Friends coming for a visit

Remember Jeanne?  My flood buddy from last year?  Guess what she is coming for a visit next week.  We are all so EXCITED!  We can’t wait to see her.  She is the one that made the first contact for us with Water Missions International.  They are the ones that have donated the water machine that is  pumping clean drinking water for all of us at RHFH and the local community. 

 Caroline spend 2 months with us.  We had so much fun together.  We laughed, we cried and we loved on lots of kids.  Guess what she is coming back at the end of December with her mom!    We can’t wait to see her again!  God is good! (Caroline in the pink shirt)

Blessings….

A few weeks ago someone called from the US Consult.  They asked what we needed for the RC and clinic.  They wanted a needs list.  We gave them one over the phone that day.  They said they would contact us by email.  We never got an email.  After a few days, we were convinced that they had called the wrong number.  They must have been looking for one someone else.  We did not really think about it again, until last Sunday.  We were having a big cleaning day in the RC we had removed everything from the kitchen and were bleaching everything down and had the hoses out hosing down the floors.   We looked up and saw several people coming in the gate.  They were a security group coming to check us out  for the visitors from the US consult.  They wanted to make sure that the area was secure for the US ambassadors wife and a generals wife that was coming to RHFH.  We were just a little stressed out!  So the next day there was a group of Haitian police that came.  They were checking out the area for security as well.  Someone called the day before to again confirm the visit.  They would have 30 to 35 minutes with us and would be bringing a few items for the kids.  So about 10 that morning a truck pulls up with all these supplies.  We unloaded everything to wait on the group that was coming.  They arrived about 30 minutes later.  They ended up staying about 1 hour.  It was a great time.  Each of them were very down to earth and asked a lot of questions about the kids and clinic.  It was a great visit.  The ambassador’s wife had her own security that walked around with her.

They brought lots of food for the kids in the RC.  Rice, milk, infant formula, oatmeal, oil, sugar, diapers, baby food were among the items donated.

Anna made this welcome sign the day before.

Giving the tour of the RC with the US ambassadors wife in the yellow shirt.

talking before the tour

Besides all the food for the kids they brought lots and lots of toys.  The kids were super excited! 

 We are so thankful for these extra blessing this month.  The kids are able to have 2 glasses of milk a day.  They even brought chocolate power to make chocolate milk. What fun!  They all have toys to play with …what a joy!  God is good!

Questions?

Someone asked a few days ago why so many people have umbilical hernias here in Haiti.   Here is the medical stuff for umbilical hernia.   This is what I know about them, a remember no I’m not a nurse   Umbilical hernias are more predominant in the black race.  They are also more predominant in girls.  Most hernia resolve themselves before the child turns 5 years old.   In Haiti, with the hospitals that we work with, they do not repair an umbilical hernia until after they are five years old.  We have known of medical teams that come from other countries to Haiti that will perform these surgeries before the child is five years old.  Of course if the child is in danger and must have surgery they will do it at any age.  Many do not get surgery even after five because they would rather eat then get surgery to fix something that is not really a big deal to them.  I do not think it is more predominant in Haiti or third world countries.  I think that in more developed countries that a person would get surgery early and for that reason you do not see it often.   It has nothing to do with the way that the cords are tied at birth here. 

 

What do I do when a child is abandoned?

The first thing I do is look around for the parents or the person that was with the child.  Usually someone will remember the person that was with them.  You might just get this information.  She was a black lady in a flowered dress.  So you go outside and tell everyone to look for a black lady in a flowered dress. (you know there are a lot of white ladies walking around here: ) ) Then usually you will find someone who will say hey I saw a black lady get on a motorcycle and leave about 1 hour ago.  So once we know that the care giver is gone we call the local judge.  If he is working he comes down to the clinic or RC.  We have to leave the child is the same place that is was abandoned so that proper papers can be done.  We can not pick them up or change their clothes or move anything around them.  Once the judge is done with the papers he give us the permission to take the child into the RC.  We have had many abandoned children over the years that we have been here.  Several of them have been given back to their parents, or other family members.  Some have been put up for adoption, some have moved to other orphanages.  Each child is different.  I will do all that I can to keep a child out of a bad situation where there is abuse.  But I will do all that I can to keep a child with his birth family if that is the best choice for all parties.

New Children in the RC

 This is Mackenson.  He is 2 years old and weighs 18 pounds 10 ounces.  This is his second time with kwashiorkor.  He has 2 siblings.

This is Mysslande.  She is 1 1/2 years old and weights 23 pounds.  She has mild kwashiorkor.  She has had a high fever for 5 days with a stiff neck.  She is currently on a feeding tube due to not having enough strength to eat.

This is Oramene.  She is almost 2 months old and weighs 8 pounds 8 ounces.  She has gained 2 pounds in a month.  This would be good but she has kwashiorkor, so this is water that her body is retaining.  Grandma brought her.  Her mother does not want to take care of her.  She does not want to put her up for adoption.  She just will not sit and take care of her.  So grandma has been trying, but cannot afford the milk and need to work to provide for her own children that are still at home.

This is Prosper.  He is 5 years old and weighs 20 pounds.  He has diar, vomiting and fever.  We already have one of his siblings in the RC now.  There are 3 other siblings at home.  Father died about 1 year ago.

This is Andre Jean.  He is 7 years old and weighs 33 pounds.  This is his first time with kwashiorkor.  He is very ill.

All of these kids except Oramene (the baby) are on the medika mamba program.

The week ahead looks difficult for us.  The needs seem overwhelming.  But we are confident with God we will make it.  Are you with us?

Psalm 72:11-13 (The Message)

 ^9-14 Foes will fall on their knees before God,
      his enemies lick the dust.
   Kings remote and legendary will pay homage,
      kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.
   All kings will fall down and worship,
      and godless nations sign up to serve him,
   Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
      the destitute who have run out of luck.
   He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
      he restores the wretched of the earth.
   He frees them from tyranny and torture—
      when they bleed, he bleeds;
      when they die, he dies.

 

The semi container arrived and made it out of customs last week!  What a blessing it had been for everyone. There are boxes and boxes of supplies to put away.  We are so thankful to all of you that donated  funds,  supplies, your time and your skills to get the container packed and here to Haiti.  We opened our last box of cloth diapers the day I arrived back from the states.  Lori was low on lot of medicine and  is now able to fill her shelves.  What a blessing it is to be able to restock our supply rooms.  God is Good!

 

Mommy never has time to go fun art things with the boys.  They have been having so much fun in art with Anna.  So of their recent creations. 

A beautiful flower.

Good Habits for little boys.

One day they had a lesson about covered wagons.  They had no idea what a covered wagon was.  So they just built one.

Colossians 4:2-4 (The Message)

 Pray for Open Doors

 ^2-4Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.

Sweet Story…

We need your prayers for Story.  Here is why.

In the beautiful name of our  Lord Jesus.  We pray for Story right now dear Jesus.  We ask that you help her get better.  We ask that you heal here.  We ask that you help the doctors, the doctors that you know so well to help find the right medicine for her.  We love her Lord so much.  We ask that you be with her parents and with her brothers.  We ask that you give them a peace in their hearts, a peace that only you can give.  God be with Story, wrap your arms around her and give her comfort in her time of need.  Help her not to have any more headaches.  Give her the strength that she needs to recover.  We thank you for helping her God.  We know that you are a faithful and true God to us.  We together ask this in the name of Jesus. 

The staff from Cazale.

I like you  Magda.  I like you papa and my mom.  I want Magda to be good not bad.  I love Magda.  I love Jesus. Make Magda play and watch movies.

Your brother Amos

We love you Sweet Story and are praying for you!

How Great HE is..

How Great is our God  Chris Tomlin

 VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

Going home in October

  Claudia going home this week.  She lost all her “water weight” from the kwashiorkor and stay about the same weight.

 

Bathelmy in May at 19 pounds  going home this week at 29 pounds

 Nickenson in April at 21 pounds going home at 25 pounds 

 

Taina in April at 14 pounds going home at 18 pounds

 

Jeff cutie pie jeff in May at 20 pounds going home at 28 pounds

Maudline in July at 14 pounds (her lowest weight was 13 pounds)  going home at 18 pounds

The boyz

I wanted to tell you the story of Peterson tonight.  He came to clinic this week and died a few hours later.  I will, when I can get it out of me. But instead, Anna sent me these pictures of the boys tonight and I wanted to share them with you.   Tomorrow morning 6:30am planting trees at Do Moulin care to join us?  Should be a fun day

 

 

 my mom used to sing this song to us before we went to bed
I love you a bushel and peck
A bushel and peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap and I’m talking in my sleep
About you, about you

Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck, I do
Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle oo
I love you a bushel and peck
A bushel and peck though you make my heart a wreck
Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess
Make my life a mess, yes
A mess of happiness
About you, about you

Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck, I do
Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle oo
I love you a bushel and peck
A bushel and peck and it beats me all to heck
Beats me all to heck and I’ll never tend the farm
Never tend the farm when I wanna keep my arm
About you, about you

Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck, I do
Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle oo