Grace embodied- a Saint named Claire

During our time at the hospital in Haiti, I paired with Kristen who is a Physical Therapist here in Colorado. She is a soft spoken, intelligent, thoughtful women in her mid thirties who has a gentleness about her that is comforting.  We visited patients with a wide range of injury.  Ladies recovering from abdominal surgeries, elderly gentlemen who had suffered stroke, a young girl who was the victim of a motor vehicle accident, children with assorted joint aches or injuries, a University student and very talented soccer player, staff members who had sprained knees from walking on the uneven, rocky streets of Anse-A-Galet. With each patient that we saw I wondered again, why was I here?  I had no medical training, no skill or schooling to help these people.  Every one of these patients has a story, as we all do, but one lady in particular captivated us.

Birth records were not kept or are not available to many of Haiti's residents.  Claire appears to be around 75 years of age, but her exact age is unknown to her. She is blind, soft spoken, intelligent and prayerful.  Meeting Claire is like meeting Jesus on earth.  Brought to the hospital because of high fever, Claire also suffered injury to her left hand which was very sore and swollen. She was in a room with 4 or 5 other patients and all of the family members, barely room to scoot around each other.  Each day Kristen would work with Claire's hand to bring relief from her pain. My role was as assistant to Kristen getting gel or gloves as she needed.  She easily could have done without me but was gracious enough to allow me to "help".   Each day, Claire would smile and tell us how she was praying for us.

Kristen and Claire

It is very humbling to stand at the overcrowded, overheated hospital bed of an elderly saint and have her pray for you.  The first time it happened, I just stood, listening. The Creole she was speaking was of course, unfamiliar to me, but the name of Jesus is universal, a name above all names and thereby recognizable.

Peace entered the room.

While laying on my bed later that night I again asked God for some guidance as to what my role in Haiti was to be.  I knew there was a reason I was there, but for the life of me I could not discern it. Then I realized what I would do the next day.




The next morning as Kristen worked on Claire's hand and Claire talked of praying for us, I asked instead if I could pray for her.  Bee began to translate my prayer for Claire and her family.  As I spoke to God in petition for Claire's healing, her family joined in.  The English mixed with the Creole and the weak voice of a 75 yr old women spoke her agreement - Amen, Amen -as the translation hit her ears.  I asked our God for her healing, provision and protection, for her family's safety and peace and I thanked the Creator for the legacy that Claire was leaving for her family.  I thanked Him also that one day we would meet again at His throne.

That was the source of the loudest Amen.