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Writer's picturemyLIFEspeaks

Four Gum Balls and Eleven Cents (A COVID-19 Poem)

Updated: Aug 25, 2021

I was struggling to write an update to our supporters and mLs family about the current situation with COVID-19 in Haiti and the suffering around the world as a whole. Words can’t do justice to the magnitude, heaviness, but also the glimmering hope. 


When Mike messaged me with the number breakdowns from the market on Monday about how it costs only $1.11 a day to provide a LIFE-sustaining meal for a child, elderly, or vulnerable person in our commUNITY and their families too - this poem naturally flowed out of that.


Perspective and a way to help became concrete. $1.11 at a time.


— Sydney, myLIFEspeaks

 

For 4 and a half gum balls

One dollar and 11 cents

One family will eat today

In their metal roof tents


The world is scary right now

And nothing seems clear

One thing we do know

God won’t leave us here


We all hurt the same

No population is spared

We’re in this together

You’re in our deepest prayers


We too need your prayers

To protect Haitian lives

As we all do our part

In this race against time


We made hand washing stations

From materials on-hand

We’re passing out prayer cards

In Christ we will stand


Social distancing is tough

In Haiti, against cultural norm

But our village heeds the advice

to weather this storm.


The streets mostly empty,

mainly dogs and stray chickens,

a rare but hopeful sight,

as a pandemic thickens.


Our programs have halted

Campus doors temporarily closed

But our commitment to FAMILY

And commUNITY only grows


Pounds of beans, rice, and oil

Bagged lovingly by hand,

As we pray over each person,

pray over our land.


229 weekly meal bags,

individually handed out,

to those most in need,

so they won’t go without.


We will do this each week,

until we see a clear end.

Will you consider helping us provide for our friends?


Our God is bigger, stronger,

and He is in control.

He knows the needs

and the depths of every soul.


We hang on His Promises,

we cling to His word.

we know every prayer, cry, and heart

is seen and is heard.


We are not leaving Haiti,

we will not be shook.

We serve the God of miracles,

we hold tightly to His Book.


It is in this dark suffering,

one world together we stand

A true global family,

united virtually hand-in-hand.


With heavy hearts and as humble servants

we ask you prayerfully consider

4 gum balls and some cents.

 

To give now, visit us at: https://www.mylifespeaks.com/give





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