The whole idea of SRU Athletes For Forgotten Angels (AFFA) came about six months ago with a vision to help disadvantaged children all over the world. Traveling to Haiti was our inaugural mission and who would have thought we would have pulled it all together in a relatively short span of time. Yet we did, as a result of the collaborative efforts of many involved. The support of our families, loved ones and friends, the other members of the AFFA group who were not able to make this trip, those in the SRU community who helped in our efforts, and others that helped make all this possible. We start by thanking you from the bottom of our hearts. You were part of bringing a smile to a child in Haiti.
The Haitian people are a unique people. They live with a grace that is remarkable despite the horrors that surround them. Polite and respectful and so very proud, they are truly a lesson to mankind. The children, who so often laugh and play, seem to have a glow inside them. Their smile can light up a room.
What we have learned from this trip is simple: The most empowering things in the world don't cost us anything -- time spent with others less fortunate whether here in Haiti or in your own neighborhood, time spent with a child, compassion, respect and most of all love. We know we have a responsibility to look out for our fellow human beings. We are our brother's keepers.
With the knowledge we have learned from this experience, we understand that we need to use it as our inspiration with future endeavors with SRU Athletes for Forgotten Angels.
We have had many questions during our journey, and will never get all the answers. How can those who oversee a country do this to their own people? How can these people amidst such poverty have such hope and faith? How can it be that in such darkness, they can sing through the night with voices that reach to the stars? How is it that they never seem to lay blame? We can only hope that the day will come that their prayers will be answered, that children won't starve and that they will know that those of us who have come here will never forget them.
Each day is a miracle and each time we can offer a little bit of ourselves to others will provide miracles. They believe in relationships, they give their hand in friendship, they truly love each other, all of which must pave the way for hope to be present.
We will never forget the people of Haiti, and certainly won't forget the children we came to know and love. Different cultures, different races, different religious affiliations, all coming together as one through the universal language of soccer. Whether on the soccer field, the yard or in the classroom, the verse in a song the kids sang to us yesterday sums it all up:
“Love in every language, Straight from the Heart, Puts us all together, And never apart, Once we learn to speak it, All the words we hear, Loving every language, Fluently spoken here.”
We thank you the reader for following along on our amazing journey and allowing us to share our experience with you.
We are so very proud of our student-athletes: Lisa, Jackie, Andrea, Lara, Stefani, Courtney, Linda, Pat, and Jeremy for all they have done. You are a credit to your families, our athletic department and our university.
To Kirk Kubias, (our fearless leader), words can not express our gratitude for embarking on this journey with us and assisting in every facet of this trip. Your are a model of integrity and compassion and it's been a true honor to share this experience with you.
Thanks Bernadette and Alex for jumping on for the ride. it was nice getting to know you both. And to Julie, for simply being there and helping out in any way possible. To all those who donated and contributed, a huge thank you to you. To all those associated with MFI, thank you very much for all your guidance.
Thanks also to SRU Sports Information Director Bob McComas, who posted our journals each day. To Danielle and Elisa, for your constant support throughout it all. And to Shaun Reid: Your vision of this whole project was an inspiration to us all.
