This is likely to be a common theme during the World Race, but I love meeting people who completely rock my world. In a nutshell they are individuals, or groups, who really make me question my life and whether or not I’ve actually had a hand in accomplishing anything of significance or meaning. Seems weird I think to question how I’ve lived my life up to this point, but my desire over this year is to push myself for something beyond just my own life. I’ve probably met four or five such people in Haiti already who have given up so much of their former life for the current one they are living. So I want to introduce you to one of these people.
Meet Len.
Len is pictured in the middle.
I mentioned his story a little bit in a previous blog. However, since then I’ve had a little more of an opportunity to spend some time with him and getting to know him more. Honestly, I’m not sure where to begin with him. He’s managed to take a huge tragedy in the life of him and his family and turn it into an opportunity to change lives here in Haiti for many years to come.
Myself (green shirt) with Meagan and Brett catching empty buckets and refilling them with concrete.
In 2010, his daughter Britney was down here in Haiti for a mission trip through her school. While down here, she sent a text message to her family stating her desire to someday come back to Haiti and build an orphanage. A few hours after that, the earthquake happened. Two days after the earthquake, Len and the rest of the family was informed that Britney had been found alive, was on a helicopter heading home, and that they needed to go to Florida to meet her. I’m not sure what exactly happened, but what they were told was inaccurate. Britney was killed in the earthquake and her body was not found until 33 days later.
Britney
Since then, Len and his family have devoted their lives to seeing Brittany’s dream come true. Len will be retiring from his current job this next year to move down here to Haiti with his wife to run the Be Like Brit orphanage fulltime. The orphanage, currently being built into the shape of a capital “B”, is expected to be opened in about 1 year. It will house 33 boys and 33 girls. One child for each day that it took to find Brittany’s body. Over 1 million dollars has already been raised and they are continuing to raise more funds. A book is also currently being written that will detail Brittany’s life, the search for her after the earthquake, and the work being done now to see her dream become a reality in Haiti. Funds from the sales of the book will go into an endowment fund which will be used to fund the orphanage for years to come. If you're interested in finding out more, please visit their website http://belikebrit.org.
C Squad at the Be Like Brit worksite with the orphanage in the background.
Listening to Len speak about this would just about bring you to tears. His passion for this orphanage and this country just bleeds through his actions and words. I’m astounded by this family’s willingness to take what was a tragedy in their lives and use it to fuel something good. Something for the future. I know that we as a squad we truly feel blessed to play a small role in this story and have an opportunity to contribute towards the fulfillment of such an incredible undertaking and dream.
