Seven years ago, Shednaylove Honoré entered Lazarus Academy Haiti as a quiet, uncertain child. At just 3 years old, she lost her mother when she passed away suddenly. Without a father in her life, Shednaylove was taken in by her grandmother, who already had a full household to care for.

I believe in the words of Christ, when he said, “I have come so that they may have life, and a life in abundance.” Abundance does not mean wealth, abundance in its most basic sense can mean that I have left-overs from supper tonight. If I truly believe that I am His ambassador of Christ, then as his representative I’m called to ensure that his words are made real to all people. Abundance is an abundance on all levels, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, it’s not partially abundant, it’s not a qualified abundance, it is abundance.

Imagine walking for three years through foreign lands with different languages and different cultures. You’re not part of a reality show nor part of a forced foreign military campaign, but you were indeed forced into this journey, you are traveling against your will, as if you’d fallen in a raging river, a river of poverty, and you’re being swept downstream.

Haiti is many things, but one thing it is NOT, a lost cause. For every American who looks a lot like me and who has a similar ancestry as I do, our ancestors likely played a small role in stacking the deck against this small Caribbean island. But all of our families’ small roles cabined had an enormous impact.