Britney Gengel was a 19 year old that was full of life and loved to help. She traveled to Haiti in January 2010 to work for an aide group. Excited about the opportunities that she saw there, she sent the following text to her mother Cherylann Gengel: "They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself."
Hours later Britney Gengel and 300k others would lose their lives in a devastating earthquake.
Even though they were dealing with their grief her parents Len and Cherylann Gengel along with sons Bernie and Richie made the commitment to keep alive Britney's dream by building an orphanage in Grand Goave, Haiti. Thanks to the help of individuals around the globe this is now a reality. "I always believed that people were good," Cherylann told me during our discussion on Conversations LIVE. "Through this horrific tragedy it's been validated."
In the book Heartache and Hope in Haiti the Gengel's share their journey to build the Be Like Brit Orphanage which is now home to over 30 children. Shaped in the letter B this is a place that is not only serving a special need in Haiti but serving as an example to the world as to what is possible for us all.
What the Gengels have been able to do is find meaning and purpose in tragedy and show us through fulfilling Britney's dream that all of us have the ability through faith and action to change the destiny of thousands.
See how you can join the great work of the Be Like Brit Orphanage at www.belikebrit.org. Listen to my interview with the Gengels on Conversations LIVE at www.tinyurl.com/lenandcherylanngengelinterview.
* Photo of Cherylann Gengel and Sean Penn provided by the Gengels
Phenomenal woman, wife and mother...so proud of what Len and Cherylann Gengel
ReplyDeletehave accomplished so far for the children of Haiti.