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Dear Yakini and Coffy,
ReplyDeleteI am anxiously following your journey ever since the blog came online.
I was swept into your story, which soon enough became my story, with
you as its heroes.
The disaster in Haiti has indeed hurt hundreds of thousands of people,
each individual is a whole world, and every one of them experienced
their own tragedy.
However, you and your family are the ones who have deeply touched our
hearts, as well as the hearts of our friends here in Israel.
Occasionally when reading the updates, a thought crosses my mind that
maybe I'm reading a script for a new movie. But NO. It's real. It
really happens, and it happens to real people that are so close to us
in heart but so physically far away that our hand can't reach to help
them.
Yakini and Coffy -- you have become a symbol to me.
A symbol of respect for one's parents, a symbol of a wonderful
partnership, incredible emotional strength. It seems that nothing will
stand in your way while optimism is leading you.
I fell in love with you when Keren first told us about their first
visit at your home, looking for an appropriate daycare for Ella. I,
who stayed at home with all my children until they were two, was very
concerned about having my granddaughter cared for by strangers. But i
trusted Keren and Ben's judgment. And time proved that there couldn't
have been a better choice. In their last visit to Israel, Keren and
Ben brought with them a music CD, your CD, for Ella and me to listen
to while she stayed at home with me. I still play it here often -- the
songs are so joyful, filled with good energy, and your singing voices
warm my heart and make me appreciate you even more.
And now with this terrible disaster I see more incredible aspects of
your personalities.
Coffy, nothing stopped you, you left everything behind and wondered
into the unknown, on an unpaved path whose end isn't clear. And
Yakini, you courageously support your husband, knowing that you are
left behind with the family, business, and a lot of stress. Coffy, you
did the impossible and got to your parents at the last moment to pull
them out of a possible grave. Yakini, you stay at home and take care
of your children and the children of the "extended family" with
dedication and love despite the concern and your worries. Coffy, I
hear your confident voice in the video clips. The terrible sights are
in your background. The kind words that you say to Yakini in these
short videos seem to be aimed at strengthening her as well as
yourself.
Yes, the story seems to have been taken from a movie. Like one of
those classical stories about war and survival. And I can't wait to
get to the last page of this book, because my heart aches with your
pain and burdened with your hardship. But I'm not reading a book nor I
am at the movie theater. I'm with you. with you, page by page, chapter
after chapter, it's unbelievable. I'm hurting with you during the hard
moments, and I'm happy with you in the joyful moments. I admire you
for being so strong, warm, respectful and optimistic and I'm happy
that Keren and Ben met you and that you take part in shaping Ella's
personality in her first years.
There are not many people like you in this world.
And if there were, it would have been a different world.
I send you a huge hug from here, and pray for you every day.
With love,
Dalia
If you live in Illinois 1st Congressional District,
ReplyDeletedid you try contacting Representative Bobby Rush
for help with the visas at the US Consulate in
Santo Domingo ?
http://www.house.gov/rush/zipauth.shtml
Well done! My apologies that I don't have much to donate. I just read the New York Times article on line and I couldnt but help noticing that your family has Yoruba names even which means that you have preserved the link to Africa.
ReplyDeleteLike the President of Senegal said whenever you folks feel like visiting or coming back to stay until Haiti is rebuilt there is land for all Haitians in Africa.
You need to go for the Humanitarian Parole, not a visitor visa. That is because with the visitor visa you have to show that your parents have a residence abroad they have no intention of abandoning and that they have a non-immigrant intent. When you get back, apply for citizenship as soon as you are eligible. The University of Illinois Extension has classes with a 100% success rate and we can come to a church in your community to hold them. http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cook/immigrants.html
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you provide a name and address in Chicago where we can just send a check to the family? For some that will be the most direct way.
ReplyDeleteAbout charity status, why not ask a neighborhood church to take this under their wing instead of adding the legal and accounting expense a new charity will require? Donations to that church could be placed in a fund for this and other families with similar needs in Haiti. Of course, precise fund use records will need to be kept.
We wish you well and look forward to helping in this way.
Please give an address where I can send a check. I want to help the family but I'm not comfortable leaving a credit card #. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you and your family. It's an incredible story, and I wish you only the best!
ReplyDelete