Ginny in Haiti

MESI!

2012-02-13T12:22:00.000-05:00

And we have a truck!

Thank you thank you thank you to EVERYONE who prayed, donated and fundraised for us. I can not tell you how much I appreciate it or can I tell you how much easier this will make my work and life here in Haiti.

We have been totoally without a vehicle since March and I have been needing a reliable vehicle since I arrived in Haiti in 2008.

It is a 2012 Nissian Frontier so when you all come to visit/work with Invest Hope in Haiti, we'll pick you up at the airport in style :)

Special thanks to Summer Conley who lead the fundraising campaign :)

Also Drew McClain, Woody Lockhart, Brian Fracker and Gus Andrews for helping with all the purchasing details.

We were on the road with it already this weekend and it drives/rides so nice.

Mesi anpil!

2012-02-11T20:56:00.000-05:00

This is the edited version of the original post. Just before I posted it I reread it and thought it was too harsh, crass and filled with anger. OK, overflowing with anger. So I deleted and started over. There's your warning...read this with a grain of salt. (you know what I mean)

I am still in the process of Odessa's adoption. There has been very good news lately and things are moving more quickly than they have in 21 months, but I am still waiting. In short, I don't meet the Haitian age requirements to adopt as a single person. You have to be at least 35. (If you don't meet the requirement you have to get a waiver signed by the president of Haiti. Literally.)

I am 3 years from 35.

When I reread that last sentence, I feel defeated. Tired. Weighed down.

There is the possibility of this taking 3 more years. Odessa will be 6 when she meets her extended family members, spends the night at her grandparent's house and plays with my friends kids.

However, over a month ago the Haitian adoption office accepted my paperwork. I had been waiting 20 months for that. SO that is a HUGE step in the right direction but not the last.

I have met others here in Haiti who have adopted or are in the process also. I have helped some of them out and they have certainly helped me.

My problem is not everyone is doing it the RIGHT way. Haiti is a country where bribes and pay-offs are part of daily life. But does that make it alright for us Christians to go around the law?

I was told a few weeks ago by someone that they have a contact that can get my paperwork processed even though I don't meet the age for $1000 US.

At first I was estatic. My heart was racing and plans of buying 2 plane tickets to Columbus, Ohio started being set in my mind.

The person explained how this is a "under the table" payment. And they could give me references of people who did it and it worked.

Talk about someone setting a big shiny apple of temptation right in front of my eyes. In that moment I understood Eve. I was being told no one would know of this "deal". The person even went as far to tell me that is everyone else is jumping on one foot to get something, sometimes you have to jump on one foot too.

The reason I am writing about this a month after I learned about it is...I almost bit the apple. This apple is the one thing that has been on my mind and heart for nearly 2 years. I justified in my mind saying that this could be help sent by God. Yea...that's it...His way of helping me finish Odessa's adoption. I told myself that the law here is stupid and I have taken care of Odessa for almost 2 years so I have proven I can do it.

But there was always that gut feeling that it wasn't right. I tried to shut it up. Ignore it. Justify. But nothing worked.

And then there was the best excuse I gave myself...

"Everybody else is doing it."

OK not everybody. But a significant number. People not doing adoptions the right way. They say one false document isn't a big deal. Or that it is too difficult to find a certain person for legal signatures. Or that paying government officials for signatures is just part of the game.

Adoption in Haiti is hard. I think the government makes it that way on purpose. I also think it shows who is willing to go the extra mile because it is the right thing to do for the child they say they love.

James 4:17 (NCV)

"Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning."

I know what the right thing is to do. It stings so much though when I see others farther ahead in their adoption process than I am b/c of this. And these people beautifully justify why they are doing it.

The apple looks so good...

I can almost taste it...

But my little girl is worth every day of waiting.

And I know God cares about the way His people interact with the world.

Proverbs 4:24-27 (NCV)

"Don't use your mouth to tell lies;
       don't ever say things that are not true.
Keep your eyes focused on what is right,
       and look straight ahead to what is good.
Be careful what you do,
       and always do what is right.
Don't turn off the road of goodness;
       keep away from evil paths."

This coming week I am going to read these verses everyday. Remembering what God wants of me. Not to look at what others are doing but looking straight ahead at what is good. And praying I focus on what is RIGHT...not the shiny red apple being dangled in front of me.

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to give the impression I am perfect. those of you who know me this is FAAAAR from the truth. But I am trying to follow God's word and wanted to share one example of a struggle I hope to win with you.

A real battle

2012-02-04T15:06:00.000-05:00

Before I came to Haiti I didn't get it. Now, 4 years after living in the country, I am only beginning to understand it.

Voodoo.

America treats it almost as a joke. One of my best friends back home bought Odessa the movie "The Princess and the Frog" for Christmas last year. It's a cute movie, but it revolves around Voodoo. Jokes about curses and spells. About selling your soul. When David watched this movie in French with us he was shocked that we would play with Voodoo in a kid's movie.

If I was reading this 4 years ago, I would not take it seriously. But let me tell you it is very much serious. Haiti is infiltrated with Voodoo, and it is NO joke. There is a real spiritual battle going on here.

Ephesians 6:12 (NCV)

"Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. "

This is very evident out in the village of Peredo. I can not tell you how many times, when walking, people stop me and tell me to walk around the path or go another way. They said that the devil passed by here or that the devil eats people who pass by this spot. I know you are shaking your head or laughing. I used to be in your shoes.

The following pictures were taken about 50 yards away from Nadine's house in Peredo. Nadine is the young lady who is coming to the states for treatment on her stomach. She has family members who practice Voodoo. The first picture is of a house that a group who practices Voodoo began building for the Devil. Yep. You read that right. But they devil did not accept it and it caught on fire. By itself. People who are very respected in Peredo and that I have known to always be honest swear this happened.

So they then built this house above. There are ceremonies held here by voodoo priests. They say the devil accepted it.

The thing that is weird to me in this is that most of the people who built or helped buy supplies to help build this dwelling live in huts themselves. But they worship the devell and wanted to give him their best.

This last picture is of a huge tree growing on a small riverbank right down from the 2 houses. This is where they say the devil lives. Inside the tree.

Even the Christians in the area believe he lives in the tree. They believe in God and worship Him only but are wise enough to recognize the devil is lurking around. Waiting to pull down as many people into hell with him.

I was taught this growing up in the church, but it took me coming to Haiti to really "see" the spiritual warfare going on.

I don't take another path when I am told the devil is there. I don't shake or shudder when I pass Voodoo houses. I am protected. I am covered in the blood of Jesus Christ. This makes the Devil shudder! He can not touch me without God's permission. There is Power in the Blood!

Please pray for Haiti. Voodoo is so wrapped into the culture here that some Christians don't even realize what they are saying. And that's just the way the devil likes it. He is a master of disguises.

Don't let him fool you.

She's home SWEET home!

2012-01-30T17:40:00.000-05:00

Remember this girl?

It's Mita, the slave child who was here in Port au Prince. She just happened to be from the village I was working in outside of Jacmel and once her parents heard about how she was being treated, they found her and she is home!

I went to their house out in the village on Saturday. Mita was helping with house chores, but so was everyone in the family and Mita was working with a good attitude and cheerfulness.

She gave David and I big hugs and said she was so happy to be home. She said she never wanted to step foot in Port au Prince again.

David and I are writing an information session for parents who live out in the villages on slave children. Most of these parents send their children to live with other parents in Port au Prince thinking they will be sent to school and fed and treated right, but this rarely is the case. We feel that if the parents out in the villages were educated about the restavek system, they won't send their kids into the hands of slavery.

Mita's parents are willing to speak at the information session to tell their story to other Haitians and hopefully keep other children in that area from suffering as a slave children.

I think their smiles in the pictures says it all! I am still smiling.

A few pictures

2012-01-25T08:29:00.001-05:00

Two of the board members for Invest Hope came down in December. My brother and Mark Fraizer. My brother even stayed for Christmas!

Here are some pics. We had such a good time and Christmas was 100 times better with someone from the family here! And of course it was awesome for Odessa to meet her uncle J! They had only talked on Skype before.

Mark and JW experiencing Haiti's public transportation

Tap- Tapping it in Haiti

Christmas family picture with Mom and Dad on Skype.

What did missionaries do before Skype???

I think he's got the uncle thing down pat ;)

Here's a link to a short video JW made of the trip.

First time for everything

2012-01-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

Last week, I experienced another "first" here in Haiti. Someone stole money from my house. Ironically, the money wasn't mine, it was the mission's I work for.

I do not have an "open door" policy at my house.

For this very reason.

I know who did it but have no proof.

The weird thing is I am not mad.

I am sad.

Sad that someone who worked for us did not come and ask for help (if they took the money for an emergency).

Sad that someone I joked with and tried to help out by giving a job turned around and stole.

I felt like because I responsible for the mission's money, that I needed to repay it. This came at a bad time. But when does theft come at a good time...right? I am in the middle of paying Odessa's adoption lawyer (who is working very hard for us!) and gathering the last of the documents required by the Haitian government.

But I knew the right thing was to repay it...so I did.

I had a conversation with God. It went like this:

Lord-you know I am sad right now. Disappointed in the thief, sad about dipping into my finances to right someone elses's wrong. How is this fair? I know you see and will make it right, if not in this life then in the next. Give me a positive attitude, erase the grudge and help me smile through all the rice and beans were are going to be eating the rest of the month!

Now to the God part.
Are you ready? (insert some ridiculous girly squealing)

The next day. Literally: The. Next. Day. I got an email from the board who is keeping track of my mission finances and bank accounts in the states. They thought they made a mistake in my reimbursements for the past 7 months. They wanted me to check my records to double check their math.

Fat Chance was my first thought.

But I checked and sure enough we had all overlooked non-taxable reimbursements I was supposed to be receiving each month for the past 7 months!

It nearly tripled the amount that was stolen.

Here's my theory-I think God sat back and watched what I do about the mission's stolen money. I knew the right thing was to repay it even though it was not the easiest choice. I could have easily shrugged off the responsibility and used the excuse of "it's not my fault".

I think God provided for after I made my decision to repay the money.

My God provided-not only the money to repay what was taken, but double the amount extra!

You might think that is a coincidence. But I know better.

I serve a God who listens to my prayers.

They will call to me, and I will answer them.

I will be with them in trouble;

I will rescue them and honor them.

Psalms 91:15 NCV

He cares about what is going on in my life.

He wants to hear about them.

He is waiting to hear from you also. Tell Him what's going on. Put your trust in Him. And don't be surprised when He gives you more than you ask for and takes care of you like the child of His you are.

Through God's eyes

2012-01-13T13:33:00.000-05:00

Mita (pronounced Meeta) is a slave child I met in May. The slave of a cousin of my boyfriend. The slave of a cousin who lives next door to him.

In short...here is her story. Mita is the 2nd oldest in a family of 5 children. Her parents live out in a small village and are struggling to provide for their kids. In January 2011, another lady who lives in the same village connected Mita's parents with a lady here in Port au Prince who told her parents that she wanted to take Mita in as her child-provide for her and send her to school.

That did not happen.

When I moved to Port au Prince in May, Odessa and I loved with David's family for 6 weeks. They have a very small house and a lot of people living in it. I quickly found out that the unfinished roof was the only place to get away. One evening when I was on the rooftop hideout, I saw a little girl (about 8 or 9 yrs old) next door doing laundry by hand. She was sitting on a step, looking down and washing away. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were about 2 sizes too small. It's very common in Haiti for girls this age to be doing laundry so I didn't think much about it.

A few days later David introduced me to his cousin who has a little boy so we went over so Odessa could play. This was the first time I met Mita. She was cooking. I said Hi, she looked up and said Hi and went back to work. I was introduced to the other kids but not her. I asked about her and was told she was the lady's niece. We stayed a while and as we were leaving I saw Mita was washing the dishes. She never left her work for the hour or so we were there.

That evening back at David's house, I asked about her. David said and I quote, "Pa mete tet ou la." Which translates basically to, "Don't go there."

Those of you who know me can probably guess what I did the first chance I got. I waited until I saw the lady leave her house and I went over. With a hairbrush and hair cream and barrettes. Mita let me in. She was doing laundry. I told her I needed to practice doing black hair and since Odessa doesn't sit still, I was going to do hers. She smiled and went and got 2 chairs. We were quite the entertainment to people passing by. When David got out of school I was still there and he came and took pictures.

In that hour or so time period, I learned a lot about Mita's birth family. And that she missed them so much.

I learned she hadn't been out of the small house (no more than 500 sq ft) once in the 5 months since she came.

I learned that when she giggled, my heart melted. I mean melted. As in tears welling up in my eyes with a long deep breath in and forgetting to let it out.

I wanted to take her that minute and run. I almost did. I went back to David's house and prayed and thought and prayed and thought. I thought about putting up a request here on my blog for money to go to a hotel with her. I thought about calling another missionary to ask for a ride for us to go find her family. I thought about taking her down to the US Embassy to ask for humanitarian parole so she could go to the states.

I saw her everyday and started asking questions to the lady who had her. Like, "Why isn't Mita in school? I see your kids are in school." She said Mita doesn't have a birth certificate so she couldn't enroll her. I explained to her that birth certificates are about $7 US and I would be happy to help her get Mita one if that would help her be able to go to school. She said she would do it.

In September, I asked about the birth certificate again as school was starting in October. She said she sent money to Mita's mother to go get it but "Li te maje kob la." (translated-she ate the money.) Yep that's what hungry people who can not feed their children do!

Then I learned a piece of information that could help me help Mita. Mita is from the village I worked in for 3 years! Her family still lives there. So I told the lady that when I went back to that village at the end of the month I would ask where her family lives and go with mom to get a birth certificate, knowing this would put pressure on her.

Then amazingly enough, Mita started school before I went back to the village. (I guess I applied just enough pressure) She was put in a free mission school that doesn't require a birth certificate (which also means it is not licensed), nevertheless, she was put in school. Ofourse she still had chores to do before school and after school-like ALL the chores in the household, but she was in school.

David and I got permission a few times to take her out with us when we would go do something with Odessa and David' younger sister. We went out to Pizza once and Mita came. We had Domino's pizza in a real restaurant with air conditioning. I think Mita ate 7 pieces. Literally. I was afraid she was going to throw up in the car on the way home.

Over the months I could tell my constant questioning of what was going on with Mita was getting on the nerves of people in David' family. And David too.

Now insert our first (real) fight ever.

One evening we were talking about something and out of the blue, I brought Mita up. He just looked and me and I said, "What?" He said, "Some things you don't want to get involved in."

Then I said...blah blah blah and he countered with blah blah blah.

Eventually I said, "I am going to do this. I am going to help her. I don't know how. But I will. If I make your family mad or your cousin mad, then they'll be mad. But this is the right thing to do. I CAN NOT turn my head. I WILL NOT turn my head. This is wrong. Jesus never would have treated a child this way and I don't believe he would have turned his head. If you don't want to be a part of it then tell me now and I'll do it myself."

"They are not beating her and she is eating better than she was in the village with her family." That was his reply.

Not many of you reading this have met David. And he doesn't speak English so even if you have met him you probably don't know how kind and sweet and encouraging he is. He is honest and sincere and can make anybody laugh and feel comfortable.

Why didn't he see what was going on with this child? Why didn't he understand?

But I am looking at it through American eyes while he is with Haitian eyes.

So giving it my last shot I asked him if he could see the difference between Odessa and Mita. In their attitudes, facial expressions, reactions, non-verbal gestures. I asked him if he was going to raise his children like his cousin was raising Mita? I asked him why his cousin treats her own children way different than Mita.

I asked him what he would say if when he stood before God, God asked him why he turned his head?

He said we were stirring up problems. Yep. We sure did.

He said his family would be mad. Yep. They are.

He said we can't change the whole system here in Haiti. But we started.

This is getting way too long...sorry! The rest is the Reader's Digest version.

We went to the village and found Mita's family last month. She looks exactly like them! My voice shook as I talked with her mother as I knew I was at the point of no return. Her mother misses her and was promised they would bring Mita back every couple months to see her. But she hadn't seen her since January-11.5 months! I talked to mom about getting her birth certificate-as that is how she could go get Mita if she wanted to or how I could help her find another place for her. She said she would do it. We explained to mom that we wanted to bring Mita with us to visit but that the lady keeping her wouldn't let us.

Well David's cousin did take her to Jacmel to see her mom for New Years. The good news is Mita didn't come back. She is with her family.

The bad news is David's family is not happy with us. Guess we stirred too much. The good news is David is not upset about it. We went over to his house last Monday together to talk to his mom. We sat quietly as she gave us what for with finger pointing and everything. Saying how you don't get in the business of other people's families. How the extended family is upset because David's cousin told them we told Mita's mother lies to get to not let Mita go back, about how told Mita to tell her mother she was being abused.

(None of these things are true, but sound very much like things someone who is mad would say. )

When David's mom (who I respect very much) was done "talking" to us, David told her that he doesn't regret what he did. He said if the family can't see why we tried to help Mita then they should look into how God feels about the situation.

Then he old his mom, "If one day when I am standing before God, and He asks me what I did to help Mita I can say I did more than just turn my head."

Even though he said it very respectfully, I thought she might smack him in the mouth. She just looked at us. I was beaming! I couldn't help it. I could tell by the way he said it he was starting to look at the situation through God's eyes.

Although I did not want to get smacked in the mouth either, or have my boyfriend's family (the rest had gathered round for the "discussion") mad at me (let's face it-I am already an outsider in their Haitian family), I decided I needed to let them know who their son was dating (if they hadn't already figured it out). I told them it never was my intention to make anyone mad. But that there are things I can't keep my mouth shut about. That I believe there are things that God wants me to speak up about and make known and try to make right.

I still don't know how I feel about the situation. I don't regret my actions. I can't help but cringe when thinking how I stirred up trouble with David's family.

But I also can't help but smile when I think of reunions and freedom.

2012-01-10T22:28:00.000-05:00

“Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.”

― Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Evenson update

2012-01-07T11:25:00.000-05:00

You ready for a drastic before and after? No this isn't Extreme Makeover (but if anyone wants to call them for me maybe they'll consider doing an Extreme Makeover Home Edition Haiti!).

Remember this pic?

And here is Evenson after surgery removing the tumor that was in his abdomen.

Praise the Lord!

We were literally setting up hospice care here in Haiti for Evenson as he was suffering so much and we were unsuccessful in finding care for him.

But the Lord is always on time-he opened a door for Evenson in LA-actually several doors. It fell together so perfectly that there is no way any of us here at Angel Missions can take credit for this. Obviously someone much higher than us had a hand in this.

Evenson is still getting chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He is not out of the woods yet. But we have proof that our God is a great God and we know He can bring Evenson the rest of the way through.

Angel Missions Haiti is looking for care for several other children. Please visit the website. Pray for these children and talk to people in the profession. You never know when the Lord might use you to be the link in finding them life saving or life changing care!

More after photos of Evenson!

Evenson and host father

Evenson and host mother in hospital for Christmas-playing with nativity set in window

2012-01-02T20:07:00.000-05:00

Romans 12:12

"Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times."

One my favorite people in the world needs prayer for tomorrow.

Pray she is patient.

Pray she is reminded she has hope!

An attitude as big as her name!

2012-01-01T12:51:00.000-05:00

Meet Cleessamanda. Big name. Big attitude. But so cute! Her profile has been on the Angel Mission website for a couple months with no success. She came into the office with her parents. They told us her story.

She is a 2 year old who was born with her intestines on the outside of her stomach in an enclosed sac. This condition is called Omphalocele. Click here for more info on Omphalocele. It is a miracle in itself that she she has not only lived but thrived in Haiti with this birth defect. My theory is her strong willed attitude has something to do with it!

She had surgery in Haiti a few days after she was born to place the sac under her skin. Since that surgery Cleessamanda has grown and is developmentally on path with other 2 year olds. You can see by her photo though that she needs more surgery to correct the large hernia she still has. Her parents have taken her to quite a few hospitals here in Haiti and been told at each they can not help her.

Calling on my medical friends again. If any of you know of a pediatric surgeon willing to help Cleessamanda, free of charge please ask them to email me at ginnyandrews@hotmail.com.

2011-12-29T19:38:00.001-05:00

Please excuse the lack of blogging.

Between the holidays, work and JW being here in Haiti for the first time we are so busy living life that I don't have time to write about it! But that's a good thing.

It's awesome watching my brother be an uncle. Odessa is enjoying it too.

You can follow JW's blog's he is writing while he is here. Click here.

2011-12-26T21:49:00.001-05:00

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas! We certainly did here in Haiti! My brother and Mark Fraizer, two of the board members of Invest Hope, have been here since the 17th. Mark left Friday but JW is still here.

We had a Carribean Christmas here on the island. But I think we would have had it in Antartica to have seen Odessa open her presents. It was so fun with her this year. 3 years old is a great age for Christmas!

Christmas pics coming soon but now going to get back to hanging out with the brother. He is a great uncle by the way ;)

He has his own blog and has been posting nearly everyday how his Haiti trip is going. It's really good and he has some awesome pics.

Check out JW's blog here.

2011-12-23T22:26:00.001-05:00

Evenson update

2011-12-14T11:22:00.000-05:00

Here are new pictures of Evenson. He is the toddler with a Wilms tumor who is currently receiving free treatment at LA Children's Hospital.

You can totally see how his personality is coming out! His parents here in Haiti are amazed to see him smiling and playing again! They had not seen him like this in months.

Prays are need for Evenson this Monday. The doctors in LA feel it is time to remove the tumor. They will operate this coming Monday. Please pray that all goes well, for a quick recovery and for his host parents in the states who will stay by his side night and day.

I can not tell you how exciting it is to see what the Lord is doing for this child-a child we were arranging hospice for here in Haiti!

Website of Angel Missions Haiti

2011-12-14T10:37:00.000-05:00

The other night while watching a movie with David and Odessa we got a big suprise. All of a sudden all the light bulbs in the house and a strand of Christmas lights got super bright and then blew out. It was kinda like a fireworks show inside! Immediately we smelled smoke and I was convinced the Christmas tree was on fire. David jumped up and shut off the breaker for electricity coming into the house.

He knew what happened right away. I guess growing up around electricity mishaps taught him some things I missed growing up with stable electricity all the time. Two lines outside on the street got crossed and instead of sending in the normail 110 volts of electricity, it sent in 220!

Among the victims was the router to my wireless interest, a fan and every lightbulb except 2 in the house. Now the inverter/battery system is not charging in the house so I am hoping that didn't get zapped too. We had less causulties here than my next door neighbors. They lost TV, fridge, cell phones that were plugged in charging, fans, lights.

Electricity is one of those things I battle here in Haiti a lot. Especially in Port au Prince. But I have learned a lot about it also. The government has control of the electricity and turns it on and off when they want. They fixed the lines on our street last night and we have had electricity ever since. That is rare! Normally they turn electricity off around 3-4am and back on in the afternoon.

One example of this that I love is this past spring when the new president was being sworn in. I was here in Port au Prince at David's house and they have a TV. There were about 10 people who came over to watch the swearing in on Television. I had never seen this in Haiti before so I was excited to get to see it too. The atmosphere was great that day as most Haitians were excited at the change this president was to bring to their country.

As soon as the president stood up to be sworn in, they turned the electricity off. We couldn't help but wonder is this was intentional as the old president wanted the opponent (his son-in-law!) to be the next president. A few weeks into the new presidency, the people responsible for electricity were brought into court before a judge and questioned about the incident.

***Please be in prayer that the inverter/battery system is not damaged and can be up and running soon.

School days

2011-12-07T10:43:00.000-05:00

Now that I am a mom I have experienced "the other side" of a few things.

I have been a Pediatric Nurse since 2003, but since becoming a mom I have experienced being on the other side of the exam table. The one where the patient is clinging to me and where the child with the fever is my child.

I worked out in the village school here in Haiti for 3 years working with school kids on hygiene and check-ups and other school nurse activities. Now I am sending my child to school. Odessa goes to Haitian preschool everyday for 5 1/2 hours. I am on the other side of the school gate now. I am leaving my child with strangers for the better part of her day. Odessa absolutely loves school and the rare occasion when i ask her if she wants to stay home with mommy or go to school, she always picks school. Her school is in French so my kid is learning to speak a language I don't speak (teenage years should be a blast!) and they have rules that seem really weird to this American mom...but then again we're not in America.

I have to tell you about the parents meeting at the beginning of the school year. First of all we got 2 days notice of the required meeting. If you didn't come to the meeting then your child couldn't come to school. So the meeting covered the following topics:

If it is raining in the morning, school is canceled that day. Now we have all heard of snow days but rain days??? In their defense when it rains here it is like a monsoon. But still... So I had to ask, "If it is raining when school lets out, you are going to hold the kids here until it stops?" Strike one for the only white mom in the school.
Don't pack greasy foods for snack time because it gets the kid's clothes dirty.
When there is rioting on the streets during the school day, please come pick up your child as the staff is going home. Seriously that's what they said. I had to laugh at the "when there is rioting" not "if there is rioting".
We will send outlines home of what your child will be learning in French each week. Please go over this each evening with your child. Riiiiight. My discussion with Odessa goes something like this, "Odessa this week you are learning some important stuff in French. Mommy wants to to pay real close attention in school to find out what it is. Then when you bring your pictures and projects home, mommy will have some sort of idea what the heck THIS paper says."

I am so glad Odessa loves this school and it is small enough to where all the teachers know all the students. She even wants to wear her uniform Saturdays and Sundays. She is in class with her buddy "GeeGee" who is David's nephew. They cause all kinds of problems together at home and at school.

School is a privilege in Haiti. Every morning on our walk to school we pass kids who don't get to go to school on the street. May God provide me with the wisdom to teach my child how blessed she is and how to have compassion for those who have less. And for us not to start seeing these sights as common everyday things and become complacent.

2011-12-03T14:37:00.001-05:00

So I'm getting back into the chaos here in Haiti. I was in the states for 3 weeks and acutally got a lot of work done. I spoke 6 different times on behalf of the new mission we are starting here in Haiti. I haven't talked a lot about it here on my blog-but now that we have had our first official board meeting...I will :)

Instead of writing a summary of what I did here are a list of websites to go to for the highlights :)

Missionary Convention in Atlanta

Reunited with my fav fast food

Disappointed by the Scarlet and Grey

Flashback to my teenage years but walking down different school hallways

Lots of Mother/Daughter Retail Therapy

Someone in the audience at one of the churches I spoke at asked this question,

" What is the thing that shocked you the most since coming back home?"

I wished I would have said soemthing really insightful but instead I said the first thing that came to mind,

Skinny Jeans.

Seriously...I saw these jeans on every body type during my 3 weeks home. And they didn't look good on any of them. My brother even wears them! Guys in skinny jeans...America-what is going on? I am really hoping the next time I come in this fad has passed.

But that question got me thinking. I am more shocked now when coming to home for a visit in the states than I am when I get off the plane in a third world country. I have done some reading on culture shock and some of it says that reverse culture shock can be worse than culture shock. That means that when you live in another culture and then return to your original culture that can be a bigger shock than you had going the different culture.

For example-Americans eat out WAY too much. I know we all know this but seriously. It's like our day is planned around meals. When I come home I always eat a ton of the food I have missed while being in Haiti. I always overeat. It is so easy to do in the states. Fast food on every corner, grilled meat smells wafting out of every steakhouse you pass, opening my parent's fridge and seeing it stuffed full of every kind of food you can imagine. Now I am going through withdrawl! We decorated our Christmas tree a few nights ago and all I wanted was Taco Bell. I couldn't help but think how some Soft tacos would have completed our decorating evening.

Another bit of culture shock is TV. Not only how much Americans watch TV but how much stuff is on there. My parents have Netflicks on the TV through the internet so there are all these shows, old and new on there. I found the Cosby show and watched 9 episodes. Yep 9. Then I found a show I saw a few episodes of when it was on, "What About Brian?" (Don't judge-yes it is a total soap opera) and watched 14 of the 24 episodes. Ridiculous! But I loved every minute of every episode. Good thing I don't have TV here-I might never get anything done :) But the funny thing is I don't miss it.

I could go on and on but the overall thought is I think I experience more culture shock when coming back home to the states than I do when coming back home to Haiti.

I had a nice break at home and go to see so many people-some who traveled hours to see me :), my parents made my time at home non stressful and my brother even came over to visit more than I remember seeing him when I lived in the states.

But seeing a pink flash of a 3 year old little girl running towards me in the airport parking lot in Haiti was the best part of the whole trip.

It's good to be home...and I haven't seen a single pair of skinny jeans yet.

A Missionary Hero

2011-12-01T14:27:00.000-05:00

I love reading stories about people. Biographies and autobiographies can be found galore on my kindle. I got this email today and had no idea about this missonary's story or how close the places we are from are. And because I just got back to Haiti after being in the states for 3 weeks and I am trying to settle back in, I am cheating and posting this story on my blog instead of writing one myself. Some may call this lazy but I call it being resourceful ;)

This was written by Don Linn, a preacher in Mt Gilead, OH.

“I’M HERE, LORD”

The invitation was offered at Camp Wakatomika near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, during

the summer of 1957 and a young lady by the name of Phyllis Rine answered that call

by saying “I’m here, Lord”. She was answering the call to Christian service wherever the

Lord would lead. The next month she arrived on the campus of the Cincinnati Bible

Seminary on Price Hill and the first words from her mouth were, “I’m here, Lord”. Five

years later she arrived in Stanleyville, (currently, Kisangani in the Republic of Zaire)

then known as the Congo in South Africa and again, she said, “I’m here, Lord”. Two

years later she was gunned down attempting to flee rebel soldiers and again we can

hear Phyllis say as she entered the portals of heaven, “I’m here, Lord.”

Phyllis was born August 15, 1939, to Arthur and Ava Rine who lived on a farm

near Martinsburg, Ohio. Two younger brothers, Larry and Tom were born from their

union. Unfortunately, Arthur died when Phyllis was only four. Then the family moved in

with the maternal grandparents. While living, Arthur worked as a tenant farmer, school

bus driver and milkman.

Her mother, Ava, greatly influenced Phyllis’ life. The saying on the living room

mantle spoke volumes, ‘Only one life ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ

will last.” Ava read Bible stories to the family and faithfully served in the church at

Martinsburg as well as nursing at the hospital in Mt. Vernon. Even though her father

was not a Christian her mother did not let that deter her from teaching her children

about the Lord. In addition, her maternal grandparents, the Haugers, were strong

believers.

While growing up, Phyllis was known to be very shy and reserved but also quite

studious. She learned to play the piano and accompanied the congregation in singing

as well as her brothers. The violin was the next instrument she learned to play. One of

her school teachers was heard to say, “I wish we had more students like Phyllis.”

In the fall of 1957, Phyllis arrived at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary (now known

as the Cincinnati Christian University) to begin her preparation to serve the Lord in

whatever way she could and wherever He would send. She became involved with the

Laurel Homes Church of Christ where she played the piano and taught primary age

children. Visuals and pictures were used to tell the Bible stories to many dark-skinned

boys and girls. Work was necessary to pay her school bills so she cleaned dorms,

worked in the cafeteria and later took a job downtown Cincinnati at the Midland

Guardian Company. Her reputation of being steady and dependable made her a valued

employee. She was involved with the Whatsoever Girls Club on campus, Philothean

Literary Society and World Mission Volunteers.

June, 1961, she joined 54 others to receive their diplomas and enter the world

of service to use the training received to make an impact on our culture. It was during

one of the World Mission Volunteers meetings when Clifford Schaub from the African

Christian Mission spoke about the work being done in the Congo. Phyllis’ heart was

touched and she began communicating with Zola Brown who was a single missionary

serving in Africa. Under the guidance of Dr. Winter, who was Mission’s Professor, she

became acquainted with other missionaries serving in Africa such as the Ron Harshes,

Ronald Butlers, Larry Doggetts, Howard Crowls, and the African Mission Staff.

Seeing that the Lord was guiding her to be a teacher, she enrolled at the

University of Cincinnati to begin the Master’s Program. After being certified by the

Cincinnati Board of Education, she obtained a job at the Riverside Elementary School

teaching kindergarteners. During this time she continued to take classes in the

evening while making preparations to go the mission field. Four churches responded to

the call to financially support her mission endeavors. They were Martinsburg, Bell near

Utica, Bladensburg, and the Milford church near Centerburg.

On September 4, 1962, Phyllis departed to Africa to join in the work with

Schaubs. She worked hard to learn the Swahili language so she could communicate

with the native people. Loving children so much she was dismayed in seeing that many

girls did not see the need of an education and she would say repeatedly, “If we can get

to these girls while they are still young, maybe we can get part of the problem licked

for the future.” Often she would ride her bicycle to a village to gather the children

around to tell the Bible stories and the love of God. It was reported by her co-workers

that she never felt like she was doing enough. One of her co-workers, Zola Brown,

wrote a very insightful book called, “Only One Life” which covers the life and influence

of one dedicated servant who answered the call of Christ.

November 24, 1964, will not be forgotten. It was then that rebel forces came

into Stanleyville and rounded up the foreigners and then began shooting randomly.

The Schaub family was able to escape but Phyllis was hit and bled to death. Leaving the

cemetery following the burial, a comment was heard which said, “Perhaps Phyllis has

accomplished more by her death than by her life.” Rine Hall was built as a Girls’ Dorm

on campus in honor of one who answered, “I’m here, Lord.” Literature for children now

is printed in Swahili so the children and girls, especially, will know about the God Who

cares.

Though only 25 when her life on earth was taken, her legacy and example live

on in those who would answer the call of God by saying, “I’m here, Lord.”

Don Linn
don.linn@cccmv.com

Evenson update

2011-11-23T15:47:00.000-05:00

Evenson is the little boy we have been working with at Angel Missions. The mission found care for him at A Children's Hospital and I took him out there a month ago. I posted it on Facebook and a lot of people are asking how he is doing.

He has a Wilm's tumor. It is so large that it can't be surgically removed until it shrunk with Chemo. The plan is for Evenson to have 13 weeks of Chemo and evaluate the tumor again. The great news is it is already shrinking after a few treatments!

He is with a Christian couple who is hosting him in California. They are wonderful with him and taking great care of this medically fragile child.

Please pray for Evenson and his host family and his biological parents who are anxiously awaiting for him to return to Haiti.

Nadine's Story Part 2

2011-11-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

For those of you who haven't heard...Nadine is coming to America! Well...we are working on getting her medical visa because Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus Ohio accepted her 100% free of charge!

I am so happy for their decision! One one hand I am proud b/c I am a former employee of Nationwide Children's Hospital. I am so excited that my former co-workers are going to be the ones providing care to Nadine! One the other hand I am so so so excited for Nadine, who has been suffering since she was a toddler and teased. I met her 3 years ago and had no idea God would use me as a link to help save her life.

Dana Noffsinger is a Pediatric NP at Children's and was the driving force behind getting Nadine accepted. I facebooked him and asked him to read my blog post about Nadine and see if he could ask around at Children's.

He did and started taking to a radiologist and surgeon and submitted the required paperwork. I can not say how grateful I am for what he has done for Nadine. I sat back and thought about when I met Dana and how we worked together with surgical patients at Chidren's for a few years. But now I see the how the Lord had another plan for us working together even before I ever stepped foot in Haiti. I hope he knows how much we at Angel Missions appreciate all he has done!

So now we are working on the paperwork for Nadine's Embassy appointment for her medical visa. They require a large amount of paperwork and it has to be PERFECT.

It started with getting Nadine and her mother to Port au Prince to get her passport and other paperwork signed. Here are some pictures of Nadine at her house.

Sendhie, The secretary at Angel Missions had a schooling session with her mother before they headed out for paperwork. Nadine's mother never went to school and can't sign her name. Literally doesn't know her letters. Can't write a single one. So Sendhie was teaching her how to sign her name. It was so sweet...I took a picture of it :)

We will continue to work on paperwork...almost finished! Keep praying! God is working...we are seeing the proof!

Grenadia (Passionfruit) Juice

2011-11-06T14:36:00.000-05:00

There is a fruit here in Haiti called Grenadia in Creole. I googled it and couldn't find Grenadia anywhere. I looked through fruit pictures of the Carribean and found that it is a variety of Passionfruit. There is a purple passionfriut and a yellow passionfruit. These are the yellow variety. Here is a descriptive link.

Passionfruit juice is my favorite here. Odessa and I made some yesterday. We add a couple fresh squeezed juice from limes to ours too cause we like the extra tartness.

First we wash all the fruit in bleach water. If you saw the open market here in Port au Prince where we buy our fruits and veggies you would definitely know why ;)

Odessa squeezed the limes in to get our sour/tangy taste.

Then we cut open the Passionfruit-smells SOOO good!

Then you scrape the inside part into a strainer and stir it and scape against the sides until the juice starts running down into the pitcher. Adding water helps get the juice off the seeds.

And you stir and stir and stir...

It is finished when you don't have a lot of orange stuff left. Just basically seeds. Then you go onto the the next piece. Then add water and sugar to taste when you have used all your passionfruits.

Then you enjoy fresh, passionfruit with a kick of lime, juice. I have never had this in the states. I don't know if it is imported in to some grocery stores. If you can't find in your local grocery, come on over, we'll make you a fresh pitcher!

2011-10-19T10:33:00.000-04:00

I usually don't post things that others wrote on my blog. I figure you come to my blog to read why I have to say :)

The director of Angel Missions, Vanessa, gave me a devotional book about 2 months ago. It is fabulous! It is a 365 day devotion book. They are really short, yet profound. Written from the perspective of God speaking to the reader. Then there are always 2-4 verses for you to look up at the end.

I don't know about you, but I find that I read so fast I don't always retain the information I read. I learned this about myself back in high school. So since then I write out the things that are important to help "write" them in my brain too. I write the verses out in my journal notebook. The time it takes me to write it forces be to really think about what the scripture says.

Then after those scriptures I write out my prayer list. In detail. Not just a name or a need or a brief thank you. I write out my thoughts about it. More like a letter to God than a list. I should call it my prayer letter rather than my list.

Yes it takes me longer this way. But that's a good thing. I got the idea from the book, "The Help." If you haven't read it...do it! I haven't seen the movie yet but I have yet to watch a movie that is better than the book. So even if you've seen the movie, you should read the book.

Aibileen is the main maid in the book and she has a prayer list/journal that she writes in everyday. This gave me the idea and I have been doing it ever since. It helps my mind not to wander during prayer and focus on the conversation I am having.

The following is the yesterday's devotion in the book, "Jesus Calling. A 365 Day Journaling Devotional" by Sarah Young. If you're looking for a good, quick, devotional everyday...this is the one. Here is a link to the app you can get for iPhone or iPad with the daily devotional. And here is the link where you can buy in on Amazon.com. And here is the link to buy it for Kindle. Can you tell I really recommend it?

Go gently through this day, keeping your eyes on Me. I will open up the way before you go, as you take steps of trust along your path. Sometimes the way before you appears to be blocked. If you focus on the obstacle or search for a way around it, you will probably go off course. Instead, focus on Me, the Shepherd, who is leading you along your life-journey. Before you know it, the "obstacle" will be behind you and you will hardly know how you passed through it.

That is the secret to success in My kingdom. Although you remain aware of the visible world around you, your primary awareness is of Me. When the road before you looks rocky, you can trust Me to get you through that rough patch. My Presence enables you to face each day with confidence.

Scriptures:

John 10:14-15

"I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep.

Isaiah 26:7

The path of life is level for those who are right with God;
Lord, you make the way of life smooth for those people.

I know there is controversy about this book. But after rereading the introduction, I see Ms Young is not trying to Speak from God to us. Or add to the Bible. But she is helping me stop and come into the presence of the Lord everyday in the midst of the chaos I live in.

There about 70 people a day looking at this blog. I realize it could be the same people over and over :)

I am always looking for great Christian reads. Especially ones on Kindle since I live in Haiti.

Beth is a follower of my blog and she sent me "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan some months back. FABULOUS BOOK! Here is the link to Beth's blog.

Take 3 seconds and leave a comment about your current favorite Christian read. (Note: I have to approve them for them to post so if it doesn't show up on the blog right away...no worries)

2011-10-17T14:11:00.002-04:00

10 women from 10 different places. 10 different walks of life. 10 hearts for helping others.

One in Antarctica, one in Kentucky, one in Georgia.

Two nurses who are former co-workers.

A high school classmate I haven't seen in 13 years.

Her mother whom I have never met.

A friend I met in Haiti-who was here for only a week but holds Haiti in her heart.

Another whom I have never met.

And me.

10

When I asked for help with Oscar I never guessed this specific combination of people would respond. I am the only one who knows (almost) all of them. These people are different as day and night. NEVER would this group of women all go out for dinner or coffee.

But that's what makes it so exciting! God put us all together to help Oscar. God knew when I met each of these people that He was going to make us part of a group of 10 one day to help a poor little boy in green cordouroy pants.

He used nurses, photographers, stay at home moms, high school classmates and family friends to do something in His name! And He did it in 9 hours. 9 hours after I posted the request, 9 people had volunteered! 9 hours!

Once again I get to be here for the fun part. I get to tell Oscar and his family he is going to get surgery. Witness to them how God provided for Oscar's needs. I get see him post-op (hopefully with the green pants!) and finally see Oscar pain free.

Being a missionary really is cool.

Seeing how God used 10 people to come together to do something in His name is amazing.

Oscar and the green corduroy pants

2011-10-14T11:19:00.001-04:00

Meet Oscar.

Cute huh? His serious attitude cracks me up. When he talks you would think an 80 yr old man was talking! And the 4 times I have seen him he always has these same clothes on. The wild Hawiaan shirt and (the best part!), green corduroy pants.

The first time I met him was downtown when the Comfort Ship came to Haiti. His dad brought hime to get his hernia repaired. But thousands of people showed up and a little over a hundred were chosen for surgery. Needless to say, Oscar's hernia wasn't high on the list.

So we referred him to a hospital here in Port au Prince where they can do the operation. He is not a canidate for a medical visa for a hernia. Medical Visas are given out for more severe cases. Plus this is a surgery offered in Haiti so the Embassy wants it done in Haiti.

So the cost of the total hernia surgery here in Haiti is $312 US.

So....

Lots of so's huh?

So...anyone want to help Oscar? He is in school and hoping to have the surgery over Christmas break so he doesn't miss a lot of school. (told you he talks like an old man!)

If a few of us all contribute we can help this 7 year old be free of hernia pain. If we make a small sacrifice. Share what we have.

Hebrews 13:16 (NCV)

"Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God."

God sees our sacrifices. He takes pleasure in them.

I challenge 9 other people to consider donating $30 (tax-deductible) towards Oscar's surgery. With me that will make 10 people and $300. Every penny will go to his hernia surgery.

***Update***So...WE DID IT! 9 people responded to the request in less than 9 hours! The Lord provided for Oscar! I can't wait to tell his family!

Lakay nou (Our house)

2011-10-06T12:13:00.000-04:00

Some people has asked me to post pics of our house aka "The Shoebox". Angel Missions Haiti provides us with this house in return for my working with them.

Here you go...don't blink you'll miss it!

Front of house and porch

Angel Missions office in front of house

Living room and 1st real couch I've ever had in Haiti!

Living room with the most comfy, outdated glider ever!

My room-can you tell I don't have storage space???

Kitchen...who needs plumbing?

Kitchen

Odessa's room

There you go! Not quite home sweet home but it'll do for now!

Learning to Dance in the Rain!

2011-10-04T17:52:00.000-04:00

Came across a quote that really hot home today.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

I had a big scare last week. I found out that the Haitian attorney I had to do Odessa's adoption, could not do it. Very bad news.

17 months we have been waiting!

But there is some good news-I got her legal paperwork and had all the paperwork done my previous attorney told me I needed for the adoption.

But more bad news: He is not up to date and I need yet MORE paperwork.

But the good news is I had a met a missionary here in Haiti (who has adopted 10 children and is working on #11-as a SINGLE mom and she's younger than me!-I think she needs a psych evaluation!) who can help me with all of this and her mission is doing so free of charge! I meet our new attorney next week-she has already finalized 30 adoptions this year alone. I want Odessa to be number 31!

More bad news come yesterday as I learned I do not meet the US requirement for income. Can't exactly change how much money I made last year.

But the good news is I will be finalizing her adoption in Haiti so I am excluded from that requirement! (I am currently at home recovering from the heart attack I had yesterday after finding out I don't meet the requirements)

So this quote really hit home today.

So while I am going to work on this adoption and run after every document, take every psych test (that was fun!) and watch the rules change here in Haiti 947 times...

We're learning to dance in the storm of international adoption! Yesterday afternoon I danced holding in tears. Yesterday morning I danced b/c Odessa started school! The week before I danced with a sucker-punch feeling in my gut. Today I'm dancing while making spaghetti!

We don't know what tomorrow may bring but it's just a storm.

But we're dancing together.

Once upon a time...

2011-10-02T21:25:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time there was a nurse who never felt like her comfortable life in a land known as Ohio was what the Lord had planned for her. So she moved to Haiti and not a lot has been comfortable since but the nurse experienced more adventures than she ever did working at Level One Trauma Hospitals in the states.

Last week was one of these adventures. She took public transportation (which is always an adventure in Haiti) to a land full of sun and beaches called Jacmel. There is a little girl who lives about a 30 minute motorcycle ride up in the jungle outside the city. Most people would have went in the daylight, but this nurse likes to shake things up, so her and her prince took a motorcycle ride into the darkness. This land does not have electricity so it was really dark! The prince asked the nurse if she had a lot of money in her purse. The nurse, confused, said no. The prince said that was good just in case they got robbed. They crossed 3 rivers, one being too deep to cross by moto, so the prince carried the nurse across the dark river on his back.

They finally arrived at Makensia's house.

Here's her story: When Makensia was just days old, she was sleeping on a bed next to a nightstand that had a candle on it. The sheet covering her caught fire and her R foot was severely burned. Her toes were burned off and her foot very deformed. After seeing where she lives-literally the middle of nowhere-it is amazing she didn't die of an infection.

Fast forward 6 years.

When the USNS Comfort ship was coming we called Makensia's family to have them bring her to Port au Prince in hopes of her getting surgery. She was chosen out of the HUNDREDS that showed up! Her foot was bent backwards up her shin by the contractures the burns left. She could not walk but hobbled around. A Plastic surgeon on the ship released the contracture and now her foot is flat and moves and she can walk on it with little difficulty!

The nurse and Makensia had a good visit. Makensia demonstrated her "runway walk" and everyone cheered. The nurse checked out her wound and took out her stitches by the glow of a cell phone for light b/c this entire village lives without electricity and the nurse likes the challenge.

Makensia's story is not over. She still needs a few more surgeries to fix her all up. The nurse promised Makensia she was going to look for more doctors and possibilities to help her. One of those ways of looking is to post a blog about her and see if any doctors coming to Haiti would be willing to help her.

They said their goodbyes and the nurse rode the moto back out into the darkness with her prince following behind with a camera. (and no mom...we didn't get robbed).

The nurse who loves the adventures the Lord gives her would like to say thanks to everyone who supports her in her work in Haiti. This far away land really isn't far away distance-wise but way far away technology wise.

She would also like to thank to Lord for not letting her fall off a motorcycle in Haiti yet. She welcomes donations into the vehicle fund her home church back home has opened for her.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to:

Licking Valley Church of Christ

1578 Dayton Rd

Newark, OH 43055

please put "Ginny Andrews" in memo of check.

In the event of a plane crash...

2011-09-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

I came across this while cleaning out my purse/bookbag/diaperbag combo thingy today. I forgot all about it and it made me laugh this time. The first time I read it, flying in the 4 seater toy tiny plane, I wasn't doing much laughing.

This was in the medical airplane I flew to Jeremie in to pick up Sandra, the slave child who experienced some trauma back in May. It was laminated and I copied it word for word. None of this was made up.

IN THE EVENT OF A PLANE CRASH

1.Stay away from the airplane until cooled.

2.Check injuries. Give first aid.

3.Get out of the wind/rain. Put up temporary shelter. Make hot drinks. (Hot drinks? #1-I'm in HAITI. #2-If my plane just crashed I seriously doubt I'm going to sit back and drink a glass of herbal tea!)

4.Get signaling equipment ready. Make sure the emergency transmitter locator is working. Set the plane's battery on it's right side. (Sure hope the pilot knows how to do this and is not injured/dead.)

5. Now relax and rest until you are over the shock of the crash. (Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.)

6. After resting, organize the camp. Put all food and equipment in charge of one person. Remember you can survive weeks with no food if you have water. (So glad I watched all those Lost episodes!)

7.Prepare signals, disturb your surroundings so you can be recognized from the air. Collect oil from plane to burn for smoke signals.

8. Check out plane's radio. Determine position and include on radio messages. (This is #8?????)

9.Start a log book. Fill out accident and injury report forms.

Thinking I better stick to missionary nursing not flight nursing...

Exactly What I need

2011-09-18T19:07:00.000-04:00

What a great Sunday! David (AKA best menaj ever!) surprised me by borrowing a car so we could go to the English speaking church-where they have Children's worship for Odessa. I enjoyed on church service in ENGLISH with an empty lap (where Odessa usually sits).

But the best part of church was the end. There was a white lady sitting in front of us with 3 little girls. They were rotten in church-just like my little girl is. I felt better seeing someone else with a child who can't sit still. After church she started talking to David and I. She said she is from Canada and her husband is Haitian and they want to make friends with some other mixed couples who have kids. I about jumped into this stranger's arms and hugged her. She invited us to dinner on Wednesday! Like a real dinner with another couple like us. I tried to play it cool when I said yes but I was so excited I couldn't stand still. I must have really been wriggling with excitement b/c when she walked away David asked me if I had to pee.

Then we stopped by the grocery store on the way home and they had tortillas. Real ones from the states. Don't ask me how much I paid for them-that's not important. What is important is that we had chicken soft tacos for lunch! With real soft taco shells and real salsa. I haven't had tacos in over a year. And boy were they good. Odessa kept asking me where the rice was. I told her, "Don't worry sweetie-we'll have rice every other day this week." She said, "Not today?" "No not today. Today we're eating TACOS!" She said, "I want rice." Oh well-can't make everyone happy.

English church, dinner invitation and soft tacos make for one happy American in Haiti this evening. I would say it's the little things in life that make life great. But these are not little things. These are things I talked to God about last week in my devotion time. God answered my requests with a taco, a dinner invitation and worship in my native language.

Why am I always surprised that He knows exactly what I need?

2011-09-13T13:18:00.002-04:00

Meet Mithadeline. Look at this face! Don't you love it? I met her a couple weeks ago when her mom brought her down to see the doctors aboard the USNS Comfort ship. Her mom was hoping they would do surgery on Mithadeline's legs.

Unfortunately, she needs extensive surgery, maybe a series of surgeries. So she was not a canidate for surgery aboard the ship. I made an appointment to come into the the Angel Missions office.

She came in last week and brighted up our dark dreary office with her smile. She was a chatterbox and has tons of character! Mithadeline was born with major leg deformities. Her right leg doesn't bend at the knee at all and her R foot is turned inward. Her Left leg is bent at the knee and doesn't straighten at all.

She army crawls around her house and scoots using her arms and hands. Her parents carry her back and forth to school everyday. At age 5 they can do this but at age 15 this is not going to be possible.

Haiti is not handi-cap accessible to say the least! I have yet to see one sidewalk fit for a wheelchair. There is debris/trash blocking walkways everywhere. Cars park on the sidewalks where ever they want. Even if Mithadeline had a wheelchair, it would be useless in this country.

We sent her information to the states and there is an Orthopedic doctor interested in helping her! But the larger issue was how Angel Missions was going to pay for testing and paperwork here in Haiti to get a passport and medical visa.

So I started praying and thinking about who could help.

I sent out a couple emails to some Christian friends who are active in their church mission committees. Within hours, Teresa Mooney from Kokimo, Indiana, responded. She said her church, Main Street Christian Church in Russiaville, Indiana, was having a mission committee meeting that very evening and she would ask if they would help Mithadeline.

Talk about all in God's timing!

So I am happy to give a public "Thank You" to Main Street Christian Church in Indiana for sponsorship of a medical visa for Mithadeline! This church is helping change one Haitian child's life.

God is putting together the pieces of the puzzle to help this child. I feel blessed to have played my part. And blessed that there are other Christians like Teresa Mooney and Main Street Christian Church willing and ready to play theirs!

Carry Me

2011-09-11T22:51:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if God gets tired of my whining. I specifically thought this today as Odessa and I walked home from David's house (about 3/4 mile) in the scortching afternoon sun. In the most pathetic, annoying whine Odessa said, "Mommy juice, Mommy juice, Mommy juice." Over and over. She drug her little feet behind her as she hung on my arm. She never looked up from the pavement.

I, being the mother-of-the-year I am, had no money on me. Not one gourde (the Haitian currency). It was hot-we live in Port au Prince, AKA "city of radiating heat off the pavement," and every 15 steps or so we would walk past someone selling ice cold drinks in a cooler.

After about 20 minutes of pulling the "mommy juice" 2 year old I snapped. I bent down to Odessa's level and said, "Honey- I have no juice, I have no money but we have ice in the freezer at home and we're almost there. Just keep walking. Please!"

She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and said, "Carry me."

What?!? Riiiight...my little girl has gotten way too big for me to carry her up and down the hills of Port au Prince in the last couple months.

But those eyes...

Already sweating, I shifted my bag and he bookbag to one arm and pulled my almost 3 year old up in my other arm.

This was somehow easier than hearing, "Mommy juice" one more time :)

And then I started. Not out loud but in my head.

I imagine it sounded something like this in the Lord's ear:

"God-I'm tired. Really tired. Not just today. But I don't know how much longer I can take this. i just want a break. I've been in the states for one week out of the last 17 months! This is ridiculous! I came to Haiti-wasn't that sacrafice enough? But here I am with a 2 1/2 year old child, no car, in a huge city. Lord I used to have a life. A Nice life. I used to have friends, a vehicle, indoor plumbing throughout my house. But Lord I'm tired. Really tired."

We finally made it home. Both of us sweating like pigs. And we enjoyed some ice cold juice.

When I laid her in bed tonight I talked to her about patience. Ironic huh? After my whining fest with the Lord this afternoon? Like I said, Mother-of-the-year here.

I am getting ready for bed now and going to "redo" that chat I had with the Lord earlier.

How many times have I prayed hanging on the Lord's hand with my feet dragging behind me, eyes down on the pavement? Begging, whining for him just to make it better.

And sometimes He tells me to keep walking. But I have the assurance I am never walking alone.

And I know when I just can't take another step...I can look up and say, "Carry me."

Carry me through this adoption process because I am tired of the red-tape of governments.

Carry me through another day in the office because I am tired of the sickness and disease where there is not adequate medical care.

Carry me through another weekend without friends and family.

Carry me through handwashing our laundry in the bathtub-on second thought Lord, just knock me out for that one...

Carry me...

Deuteronomy 31:8

"The Lord himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you. Don't be afraid and don't worry."

Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest."

2011-09-05T11:55:00.001-04:00

Ok so here's my plea.

I'm begging.

I need help finding Medical care for a 13 year old girl in Haiti. I have posted about her several times here on my blog.

Her name is Nadine. I won't repeat what I have already written. Click here to read previous blog post.

I met Nadine 3 years ago in Peredo. During that time I have tried and tried to get her the help she needs in Haiti. I was unsuccessful getting her a CT scan until now. Now that she has a diagnosis, help is with in reach.

Nadine had a CT scan on the USS Comfort Ship. The CT showed 8-10 large cysts in her abdomen.

We have copies of the CT scan avaliable for doctors who want to consider her case.

Here is the report written by the radiologist on the USS Comfort ship:

Technique: CT of the abdomen and pelvis utilizing oral and IV contrast

Findings:

This is abnormal study. There are large cystic masses, Hounsfield units of
8-10 that are bilateral and retroperitoneal primarily. They extend around the
kidneys and push bowel anteriorly within the abdomen. Fluid does extend down
into the pelvis and appears free around the rectosigmoid area. No adenopathy
seen. The kidneys do enhance. Enhancement is somewhat patchy which may be
due to the mass effect from this fluid attenuation mass. No other
abnormalities are clearly seen.

Impression: Large fluid containing, cystic mass which is bilateral and
retroperitoneal. Most likely this relates to a benign process. Per
history this is been present since birth. This could be a lymphatic
malformation.

Often times people tell me how "cool" my job is...helping people in Haiti...living in Haiti. And most days, it is cool. But this is the part that's out of my hands. There is a lady in the states who looks for medical care for the kids Angel Missions is helping.

The hard part is this:

To be elegible for a medical visa in our program, the doctor and hospital have to donate the entire cost of services, materials and hospital stays. 100%. We have to have letters to take to the American Embassy which state all care is free of charge and n medicare/medicaid funds will be used.

This is where you can help. I am Nadine's advocate in Haiti but you can be her advocate in the states. (You would not do any work on this other than the referral. Angel Missions takes care of all paperwork after contact is made) I am really talking to my Nationwide Children's Hospital friends in Ohio. Hint hint. I worked at this hospital for a few years and the general surgery department is amazing. I have seen them help so many children and I believe Nadine is another.

So back to the begging...

Please please please (this is not just geared toward Nationwide Children's Hospital) talk to a surgeon about her-show her pictures, give them the results of the CT. A copy of the actual CT is avaliable. If you know someone who works in a Pediatric Hospital-whatever their job-ask them to check it out for you. Email me at ginnyandrews@hotmail.com.

And most importantly pray-God can open doors we didn't even know existed.

Update 9/27/2011:

Two doctors and a NP in Ohio have agreed to care for Nadine for free! They are putting together a presentation for the hospital to ask them to accept her free of charge. Join us in praying for a positive decision!

Thanks to everyone who wrote and asked doctor's and hospitals in their area. I was so surprised at the responses to help Nadine!

Exhausted but worth it!

2011-09-04T16:50:00.000-04:00

So no blog in a while. That would be b/c I have been out of the office working. And working. And working, And then took 4 days off to go home to Jacmel.

Still tired but want to show you some pics. Angel Missions working with the US military while it was here for 10 days (Well almost 10-a potential hurricane that never came, forced the ship to go way out into the ocean to miss it should it have hit Port au Prince).

I think every illness/accident/medical mishap in the country of Haiti came through the gates to be seen. My fellow medical professionals know how exciting this can be! Stuff I have only seen in text books and other stuff I never heard of came to be evaluated by the military. They did 109 surgeries on the boat and consulted anywhere from 600-900 people a day on the port. 600-900! The military was so efficient everything ran smoothly. I figured being the military and all it would be well organized. What I didn't expect was how friendly and caring the militray medical staff would be.

Haiti was their 9th and final country in a row! They still had smiles as they worked long, hard days.

I helped Angel missions coordinate translators (120 total!) and then start working up cases the USS Comfort could not handle to send to the states for medical visas.

We have a whole new caseload of patients we are helping now and I will post their stories and needs on the blog so you can meet them, pray for them and consider helping them get a medical visa for life-saving surgery.

This is the bittersweet part of my job. The patients the ship couldn't help were sent to me for evaluation to see if they are a canidate for medical visa. As I talked to some of them I knew they will most likely die before a medical visa gets set up for them. Though there were others who I think have a great chance of getting a medical visa.

Here are some pictures from the Comfort. Note: I am in no way exploiting the patient's photo's. Please know I personallt asked each person or parent's permission before taking the picture. I am posting them so you can being praying for them.

2011-08-24T16:11:00.001-04:00

So much has happened in the past couple weeks I have not blogged at all.

Where is start is a good question.

Lots of people are asking about Sandra. She was doing great here with us, eating great and being a playmate to Odessa. We knew from the beginning of the journey she couldn't stay here the entire time it wuld take to complete her adoption though. So she left about 2 weeks ago. She is staying with a Haitian preacher and his family (who happen to have 3 girls!) while her adoptive family is going through the process. I have called a few times to check on her and they say she is doing awesome! She will be starting school for the first time and is excited about that. Odessa however, asks about her nearly everyday and seems a little lost without a live in playmate. Please continue praying for Sandra and her adoption process.

Speaking of which, we are coming along with Odessa's paperwork. And waiting anxiously with other adoptive parents on the Haitian government to change the adoption rules a little. To make is easier to adopt in Haiti. So send up LOTS of prayers the president of Haiti signs that paperwork!

Right now am in the middle of working with the USS Comfort which is currently in Haiti providing free surgeries and a variety of other medical services for 10 days. It is lots of work but has surprisingly be a lot of fun too! Check out the USNS Comfort's website and the "Continuing Promise" program.

Angel Missions Haiti is helping corrdinate tanslators and patients for the ship.Several patients we had on our list to go to the US for surgery (Nadine has gotten some care-see below for her story) are receiving care here in Haiti thanks to the USNS Comfort!

Haitian proverbs

2011-08-10T17:31:00.001-04:00

Now that I am learning the Creole language better and better, I am starting to understand the Haitian proverbs people use in everyday conversation. I have used some American ones I have translated into Creole, but they are always well understood. For example-Actions speak louder than words, or One man's trash is another man's treasure.

There are several Haitian proverbs I really like.

Sonje lapli ki leve mayi ou. (Remember the rain that made your corn grow.)

Bay kou bliye, pote mak sonje. (The giver of the blow forgets, the bearer of the scar remembers.)

And my favorite...

Woch nan dlo pa konnen doule woch nan soley. (The rock in the water doesn't know the pain of the rock in the sun.)

We can think we understand. We can try really, really hard to imagine.

But we don't know the pain.

Sometimes we are so quick to judge others. Even if we don't do it out loud, we do it in our heads.

But walking a mile in someone else's shoes doesn't really cut it b/c at the end of that mile we put our own shoes back on and are thankful for them.

Countless time I have heard short term missionaries who come to Haiti for a week or 2 say things like, "I had no idea how lucky I am." or, "Now I am going to be thankful for everything God has given me-a house, car, food."

But do we ever think that we were given the opportunities we have been given in life to help others?

The first time I came to Haiti in 2008 I met a lady who was my age (28) with 5 children whose husband had died a couple months earlier. Through an interpreter I listened to her story as I stood in front of a banana leaf shack looking into the eyes of someone who was my exact same age-yet we were so different. Her and her 5 children were literally starving to death.

I think aggravated is the best work to describe the way I felt towards God. Yes I asked him why. Why did I have all the opportunities I had had in my life while she had NONE. Why didn't God "even the stakes" just a little bit?

She was baking in the sun while I, in my cozy life, was lounging in the water.

I have never seen her again. It's amazing how big of an impact 3 minutes with a stranger can have on your life.

Without this 3 minutes I never would have returned to Haiti. This was my first experience with "a rock in the sun."

But as much I want to think I understand that rock, I never will.

Click here to read more Haitian proverbs.

Bring on the Food!

2011-08-04T21:40:00.001-04:00

So Sandra looks scared to death in this picture! But I assure you she is ONE HAPPY GIRL!

She got the hardware removed that was wiring her broken jaw together! It was wired for 5 weeks. See previous blog for Sandra's story. But to jog your memory she was the former slave child. She has been living with us in The Shoebox since she was released from the hospital.

She has been on a liquid diet for 5 weeks-and I will tell that is no easy task in Haiti! She was also extremely malnourished so we had to get vitamins and lots of protein into her liquid diet. We are all glad she is back to eating regular food! And boy can she eat.

Thanks for all the prayers lifted on her behalf. There is an American family seeking to adopt her so keep the prayers going for that process also.

Gotta go...somebody wants cake!

Summer camp!

2011-08-03T10:50:00.000-04:00

We all packed up last week and headed up near Port au Paix to run a week of church camp. We started out only accepting 50 Haitian kids but by the end of week somehow had 73-with kids outside begging to get in everyday.

Odessa and Sandra had a blast! Sandra (6yrs) had never seen anything like that before. Being quite the tomboy, she loved the recreation games and was better at them than some of the older boys! Odessa loved being the center of attention with the American group from California and she loved the craft time.

The team from California put together a bible story plan around the story of Jonah. They did skits, had colorful displays and surprisingly they learned church songs in Creole! The Haitian kids were so excited that the Americans were learning the songs in the Creole language. They learned, "Jesus Loves the Little Children, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, and Lord I Lift Your Name on High." The group leader, Jason, came with a guitar-I think the kids would have sat and sang with him for the entire day if they could have!

These kids live so far out in the country that they do not get programs like this at all. One day I was dying for a Coke or Pepsi. David and I left the camp and went out looking. No luck. There was literally NOWHERE 20 minutes in either direction to buy pop. SO you can see how the week long camp was a big deal to them.

I pray it has a lasting effect and they hold onto the bible lessons.

2011-07-18T09:11:00.000-04:00

Meet Nadine.

11 years old.
Like this since she was a toddler.
Taken out of school b/c mom said she doesn't want to waste her money on a kid who will die.

Over the past 2 years I have taken this girl to multiple hospitals, medical clinics and followed her closely. And over the past 2 years prayed and prayed (and prayed) for her.

The new job I took is to get Medical Visas to go to the states to get care. (Coincidence?)

Hoping to get a CT scan for Nadine in the next few weeks. Then when we have a diagnosis-start looking for care in the US.

This is what Angel Missions Haiti does.

I hope to help them help you all meet the kids.

Like Nadine.

My prayer is these kids become something other than a photo to you. Something other than a another story about Haiti.

Become involved. Become a prayer warrior. Become a donor. Become a host parent.
Just become involved.

If interested in donating directly to Nadine's testing costs and costs towards her medical visa, go to Angel Missions website. www.angelmissionshaiti.org

To Facebook or not to Facebook?

2011-07-12T23:51:00.000-04:00

So like most people, I love Facebook. I mean I love it. I love keeping in touch with friends from high school and college. I love to see the pictures of their kids, see what the ended up doing for a living and seeing what high school and college sweethearts stayed together and got married.

I also have several friends who post the funniest things and others who post very thoughtful quotes.

Bottom line...Facebook make me feel like I am still in the loop. Facebook reminds me I am an American. Reminds me of the friends and family have I back home. Reminds me of Birthdays!

What did missionaries do before the internet?

At the same time...I hate Facebook.

How can I love something and hate it at the same time? I had a boyfriend I felt that way about once too...but back to the blog ;)

At the click of a mouse I can see everything that is going on back home. Everything. Everything that is going on without me.

Right now the hardest pictures to look at are of family vacations. I would love, love, love to go on a family vacation with my parents and brother and Odessa. I see the family pool pictures and playgrounds and King's Island and ice cream and kid's outdoor birthday parties and Vacation Bible school and Church camp.

And then I look at Odessa. We have no yard. Literally none. Not even a cement one. The street in front of our house is covered in earthquake rubble piled higher than my head. We take walks most evenings down the road in front of our house that passes a tent city full of homeless since the earthquake. Odessa straddles the path of waste water going down the middle of the road. That is her game. To not step in the whatever the heck is in the liquid. And thankfully, she is good at her created game.

When we get home the first thing I want to do is check Facebook. Every evening.

So tonight instead of signing on Facebook, I wrote down the blessings I now have because I obeyed God's call to work in Haiti. Here it is:

A very energetic 2 yr old who I would walk through fire for.
A boyfriend who would walk through fire and back for me.
An appreciation for a culture totally different than my own.
Mastering a second language.
Appreciation for running water in my bathroom.
Being given to chance to know who my real friends are.
Learning the difference, the hard way, between a want and a need.
Setting my sights on the next life, not this one.

So in the "sarcastic Ginny" summary-My boyfriend, who doesn't speak English, helps me a ton with my 2 yr old who is literally bouncing off the walls. I barely speak English...ever. My wonderful dad got running water into my bathroom here in the shoebox I live in-there is a sink in the kitchen but ironically it does not have running water or plumbing...so...we take water from the bathroom sink to wash dishes and then the water literally falls out of the bottom of the sink into a 5 gallon bucket that we then empty into the toilet every night. A few people who I called my close friends in the states have made very little, effort to keep in touch, while other not so close friends, have been sweeter and more encouraging than I ever would have guessed. I do not need the internet-although I nearly went insane without it for a few weeks. Literally.

God never told me it would be easy. (I say this a lot-actually chant it silently in my head on a daily basis)

But He gave me a daughter with a very good imagination, the best boyfriend who is here for me night and day, a job that provides me with a house, running water in my bathroom, a kitchen to cook in, encouragers who haven't forgotten, and the internet to blog about it all on.

He is preparing a real home for us. All who accept. That is the most important lesson I have learned in Haiti. I can't wait to see it! Really see it. Can you imagine what it is going to be like? No family vacation pics ever posted on Facebook will compare!

In the Eye of the Beholder

2011-07-05T08:16:00.000-04:00

My Fridays this summer are a smack in the face to this country girl. Living in Port au Prince is not easy for Haitians but there is a ravine downtown (see pic below) that is filled with trash, goats, and sewage water. I don't like it when missionaries or others come to Haiti and exploit Haitians who are living literally on top of this filth. I am showing you these pictures so you can pray for this slum area of Port Au Prince and to tell you about a mission working in the middle of it.

Go check out Christian Light Ministries website. Christian Light Ministries

www.christianlighthaiti.org

The missionary, Miss Sherry, has started an English school in this community. She starts them off in preschool and their entire school day is in English. With in months they are speaking English! She does something else I have never seen done so well in a Haitian school-they have awesome art projects and sewing classes and painting and a HUGE library full of English children's books.

Sherry is one busy lady! There is also an orphanage, nutrition program and this medical program all under her. She has Haitian staff but is the only American living here running the program. And to top it off-they are so short on space, her bedroom is her school office. She takes the term studio apartment to a whole new level. She has made a difference in this community with her sacrifices and love for the Lord.

I thank the Lord for missionary examples like her.

I am filing in this summer for another missionary nurse who is on furlough in the states. Every Friday morning she walks the ravine with a Haitian nurse named Myrland (pictured with me above).

We do medical evaluations as we walk through the crowded living conditions. Some are referred to the hospital and some are given the medications they need. The good part is that we check on them on our rounds the next week and they are getting continuity of care.

The most common conditions are colds, ring worm and scabies. Not surprising.

I can't help but be thankful I am not raising my daughter in these conditions. But it breaks my heart that others are. The first week I went they were just poor people living in a Haiti slum...

but now I look forward to my Friday workdays partnering with another mission who has a vision for this area and a hope for it's children.

2011-07-02T11:14:00.001-04:00

Sandra is still staying with us and is starting to fit in well around here. Odessa is adjusting well to have a temporary bid sister-although Sandra is annoyed sometimes with Odessa! But I tell her that's b/c Odessa looks up to her and wants to be like her. The first time I told this former slave child that Odessa looks up to her, you could see the wheels turning inside her head trying to grasp that concept. We have had our ups and downs but I can't tell you how exciting it has been to see her get to be a kid and see how she is starting to trust us and learing how far she can push me!

We've got to take her out for ice cream!

Her adoptive family in the states are praying she gets to go to the states to complete the rest of her medical treatment. They have paperwork to get in order. David and I are trying to help them on the Haiti side of things-which is not always easy. So pray for us as we have a deadline.

On a sad note-my dad left yesterday...

He came down for 10 days and played Mr Fix-it around our new house-which has been named "The Shoebox". Chuck Diehl is also here and together they got the water running in the bathroom-well the shower and sink. We don't have other running water in the house but to have a real shower-it's heaven! They also moved a huge battery/inverter system so I could have a wonderful bedroom all to myself! So thankful for my own bedroom.

We got to hang out in the evenings, take the girls out for ice cream and wade through the frustrations of Haiti for 10 days together. We had a great time with PawPaw and Odessa is still walking around looking for him. I think she wore him out! He kept commenting on how much energy she has. Of course here in Port au Prince she is cooped up in a shoebox. We don't have courtyard, parking lot, nothing for a 2 yr old to burn off energy.

That's the 2nd week I've spent with my dad in 13 months. The 2nd week he has got to be with his only grand-child.

Now we have lots of memories to hold us over til the next time!

2011-06-24T21:27:00.000-04:00

Sandra is fitting in just fine.

Just as hard headed as Odessa!

She got a good report from surgeon at follow-up appointment today.

Keep praying for her life path...God is working!

Thank you!

2011-06-22T11:44:00.000-04:00

Thanks to EVERYONE who came out to the benefit dinner and silent auction at Licking Valley High School.

It was a HUGE success!

$13,000 raised for a vehicle for me in Haiti!

Special thanks to Summer Conley who organized and coordinated everything. She did a fabulous job and I so appreciate it!

Also thanks to the ladies at Licking Valley Church of Christ.

I wasn't there (but Skyped in!) but I know so many more people helped and I definitely don't want to leave them out. Thank you so much.

Thanks to all the churches who showed up to support this event too. My supporting churches don't just send a check to me every month-they pray for me, send encouraging emails and participate in events. I know Heath Church and Utica Church were there in addition to Licking Valley.

Thanks so much!

Donations are still being accepted for the vehicle.

Checks can be sent to:
Licking Valley Church of Christ
1578 Dayton Rd
Newark, OH 43055
put "Ginny Andrews" in memo line.

A Chance at Childhood

2011-06-15T17:11:00.000-04:00

Restavek.

What does that word mean to you?

Maybe you've heard of this Creole word. It comes from the French words "reste avec" which means "one who stays with".

Doesn't sound so bad does it?

Wikipedia defines Restavek like this: "a child in haiti who is sent by their parents to work for a host household as a domestic servant because the parents lack the resources required to support the child." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restavec

You can read the whole article and if you're brave google "Restavek haiti" and read some of the horrific stories.

These are children. I know several of them. Some only 5 years old.

Last week I met one who is 6 years old. I flew out to a remote place in Haiti and brought a little girl who I later learned is one of these slave children.

Her story is hers. I don't feel right telling it on my blog to the world. I don't even know the full story but what I do know is enough to give me a sick feeling in my stomach. Briefly- I helped Medi-vac her to Port au Prince 2 Thursdays ago. She was admitted to a hospital and had surgery Wednesday. Released from the hospital yesterday.

She is recovering well at my house surrounded by Barbies, Dora videos and new Croc shoes.

Sandra is a Spunky, stong-willed, bright eyed little girl-who for the first time in her life is getting to be a little girl. She is no longer a slave child to a family-treated as property. No more carrying huge amounts of water, doing the family's laundry and not allowed to go to school.

How in the year 2011 does a country so close to the United States have child slavery?

I don't know but today there is one less.

And I got to witness it!

Thanks so much for your support of my ministry in Haiti. I can't report big numbers like some missions do. But I can tell you about Sandra and the difference we (you and I) have made in her life.

Who knows the plans the Lord has for her life.

Jeremiah 29:11

"I say this because I know what I am planning for you," says the Lord. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future."

"Mamba" AKA Peanut Butter

2011-06-01T17:05:00.000-04:00

David's sister was making peanut butter today. I had never seen this so thought I would sit and watch-had no idea how long it takes to make peanut butter when 90% of it is being done by hand.

The process actually started last night when David's 2 sisters and mom sat together shelling peanuts. I just thought they were going to eat them so I didn't get a picture of that..but we've all seen that before.

This morning I woke up to a wonderful smell. Good smells are usually not the case in Port au Prince. Fabian, David's sister, was roasting the peanuts over charcoal fire that they shelled last night. It smelled awesome. I should make a candle out of that scent. Who am I kidding-I don't make candles OR peanut butter.

After they were roasted she rolled them in her hands to remove the thin husky part.
(don't know the technical term)

This process actually took a long time.

A lot longer than running to the grocery to buy peanut butter.

Then we were off walking through the neighborhood to get the peanuts blended together to make the peanut butter.
Fabian added about a cup of sugar and 4 small hot Haitian peppers to the peanuts before it was pulverized together.

Messy-but what a smell! There were several others there in line to get their peanuts churned. Some had honey and brown sugar to mix in. I bet that tastes great!

Finished product

I was curious to know what the cost of making peanut butter here was. Fabian made it to sell in the little shop the family has in front of the house.

She bought the peanuts for $10.50 US.
$0.50 for charcoal
$0.50 for sugar
$0.15 for peppers
$1.15 to pay to crush the peanuts
Total Cost: $12.80 US

This batch made 7 regular sized peanut butter jars. Not the large ones.

They will sell for $6.25 US a piece.

Multiplied by 7 is $43.75 US.

For a total profit of $30.95 US!

not bad...but a ton of work!

As you can see-peanut butter is very expensive here. At the American grocery store here in Port au Prince the price for a regular size jar of Jif is $12.00 US!

It's Rainy Season!

2011-05-27T21:24:00.000-04:00

Living arrangements have also changed dramastically for Odessa and I. The provided housing that Angel Missions Haiti isn't ready for us until after June 10th. So for the past month we have been living in a Haitian house-totally Haitian style. Now I can say I've done it all in Haiti. We have no running water and cook over charcoal for every meal. So that equals bucket baths (which Odessa loves!) and catching every drop of rain water you can so we don't have to buy and carry water home.

At least it is rainy season now in Haiti so we are getting rain nearly every day.

Here of some pics of this evening's hard rain and the group effort it takes to fill the buckets, drums and anything else we can find. These are taken inside the house. Yep inside the front door. This pic to the left is a drain from the roof which spouts down water inside the living room!

Whenever I am doing hard, manual labor (which is NOT very often) I am always reminded of when I was in grade school and my dad making my brother and I work in the garden behind the house. We hated it. And he always got us started and then managed to "move on to another project" like mowing the grass with the riding mower or stacking firewood-both of which are WAY better than pulling weeds in the garden.

Well as soon as dad was out of earshot, my brother and I would begin singing:

Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you.
If Heaven's not my home,
Then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me
From Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this word anymore.

This of course was sung in the most pitiful, fatigued, overworked voices we could make.

So tonight while swinging the buckets of water and siding the full drums across the floor-those weed pulling muscles triggered an old memory.

I was about 2 lines in when the others started singing it in Creole.

This World is not my home.

The King of Kings has prepared a place for me-that's my home. There will be no sin, death or carrying buckets of water. Thank goodness-I was not designed for manual labor!

***I had to put this last pic in so my grandpa could see how the electrical/battery system is set up in this house. By the way Grandpa-does it matter we are standing in front of it on tile floor with rain water everywhere while barefooted? Just wondering.

2011-05-24T08:44:00.000-04:00

I have been training for my new job here in Haiti. It's so different from the village nursing i was doing before-but change is a good thing and I am still working with the Haitian people i have come to love. Now I am meeting different Haitians in the over crowded city of Port au Prince and starting to build new relationships.

Last week I went to the American Embassy for the first time. Angel Missions was requesting 3 medical visas for children who needed to go to the states for surgery. All 3 were approved! One of them is a little girl who is about 6 years and was born without a right leg. Before the earthquake she was getting physical therapy and prostesis fittings at a hospital here in Haiti. That facility fell in the earthquake and the services she needs are not offered anywhere else here in Haiti.

Another one of the kids is a newborn with hydrocephalus who has been in and out of the hospital here in Haiti for most of his life. He will go to get shunt surgery and then return to the orphanage where he is living.

Another is a 3 or 4 yr old boy with Cerebral Palsy. He needs extensive Physical Therapy work up and braces fit for his legs b/c he doesn't walk yet. He is absolutely adorable with the longest eye lashes i have ever seen!

Pease pray for these children.

Thank God for the opportunity for them to go to a country with great medical care.

Pray for their biological parents as they wait here in Haiti the several months their children will be gone.

Pray for the host families in the states to be a loving surrogate family until the children are reunited with their families in Haiti.

I am truly thankful God put me in a place to be able to help these children.

2011-05-19T19:42:00.000-04:00

Ever notice how things you once thought to be abnormal things start to seem normal after you see them over and over?

Begging is a very common practice in Haiti. Very abnormal to this midwest girl. It is not uncommon for me to walk about 5 blocks down to the grocery store here in Port au Prince and have at east 10 people straight up say, "Hey White Girl, give me a dollar."

And they are dead serious. I think they fully expect me to pull a dollar out of my pocket and give each of the them I pass by. That's great stewardship of mission money right? We will eradicate poverty in Haiti by handing out money in the streets.

Riiiiiiiiiight.

It is also common to have people come to to your car window and beg. There are "street boys" in Port au Prince that do this with well-practiced perfection. It is so hard to look at their cute faces and huge smiles and not give them money. I am not going to say I have never done it. And I am not going to say I have never thought of bring them home with me. (They are so cute!)

In the midst of this begging lifestyle I have become used to, something happened yesterday. I was riding in a rented van and stopped at a stoplight. I saw across the intersection a brand new Toyota Hilux truck stopped with a well-dressed man sitting in the driver's seat, talking on his brand new looking cell phone. His name brand sunglasses blocking his eyes. I could see his HUGE shiny gold watch gleaming in the sun from the other side of the intersection.

On the other side of that shiny new truck door stood another man in bare feet on the hot pavement. His clothes were torn and dirty. His hair was shaggy and uneven. And the profile view of his face I saw showed despair. If he was acting-he was doing an excellent job. I didn't need to hear what he was saying-I saw it in his out stretched hand.

Begging.

Just as I had seen at east 50 other people doing that every day. Why did this one particular event of begging stand out?

I am thankful for this wake up reminder that this is not normal. And for the drive it gives me to help others and stand up to injustice, to try to change the wrongs-not just accept them as the norm.

Jesus stood up to the normalcy of the money changers at the temple. He healed on the Sabbath. Daniel prayed 3 times a day-even when faced with death.
Esther.
Moses.

The Bible is filed with examples of people who stood up against the normalcy of their time because what what normal wasn't right.

What are things in your life that have become normal because you see it so much?

2011-05-14T18:11:00.001-04:00

God is providing and showing my ever wavering heart to it is OK to put all my trust in him.

Why is it that I don't seem to remember this lesson I have learned time and time again?

It's not that hard of a concept.

God is my father.

I gave Him my life.

I know He's in control of the Universe.

He even MADE it.

So why do I sometimes think He can't fix my problems? That I could do a better job worrying and fretting about it?

(sigh)

So I hand over the worries, fears and doubts. Shake my head and think, "God I'm sure you can do better than I can."

DUH! AFTER I've tried everything I know.

And sure enough, like every other time, He takes it and makes a way.

The plan He had all along.

Please read Philippians 41:4-20. Paul is thanking the Christians for sending him help when he needed it. And most importantly he gives all the glory to God the father.

Thank you all for providing for me in this time of need. When I left Haitian Christian Outreach I was not given any funds to "restart" in Haiti. While it has not been easy-God has provided-through you. I have found another mission to serve with in Haiti but as with most missions, you have to raise your own support.

And I am so very thankful for all the faithfulness you all have shown towards my ministry and am giving all the Glory to the Lord.

If you would ike to donate to my ministry in Haiti, please send a check to:

Licking Valley Church of Christ
C/O Mission Committee
1578 Dayton Rd
Newark, OH 43055

Please designate on check memo line "Ginny Andrews".

One year of Motherhood

2011-05-09T16:57:00.000-04:00

One year ago today I held in my arms the little girl who would completely rock my world. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I knew I was supposed to be her mother.

I had no idea the ride I would be on for the next year when I decided to adopt her. Sometimes I just held on. Actually most of the time I just held on. Odessa's grandma-AKA Mama Lynn-says God answered the prayer she would pray when her own daughter was little. Mama Lynn says her little girl was stubborn, strong willed and very determined and in moments of despair Mama Lynn would pray that God would "repay" her little girl by giving her one just like herself one day.

Mama Lynn was very happy to see that prayer was answered when she came to meet Odessa in December.

I am the proud mother of a spunky, stubborn, smart, sassy 2 year old-
and I LOVE IT!

I can't say I love it all the time at the time. Like when she threw the house keys out the truck window in the dark going down the road at night, or how she picks out all the M&M's out of every bag of trail mix.

Motherhood is a lot scarier than I thought though. I never thought I would be a single mom. While it's nice getting to make all the decisions myself-I HAVE to make all the decisions myself.

Discipline, diet, education, etc...just praying I don't mess her up too much ;)

One thing I promise you Odessa Lynn-we will stay together. No matter the place, no matter the amount of time. Because you are mine. One day you will legally be mine-but that's just a piece of paper. I am one stubborn, determined mommy who is head over heels for you. The Haitian government can take their sweet time (just kidding-we would like to go to the states someday), the American government can make me jump through hoops but one day you will be an Andrews and become part of long line of stubborn, determined women.

In the meantime-your mommy has praying to do.
Lord-please give her a daughter
EXACTLY like her.

2011-05-07T22:24:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to take a minute and thank you all for the emails and encouragement you have sent the past couple weeks.

Odessa and I are doing fine, learning our way around the big city. I always told God I would be obedient and go to Haiti but I wouldn't live in Port au Prince. Well...here we are! And He is still taking care of us just as He promised. People can and will let you down but not the Lord. What an awesome privilege of being His child.

Life is much different here but the Lord is opening doors. I am learning the public system of tap-taps while praying for the money for a vehicle the whole time! But it is a good learning experience. And I am quite the entertainment for all the other passengers.

I am currently working with a mission based out of Virginia named Angel Missions Haiti. Check out their website. I am going to help them with existing projects including getting medical visas for children needing to go the the states for surgery as well as working in a Ravine Project they have in a slum here in Port au Prince.

I am excited about the new programs we are going to be starting too. Please pray for them as we start them from point zero-that the Lord's hand will guide our decision-making.

Thanks again for the prayers and your friendships. It is such a comfort to us.

Bittersweet Easter Sunday

2011-04-25T22:24:00.000-04:00

Easter started gloomy and rainy here in Haiti. Odessa and I drove out to Peredo for church. On the way the sun came out and gave us the perfect reminder of the "Risen Son!"

I worked with the kids in Children Church and passed out the Easter bags so many of you donated items toward. I have to say I have the better end of the deal between you guys and I. I get to see the faces and hear the delight of the kids when they receive gifts. I so wish you all could have been here.

I took great pictures to share with all of you. The bad news is my entire SD card is blank. I have no idea what I did (or the more likely probability of what Odessa did) to erase them. I am so sorry you all don't get to see the images. I'll just have to be very descriptive.

The boys backpacks each had a brand new match box car, easter candy, a pair of socks, underwear, toothbrush, toothpaste, bubbles, soap and a washcloth. and silly bands. (Looking back I am so glad we gave the boys silly bands too-you'll see why)

The girls bags had hair barrettes, soap, washcloth, shampoo, candy, pair of socks and underwear, toothbrush, toothpaste and silly bands.

We even had enough to make some up for the toddlers in the church who are too young for Children's church. They each had a Beanie Baby, goldfish crackers, silly bands and matchbox car and underwear.

They loved it. The school principal and his wife helped hand them all out and when we were done I talked to the kids about telling God thank you. First of all to thank him for sending his son to die for us and now to celebrate his resurrection. Second of all thank Him for calling some Christian in the US to send these items to kids in a small village of Peredo, Haiti.

I asked them if they liked the gifts and they hadn't even opened them or looked inside. They were holding them tightly closed. All 77 kids! I told them they could open them and then the principal said to have them wait til they got home so they didn't start fighting over each other's stuff.

Wait til they get home?

But I wanted to see.

I folded my arms...pouting.

Was it worth risking 77 kids fighting over Easter gifts in an enclosed room?

Of course it was!

I told them to open their bags. The principal rolled his eyes. I giggled.

The girls loved their hair barrettes. This culture is super into braiding and making hair of all females pretty.

After about 4 seconds I heard the first fight.

I didn't dare look at the principal!

Over silly bands.

Or should I say stupid bands!

What is the deal with these things?

They make kids go crazy. But in a good way. And we had so many donated-every kid got a handful each.

To think of the Easter brawl that could have happened if we didn't put silly bands in the boy's bags.

IT was awesome-special thanks to Northside Christian Church in Wadsworth, OH, Kory Weldy's home church in Grove City, OH, Lesley Echelbarger, Beth Harbaugh and Suzanne Smith in Indiana. So many of you sent items for the kids and I want to say thank you , thank you , thank you. These people and churches went way above and brought these items down to Haiti when they came for a short term mission trip.

Part 2

So I titled this Bittersweet Easter Sunday. All the previous was the sweet part.

After all this excitement I turned and walked up to the church in Peredo and did one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I stood in front of the congregation and told them this would be my last Sunday in Peredo. I practiced it over and over the night before at home. How I would say it, how I would say it correctly in Creole and how I would say it without bursting into tears.

I didn't cry in front of them. I thanked them for everything they did for me the last 2 and a half years.

Everything they taught me about Haitian culture.

All the patience they had with me learning to speak Creole.

How they made me feel like I was a part of something.

I scanned the crowd and saw mothers who had graduated the nutrition program, teenagers who I worked with in throwing one heck of a New Years Eve party last year and countless people who have been seen in the clinic.

This was more than just leaving a job.

I was leaving friends. They aren't Haitians to me anymore. I knew these people now.

I felt my heart aching as I did not want to leave Peredo.

But due to disagreements between Haitian Christian Outreach and myself the leave is hard but necessary.

Who knew a small village such as this would have this much of an impact on my life?

I sure didn't.

But the Lord did-He knew exactly what He was doing when He called me to Haiti.

He called me to work for Him. Not one specific mission or organization. But for Him.

And that's what I'll do.

I appreciate all the prayers and works of encouragement people have offered Odessa and I already. We are doing fine and the Lord will take of of us as He always has.

Philippians 3:12-14 (New Century Version)
"I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above."

So onto straining toward what is ahead!

Glass Half Full

2011-04-13T23:32:00.000-04:00

So sometimes I miss home. Like a lot. I love Facebook-getting on there to see what's going on back home and how everyone is doing. But the bad thing about Facebook is I get to see all the things I am missing out on.

I get to see the pictures of all the weddings, birthdays, church events, and friend get-togethers that I missed.

I know what you are saying-This blog is titled "Glass Half Full."

So far not a fitting title-I know. Bear with me...I have a point...I promise.

I get together with some other missionaries in town once in a blue moon and we talk about things like this. Most of us agree that evenings and nights are the hardest times to be here alone.

After Odessa goes to bed in the evenings it is so easy to look at the glass as half empty. Family far way, friends hanging out with new friends, no TV, and no late night food. (Oh Wendy's and Papa John's-how i miss you!).

I fall asleep many nights dreaming of the things I used to do everyday in the states.

And then comes the morning.

The hour drive to work in Peredo is welcomed. Suddenly the glass changes to half full. I have the same life I had 8 hours before when I was sulking about everything I miss out on. But look at the VIEW!

Seriously... this is my drive to work!

I know you're jealous.

Gorgeous Mountains!

No these pics are not out of the latest vacation magazine. Haiti-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere

And returning home driving into the sunset!

This drive sure beats my old hour drive to work in the states on Interstate I-70.

And the cold Pepsi in my hand is definitely half full!

These pics were taken by Jenna Davis. She came down on a short term trip a few weeks ago. I had no idea she was an amazing photographer and was so excited to see all that she captured while she was here. She is pictured below (I took this shot!) holding the cutest baby. Jenna truly had a servant's heart on her mission trip here and I can't wait for her to come back!

Check out her blog at www.jennadavisblog.com to read her blog of her trip to Haiti and the awesome pics she took. She was so nice to let me borrow them!

Art time!

2011-04-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

This past week a combined team from Indiana was here doing construction work, painting, some medical and doing art classes with the school kids in Peredo.

(Angie Schoberg pictured in center)

There is an artist named Angie Schoberg, who lives with her husband who works at Rainbow Christian Camp in Converse, Indiana. The link to their website is: www.rainbowcamp.org. If you live in this area check out this camp for your kids-I have been to the grounds twice and it is an AWESOME place with so much variety. Rainbow camp is a partner of HCO and I have made good friends with a couple of their staff I met in Haiti.

Anyways-back to the blog :)

Everyday Angie came and did an art lesson with a class of students. She taught them shapes and showed them how everything in the world is made up of shapes. Then taught them the color wheel explaining primary and secondary colors.

They got to do a gluing craft with shapes and then got to paint with watercolors and learn how to mix them to make other colors.

This was top notch art time. The kids absolutely loved it! They don't get to do art class on a regular basis so to get to make 2 different things in one week to take home is a big deal. Remember we are talking about kids who do not have crayons, markers or any fun art supplies like this at home.

Angie did a great job and lots of others on the team were her helpers. I even snuck down a couple of days and helped-and it was much more fun than changing dressings in the clinic!

God gives us all sorts of talents and I am thankful people like Angie use her God-given talent to share the love of Christ. Her love of the Lord and His children in the small village of Peredo was evident and encouraging and I know will not be forgotten by those small hands who did craft projects this last week.

What talent/gift has God given you?

How are you using it for your Creator's glory?

Romans 12:6-8
"We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us. The person who has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in agreement with the faith. Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve. Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach. Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage. Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely. Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads. Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with joy."

More Similar than Different

2011-04-06T21:30:00.000-04:00

The last day of this class of women for the Nutrition program ended Wednesday. They were all proud to "graduate." Here's a pic of some of the women from this class. Thank you for your support of this program. It really is teaching the women of this community how to better care for their children. And I am having a great time doing it.

On this last day of class I had them go around the circle and say something they learned in class that they didn't know before.

One talked about how she learned HOW her kids kept getting worms and HOW to keep them from getting them again.

Check!

Another said how she learned a lot of the medications she takes she can also be giving her baby in her breast milk. She said she won't take medications while breastfeeding unless a doctor has told her it is safe.

Check!

And yet another, last but not least, said she learned that sometimes even American men get American women pregnant and then leave them to raise their babies alone.

So...maybe one of the classes got a little off track of the topic of nutrition and child wellness...

We sat for a while together and talked about men...yep I couldn't help but smile. Here I was sitting in a small village in Haiti with a group of women who I thought were so different from myself talking about relationships.

Strangely it seemed I had had this conversation before, in another place and other times with other friends.

Maybe we aren't so different after all.

note-the baby clothes pictured were sent from a friend of a friend's sister through the organization "Save the Children." Although I have never met her I truly appreciate the kindness she showed these women and the high quality of clothes she sent-with price tags still attached.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-06T21:23:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-30T22:48:00.000-04:00

I Said No

2011-03-29T10:12:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spent the day organizing and rearranging items in the clinic while a team from Indiana did construction work on the camp. There were several Haitians in and out of the clinic for dressing changes, stitches and various requests. Usual day.

Until Manuela walked in. Manuela is 17 and has a 9 month old baby boy. She recently went back to high school and her mom is watching the baby while she is in school. Manuela was in the first Mother/Infant nutrition class I taught in Peredo. Then, the baby was a newborn and Manuela was a hard-headed first time mother who did NOT buy into the "breast-feeding is best" motto. The other moms did a great job encouraging her. Boy did this girl try my patience.

Everytime I see Manuela she is alone or hanging out with friends. Never once have I seen her with her son. Never.

She comes around the clinic now and then and asks for formula, baby bottles, baby clothes, money.

Yesterday was one of those days.

But yesterday she asked for formula, baby bottles, clothes, AND money.

And she needed them quick because her boyfriend was waiting for her outside.

I stood there. Looking at this 17 yr old mother.

I didn't lecture her. I didn't roll my eyes-even though I BADLY wanted to.

I just said, "No."

It came out so easy but, last night, when I was laying in bed, I was running it through my mind again and again.

Did I do the right thing? I came here to help. Churches and individuals support me to help the Haitian people.

But yesterday I said no.

Somehow I think that helped more than a baby bottle or clothes.

But it doesn't feel as good.

Odessa and friends eating Cheetos after church

2011-03-26T11:34:00.000-04:00

2011-03-23T22:04:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago a little baby was brought into the clinic by her mother who said she wasn't eating well. The doctors here quickly noticed that the right side of her face was paralyzed therefore making it difficult for her to eat. I did some teaching with the mother on how to feed her and she was not very patient with her and said it would take too much time to do that and she did not have the time as she had multiple children already. When we unwrapped her from the blanket her little, pencil thin legs did not extend all the way out flat. Her muscles were tight from being wrapped up in a blanket all the time.

Women from the team held the baby and oogled over her. She really is very cute-but very small for her age. She obviously needed someone with time to help her learn to take a bottle. Her mother said she just didn't have the time to do this and asked if someone would take her. I tried to encourage the mother and ask her about family support she had. She insisted she did not want the baby.

I contacted Damou Christian Mission (www.damouhaiti.org) to help get baby girl "beefed up" and learn how to eat. This mission has Haitian nannies who have helped other severely malnourished infants. The mission came out and spoke with the mother and father that day and accepted to take the baby to help her.

This was 3 weeks ago and Baby Girl is now Annabelle and doing very well. She is sucking from a bottle but still takes a long time to eat. She is more alert, looking around, watching the other children play. I took this picture 2 weeks ago when she was sitting in her bouncy chair. A baby who was on the fast track to dying of malnutrition is now thriving.

Who knows that plans God has for her in her future. How exciting to think of what she could do for the Lord one day!

2011-03-18T11:08:00.000-04:00

Another great medical team just left today. We spent the week seeing patients, suturing wounds, removing cysts and praying with patients. Sometimes it takes an "outsider" to remind you how important praying with the Haitian people is. I think I get so caught up in the work and all the needs that I don't take the time at that exact moment to stop and pray with them. Meanwhile (while I am frantically running around trying to solve the world's problems) the Lord is watching and waiting for me to remember who is really doing the solving around here.

One of the women on the team asked me, "When did Haiti start feeling normal to you?"

I was confused.

She continued, "You seem so at home and you know what you are doing in this chaos. You take all the weird and different things here in stride and keep going about your day. I am so shocked at a lot of what I see I can think clearly. And while I am trying to process one thing I see 3 more things that throw me off."

Things still catch me off guard-like the 11 yr old boy who came into the clinic with an old dog bite. Mom tried to heal him using Voodoo. The witchdoctor told his mom to go find the dog that bit him and pull out some of it's fur and stuff it in the wound.

When we opened the wound-sure enough-lots of dog hair.

I have to say that threw me for a loop.

The doctors from Southeast Christian Church didn't miss a beat and prayed over the boy for THE LORD to heal him and to guide them in treating him.

Threw me for another loop. I was so focused on the wound and all the infection that I forgot to stop and pray.

We, Christians, have the chance to be the shining light -an example- in this world. Haiti is a dark place.

God has called me to shine the Light in a little village in Haiti. But sometimes does my nursing ministry tool to overshadow the Light? Dim it?

Sometimes the abnormal, chaotic, busyness makes us run around but we should remember who is really solving the world's problems.

Where has God called you?

Are you shining the light?

Prayer request

2011-03-08T19:17:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, honestly most times, the work here is just overwhelming. There is always someone in need of something. I work in one small village in Haiti, which has huge problems. My prayer is that I can help some of the people there well...but sometimes it seems that I am standing in the middle of a tornado watching everything get blown around and more messed up than it was when I came to work that morning.

I am writing to make you all aware of an urgent prayer request. Daniella is a 15 yr old girl who came to me after church one Sunday in December. She was 14 yrs old then and very pregnant. She looked at the ground when she talked to me and told me she came for help. I asked what kind of help and she simply answered, "I don't know." Her face was totally blank and she just looked lost. There is no other word for it.

Lost.

I told her to come back tomorrow when I was would have clinic hours and we could talk more. She came back with her 21 yr old sister. Daniella explained to me that she wanted to give her baby away. Then I pried for some more information. Here is her story:

Her mother died a few years ago (she says her uncle sent a voodoo curse on her that killed her) and Daniella went to live with her aunt in Port au Prince. Shortly after her aunt's husband started raping her when the aunt went out. When Daniella's stomach became big her family sent her back to the village on a tap-tap by herself to find her sister.

Now she was standing in front of me in the clinic. I know a Canadian midwife (Sarah-see website: http://www.olivetreeprojects.com) who lives in Jacmel and got an appointment for to see Daniella. Sarah examined her and did an ultrasound-she had trouble measuring the head on the ultrasound. Sarah really took and interest in Daniella and took her in to live with her until she delivered. Peredo is an hour away from Jacmel so this was better for everyone and this way Daniella could eat well and be taken care of better. Her sister who was struggling to take care of her 2 small children-couldn't care properly for Daniella-so everyone was happy with her staying with Sarah.

Daniella settled in well with Sarah and was doing really well. Last week she went into labor and delivered a baby girl at Sarah's maternity center. There were major complications after the baby was born. She was not breathing and had a low heart rate. Sarah did CPR but noticed the babies head was misformed. This explains why head measurement was difficult to find on the ultrasound.

The baby died shortly after. When she went into labor Sarah had called me to call her sister to come to Jacmel for the birth. Her phone was off and I called someone else in the village to go to her house to give her the message. They couldn't find her. They said she left and went to Port au Prince days ago.

So here's Daniella, 15 yrs old, with a bunch of white people-none of her own family, her baby dead. I know that's putting it bluntly-but it's the truth.

Would you join me in praying for this young girl? She is doing fairly well considering all she has been through-she is not yet a Christian but I know God can heal her and give her hope for the future.

A lot of problems here in Haiti are way too big for this missionary to handle. But none are too big for MY God to handle. He is waiting for All his children to come to His protective arms. Let's pray for Daniella to find Him.

Foreign Birthdays

2011-03-03T10:50:00.001-05:00

So this year marks the 3rd Birthday in a row I have spent in Haiti. The big 3-1.

Wow.

31.

Wow...

Moving on...

The first one was hard. Being in another country. No friends, no family. Only emails of Happy Birthday wishes. But none spoken.

Last year was after the earthquake and honestly I was so tired and busy that I really didn't even care to celebrate myself. But went out to dinner at a nice hotel with some co-workers, a friend and a handful of strangers. I had dreaded turning 30-so I was glad it slipped by quickly.

Monday was the big day and I took the day off work and stayed around the house. The housestaff was cleaning up from a medical team that had left and I fixed lunch for us and then headed out for a drive with David and Odessa.

No destination, no appointments, no expectations. Just a drive. Odessa sat on my lap and sang. Some songs she is learning in school and others that are made up. Times like this make me so glad the radio in the truck is broken...

I thought about how much my life has changed since my Birthday in 2010-the biggest change being Odessa. God knew these plans before I even dreamed of them. He connected a baby who needed a Mommy with a lady who had no idea what she was getting herself into when she thought she could be a single mommy.

That being said...I am doing my best, but raising a child alone, in another country, away from friends and family-is harder than I ever imagined. Somedays I pray that I just don't mess her up too much!

She is such a happy and smart little girl and I am so blessed to have her call me mommy. Her little body at 5 in the morning climbing into bed with me is the best alarm clock. Watching her play with her dolls and treating them with tenderness is reassurance she feels loved by her own mother. And hearing her shout "Bravo!" after Happy Birthday was sung was the icing on the cake.

David organized a little surprise party for me Monday night with some of our Haitian friends. Andriline made her famous pizza and David bought a real Birthday cake which was delicious. They went around the room and said their wishes for me in the coming year. It was so sweet. Someone said they wished Odessa's adoption gets finalized this coming year so she can officially be mine. Someone else said that they wished I could help even more people who are sick this year than I did last year. Others wished for continued good health.

I could tell they really tried to give me an American birthday party. And it was great. I do have to admit though that I missed the Dairy Queen ice cream cake! And of course my family and friends. ;)

Each year gets easier and easier and each year Haiti becomes more and more like home.

So to end-I am looking forward to the next year God is giving me and excited to find what He has in store for my 31st year of life!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-02T19:28:00.000-05:00

Modeling Pillowcase dress made by Southeast Church in Kentucky.

Wedding Bells

2011-03-01T17:53:00.000-05:00

The wedding of the year in the village of Peredo!

Sunday the principal of the school in Peredo, Met-Sorel and Margareth, a 1st grade teacher. were married in the new clinic. It was beautifully decorated and there was a full house. It was similar to American weddings with the biggest difference being everyone danced down the aisle. Not fast-club style dancing but tastefully slow danced. I will admit at first it seemed quite weird to this white girl but as it went on-I realized how nice it was to sit and relax. Little bit of entertainment. It was much nicer than the bridesmaids and groomsmen practically running down the aisle to take their place up front. You really got to see the dresses and suits-which were top notch for this small Haitian village. It was supposed to start at 4pm but didn't actually start until 530pm. But it was a Haitian wedding so on Haitian time!

First a group of 6 or 7 teen girls danced down the aisle in unison with flowers. They were followed by about 8 couples in their 20's who also danced down the aisle. Then came the flower girls. When they were done dancing they would line up on the inside of the isle and wait for the next group to come down. Then they all stayed lined up when the bride and groom made their entrance. The bride and groom were followed by the matron of honor and best man.

The ceremony was a lot like ours with a fairly LONG sermon in the middle, a couple of solos and vows and rings.

The thing that struck me the strangest is that the entire ceremony was in French. I have mentioned before that the official language of Haiti is French but it is estimated that only 20% of the population speaks it. However, everyone speaks Creole. It seems that the further out in the villages you go, the less French speaking people there are. I asked why the ceremony was in French and they said b/c they wanted it to be nice and formal. Well it was but I would guess maybe 10 people out of the 150 that were there understood it. I was not in those 10 people as I don't speak French. David sat with me and translated it for me. Those sitting around us chatted about the nice building and dresses-they didn't have a clue either what was being said. Made me feel like more part of the group.

The cutest things was that kids from the school snuck in in their dirty play clothes and no shoes. They were sitting on the side of the church on the floor to get a glimpse of their principal and teacher. Their eyes were huge watching the big production and they giggled, thinking no one saw them. The adults did of course but let them be -I think b/c they were too busy watching it themselves.

Wordy Wednesday

2011-02-16T09:29:00.000-05:00

So not so much the wordless Wednesday today. It is only 930 in the morning and I have enough words to fill a blog.

There is a construction team here from Wadsworth, Ohio who go to Northside Christian Church. They got up early to get a start on the construction work and I was heading out to meet them in Peredo after I dropped Odessa off at school at 8am. They started the truck I drive to make sure it would start today and then left. The truck started with no problems.

When Alex, the houseboy, showed up for work at 730 his eyes were huge and he started telling me how he had a dream last night that I was in a bad accident in the truck. I shrugged it off and told him that sometimes dreams mean nothing, blah, blah blah but he insisted I didn't go out to Peredo today.

I knew I had to go because we have a group here and Wednesdays is the day for the Nutrition class for mothers. I prepared everything for it yesterday and was looking forward to it today. I got in the truck and it wouldn't start. Usually it is hard to start in the morning but after it starts once then it is fine for the rest of the day. It would NOT start. Alex and the neighbor tried to get it started too without success.

I walked Odessa up to school and then got on a motorcycle taxi to head to work. About 10 minutes down the road I saw black smoke rolling into the air and as we got closer saw 2 old school buses in the road with fire rolling out of them. These buses have been broken down on the side of the road since I have been coming to Haiti in 2008-so no one was inside them. There were hundreds of people on the road with police and UN police surrounding the scene. The Haitians did not seem to care that the police were there as they continued pulling stuff out into the road and setting it on fire. Tires, trees, trash. They were breaking bottles of glass in the streets. I saw all this in the 3 or 4 minutes we sat there looking for a detour route around.

I was told that Sunday night a Haitian police officer shot a Haitian man in the head and this is why people were demonstrating. I told that informant that this was not a demonstration-it was a demolition. They also said that Monday night the mayor of Jacmel's Hummer was set on fire. Not sure if it was related to this incident or if something else happened.

The road was totally impassable and the moto driver was willing to try and find another route. I thought about Alex telling me about his dream and then the truck not starting and now I was literally facing a total road block. I could help but wonder if God was literally telling me not to go to work today.

Sometimes I think we are confused by signs or interpreting what the Lord wants us to do. I just really wanted and needed to get to work today. But after 3 major "signs" I decided to go back home. So now I am sitting here doing computer work when I would really like to be working in Peredo. But God has made His plan clear today-so here I am writing this blog and "being still."

Psalm 26:10 (NCV)

God says, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be praised in all the nations; I will be praised throughout the earth."

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-10T17:47:00.001-05:00

So I'm one day late...but better than never ;)
Shoot! This is supposed to wordless!

2011-01-25T11:56:00.000-05:00

Took this pic before church on Sunday. After that I forgot the camera so I can't show you the pics of Children's church. But it went great! We had 72 kids and learned about Jesus feeding the five thousand with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. They had fun drawing their craft project too.

I have to tell you a cute story that happened during craft time. First remember that the kids in this village have no toys, crayons, TV-most don't have electricity at the house. So the looks on their faces are awesome when craft time comes during children's church. When we did the sticker craft for Christmas Sunday we had to show them how to peel the stickers off the sheets. They had never seen stickers before. This Sunday we gave them all a half sheet of construction paper and they had to share crayons to draw a picture of the 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread on one side of the page and on the other side draw as many as they could to represent all the food Jesus multiplied from the original.

When they were done we were collecting crayons and came up way short. I explained to the kids they needed to return ALL of them or we wouldn't have more next Sunday and then craft time would be eventually disappear. They all sat in silence. No one spoke up. I showed them the box of crayons that was almost empty and said how it was full so I know the crayons are here. Finally a little boy about 6 or 7 yrs old stood up and reached into his pockets (which were bulging!) and pull out about 20 crayons. His eyes filled with tears and he said,

"I was going to bring them back next Sunday. I knew no one was going to use them before then."

How hard is it for these kids to come in and see the crafts and supplies and have fun using them and then give them back. It's not like they have more at home. And it must look like so much to them. Like we have a ton!

How many times in our lives are we tempted to do the same thing? For example at work-Will they really notice if I just take some pens home? We can justify it by saying ,"They have so many." Or, "This place has so much money they can just buy more." The devil has all kinds of excuses ready for us to use. But don't give him a foothold. Not an inch. Not a pen. Not a crayon.

Sorry about the lack of pics. Once again, I am the lucky one who got to be here and see it first hand thanks to your support and God's faithfulness.

More Children's church pics coming. When you see them you won't be disappointed!

A little encouragement

2011-01-20T08:03:00.000-05:00

So we all need a little encouragement, pat on the back and recognition for the jobs we do. I think back to bosses I have had and the best one ever was the boss I had while working at Subway in college. She knew how to encourage and when she did it made me be a better "sandwich artist." She made me feel like a valued member of the team and truly appreciated my sandwich making skills.

With all that said, lately I saw that the teachers who work in the school in Peredo needed some encouraging. They work everyday with the kids and really put their hearts into trying to give them a good education. Some of the school kids are literally living in banana leave shacks, some come to school with uniforms in disarray, and some just don't get the love and attention they need at home. I am assuming this is a lot like the issues teachers in the states deal with. They bring kids who are sick to me during school hours, point out the kids who are sitting at home on a school day b/c they don't have the required shoes to come, and tell me which kids families are having a rough time at home. They really care about their students. So I started looking for a way to encourage them to continue to be great teachers for our school kids.

Going out to eat in Haiti is a luxury. Those of you who have been here on mission trips know that we try to go to the beach one evening and sit right on the ocean shore and eat fresh, grilled fish. Whenever I am missing pizza or PF Chang's here I remember that for $4 or 5 American I can go down and sit on the Carribean Ocean and eat seafood that was caught a few hours before. You do not see the common Haitian eating at the beach. Definitely the wealthier class, UN soldiers and American missionary groups. So I thought it would be fun to take the teachers and lunch ladies out to eat.-their spouses were invited too.

We went after church on a Sunday and had a great time. Not one of them had ever been there before to eat. They really didn't know how to act sitting around the table while we were waiting for food. David, one of the drivers for HCO and my friend went with us and he suggested they go around the table and every couple talk about how they met. One of the lunch ladies is married to the preacher at the church and they have been married for a long time so it was neat to hear their story how she refused his marriage proposal several times before saying yes! This lightened up the mood and we had a great time.

I told them how much we all appreciate what they do for our school kids and how they truly are helping make a difference in the village of Peredo. I got a text message from one of the teachers the next day that said, "Thank you for raising our spirits and seeing that sometimes people become discouraged when they are not encouraged." WOW! How true. I receive so much encouragement from people and churches in the states-now I need to focus on doing my part to encourage others more.

Thank you for your support of the mission. Without your financial support we could not encourage our "front line" Haitian workers here on the mission field.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-19T19:47:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T20:18:00.000-05:00

So I see a lot of other bloggers doing "Wordless Wednesday" where they only post a picture every Wednesday. So I think I'll try it to. But I'm pretty wordy-so this won't be easy!

Homestudy needed

2011-01-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

We are so close to having all of Odessa's paperwork finished to file with the Haitian government!

That being said, we are lacking a homestudy done by someone licensed in the United States. If anyone reading this blog knows someone who can complete this service while they are in Haiti please let me know so I can contact them.

I am posting this on the off chance someone who does this for a living is coming to Haiti on a mission or humanitarian trip.

I so want to go home for a break-with Odessa of course! So excited for everyone back home to meet her!

No Turning Back

2011-01-03T21:37:00.000-05:00

So in case you didn't know...New Years is my favorite holiday. I stayed in Haiti for Christmas because I wanted to be with Odessa and it was a great day. I like Christmas but I LOVE New Years. Something about the new beginnings and looking forward to all the things in the year to come. Normally, I'm a homebody but on New Years I like to go out. Get dressed up. Celebrate. And the countdown. I am a bit tachycardic just thinking about it.

So I was more bummed about being here on New Years than Christmas. The town I live in here has a few restaurants and nightclubs that the UN soldiers frequent and I thought about going and hanging out with some of them. Then, the Sunday before the youth group at the church in Peredo came and asked me to help with the Church New Years party.

So we had a meeting and I soon figured out why I was invited...they had no money. They needed a generator (no electricity yet in the village), a projector to show movies/videos, speakers, decorations, food, etc-you get the point. I'm the white girl so I must have money...right?

Well long story short I did pitch in money and used the expense account to buy the gas for the generator and borrowed a projector from another mission and borrowed the speakers from my friend, David. But they also pitched in their own money. I was so proud of them. And it was amazing how easy it became for them to trim the budget once their own money was being spent. Funny how that works.

So I went out on Friday afternoon and helped decorate the church with flowers and streamers and balloons. I have to explain the balloons. There is no party supply store here and where they found this assortment I have no idea. There were "Merry Christmas", "Happy Boss's Day", "First Communion", "Lakeview Ambulance Service", and "Happy Birthday" balloons. No exactly the New Years decorations I am used to.

I went back home for the evening and returned for the church service at 930pm. We thanked the Lord for the past year and asked Him to bless the year to come. The prayers of thanks included gratitude for the Lord providing food, homes and for all the Americans who came to help work on the camp and clinic the past year. I was humbled when they thanked God for sending Miss Ginny to Peredo. And I thanked God for that too.

The last song we sang will stick in my mind this year to come. I listened to them sing the 1st verse until I realized I knew it in English. "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." Here are the lyrics for those of you who don't know it.

I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back.

As we sang the last 2 lines in Creole, "Mwen pap tounen, Mwen pap tounen." (I won't turn back, I won't turn back) I couldn't help but think of the past year. Good and bad.

I planned to come back to Haiti January 19th. The earthquake hit on the 12th.
I didn't turn back.

I lost my housing in March and had no where to live in Haiti.
I didn't turn back.

During that short time home I got an awesome job offer in the States.
I didn't turn back.

I began a long adoption process when people said adoptions would be closed in Haiti for years.
I didn't turn back.

I endured the difficulties of learning to live on my own in Haiti.
I didn't turn back.

Rumors flew here on the mission field just as they do everywhere else.
I didn't turn back.

I studied Creole like a mad person well enough to teach a class by myself.
I didn't turn back.

Promises were broken by Christians and never apologized for.
I didn't turn back.

That is all looking at the past year in Haiti.

But the beauty of New Years is leaving all that and looking forward. The good and the bad. All these examples were flashing through my mind as we were singing that song.

Haitians are know for their loud singing in church. Very loud. But I think in this small village church in Haiti as the New Year was approaching, an American was singing above the other voices.

MWEN PAP TOUNEN!
MWEN PAP TOUNEN!

Because I have decided...to follow Jesus.

The party started at midnight when church was over and it was packed. So packed I was kinda nervous it might get rowdy but everyone had a great time. There were skits put on by the young people, a Haitian comedy movie shown (apparently I don't have a Haitian sense of humor b/c I didn't get it at all!) and sandwiches and snacks were enjoyed. After a while the mismatched decorations, the hum of the generator and the lack of other white faces faded and I was at yet another great New Years Eve Party-although much different than the years before.

Extra Extra!

2011-01-02T20:26:00.000-05:00

My hometown Newspaper in Newark, Ohio printed an article today on my mission work in Haiti. The writer said she found my blog after the earthquake and has been following it. Now the pressure is on...someone who gets paid to write for a living is reading this. Where's the spell check anyway? :)

Check out the link.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20110102/NEWS01/101020316/Licking-Valley-graduate-Ginny-Andrews-finds-niche-Haiti?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Children's Church

2010-12-20T10:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we started Children's Church in Peredo!
92 kids attended!
Christmas story on their level!
Christmas Craft!
Christmas Songs!
Tons of FUN!!!

Thank you for your participation in starting programs like this in Haiti. New programs such as this could not be added without your prayers, emotional and financial support.

House calls

2010-12-14T11:58:00.000-05:00

Cholera has hit the area of Haiti I am working in and boy has it been busy. Since the clinic in Peredo isn't finished-house calls are in order. I don't mind getting out and walking around but it does make it hard to leave one patient at his house with a running IV to go start another IV at another house a 15 minute walk away. I'll never complain about walking too much at the hospital I work in in the states!

Would write more but very busy. Please continue to pray for this outbreak of Cholera to resolve quickly. Sometimes it seems this country can't get a break. But God is STILL in control!

2010-12-11T16:20:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: No one was harmed in this trip to Peredo. I had tried to get to the village for 3 days after the election rioting. The roads were blocked-most commonly with burning tires, huge rocks, trees and my favorite-thousands of pieces of broken bottles. The 2nd day I made it (with a Haitian driver) further than 1st day only to be stopped by men standing on the hillside pushing very large rocks down onto the road. In broad daylight. We passed several different groups of UN soldiers trying to clear the roads-only to see them re-blocked when we were forced to turn around.

I felt more defeated in Haiti than I ever have before.

People in Peredo had been calling my since Wednesday saying that Cholera was there and people were dying. There is no hospital in Peredo and they were begging me to come.

This is what I came to Haiti for. To help the weak, pray with the sick, and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I had the supplies.

I had a vehicle.

I even had a driver.

But the neighbors of the sick people I was trying to help were stopping me. Why can't these people see what is happening?

Why can't they see the big picture?

Will they ever?


(Sing to the tune of "Over the River and Through the Woods")

Over the road blocks and through the riots
To Peredo we go
The people are mad
Cuz The government is bad
But to work I still must go
 
Over the tires and glass and rocks
Oh how they've wrecked the roads
People are sick, I can't come quick
As Burning tires fill my nose
 
Park the truck and Wade through the ocean
We can't walk on the road
They're throwing rocks on passersby
On to Peredo we go

Get on a moto and hang on tight
And say a little prayer
God's seen me through time after time
He's watching me now too

Gotta have a little fun when you're stressed...right? On Friday we (driver and I) made it there.
After leaving the truck about halfway and walking down into the ocean (no shore there) for about 1/2 mile
to avoid the tumbling rocks. Then back up and walked about another mile with the
medical supplies on our backs to find a motorcycle. Took the moto to the river in
Peredo and then crossed the river on foot and found another moto on the other side.

I can not say I wasn't scared. More like nervous-so I started making up the parody to 
"Over the River" in my head then out loud. I figured I couldn't look any crazier than
anyone else. 

Please pray for them as medical care is pretty much non-existent and Cholera is
hitting them hard. 

Also please join me in praying for clarity and rationality for the Haitian people
during the next round of elections.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NCV) (emphasis mine)

Then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin,

and I will heal their land.


This blog to be continued...

Movie Outreach Night

2010-12-10T17:59:00.001-05:00

It all started a couple of weeks ago when some of the teenagers were talking to me about being bored, having nothing to do in the evenings. Most teens will say that when they really have a million things to entertain them but these teens in the village really don't.

Made me think of my old youth group back home and all the events that were planned for us to do. And that was just church. There were tons of school activities and clubs to be active in.

These teenagers don't have electricity, let alone video games. They don't have sports at school, let alone a whole football league. They don't have a computer, let alone internet access.

So I started looking for a projector to borrow and another mission graciously let us borrow it with a super nice Bose Speaker. (thanks Joy in Hope!)

Then onto getting the generator to work (I had to call my friend Chuck in the states to tell me how to fix it!). But after 2 hours this RN fixed the generator! Can you tell I am proud?

But it was all worth it. They loved "A Walk to Remember", but told me next time not to show such a sad movie. Good thing it was in French or I would have been bawling my eyes out like every other time I have watched it.

View from behind movie screen

Those who didn't get a seat

the most important piece of equipment-the generator!

Popcorn for all the kids made over open fire!

Adopting a baby changes everything...

2010-11-28T15:22:00.000-05:00

No not really on House Arrest. But I feel like it. Stuck inside with an almost 2 yr old! Somebody help me! No TV, very few toys for Odessa and no one else here to talk to...not like being snowed in with things to do in the states.

Today is the Presidential Election in Haiti. Odessa and I were going to go to church and then come back home to wait out and see if there would be rioting, demonstrations and violence afterwards. But after talking to some Haitians they ALL said we should stay in all day. There have been lots of riots and violence in Port au Prince the last couple days and we don't know how it will be here in Jacmel. Those of you who know me know I HATE being told what to do and especially what NOT to do.

Being told not to do something or that I can't has always made me want/try to do it that much more.

But you know how the saying goes, "Adopting a baby changes everything." Well it doesn't go exactly like that, but it does change things. I have Odessa to think about ABOVE myself now. Let me just tell ya this is a big role change for me. I even surprise myself sometimes in how I think about her before myself.

I have been bombarded with text messages on my phone asking me to vote for one candidate or another. I can't even vote! My dad sent me a panicked email last week saying that they just got 3 angry phone calls in Creole in a row and he thought I had been kidnapped. Then my friends who I have called on my Haiti cell phone started writing saying the same thing. When I turned on my US phone it immediately started ringing and there was a recorded election message in Creole. It didn't sound angry to me-it sounded like how everyone talks down here. But I remember before I could speak Creole I thought everybody was yelling at everybody too. So obviously Haiti doesn't have the same cell phone privacy laws that the US does. They had called everybody on my call list with the election message!

I have been taking care of a sick boy in Peredo this week. They called me this morning to tell me he is not getting any better and asked me to come see him. It is an hour drive though and on election day...I just can't do it although I really want to. I told them to take him to the Cuban clinic about 25 minutes away with the medication he is taking already so the doctors know what he is on. I called this evening to check on him and they didn't take him and are waiting on me to come to work in the morning. I am hoping the streets are OK and I can venture out.

There are so many Haitians who didn't vote b/c they were afraid to go out. We, Americans, truly are blessed. Others said that it doesn't matter anyways b/c all elections in Haiti are rigged. I would brush that off if I had just arrived here. But after working here on and off for 2 years-I don't doubt it.

Not for a second.

Well better go see what Odessa is into now!

Amazon Wish List

2010-11-27T11:07:00.000-05:00

Another missionary here (thanks Gwenn!) recommended I make a wish list on Amazon.com to let teams know what the Haitians are currently needing in Haiti-in the little village of Peredo. I started a small list to give some ideas. You don't have to buy the items off Amazon. I just wanted to show you what we needed and about how many.

Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1LJVFHCXIO6AJ

2010-11-24T21:09:00.000-05:00

So had a "Girls Night Out" Sunday night. Yep -that's right. Girls night out in Haiti. There are several American and Canadian women working in this town and one of them put together these much needed nights out for us. I can not tell you how much fun it is! I haven't seen my friends in going on 7 months. Sometimes I think I distance myself from them here b/c well....frankly it is easier. I love that they are happy and can't wait to see them. But hearing about everything I am missing out on stinks! I love living here but life is SOOOOO different than my regular life from back home. But the Girls Night Out brought some comfort.

One of the girls there literally is my neighbor here and I didn't even know it. Her organization does not allow her to drive or venture out alone (not even to walk in the neighborhood) and she is my age! She was quite shocked I live here alone and drive and hour to work and back everyday. So tonight Odessa and I were taking a walk in the neighborhood and we stopped in to say hello.

BIG MISTAKE!!!

She was so happy to see us and introduced us to the other Americans staying in the house. But as soon as I entered the house I smelled Pumpkin pie. That's right. Baking in the oven. My stomach sat up straight. (I'm not really sure what that means but that's what it did).

I hadn't really thought about Thanksgiving. Since there is no Thanksgiving here and Odessa has school like regular tomorrow. It would be just like another day here. And it would have been if I had not smelled the PUMPKIN PIE.

How they found all the ingredients and made the crust I have no idea. I would have asked them but my mind was so preoccupied with the pie!

So I am thinking Thanksgiving picnic on the beach for Odessa's 1st Thanksgiving tomorrow...minus the pumpkin pie but with the sweetest girl I know.

Clinic pics!

2010-11-23T13:39:00.001-05:00

Here ya go...lots of people asking how the Peredo clinic is coming along. See for yourself-looks great! The workers are doing a great job.

God is good!

Destressing with some Shoe Shopping!

2010-11-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

Stressful situations in Haiti right now. Of course there is the Cholera outbreak. It has yet to reach this area but we are being told it is coming and to get ready. I spent one full day last week with 2 of our Haitian workers going through the depot in Peredo pulling out things we might need if/when Cholera comes. Alex, the houseboy here at the mission house and Usted, one of the young men from the Peredo community helped me search for IV supplies, Pedialye, wipes, diapers, alcohol, oral rehydration salts, and IV fluids. We found most of the supplies and I found Lactated Ringers IV solution in town and bought 2 cases. Please pray for the people in this area. Especially the young and very old.

Sunday we will have a meeting after church for all in the community to come and learn about Cholera and we will demonstrate how to make Oral Rehydration Fluid. There is a lot of panic in this area over this illness. You can visit the World Health Organization website to read more about how it is treated.

http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/publications/en/first_steps.pdf

But on a lighter note...

We came across the clothes and shoes the team from Bishop Baptist Church in Georgia brought down last month and started distributing these items to the school children in Peredo. Let me take a minute to let you know something about these shoes and clothes. They are absolutely wonderful! They brought very nice, name brand clothes that were all laundered and neatly folded in the suitcases and the shoes!...the kids were so happy with the shoes! They name brand and in great condition.

Bishop Baptist did not simply send things that they didn't want anymore. These items were definitely in resale condition.

They truly gave from their hearts and helped dress these Haitian children how they would want their own children dressed.

Thank you so much! I was the lucky one (once again) to get to be here and help distribute. It was such a destressor to see the smiles, hear the squeals and watch them tuck their gifts into their book bags.

Notice in this last picture the little girl getting fitted for shoes but she is holding her peanut butter sandwich from the nutrition program at the school!

2010-11-08T21:53:00.000-05:00

I came across a great Haiti info website today.
It answers so many questions people ask me about Haiti.

http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Haiti.html

Lunch Program

2010-11-08T10:31:00.001-05:00

Most of you know that I have been raising money to improve the school lunches in the village of Peredo for this school year. Also to provide breakfast 2 days a week. With the help of churches in the Newark area and Licking Valley High School, we are giving the kids a variety of foods with much needed vitamins they do not receive in their diets at home. I want to add also that most of the money was raised while I was here in Haiti so a big thanks to everyone back in Ohio who led these fundraising projects. This would not be possible without you. It always amazes me how people who have never been here, never seen the kids in their cute uniforms, never played with them at recess-will still step forward and help them. I just provided the facts and the needs and then you all "went to town!"

The enrollment is 165 kids this year! A big change from when I came to Haiti 2 years ago and there were about 60 kids. I had a meeting with the principal and school teachers discussing how the school kids were always sick and we talked about causes. One they came up with is the kids are dirty. As in, they don't have a way to wash their hands after using the outhouse at the school. I thought, "SCORE!" People ARE listening to the heath teachings in the village. So they made a handwashing station outside the outhouse with a bucket of water, a bowl to dip into the bucket to wash their hands and soap. This is moved from class to class to wash before lunch too. I didn't get a picture of it-but I will and post later.

Also we talked about the water the kids are bringing to school to drink in old pop bottles and containers they find. We have a large igloo drink container that we have here when teams come to work in Haiti. All the other times it was just sitting here at the mission house. So I gave it to them to use for the kids. They bring water from the well right outside the camp property for the kids to drink. Twice a week the kids get a kool-aid type mix with Vit-C in it with the money raised for the food programs. Once we get the food program going smoothly we are going to start making fresh squeezed juice for the kids the mornings they get breakfast. I have kinda spun the cafeteria ladies around with the changes so far so I am giving them time before I add something else!

Here are some pics of a lunch last week. It was rice and legumes. Which is rice and a bunch of vegetables all cooked down together with spices and oil. It is my favorite Haitian dish and has tons of vitamins in it. It has spinach, carrots, potatoes, onions, peppers and cabbage. I know it doesn't sound good but it is! The kids love it.

More school lunch pictures to come courtesy of me! More bellies full of nutritious school lunches and breakfast courtesy of you! Thanks so much. You truly are helping make a difference in these children's lives.

Job update

2010-10-24T20:07:00.000-04:00

Update on Job-Peredo school boy whose house burnt down a few weeks before school. Money was sent by an American couple to buy him 2 new uniforms, shoes, bookbag and books. We had enough to buy him the little cooler pictured too! He walks about 25 minutes to school so having water with him will be so nice!

Who knows what little Job is going to grow up to be! Maybe a worker for the Kingdom! We never know what plans God may have for him. But he is now attending church with his mother most Sundays!

2010-10-15T15:00:00.000-04:00

Wednesday was a regular day in Haiti. Got up, fed Odessa, let the house boy in, waited on Odessa's nanny to get here and then headed out to Peredo to work. I have been listening to Podcasts on my iPod on the hour drive to the village and back. There is not radio in the truck so this passes the time. Plus it is in English! I speak and hear so little English these days. The podcast I was listening to was about new movies coming out this week, the new Apple TV, and cool apps for the iPod. Homesickness hit me hard. I haven't seen a new movie in months. As a matter of fact, I have only watched kid movies with Odessa and Seasons 8 and 9 of Friends over and over for the past 5 months. I was thinking how I would kill to walk up to Redbox or Blockbuster and rent movies, grab a PIZZA and squeal with joy!

As I drove across the river and bounced all over the truck, holding the steering wheel white knuckled praying I didn't get stuck like last week, I suddenly missed bridges. Blacktop. Ditches. Pavement. Culverts. Cement. Yellow and white lines on the road. You get the picture.

I passed a mother and daughter walking down the road carrying their laundry on their heads and missed my mom. How we stand in the kitchen and fold laundry together. How she folds the towels all wrong and I redo them before I put them in the linen closet.

When I got to the mission property school was already started and I started looking at all the school kids teeth to choose the kids who need to see the American dentist coming next week. (Thanks Dr Adie!)

One of the guys who works for the mission came and said there was a lady here asking for me. Word spread in about 10 minutes that I have arrived in the village and people start coming. I said I would be there when I was done with the teeth and he gave me a look and said I needed to come now. So I went outside and found a young lady, maybe 19 or 20 yrs old sitting in the shade holding a sleeping baby.

She explained that she didn't come begging or asking for anything for herself. She told me how 2 months ago her sister died and left this baby behind. Now she's trying to raise her niece but has no work and of course no money.

What a rough start to life. Born in Haiti to a single mother. Mom dies 6 months later. Young, poor aunt struggling to do the right thing.

Unfortunately, not rare.

The aunt said she heard I am adopting a Haitian child and asked if I wanted to adopt this little girl too. She said it's just too hard to do on her own.

Suddenly movies and pizza were the furthest thing from my mind. Rivers and terrible "roads" were not too big of an obstacle. I realized how while I am here missing my family, others are struggling to keep theirs together.

I saw how clean this Haitian orphan was.
The hat someone had placed on her head to protect from the sun.
Her fingernails and toenails that were neatly trimmed.
Perfect skin-free of infection and odor.
A young aunt's love.

I made her up a goodie bag of baby supplies from the depot including formula. Most of you know I am against giving out baby formula. But this 8 month old was already on regular powdered milk b/c her aunt couldn't buy formula. I told her the mission would supply her with formula every week as long as we had supply until the baby was a year old. I demonstrated how to mix the formula right with clean, boiled water.

She started to say thanks and I explained to her how I did not purchase these things, how Americans sent them to help out their Christian brothers and sisters around the world and they did it with the love of God. I told her to thank God for providing and talked to her how she is not alone. We talked about being single moms. I sat with this girl and talked about being a single mom! I really needed that. Someone else who understood. We are more alike than different and I really felt a bond to her. I told her I would be praying for her and invited her to church on Sunday.

She stood up, readjusted the sleeping baby's hat and started on her way with a bag full of baby supplies.

I stood up, put my sunglasses on and started my way back to the school.

School Days!

2010-10-11T17:40:00.000-04:00

School started today in Peredo! What a site to see all the kids clean, in new uniforms and excited to be there! I love it. But of course forgot my camera! So unfortunately, you don't get to see it. But that's the perk of living here! I get to see the happenings of the mission first hand. You can too-just become a missionary and move to Haiti.

Anyways-wanted to post of pic of the 1st batch of food bought for the kids at the school. Right now they eat the same thing for lunch everyday and don't have a breakfast program. This school year, thanks to VBS donations, extra church support and even a high school fundraiser with cookies (Go Panthers!), they will have breakfast 2 days a week and a different lunch 1-2 times a week.

More pics to come of the kids enjoying the food! This will help their nutrition status tremendously! And make their bellies very happy.

Special thanks to the Licking Valley Church of Christ and all the ladies who baked their hearts out for a bake sale fundraiser (and Summer Conley for spurring them on!), to Licking Valley High School for the fundraiser (behind the scenes of this was Ms Barboza and Tricia Phelps and the LV school cooks), Heath Church of Christ.

Thanks Thanks Thanks!

Picture update-Peredo clinic

2010-10-09T21:00:00.001-04:00

New pics taken on Monday of the construction progress of the clinic in Peredo. Super excited and wanted to share!

Front view of clinic-with new wall

Back view of front of clinic from inside the building

Surgical lights installed in the Operating Room!

Aren't you glad you used Dial?

2010-10-08T21:11:00.000-04:00

So this is the 2nd time this has happened to me -gave me a laugh today.

I went to the open market in Jacmel today to buy food for the school kids. Open market is always a fun adventure. Kinda like Wal-mart-not in the fact you can find anything you would ever need at the everyday low price. But in the fact that whenever you go it is an experience :) So I walked past this booth of nice used kids shoes and have been looking for some for some school kids whose parents can't afford. Anyways-I stopped and was looking and asking prices when the l lady vendor looks at me very seriously and tells me I smell like a "blan." Like a white person! You would think since this is the 2nd time someone has told me this I would have a whitty answer. But nope-that one stops me in my tracks everytime. Maybe I am blending in more than I think.

Glad I used Dial and man oh man do I wish everyone else here did!