My heart breaks a little every time I drive through a tent city here in Port-au-Prince. While many people have been resettled into more permanent housing, four years after the devastating quake there are still thousands of souls whose “houses” consist of rickety structures of canvas, sticks, and tin.

A tent city in Haiti near the Schandorff’s house.

And I wonder, as a mom, how can I help my young children understand scenes like this? How do I reconcile their overflowing toy boxes with the trash that they see kids in tent cities play with? Or explain our fridge and cupboards being full of food when every time we leave our house, we encounter people who are hungry and begging for our help?

If we dwelt too much on the desperation and poverty that surrounds us in Haiti, we would soon burn out and go home, as all our efforts would never be enough to meet every need. But I do believe Jesus would have his followers keep their hearts tender and full of compassion, ready to act when the Spirit nudges.

Giving to the neighborhood boys at Christmas.

God, please give me – and other missionary moms – wisdom to teach our children compassion and generosity as we live amidst poverty!