables for eating and shoes for the kids. And, most of all, we need food. As world crisis is worsening, as we are witnessing famine . . . → Read More: “Give the world the best you have anyway…”]]>

Antoine

Dear friends, supporters and donors,
As we got five new members of our big and merry family in the orphanage, we are in urgent need for some extra mattrasses, tables for eating and shoes for the kids. And, most of all, we need food. As world crisis is worsening, as we are witnessing famine and suffer in countries on the African horn, Haiti is struggling as well to catch a breath. As Mother Theresa said, Haiti was then the poorest spot in the world, well, now is even worse. After hurricane Emily strucked us a week ago and left a few victims in her deadly raid, things are not getting any better for Haitians.
Constant fear of new colera epidemy with every heavier rain, and the economy crisis that still shakes world, these people desperately need help.
Please help us, please don’t ignore our appeal.

If you are willing to respond our appeal, please send needed items or your donation on the following address:

Croatian Relief Services

225 Anderson Avenue, Fairview, New Jersey

Or donate on a link on the left side on the homepage

Today, 5 year old Emmerson (who cales him Comandant) told me he doesn’t like his rubber sandals anymore because he cannot run around in them and they hurt him. Basically, his sandals are so worn out and I remembered my nephews and all those comfort sandals and shoes so their little feet would be comfortable and I felt somewhat ashamed. ‘Cause sometimes we are so ignorant about things we own and have, and still take everything for granted.
But the beauty of being here and seeing this children so unspoiled, so wonderful in their cluelessness of the outerworld, is suprising me every day… And that’s the most valuable gift I could’ve got by coming here. But, at the same time that’s what make me so utterly sad. I’m seeing here kids with potential to move mountains, to become world known doctors and maybe scientists, though I know they won’t get a chance to make it. So next time you send us a check, just imagine pizza and a pair of new sandals in front of one of our orphans. Or just sleep well knowing you are not ignorant on pain and suffer of others.

Thank you for your compassion and help, and God bless you all

Neighborhood stories are somehow part of everyday life… We all want to know what’s happening in a household next to ours, and if it includes some juicy story, well, the more the merrier… You know what that means- that middle aged neighbor that makes awesome brownies and extraordinary barbecue, but her son always gets . . . → Read More: Neighbourhood stories…]]>

Jackson

Neighborhood stories are somehow part of everyday life… We all want to know what’s happening in a household next to ours, and if it includes some juicy story, well, the more the merrier… You know what
that means- that middle aged neighbor that makes awesome brownies and extraordinary barbecue, but her son always gets into trouble… Or the other one, not-so-friendly plumber that always puts his music on loudest. Yes, we always complain about neighbors. But, how many of yours neighbors actually need your help? How many of them have no house, sleep on the street, have no funds, their children are in the orphanage…? Probably none. Or you would call police if these people would wander your neighborhood. Well, neighborhood in Haiti would then be called “behind the enemy lines”. All my “neighbors” are people without basic things needed for at least decent life.
And I don’t call police on them. They don’t make loud music, actually they don’t make music at all because they don’t have the device on which they could play it. They don’t make cookies because most of them have nothing to eat on a daily basis. Their children are in orphanages all over Haiti and they visit them when they miraculously make some money. But, believe it or not, they are nice people. They smile at me, they go to church every Sunday, they are friendly and I bet they would invite me to stop by if they had decent chair to offer me or a piece of bread, cookie, or at least a glass of water.
Jackson St. Charles is 67 year old man who lost literally everything in the earthquake. His family (wife and two sons) were swept off in a single minute, his home disappeared in ruins of the city and his legs  were trapped under one of blocks. Today, he lives on an improvised bed hidden from curious eyes with couple of dirty flower-printed sheets. He cannot walk because his spine is diagnosed with severe damages. Therapy is very expensive and he hardly gets enough to feed himself. But at the end of day this gentleman does not whine over his destiny. “Good people help me and if this is God’s will, so be it”, says Mr. Saint Charles in his mild voice. Should I mention that good people he’s talking about are his neighbors, most of them also destituted and in need of everything.
Or Lisa, 33 year old mum of three wonderful girls. Her husband died in an earthquake, so now all four of them live in a 2 square meters of ground with tent cloth around them. Lisa’s only wish is to find a job or “I’ll have to send my girls away”, she says with a frightened grin.  Soon she leaves because her “next door” neighbor asked her to take care of her kids for half an hour…
I’m telling you, very decent neighborhood.  Much more decent than every single one I saw back home in Europe or in the States.  Kid’s play  on muddy “streets” and gets lost in one of thousands of tents. Beautiful girl with Down syndrome blesses me with her best smile. Same to you, God’s wonder. Women are doing their hair next to sewage and garbage where at the same time some witty boy is shouting he found a shoe. All the other kids in a second gather around like he found a gem stone. On the corner that looks like some kind of tiniest square in the world , women are complaining how their men are “never there when you need them”. Pretty much the same as your own “hood”, right? It’s just that here you can hear their stories louder because there is no isolation in their tent “houses”, no things to hide or to be ashamed of, because  most of them share one same sad story, and it’s not juicy at all, it’s more like one of scenarios for the good horror movie.   I remembered a lot of my neighbors back home and when I go home, I’ll visit them and bring some good homemade pie and tell them about my neighbors in Haiti.   Maybe that will make us to be better to each other, less judgemental and more ready to help all our neighbors all over the world, because the whole world is basically our home, I guess…
And we never know who’s hand we might look for to help us in our future need…

Bridnia  is little “Mom”  to all our orphans at Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac Center in Bon Repos, Haiti.   The rest of the orphans often call her “Mama” so her nick name became Mama. She is 9 years old and she is really  amazing child.  So loving and caring for all our orphans, especially she . . . → Read More: Urgent appeal!]]>

Bridnia

Bridnia  is little “Mom”  to all our orphans at Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac Center in Bon Repos, Haiti.   The rest of the orphans often call her “Mama” so her nick name became Mama. She is 9 years old and she is really  amazing child.  So loving and caring for all our orphans, especially she loves the little ones and serves them  faithfully.  Often you will see her feeding the little ones who are not able to eat by themselves.   She is the most needy young girl at Cardinal Stepinac Orphanage in Bon Repos, Haiti.   She is a girl filled with God-given compassion for the suffering orphans even though she herself  is an orphan.
Bridnia has recently been diagnosed with eye cataract on both of her eyes.  We began to notice that she has a sight problem.  Often she requests to help her get where she needs to go.   When we took her to the doctor she was diagnosed as having cataract in the advanced stage.  Cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light. Early in the development of age-related cataract the power of the lens may be increased, causing near-sightedness (myopia), and the gradual yellowing and specification of the lens may reduce the perception of blue colors.  Cataracts typically progress very slowly and they contribute to loss of vision  and the person could get blind if untreated. The condition usually affects both eyes, but in most cases  one eye is affected earlier than the other.  Things are worsening every day and if we don’t take her to the hospital for a surgery   Bridnia will shortly loose her sight be blind on both of her eyes for the rest of her life.

Since there is no social medicine nor medical insurance in Haiti Croatian Relief is sending out the appeal to the people of heart to help Bridnia.  We must do this immediately because she will soon
loose her eye sight. We must act immediately because her condition is getting worse each day.

You may send your donation for Bridnia to:

Croatian Relief Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 355
Fairview, NJ 07022

On your tax deductible check memo, please write “Bridnia”.  We will use that donation for Bridnia’s
eye surgery.  This is a short, but honest and urgent plead for you to help her because her time is running out fast.

If you would like to see Bridnia, you can log in at www.croatianrelief.org

Thank you and God bless you for helping us save Bridnia’s sight.

Dear Sponsors, God-parents, Donors & Friends,

It has been a week, now, since I have come back to Haiti.  Temperatures are outrageously high and all wild life in form of snakes, mice, bugs, lizards, etc, seem to have found a cozy place in our compound.   Kids are magical, as always.  When I arrived at the orphanage, all . . . → Read More: Five “rookies” and all about Love]]>

5 rookies

Dear Sponsors, God-parents, Donors & Friends,

It has been a week, now, since I have come back to Haiti.  Temperatures are outrageously high and all wild life in form of snakes, mice, bugs, lizards, etc, seem to have found a cozy place in our compound.   Kids are magical, as always.  When I arrived at the orphanage, all 50 of them ran to me with a hug and my heart literally sang. We have five newcomers, 5 wonderful girls whose parents are destitute and not able to take care of them. All of them are very shy, but very affectionate and I got kiss as soon as I hugged them .
As well, I felt so much love when I arrived and saw my security boys with their shining smiles as they saw me coming.  We became friends in those first months and I could see that they truly missed me.  “God, I missed all this,” was the first thought that crossed my mind when I stepped off the plane. Basically with Haiti, you either love it, or you hate it.  I was tricked.  Even though the beginning was rather discouraging, I fell in love with it without knowing, and now believe it is for a lifetime.

Poverty, hunger and death on every step were things that left me many times sad, many nights sleepless and many hours half-hearted.  Now, I just know I have to keep trying, never giving up and staying positive.  That is the reason why I am sure you are going to recognize how needy these kids are.  School is about to start in September.  We have fundamentals, but nothing else. We desperately need money to start the school and I simply refuse to think that we are not going to make it without your help.  These children HAVE to go to school. Their education is the ONLY hope they have.  I am perfectly aware that people are fed up with their own problems, but, speaking from my own shoes, it is such a good feeling to help someone and finally see the results of the effort you put into it.  So, I am pleading for donations to help us build that school, and solve the problem with the sewage and water.

Jean Richard is 12 years old.  He is a wonderful and extremely intelligent boy who told me he really wants to go to school.  Can we seriously remain deaf and blind on his sincere wish just to go to school?   As much as I know that times are rough, I also know your hearts are caring and you are going to hear us and help us as you have been helping until now.As well, thank you for your generosity and compassion.

Whoever wants to enter our God-parenting Program, let us know through mail or e-mail.  Those who are already God-parents, if you wish, you can send a present or a personal letter to your God-child through Croatian Relief Services.  We’ll make sure they get your presents and good wishes.

Thank you,

Sandra & Kids

God bless you all!