Meet Genilia: Finding Joy in Caring for Others

My name is Genilia, and I have been working at Real Hope for Haiti (RHFH) since January 2022. Caring for people has always been close to my heart, and I truly love the work God has given me to do.

I am the mother of five wonderful children. My parents are both still living, and I come from a large family with five brothers and four sisters. My family and I live in a small one-room house with a porch in Cazale. It is a simple home, but I am thankful for it. I enjoy living in Cazale, and I am grateful that our community has a river nearby where families can get water. I am also a Christian and attend the local Nazarene church, where my faith gives me strength each day.

One experience at RHFH has stayed with me over the years. I was working in the cholera treatment center during a time when Haiti was battling many cases of cholera. As the outbreak came under control, there had been no patients for several months, and the center was preparing to close. On the very last day, I was filled with worry because I did not know how I would provide for my family without a job.

Then, that afternoon, I received wonderful news. I was told that I would continue working at RHFH by helping care for the children in the Rescue Center. I cannot describe how happy and relieved I felt. God had provided a way for me to continue serving others while supporting my family.

Today, I spend my days caring for some of Haiti’s most vulnerable children. Each morning, I help wake the children, change their diapers, and get them ready for breakfast. I feed them Medika Mamba, which helps restore their health and strength. I give them baths, help them settle down for naps, and enjoy watching them laugh and play when they have the energy.

Later, we gather for lunch, and afterward I help bathe the children again before everyone rests. When they wake up, we spend time playing together. Some of the children arrive so weak that they can barely move, but over time I see them smile, gain weight, and become strong enough to run and play again. Watching their healing is one of the greatest joys of my work.

My job at RHFH means so much to me. It allows me to provide food for my family and pay for my children’s education. It also gives me the opportunity to show God’s love by caring for children and adults who are hurting and in need.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please pray that God will keep me and my family healthy and safe, and that He will continue to give me strength as I care for the children and patients He has placed in my life.