ABOUT US
OUR BEGINNINGS
STAFF
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If a person were to look back across the years and meditate upon what God has used to create and build
Haiti Children's Home, it would take no stretch of the imagination to see how the persons in the story closely
resemble the loaves and fishes of the small boy that Christ used to feed the five thousand.
Patricia Smith, the founder of the Haiti Children's Home, was born to alcoholic parents and by the age of
two had become quite accustomed to spending time in orphanages. Her early childhood memories include waiting
for visits from her parents, the depression of their absence and the feelings of rejection when they didn't
take her home. Bar rooms, lonely beaches and being sent off to the movies were part of everyday life, anything
to get the little girl out of the way.
As she grew, Patricia developed a deep love for pure and clean things and dreamed of the day she could be a
'holy' person. Often when she played she would parade around with a towel over her head pretending to be a nun
because to her they represented everything that was holy and pure. When Patricia was ten years old, her mother
took her to the convent so she could begin learning how to live as a nun. When they arrived, the Mother Superior
was gone and no one could be admitted in her absence.
Patricia's mother did not want to wait until the Mother
Superior came back, so she took her to a nearby children's home instead. At this children's home
Patricia was encouraged to attend the little Methodist church down the street, and that is where she first
learned of Jesus and was saved. By age fourteen, Patricia was forced to abandon her schooling due to her
responsibilities at the children's home. Laundry, cleaning, and bedtime prayers all became her
responsibilities. She was the oldest child, so she was expected to help out. She developed a very close bond
with many of the children, and she developed a deep love for children that continues to this day. God was
preparing His servant.
Patricia went on to begin a career as a nurse's aid at age sixteen. She began working with children in a
long-term care facility in New Jersey. By time she was in her late twenties, she was the night-charge aide and
managed the floor with no nurses. Once again, God was preparing her for years down the road. At age
twenty-one, God gave Patricia a vision. She saw herself working in the mountains caring for black children, but
the identity of the place was not revealed to her. She went on through her life working at 'unskilled' jobs
doing what seemed to others as menial tasks. But one thing was always apparent, her love for children.
Patricia went on to adopt two children in New Jersey and raise them. The children were both victims of
unfortunate circumstances, and Patricia opened her heart and home to them. Patricia's house was always busy with
the sound of children. All the neighborhood children knew they were always welcome, and often her home became
a haven for those going through difficult times at home.
Finally, when she was 46 years old, God began to reveal His ultimate plan to Patricia. A missionary from Haiti
came to the Bible school where Patricia was volunteering as a cook and presented Haiti's needs to the church.
During the time the missionary and his family spent at the school, Patricia began to feel God drawing her
toward Haiti. She began to ask questions and finally decided to take her two children and go for a visit. In
1983, Patricia went to spend six weeks in a rural part of Haiti with the missionaries she had met. During this
time she held daily 'clinic' and would dispense basic medications such as antacids, worm medications and
Tylenol to up to 200 people a day. She also did a lot of wound care and treated burns. She was able to reach many
children during her six week stay and the vision that she had 25 years earlier began to make sense.
In addition to holding 'clinic', Patricia hosted a vacation Bible school for the local children. What she
saw there amazed her and engraved itself upon her heart. For a week she told stories and taught the children new
choruses and Bible verses. The reward for perfect attendance was to be a popcorn ball. Now remember, many
of these children had never heard of popcorn, so this was a huge treat for them. At the end of the week,
several had perfect attendance and all the missionaries got together and made popcorn balls for the children. It
was so much fun!!! On Sunday the
awards were presented and Patricia stood with tears in
her eyes and awestruck as she witnessed the generosity of these incredibly poor children.
You see, the ones who received the popcorn went back to their friends and divided it up so that everyone got a
sample of the wonderful caramel covered popcorn. What a sacrifice. They shared what they had no hope of ever
receiving again and did it with enthusiasm and huge smiles on their faces. After admiring and enjoying the
wonderful treat, the missionary asked the children to come back in and thank Patricia for the VBS and the
popcorn. As she stood in the front of that small rural church, each and every child came forward and wrapped
their small arms around her and whispered a sincere 'thank you'. When Patricia left at the end of that six
weeks she left with a changed heart and deep burning in her soul for the children of that small village.
Back in the US, sleepless nights became a familiar scene to Patricia as she lay awake at night reliving those
tiny, skinny, needy arms wrapping around her neck and the whispered .thank you's. of children so poor that
popcorn was a delicacy. The faces of the tiny infants she had treated kept flashing before her, and hot tears
made their way down her cheeks night after night as she lay awake praying for their survival. The vision was
born and it wouldn't go away. "Oh God, please make this thing subside if it is not of you. Make Haiti become as
any other country I pray for and lighten this burden." The burden did not lighten and Haiti did not fade. The
faces kept crying out and the little arms kept reaching for her. "But God, there are so many people so much more
qualified. Look at that couple over there, they are so much more educated and had such good parents. I am but
an orphan, the child of alcoholics, I am not worthy," she prayed as she sat in church each Sunday. But God had
other plans and he wanted the orphan, the child of the alcoholics, the less educated, the one he had given a
burning vision to reach children.
In 1984, Patricia boarded a plane with her daughter and went to Haiti to minister to children on $50 pledged
support a month. Originally Patricia went to teach the missionary children and help with the church work, but
in 1988 God brought the first child to Patricia's door. From that time the children have never stopped coming.
In 1991, the door was opened for adoption, and the orphaned children began finding new homes. Over the
years, Patricia rented homes for the children and was forced to move frequently to accommodate the growth of
the work.
Melinda joined her mother in 1998 with her newly acquired skills as a nurse and together they worked to provide
often otherwise not available care to children in their community.
In 1999, God answered a long standing prayer for a permanent home for the children. In November of 2000,
the first level of the home was complete enough for the children to move in and they have been enjoying it since
that time. The second phase of the orphanage was completed in 2003.
The blessings have continued to come, and medical equipment, playground equipment, cabinets, toys,
clothing and household items are just a few of the things God has brought to the home. Of course, the
greatest blessings are the children themselves. On the records over 100 children have lived at the home and
received care there, but off the record one cannot estimate the children God has brought to Patricia.
Due to her own background, Patricia has a very personal understanding of how the children feel when they come to
her home. She is passionate about how they are cared for and their appearance. She reads each home study for
prospective parents personally and carefully and prayerfully proposes a child. The best parent for each
child, the best child for each parent is essential. Quality of life, feeling special, and plenty of love is
just as important as food and clothing as far as Patricia is concerned.
What is Patricia's response to God's calling on her life? "Well," she says, "I always wanted to get married
and have lots of children. I didn't get married, that is true, but I have more children than I ever dreamed of,
and a lot of grandchildren. This is my dream come true. I never thought I would see the day that it would
actually come to be but I have. I will do this forever and probably not stop until the day I die."
Never stop dreaming. Never lose hope. It took a long time for Patricia, but 31 years after that original
dream, God put everything into action. God can do a lot with an obedient heart and willing hands.
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