confusion about nature vs. nurture vs. nurture

His eyes burst with uncontainable hope! A hope that only radiates from those with infinite immagination, infinite potential. His eyes say seven, his history argues. His dimples flash with unmatchable joy! A joy that only springs from those that have incomparable gratitude for every gift. His dimples say seven, his history argues. His laughter rings with unbridled energy! An energy that only projects from those who adore the moment and never stress the next. His laughter says seven, his history argues.

Undeniably he is a child, undeniably only by a miracle he has retained his youth. Those eyes that encompass so much hope, have witnessed more depravity than what most men could endure. Those dimples that embody such joy have too many times felt the sting of uncontrolled emotion. And those lips that continually emit such bliss in laughter, do so entirely in contrast to what his circumstances should elicit.

Growing up under the “care” of a notorious gangster in Port-Au-Prince this boy has been exposed to nearly nothing besides a dog eat dog mentality. To him abuse doesn’t seem a rarity but a custom. His mother, fathers girlfriends, uncountable siblings, himself merely exist as outlets to the rage of a pathetic man and a cruel society. At home others have been portrayed as little more than resources one would use to better themselves. People are painted into clients whose addictions should be utilized for profit, peons whose poverty should be manipulated to get dirty work done, women whose vulnerability should be exploited for an instants lust. Wherever you turn this child’s world offers a depiction of life as nothing more than a rat race, a desperate scramble to make what one can for oneself regardless of others. In his world it would seem all that has value is in bringing pleasure to oneself.

The resonating voice of man though, has not drowned out his love. His eyes still hope, his smile still beams his laugh still resounds. At preschool I’ve watched him sprint his hardest simply so he might push a kid on a trike. I’ve caught him walk away from breakfast to carry a toddler to the bathroom. I’ve seen him abandon toys to pick up his friends. I’ve spotted his eyes light up as a bible story hits home and inspires new thinking. I’ve heard him surrender pride to say sorry, to right his wrongs.

No human influence could preserve this boys youth the way it has been preserved. No human display could persuade this child to reject all he has witnessed in life, to believe everything advertised to him as treasure is garbage compared to life’s potential. And yet frequently this kid tosses aside earthly comforts in order to bless those around him. If I said the world hasn’t taken it toll on him, it would be a lie, his innocence has taken blows, there are struggles and there are hurts, he understands more than any boy should. But God has protected his youth, built in him an empathy that acts, that loves. I own that I don’t have the power to protect his hope, joy, energy or love so I pray that as he sheds his youth God will continue to build his faith and his heart for others. God will continue giving him the strength to toss aside the ways of his earthly father and embrace those of his Heavenly Father.

This profile is only the surface of one story, one story of one child of eighty in preschool here. Eighty kids, exposed to depravity that seems to have this nation trapped, inescapably. These kids need lots of uplifting, lots of prayer, all of this nation does. I’m asking everyone for prayer and I’d like to challenge you to check out Maranatha’s sponsorship program. The sponsorship program is incredible theres no overhead because there is no staff state side, all your money goes to to buying kids food, curriculum, toys and paying their Haitian teachers. Check it out http://mcmhaiti.org/getinvolved.php Thanks!