EMMANUELLA MYBIRTHDATEISSEPTEMBER2,1990.I have four sisters. I had one sister pass away so it would have been five. That happened from the earthquake, January 12, 2010. I was very sad because she left my mom with a pain in her heart. I have an older half-brother from my mom’s side. In 2005, my dad passed away my mom did not have enough to take care of us. After my dad’s funeral, all of his family left us. He used to do retail to take care of us. It wasn’t really good because there used to be gun shots in Matisan. Even though there were gun shots, my mom still went out to do business because she needs to take care of us and feed us even if she can only bring home 10 gourdes a day. I used to go see a guy named Phillip each time when I see my mom and I would always say hi to him and he used to call me daughter. I told him my dad passed away and he said “what would you like me to do for you, my child?” I said to him, “I don’t know.” He thought a little bit and asked “what will you choose? I will pay for your school or find a place for you.” I told my mom and she thought about it and said yes to have him put us somewhere because she didn’t want the young boys in the neighborhood to take advantage of us because she was the only guide for us. A few months later, Miss Pricille from King’s Garden called my mom to bring us in, and my mom took us (me, Sindy, Manouchka and Erika) to the the Garden. In 2009, I turned eighteen. I went back to live with my mom who was living with my older sister, Minouche and her husband. On January 12, 2010 was the earthquake and my sister’s house collapsed and my little sister was inside. The neighbors took her to the hospital but she passed away the same day. Some months later, my mom built a tent with wood and tarps for us to stay in. At that time, Sindy my little sister turned eighteen and it was time for her to leave King’s Garden. Too bad she had to come live in the tent with us. I was thinking about how God sent Sindy back to my mom to help her feel better because it was so many years since she saw her. In 2011 we told Tia (Manouchka and Erika’s adopted mom) we live in a tent in Champ de Mars and after a month Tia sent us a tent. My mom put it on a piece of property that my grandpa gave us when my dad passed. One time Tia came to visit us and saw the place and thought she could help to build a house. Sadly it wasn’t big enough. One month later she called my mom and told her that she and Lynn (Sindy’s sponsor) will pay rent for us where we are living now. I am always thinking when I am done with school I would like to go to University to be an electrician or to be a nurse so I can help my family. I trust God one day my dream will come true. When I have a job I will mostly help people who are in need, like those kids without parents. That is all I want to do in my heart. Thank you, love you. www.heartenhaiti.org