Who, What and Where is Real Hope?

by Nancy Wagner

“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.  On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.”   “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” By Edward Mote

The word “hope” is one of those words we often just fling around, isn’t it?  “I hope you have a nice day.”  “Hope to see you again soon.”  “I sure hope you guys have fun.”  But in Cazale, Haiti, hope is more than just a word, it is a rock that people cling to.  A future that could not have been dreamed of.  Jesus is our real hope and Jesus is also bringing real hope to everyone whose lives are touched by the ministry of Real Hope for Haiti.

I will never forget the tour of the clinic on which Lori took me on my first full day at RHFH this past February.  Having watched the online videos and looked at any and every photo I could find over the years as I fell in love with this amazing ministry, I thought I knew what to expect when I finally got to see it all in person.  But videos and photos aren’t living, breathing, hurting and scared, human beings.  From the moment we walked through the clinic door, that’s who I saw.  I know Lori showed me the exam rooms, office and record areas, the pharmacy, storage and supply areas and this all registered as amazingly well ordered and exceptionally efficient with very serious staff working hard in every room we passed through.  It was the sick little boy with the anxious mother, the elderly woman getting her dressing changed, the dad holding his squirming toddler, the pregnant young woman here for her prenatal check who captured my heart.  And it was there in the ObGyn room where Lori told me the story that alternately broke my heart and then pieced it back together again with her story of hope.

Lori told me that when her family first started their ministry in Cazale, they continuously saw babies who weren’t named until they were three to five months old.  The reason was simple but so very tragic:  Babies in the Cazale area were at high risk of death until around the age of three months due to a variety of factors including infected belly buttons, insufficient breast milk and treatable illnesses like fever, pneumonia, and diarrhea with no resources with which to treat them.  Often, their mothers did not want to name them and become too attached lest they lose them as they had perhaps lost other children or expected to lose this one. 

But hope had arrived with the Zachary family.  Slowly but surely pregnant women were educated about and given prenatal care and provided sterile supplies to be used when they gave birth at their homes.  The clinic became known as a place where people cared about the people of Cazale and could really do what must have seemed like miraculous healings.  Now, when newborns come in for their checkups they have names and their parents have hope for their futures.  Praise God and those whom He has equipped to be His hands and feet at Real Hope for Haiti.

I would encourage you to be part of this life giving effort by putting together simple but life saving birthing kits which will go home with each pregnant mom.  Included in the kits are items like alcohol prep pads, umbilical cord tape, hand sanitizer, onesies and a few more vital supplies.  This is a perfect group project for a Bible study, service or young mom’s group or just a group of friends who want to help.  For more information, click on this page.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)