Volonte was Haitian, and his family did not have it easy (1). His father died when he was 8, and two days before that he had lost a brother. His mom's business went bankrupt because of medical bills, and the smaller house she built was destroyed in the earthquake. Her church helps the family out right now.
Volonte, by the way, had bone cancer. Before the devasting earthquake, he had been suffering from a painful, swollen leg. A doctor (medical missionary) helping out in Haiti after the quake met him and took a biopsy to have it looked at in the US. Getting the biopsy was no easy thing because of the massive level of devastation, so to preserve it while it made its way to the States, they preserved it in Vodka. A diagnosis of bone cancer was proclaimed, and the doctor offered to pay for Volonte's travel expenses and treatment if he could get him to the States. After a complicated ordeal, it happened.
A pastor was contacted, who in turn contacted an amazing family who offered to take Volonte into their family and provide a home for him.
This is where I come in. I met Volonte at the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, NY this summer. HH is one of Paul Newman's Hole In The Wall camps for chronically and terminally ill children. He was in my Beaver Cabin, which is the oldest boy cabin on camp.
His amazing presence was immediately felt by all who came near him. He was funny, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, edifying, and most of all "a beautiful man".
I spent much time with Volonte over the next 5 days, possibly more than anyone else at the Ranch. I seen his fight with pain, as he tried to hide it when we were getting ready in the morning. We all bore witness to a self-sacrificing servant as he spoke of his desire to help people that were sick, and edify people who were downcast. His insight was admirable, especially when he asked Chocolate if he was a Christian. Chocolate replied that he was, and that he had a tattoo of a cross on the back of his shoulder. Volonte replied that just because you have a tattoo it does not make you a Christian. Chocolate agreed; but I think Chocolate convinced him of his sincerity throughout the week.
There is so much I could write about Volonte, and maybe I should, but I don't think I will. He was a 16 year old man, who was robbed of life. He spent what should have been a few of the greatest years of his life in dire discomfort, never asking us "Why?", but enduring it as a brave soldier.
Jenny & I (& Don Kephart) went and visited Volonte at his home after camp, and got to meet his family, and eat pizza with him, and play video games with him, and read the Bible with him. He loved Jesus, and exemplified his Savior's life.
The earth seems more dim without Volonte. I think about him not being able to come to Alumni next summer and my spirit weighs heavy. We had so much more to learn from him; and he had so much more life to live. But he will not be back. Volonte died a couple of days ago, and the world lost another one of those whom it was not worthy of. I consider it a gift of God to simply have known this amazing boy. He sang songs of Jesus at any given moment, anticipating the face-to-Face meeting that is inevitable for us all.
I'll stop now, because it is too easy to go on and on and on and on and on...........
I love you Volonte. Say 'Hello' to Jesus for me, and Francis of Assisi too.
Volonte, by the way, had bone cancer. Before the devasting earthquake, he had been suffering from a painful, swollen leg. A doctor (medical missionary) helping out in Haiti after the quake met him and took a biopsy to have it looked at in the US. Getting the biopsy was no easy thing because of the massive level of devastation, so to preserve it while it made its way to the States, they preserved it in Vodka. A diagnosis of bone cancer was proclaimed, and the doctor offered to pay for Volonte's travel expenses and treatment if he could get him to the States. After a complicated ordeal, it happened.
A pastor was contacted, who in turn contacted an amazing family who offered to take Volonte into their family and provide a home for him.
This is where I come in. I met Volonte at the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, NY this summer. HH is one of Paul Newman's Hole In The Wall camps for chronically and terminally ill children. He was in my Beaver Cabin, which is the oldest boy cabin on camp.
His amazing presence was immediately felt by all who came near him. He was funny, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, edifying, and most of all "a beautiful man".
I spent much time with Volonte over the next 5 days, possibly more than anyone else at the Ranch. I seen his fight with pain, as he tried to hide it when we were getting ready in the morning. We all bore witness to a self-sacrificing servant as he spoke of his desire to help people that were sick, and edify people who were downcast. His insight was admirable, especially when he asked Chocolate if he was a Christian. Chocolate replied that he was, and that he had a tattoo of a cross on the back of his shoulder. Volonte replied that just because you have a tattoo it does not make you a Christian. Chocolate agreed; but I think Chocolate convinced him of his sincerity throughout the week.
There is so much I could write about Volonte, and maybe I should, but I don't think I will. He was a 16 year old man, who was robbed of life. He spent what should have been a few of the greatest years of his life in dire discomfort, never asking us "Why?", but enduring it as a brave soldier.
Jenny & I (& Don Kephart) went and visited Volonte at his home after camp, and got to meet his family, and eat pizza with him, and play video games with him, and read the Bible with him. He loved Jesus, and exemplified his Savior's life.
The earth seems more dim without Volonte. I think about him not being able to come to Alumni next summer and my spirit weighs heavy. We had so much more to learn from him; and he had so much more life to live. But he will not be back. Volonte died a couple of days ago, and the world lost another one of those whom it was not worthy of. I consider it a gift of God to simply have known this amazing boy. He sang songs of Jesus at any given moment, anticipating the face-to-Face meeting that is inevitable for us all.
I'll stop now, because it is too easy to go on and on and on and on and on...........
I love you Volonte. Say 'Hello' to Jesus for me, and Francis of Assisi too.
