I want to share with everyone this special note on my relationship with Nazer Gardy. Nazer is a restovic ( child slave) living in one of the worst slums of the world. When I was on www.pinpartnership over a year ago today, I saw his eyes and something inside of me told me ..this is the one you will help. I began to correspond with him and then I went to Haiti to help people in need partnership and to finally meet Nazer Gardy. This is a sole testimony of how important and unique a relationship can become and how important it is for all of us to do are parts and help the people in extreme poverty.

My relationship between my partner and I…



My partners name is Nazer Gardy. He caught my eye sometime ago and from that moment I wanted to only protect , and help him survive the conflicts and struggles he faced day and night. I began to write to him on the website, at people in need partnership. I was not sure at the time if he would receive the letters or would be able to reply back to me. One day, checking my emails I saw it jump out of the page. It said , “ you have received a letter from your partner Nazer Gardy. I was so excited and began to cry. I must have read his letter four or five times. I was full of joy and tears. Then we began writing back and forth , sometime it was two or three letters in one month. My heart longed to hold him in my arms like a mother to their child. I wanted to be a part of his life and to visually see him and hear his voice. I had already been involved with PINP , getting people in the community involved with the devastating needs effecting Haiti and signing people up as partners. I clearly understand the connection between the two worlds that are so far apart and now so close and dear to my heart.



In December, I decided to travel to Haiti to help volunteer for PINP and start on the review pages and updates on partners. I also wanted to see Nazer Gardy and to hear his voice and give him a hug in person. One day, as I had arrived to work and planned to meet with the children at the mini- center to review their future page the staff told me I had a visitor in the room that wanted to see me. I instantly thought of Nazer Gardy. When I walked into the half lite room , there he was standing , looking at me shyly and smiling so innocently at me. I burst into tears, and held him in my arms. I told him that I was always thinking of him and his well being, that I did not forget our promise. ( to come see him in Haiti) and that we will share wonderful memories while I am visiting PINP and Haiti.



The next day, Marcel , the director in Citi Soleil told me we must go to Citi Soleil and see the children and mothers with starving children at the Mini - center. One of the staff asked Nazer if he would like to go with us. Nazer replied, “ yes. I want to protect her there.” We all went to Citi Soleil and during the walk through the worst parts of the area, Nazer watched over me. When I looked at the living conditioned and the sanitation problems that are so extremely horrific and the children with malnourishment and at such a high degree ..Nazer looked up at me. When his eyes met mine that day, there was a deep understanding. We truly connected at that moment. A deep and powerful understand swept over me. Nazer later told Sophia back at the mini center, that it was the worst thing he ever saw. He couldn’t believe people were living in those conditions.



In Citi soleil , there is no running water., no televisions, garbage spread out like a junk yard in confined areas of our busy city and the people there live in houses made out of sheets of metal and floors of dirt. When Nazer said this I was alarmed . Because Nazer told me before in one of his letters that it is his two brothers and parents staying in a small house. The house is smaller in size then a small bedroom ..they eat very little and have to save all of what they make for days. When I discovered that Nazer was genuinely concerned about the other Haitians living in Cite Soleil , our relationship became even strong.



He already has a many struggles and it is difficult to think this once child restovic ( slave) , had deep heart felt compassion and need to help the others when he is malnourished and each day is a struggle for him and his family. We went out to dinner one night, and I could see this glow in his eyes. I never asked if he has ever been to a restaurant before however his eyes were saying so much. There was an electrical santa claus on the counter and Nazer pressed the button , jumped back so frightened and then began to laugh.. I realized that we take so much for granted have so much at our disposal and do not see the same as for those who have never seen what we have. If we go to a store for holiday celebration, birthday gifts ..we already can almost close our eyes and see what is already in the store. There is no more suspense or surpsise look in our eyes when we have a pretty good idea what we will in fact see each holiday at the stores.



When we sat at the restaurant and ate this very greasy chicken with rice and vegetables. I looked at Nazer and he was in heaven .. He had his fish sliced up nicely and was eating it like it was a medium rare steak. I smiled at him.. And was remember the look of fright and joy with the holiday decoration, or walk through

Cite Soleil earlier that day…and how grateful we should be for everything we receive . How many people in our society take advantage of the material and livelihood that were given to them freely, when across the globe their our lives that are still not free and still have no voice in their own country.



The fun craft project we did together at the mini centers, the joy and tears of our meeting. I knew I would miss him so much. He has little foot prints on my heart. I was very busy with the projects and the future review page, updates on our partners, and with the email requests from the many partners that had personal requests . I felt so bad that I couldn’t spend more time with him. We do often get to busy and miss the moments that matter dear to our hearts. It felt that we should allow equal time for both.



On the day of my departure from the mini-center, Nazer came to wish me a safe trip back. We cried so much and it was so painful watching him walk out of the mini- center and down the road to the tap-tap. My heart sunk for a long time . I looked at our pictures the whole flight back to Portland.



Then the earth quake struck three weeks later. I was concerned of the safety of everyone, our partners, staff and Nazer Gardy. I could not stop thinking about him and it was so difficult at times not to cry, and so concerned of everyone’ accountability. I was devastated. While trying to find out about Nazer Gardy, I also was searching for many partners and staff members. I became the tool of communication for Haiti and our staff. I wanted to leave immediately however had to wait to go back to Haiti.



After the journey through Dominican Republic, We arrived at the new office and mini center. It is much larger then the previous one which was destroyed in the earth quake. We rested plenty and then the next morning Nazer came to see me . I began to cry so heavily and so deeply. There are no words to describe that moment with Nazer Gardy. He also was so thankful that I did not forget him, that I came to him and he was for ever thanking me for being there.



People in need partnership is an amazing way to connect with a person in extreme poverty . Living completely different lives then you and I , but forming a bond like no other imaginable. It is a gift I believe from God. It is a wonderful and joyful to help a life living in conditions unimaginable. Once you personally look into their eyes, and feel their soul. At that moment you are connected for life..



Nazer is waiting for me to see him soon and I too wish to hold him in my arms and tell him he is always with me.. Because he left his foot prints on my heart.



Sincerely,

Jennifer Johnson