Simon’s Story
This is the story of a little boy named Simon with the heart and Faith to move mountains.
It all begins with a telephone call from Simon’s Dad, Matt, who has been to Haiti to work with Dr. Eugene and is a supporter of New Hope Hospital through Partners 4 New Hope, Inc.
The story begins with Simon, a 6-year-old first grade student. His teacher had given all of her students $5.00 and told them to “Go change the world.” Simon came home and told his Dad he had decided to use his $5.00 to help his Dad’s doctor friend in Haiti, so they contacted Dr. Eugene to decide on the project. Dr. Eugene told them he needed a Dormitory for New Hope Hospital to house mission teams and also for the doctors and nurses working at New Hope, many whom have no transportation and needed to stay at the hospital during their rotations and in emergency situations. The Dormitory was going to cost $35,000. Simon was not discouraged and decided this was going to be his project. Matt contacted me to see if the funds could go through Partners 4 New Hope, Inc., a registered 501c3 charity. Of course I said yes! Matt and I knew this was a very lofty goal for Simon (Oh, those of little Faith) but it was what he wanted and we were going to support him. Simon made a wonderful heartfelt video, posted it online and this incredible journey was off and running.
Earlier in the year, Partners 4 New Hope, Inc. had received a donation of $6,500 and was asked to hold it until a project was identified that met the desire of the donor. Looking at the $6,500 check, I contacted the donor and received permission to offer it to Simon as a matching gift for his project. Anyone who has ever raised money knows matching gifts are as good as gold. Who doesn’t want to double their money? I called and informed Matt and Simon of the match and to say they were excited is an understatement. My heart was so touched by this young man, I prayed and asked God to use Partners 4 New Hope, Inc. to help Simon reach his goal and make this matching gift.
Well, God certainly had this covered. The first God moment was when the fundraiser was over, working together with Simon, he had raised $7,500 and the project was now eligible for the match. The project was $14,000 closer to the $35,000 goal.
Second God moment! While working on totaling all the funds and doing the accounting for the project, I got an email from another partner we work with, Haiti Hope and Promise in New Jersey. They always have a big Valentine’s Dance fundraiser for New Hope Hospital and decided this year’s event would sponsor the Dormitory project. They had raised $15,000 and had heard we had a matching gift. I returned their email and told them Simon had made the match and received the $6500. But guess what, we would offer the $14,000 raised by Simon as a matching gift for them. They were excited and all in to help Simon, now we had $29,000!
Third God moment! Really, the next day, I received another email from an Endowment established several years ago for northern Haiti and the distribution amount available this year was $4,387.54. I immediately contacted the Board members and asked if these funds could be used for Simon’s Dormitory Project. Since this met the guidelines for the Endowment it was a unanimous “YES”. Total for Simon’s project was now at $33,387.54.
God kept working. In the next few days, I received a donation from one of our Cap Haitien Ministry Center partners and was told to use the $1,000 where it was most needed. A donation also came in from one of my long-time friends and supporters with the same message. We were almost there and I had no doubt God and Simon had this covered: We would make it!
In March of this year, Dr. Eugene and his wife Lidwine were in Charlotte and we had a meeting with some people at Atrium Health. One of the Doctors at the meeting was working with Dr. Eugene to put together a team to help implement a program for women’s health screening at New Hope Hospital. During our conversation, she asked me how I was connected to Dr. Eugene; I explained our relationship and also Partners 4 New Hope, Inc. During the explanation, I mentioned how we handle such things as Simon’s Project and she asked me to explain. I told the story of this incredible young man and his dream. She asked if we had raised all the funds and I explained we were just a few hundred dollars short but I was confident we would make it. The next day, I received an email from her saying she and her family were so touched by Simon’s story they would make the donation to get us over the top.
My heart has been so touched by this amazing story and everyone along the way, especially Simon. I always turn to it when I need to understand selfless giving and hope against all odds.
Isaiah 11:6 says, “a little child shall lead them”.
In most instances what appears to be a coincidence is God showing up in our lives. This time he worked through Simon and a child led us. Simon serves a very big God. He has inspired all of us and taught us how to be better followers and better servants. God is in everything we do and he appeared all along the way in Simon’s Project. One very young man with a Faith to move mountains started with $5.00 and now he has built SIMON’S DORMITORY at New Hope Hospital in Haiti. Simon has definitely changed the world in Plaine du Nord, Haiti and the lives of the doctors and nurses and the 250,000+ people being served by Dr. Maklin Eugene and New Hope Hospital.
Author: Wanda Musgrave, Executive Director, Partners 4 New Hope, Inc.
