Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

  • Home
  • About
  • DISCLOSURES
    • Amazon Affiliate
    • Book Reviews
  • Published
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Commit Poetry
    • Dared

Haiti: Is It Enough?

November 9, 2015 By Sandra Heska King

 

Sophonie-enough

 

Sophonie scratches words on peach-colored concrete with a sliver of yellow chalk.

She points to them and then to herself. “God. Me. Father. Mother.”

I pull her close and nod. “Yes. God. He’s your father and your mother.”

And He’s enough.

Jeffrey’s fifteen, he says. He speaks English. I ask how long he’s been here at the orphanage. “Two years,” he answers. He carries a Creole-English dictionary.

He and Sophonie speak to each other. “She doesn’t understand you,” he says.

“I know,” I sigh. “We teach each other.”

I want to know his story. But I’m afraid to ask. Afraid to dredge up memories. Afraid I’ll cry. Afraid he might.

I point to a young boy who sits on the bench. A tear pools in the corner of his right eye and trails. He holds his cheek. I bend down, cup his face. “What’s wrong?”

I look up at Jeffrey. They exchange words in Creole. His tooth aches.

I open my mouth, and point to him. I peek in to see what looks like a big cavity in a back molar.

“Rele? What’s your name?”

I don’t understand his words.

“Fafa,” repeats Jeffrey. “F-a-n-f-a-n.”

The “n” is silent.

“Ask him how old he is.”

Fanfan shrugs and shakes his head. Either he won’t tell or he doesn’t know.

“Wait. Stay. Rete.” I go in search of some children’s acetaminophen. I bring back two tablets and tell him to chew. What else can I do?

For a few moments, he stretches out, belly down, on the ledge. I worry that he’ll fall. And then he’s gone.

We sit on the church steps. Ivelor has found a dirty wipe and tears it into small strips to share. I smile big and raise a finger. “One minute.”

I reach into my bag and pull out a packet of Wet Ones®. They’re so excited. They wipe their faces, hands, legs, feet.

It’s one small thing in this one small moment.

“Sing. Sandy. Sing.”

So I sing “Jesus Loves Me.” And “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” And “Amazing Grace.” And “Silent Night.” And whatever else comes to mind.

As they catch the tune of a song they know, they respond in Creole. They’re an angel choir, and their voices flow down this Haitian hill, over the chickens, past the infirmary, and out to sea.

 

from-the-church-enough

 

Later I ask Sophonie where Fanfan is.

She presses her hands together, lays her cheek against them. “Sleep. Fanfan sleep.”

For a few moments he rests, free from pain. But is it enough?

“Sandy, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Sophonie. So much.”

This we understand.

My heart aches. But to be present it this moment, it is enough.

And God’s her father and her mother and her everything.

It is enough.

He is enough.

 

hands-enough

 

In the stillness,

Sandy

 

This post was one of my first “Haiti dispatches” and originally appeared at BibleDude three years ago following my first trip to the orphanage in Jeremie. I’ll return for the fourth time on December 4 (the day of our 44th wedding anniversary) and be there the 5th-12th.

I posted this on Facebook the other day:

It’s been such a busy year for our family–both the good and the bad–that it took me until past the last day to commit to returning to Haiti this year. In fact, I’m leaving home in FOUR WEEKS from today. Yikes.

It’s not the most convenient time for us, especially now, but then it’s not particularly convenient to be an orphan in Haiti. In fact, it’s been an especially hard and transitional year for the kids in Jeremie. Carrying Christmas to them and going to love on them this year may be more important than any other year.

So I go.

It costs me about $2000 since I must get myself to Nashville [in order to join the team from Longhollow Baptist Church.]

A FB friend just messaged me about fundraising. I’ve dragged my feet on this–I quite frankly hate doing it–but if you’d like to help, there’s a way you can AND get a tax deduction as well. Just message me.

I’ve also partnered again with ViBella Jewelry to help fund my trip. I’d love it if you’d join my Facebook party here and order directly through Ambassador Jennifer Davis’ page. Be sure to enter Party #758 at checkout. 30% of all sales will go to help me carry Christmas to Jeremie–to help me hug those kids again and let them know how much they matter. Another portion will help kids at a Haitian orphanage Jennifer sponsors, and the rest goes to help support the artisans who create these beautiful products.

And guys, what a cool way to take care of your Christmas shopping.

Either way… I’d be so grateful if you’d pray for the team and for the families we’ll leave behind when we go.

Thank you!

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Filed Under: Blog, stories

Comments

  1. Kaitlyn says

    November 12, 2015 at 12:31 pm

    I’ve been to Haiti twice and to tell her stories is such a gift. I’m so glad I stumbled on your words here!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 12, 2015 at 9:07 pm

      Welcome, Kaitlyn. I’m so glad to find another Haiti-loving sister. 🙂

  2. Kayla Permewan says

    December 22, 2015 at 7:02 pm

    Loved it. Really interesting stuff. Cheers, have a great day

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Meet Sandra

I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still. Read more…

Get updates from the stillness by email

Your personal information is safe and will never be shared.

Archives

Categories

Instagram Inspiration

sandraheskaking

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final t “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” ~ Philippians 4:8 

#fall #southflorida #hope #thoughts #philippians4 #dayafterelection
“My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in th “My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.” ~ William Wordsworth in “My Heart Leaps Up”

🌈🌈🌈

From my back door and then from the patio. A phone can never capture the true glory of a rainbow. I hope my heart never fails to leap at the wonder of one.
We were monarch parents a couple years back, but o We were monarch parents a couple years back, but our food was not enough to support all our “children.”
🌱
But some were better parents. And next month @tspoetry is celebrating with a garden party. And you are invited. 
🌱

✨ An evening poetry celebration with Dheepa Maturi, Laura Boggess, Jules Jacob, and Sonja Johanson
✨ sign up today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/year-of-the-monarch-garden-party-tickets-1005650847757
✨
This is called a sweetheart plant. I bought it at This is called a sweetheart plant. I bought it at a farmers market in Ponte Vedra in Feb 2023. And it hasn’t done a thing except not die. I did repot it a few months back just cuz I thought it might need it. A few days ago I noticed it was sprouting a sprout. And today—10 days after having my aortic valve replaced and the day after having a loop recorder inserted—it has UNFURLED!!! A new heart. 🩷
Looking west this morning. “Sometime, enough o Looking west this morning. 

“Sometime, enough of us should plan
to gather and form our own
luminous cloud.” ~ Luci Shaw in “The Weight of Air” (from The Generosity)
Security is on the job. Security is on the job.
So after 13 years of checkups and annual echos, it So after 13 years of checkups and annual echos, it's finally come to this. One week from today I will have my aortic valve replaced. Eeeek! I know it's done all the time--piece of cake. But that's to other people. 😂 Speaking of cake, I've always hoped to blow out 100 candles (at least), and I keep singing this line in my head...

"And my heart will go on and on." Thanks to @celinedion. 💕
Hi! Long time, no post. So… I grew this from a Hi! Long time, no post. So…

I grew this from a pineapple top. We repotted it again over the weekend. Still no fruit, though. Our neighbor has a baby growing on a small plant, though. What’s up with that?

(Also, I do not have a green thumb. Currently the only things still living are this, an avocado, and a little Boston fern.)
We got out here early today, but it was already so We got out here early today, but it was already soooooo hot (later on the"feels like" was 110), and I was just plodding one foot in front of the other wishing I was still in bed. There was not much to see--except the crane family, some blackbirds, a dove. And it was buggy. And a deer fly bit me on the forearm, and it swelled up, and I still have a 1- x 3-inch reddened area. But then... a pink parade.
Just snapped a couple photos of a normal looking s Just snapped a couple photos of a normal looking sky from my back patio with my iPhone! I grew up in Michigan and never saw them before! #northernlights #westboca #southflorida
“So they took branches of palm trees and went ou “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” ~ John 12:13
🌴
🌴
PALMS

He had a date with them. ~SHK
🌴
🌴
~ Six words I wrote on my blog in 2015 as part of a daily “One Word Less for Lent” series.
🌴
Photo taken in Israel, 2022.
Dressed for success... Dressed for success...
“Sing, hope, to me” ~favorite line from “The “Sing, hope, to me” ~favorite line from “The First Spring Day” by Christina Rossetti via Every Day Poems and @tspoetry in my email this morning. 
❣️
Whole poem (with lots of favorite lines) here:
❣️
https://open.substack.com/pub/everydaypoems/p/the-first-spring-day?r=3acod&utm_medium=ios
❣️
Wild red poppy anemones from our spring trip to Israel in 2022. And, of course, red is the color of hope. 
❣️
#dipintopoetry #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #tweetspeakpoetry #everydaypoems
Sweet baby colts. Just one parent. Apparently the Sweet baby colts. Just one parent. Apparently the other was hit by a car. 😭💔
Bufo serenade AKA the Ballad of the Bufo Bufo serenade AKA the Ballad of the Bufo
South Florida is confused. South Florida is confused.
“Somehow she learns to breathe.” ~ @gyoung9751 “Somehow she learns to breathe.” ~ @gyoung9751 in “The mermaid breathes,” a woven poem from tweets. In my email today from Every Day Poems via @tspoetry.
🌱 
#dipintopoetry #everydaypoems #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #poetsofig #tweetspeakpoetry
"You have what you need / is what the birds sing a "You have what you need / is what the birds sing all morning" ~ Annie Lighthart in "Conditions of Happiness."
🌱
In my email this morning from 
Every Day Poems via @tspoetry.
🌱
#dipintopoetry #poetry #poetrycommunity #everydaypoems #poem #poetsofinstagram #tweetspeakpoetry
If you’ve made it this far, the rest of the week If you’ve made it this far, the rest of the week should be a snap. #wednesday
Stay behind me. I’ll protect you. No worries. So Stay behind me. I’ll protect you. No worries. So will all those shots. Mostly.
🦝
D still has PTSD from the Great Possibly Rabid Raccoon Brouhaha of 2021.
Follow on Instagram

Get the Mug

Embrace the life you have t s poetry mug

Privacy Policy

Full privacy policy is available HERE.

I Read Light

TSP-Red button

bibledude-net



Sponsor a Child

Join the Compassion Blogger Network

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2025 Sandra Heska King · Site by The Willingham Enterprise, LLC on the Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Log in