Wel this week has been a whirlwind. I have had an up and down barage of feelings, from just wanting to turn around and go back to Haiti, to being very very happy I am home, to complete astonishment, to utter despair.
When I got back home on Saturday I brought a lovely bug with me. Sunday all I wanted to do was lay in bed, in between trips to the lovely washroom. Rob and I ended up in a big fight and I was just like I am ready to get on a plane and go back to Haiti. Life is so different there and I could just be focused on helping. I didn't have to think about starting dialysis training this week, or having two sons with issues. Poor Rob was not so lucky and it took me a few days to adjust. However during that process the prospect of hoping on a plane to Haiti was appealing.
Things got back into a routine on Monday and I was happy and content. I got up and homeschooled the boys and we went through a typical daily routine. We had a few minor incidents but nothing major. S went to his weekly tutoring and I baby sat my friend's sons. Then we went to the pool and just enjoyed each other's company.
Tuesday was again pretty much normal except for the fact that we started Rob's dialysis training so that he can come home with this new product from Next Stage.
Wednesday was the day from heck. We were supposed to go to S's attachment therapist. However on the way there I had a little fender bender. Noone was hurt and neither were the cars really, but I got a ticket for following too close (I am like this is Atlanta and everyone follows too close if not you get cut off). So we ended up missing the appointment and turning arund and coming back home. I decided to homeshool a bit, but S had other ideas. He decided to throw a fit and try to destroy the homeschool room. I stopped that, but the fit continued until he did something I never thouh a kid would do. He jumped off our balcony of our second story. So I had to take him to the doctor and he had ended up breaking his foot.
On Thursday S went to the orthepidic doctor and ended up getting a cast on for two weeks. I am still astonished at why a child would do such a thing. Sometimes it is like dealing with a three year old in an eight year olds body. It can be exhausting and you never know what is going to be that trigger. As I like to say it is because "the moon is in the fourth quarter and jupiter is aligned with mars in a funky way" as my way of emphasising I have no idea what is going on in his little head.
On Friday we again went to dialysis training. They had me hook Rob up and I mean there are at least 50-75 steps you have to do to hook him up and another 25-40 you have to do to unhook him. And so in the middle of having to remember all these minute steps and what hooks to what I also have to check not to have any air in the lines and not to stick too deep or I will go through his fistula. I am just feeling overwhelmed by all of this and normally I am pretty good at picking stuff up, but I am just totally lost and I can not seem to remember the first five steps, much less all of them. I am totally terrified to do this at home and I am just not sure I can do it. I was bawling on the way home from leaving the training. I just am stressed about this. I feel so much pressure to just be able to do this, and I am just not sure my non-medical brain can wrap around this. We will see.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Haiti-Leaving Day
Oh at dinner the night before last Forrest stood up and said he wanted to tell another joke. We were all like "Really another one" since his first one none of us got. So he told us about a woman and a man getting on an airplane during the time when you could still smoke on planes. The woman had a monkey and as the flight went along the man got out a cigar and started smoking it. The woman told him to please put it out because it was bothering her monkey, however the man just kept smoking. She asked him two more times to put it out and he told her frankly he did not care because the monkey was making him sick. He told her he would make a deal with her. They would go up to the door of the plane and he would throw the cigar out if she threw the monkey out. So they went up and he threw out the cigar and she threw out the monkey. When they both went back to their seats they looked out the window and say the monkey on the wing and do you know what he was holding. At this point Dave, our group leader, yelled out "A brick." That was pretty funny. Our faith was restored in Forrest's joke telling abilities at this point.
I woke up yesterday morning and jumped out of bed. This was the latest I had slept of all my days in Haiti and I knew we were supposed to leave in the next 15 minutes. I jumped in the shower because I wanted to at least smell half way good on my trip home. I have never felt really clean in Haiti. As soon as you get out of your lovely cold shower (it costs too much to run a hot water heater and when there is no a/c and it is 90 degrees, I am not really sure why you would want to have a hot shower)and before you can get dried off you are sweating and hot again. So after my shower I got dressed. I told Sue and a few people who were up bye and gave them a hug. Then I got my suitcases and headed downstairs.
When I got downstairs Nicole, the young lady adopted from Haiti who came back and is staying the two weeks with Lifetree Adventures, came up and just wrapped me in a big bear hug. It was hard saying good bye to her because we established a good relationship and connection, in part because we understand the dynamic in being adopted. I invited her to come visit sometime when she is back in the States. So after this I grabbed some breakfast, and true to Haitian time we left closer to 7:00 instead of 6:30. While at breakfast one of the ladies was saying that my kids would be excited to see me. However I knew and told her that I expected the opposite. I figured I would "pay" for being gone for a week. I was right but more on that later.
So we loaded up the van and eight of us headed out for the airport. Ron and I were flying back together. The four Kentuckyians had a 10 'o clock flight, but they came with our group. Then there was also Dave who was greeting some people who were coming in and Collins our driver. Heartline has a nice van to pick up passangers. So we all loaded into this and then headed out. However John had told us about a tap tap caught in a car catcher and a big load of dirt that had been dumped right beside it. He did not think the van could get over it, but we thought we would try it. Well the van could not make it over the hill of dirt and the tap tap was not able to get pulled free, so we all unloaded and piled everything into John's truck. This was just so typical Haiti. It was a fun last "adventure" to our trip. As we were going to the airport Karen pointed out that she thought it was funny the first experience some of the people coming in were going to have was going to be John's truck. This is an old beat up what we would call junker. However it still runs good.
We got to the airport and unloaded and literally Ron and I just made it in by the skin of our teeth. Two other people got in line behind us and then they shut the line off. It would of been horrible if we would of missed our flight, because then I would of missed my connection. Ron had agreed to take my black bag on as his personal item so then I only had to pay for one checked bag. This was a huge blessing. So we get checked in and I can not find my visa card to get out of the country. This is the first time ever I have lost mine and I have no clue where it went. I put it in my passport and it is just gone. However the guy was very nice and just told me to keep up with it the next time I was there. I swear he is the same guy who has checked me out on other trips to Haiti. So I go through the security check point and everything is fine so I go off to find a seat for Ron and I. Well there was something in my bag that cause suspicion I guess and so they looked through it. Well I had forgotten that I had put panties in the end of the black bag. The security lady pulled them up and gave Ron a funny look and I hear him yelling "Crystal." I about died laughing and I think he about died of embarassment. It was totally an accident but just one of those funny moments. Finally they let him through and we got ready to board.
In Haiti you have to have your bags checked again before you can get on board. You also are patted down at least twice, and you have to show your passport before you can board. So I had my passport out and then when I got on board I guessed I dropped it out of my hand when I was putting my bags in the overhead compartment and did not realize it. A gentleman picked it up and asked me if it was mine. I was praising God for taking care of me. There have been several instances like that on this trip. Where if God had not been taking care of me I could of had a disaster. It is good to see that He protects me even when my head is not screwed on straight.
After the flight I landed in Ft. Lauderdale and Ron and I got through customs. It was a pretty easy trip through though I was a little anxious because I was bringing back 40 something purses to have a purse party, to help the women of Heartline Ministeries. I will be posting some of them online for purchase for anyone who is interested. However after a quick prayer I slipped through customs easily. Then it was time to wait on my next flight.
I went and checked in and got through security there. I was starving because I had only had a couple of pieces of bread with peanut butter on them for breakfast around 6:30 and it was now almost 2. I spotted a Chili's and decided I was going to eat there. I had some chips and salsa and a hamburger. It was delicious.
After eating I headed over to wait at my gate. A young lady I sat down next to and I started talking. She had been in Haiti for five weeks and when she graduates from college in a year and a half she will be moving back there. It is always good to talk to someone else with a heart from Haiti. At last it was time to board the flight. I had gotten to upgrade to business or first class for the same price practically it was going to cost to check my bags and my bags were free. This was the first time I had ever gotten to fly first class so it was a neat experience. I am not sure it will ever happen again.
I landed in Atlanta and called Rob but he was not there yet so I made my way to baggage claim. I was waiting on my bags when I saw them coming up. S and J both gave me a hug and a kiss, but did not seem overly excited I was home. We got my bags and got to the truck. While Rob was taking the cart back over S asked me if I was going to Haiti again. I said not for a long while because I needed to stay at home and take care of them. His reply that I knew to expect but it still hurt was "Why? Daddy can take care of us, we don't need you." I just about cried from being tired, and exhausted, and just the emotional pain. I honestly was crashing hard from my trip and was tempted to go put my happy butt on a plane back to Haiti and be like fine. However I sucked it up like a big girl and got on with life. They both are doing a lot of button pushing behaviors but I accepted it. Now if I can just survive the next few weeks I should be good.
I woke up yesterday morning and jumped out of bed. This was the latest I had slept of all my days in Haiti and I knew we were supposed to leave in the next 15 minutes. I jumped in the shower because I wanted to at least smell half way good on my trip home. I have never felt really clean in Haiti. As soon as you get out of your lovely cold shower (it costs too much to run a hot water heater and when there is no a/c and it is 90 degrees, I am not really sure why you would want to have a hot shower)and before you can get dried off you are sweating and hot again. So after my shower I got dressed. I told Sue and a few people who were up bye and gave them a hug. Then I got my suitcases and headed downstairs.
When I got downstairs Nicole, the young lady adopted from Haiti who came back and is staying the two weeks with Lifetree Adventures, came up and just wrapped me in a big bear hug. It was hard saying good bye to her because we established a good relationship and connection, in part because we understand the dynamic in being adopted. I invited her to come visit sometime when she is back in the States. So after this I grabbed some breakfast, and true to Haitian time we left closer to 7:00 instead of 6:30. While at breakfast one of the ladies was saying that my kids would be excited to see me. However I knew and told her that I expected the opposite. I figured I would "pay" for being gone for a week. I was right but more on that later.
So we loaded up the van and eight of us headed out for the airport. Ron and I were flying back together. The four Kentuckyians had a 10 'o clock flight, but they came with our group. Then there was also Dave who was greeting some people who were coming in and Collins our driver. Heartline has a nice van to pick up passangers. So we all loaded into this and then headed out. However John had told us about a tap tap caught in a car catcher and a big load of dirt that had been dumped right beside it. He did not think the van could get over it, but we thought we would try it. Well the van could not make it over the hill of dirt and the tap tap was not able to get pulled free, so we all unloaded and piled everything into John's truck. This was just so typical Haiti. It was a fun last "adventure" to our trip. As we were going to the airport Karen pointed out that she thought it was funny the first experience some of the people coming in were going to have was going to be John's truck. This is an old beat up what we would call junker. However it still runs good.
We got to the airport and unloaded and literally Ron and I just made it in by the skin of our teeth. Two other people got in line behind us and then they shut the line off. It would of been horrible if we would of missed our flight, because then I would of missed my connection. Ron had agreed to take my black bag on as his personal item so then I only had to pay for one checked bag. This was a huge blessing. So we get checked in and I can not find my visa card to get out of the country. This is the first time ever I have lost mine and I have no clue where it went. I put it in my passport and it is just gone. However the guy was very nice and just told me to keep up with it the next time I was there. I swear he is the same guy who has checked me out on other trips to Haiti. So I go through the security check point and everything is fine so I go off to find a seat for Ron and I. Well there was something in my bag that cause suspicion I guess and so they looked through it. Well I had forgotten that I had put panties in the end of the black bag. The security lady pulled them up and gave Ron a funny look and I hear him yelling "Crystal." I about died laughing and I think he about died of embarassment. It was totally an accident but just one of those funny moments. Finally they let him through and we got ready to board.
In Haiti you have to have your bags checked again before you can get on board. You also are patted down at least twice, and you have to show your passport before you can board. So I had my passport out and then when I got on board I guessed I dropped it out of my hand when I was putting my bags in the overhead compartment and did not realize it. A gentleman picked it up and asked me if it was mine. I was praising God for taking care of me. There have been several instances like that on this trip. Where if God had not been taking care of me I could of had a disaster. It is good to see that He protects me even when my head is not screwed on straight.
After the flight I landed in Ft. Lauderdale and Ron and I got through customs. It was a pretty easy trip through though I was a little anxious because I was bringing back 40 something purses to have a purse party, to help the women of Heartline Ministeries. I will be posting some of them online for purchase for anyone who is interested. However after a quick prayer I slipped through customs easily. Then it was time to wait on my next flight.
I went and checked in and got through security there. I was starving because I had only had a couple of pieces of bread with peanut butter on them for breakfast around 6:30 and it was now almost 2. I spotted a Chili's and decided I was going to eat there. I had some chips and salsa and a hamburger. It was delicious.
After eating I headed over to wait at my gate. A young lady I sat down next to and I started talking. She had been in Haiti for five weeks and when she graduates from college in a year and a half she will be moving back there. It is always good to talk to someone else with a heart from Haiti. At last it was time to board the flight. I had gotten to upgrade to business or first class for the same price practically it was going to cost to check my bags and my bags were free. This was the first time I had ever gotten to fly first class so it was a neat experience. I am not sure it will ever happen again.
I landed in Atlanta and called Rob but he was not there yet so I made my way to baggage claim. I was waiting on my bags when I saw them coming up. S and J both gave me a hug and a kiss, but did not seem overly excited I was home. We got my bags and got to the truck. While Rob was taking the cart back over S asked me if I was going to Haiti again. I said not for a long while because I needed to stay at home and take care of them. His reply that I knew to expect but it still hurt was "Why? Daddy can take care of us, we don't need you." I just about cried from being tired, and exhausted, and just the emotional pain. I honestly was crashing hard from my trip and was tempted to go put my happy butt on a plane back to Haiti and be like fine. However I sucked it up like a big girl and got on with life. They both are doing a lot of button pushing behaviors but I accepted it. Now if I can just survive the next few weeks I should be good.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Haiti-Day Seven
Yesterday was the last day in Haiti. I knew that I would be getting up this morning and heading home. It really was bitter sweet. I was glad to be heading home and seeing my family, but I also wanted to stay in Haiti. There is just so much work to be done there. There are so many ways that I could use my skills there to help the people. It is always that torn feeling when returning from a mission trip.
Anyway, yesterday we got up and had breakfast. John came in and gave us the plan for the day and gave us some very exciting news. Liona gave birth to a healthy baby girl who weighed 7 lbs and 3 ozs and was 20 inches long. It was the healthiest babies they have delievered so far. Liona is a young girl living in the teenage mom home. This is truly a testimony to how well the program is helping the girls.
After breakfast and the plan we headed out to a traditional Haitian market (ie where the Haitians buy their food). You really need to experience this for yourselves but I will try and describe it. You walk in and up this narrow little pathway with people pushing and trying to get buy. There are narrow stalls and you can find just about anything there, from shoes, to bibles, to books, to clothes, to suitcases, to tolieteres, to fresh vegetables, and to meat (including goat). John loves to play a joke on groups saying that he is going to get some meat for lunch and then having one of the butchers to cut up a goat head. That is just his sense of humor. The smells and sights are intense. We were not allowed to take pictures, but I think that everyone should be able to experience that at least once. While we were there a woman came up to a young lady in our party who was adopoted and told her she was this lady's mother. The poor girl was visibly shaken and while it might not have been her intent to do so I just really got upset. I can just put my boys in her place and I would of been so mad at someone doing that. I understand it was a different culture and the lady probably just wanted someone to take care of her but the mama bear side of me wanted to protect the young lady in our group. While there I bought a Bible in Creole. I hope the boys and I both can learn to read it. It would be a neat experience to have together.
After the market I went to the Harbor House and Ron and I waited on Troy to show up to go buy some plants. When you are in Haiti there is something called being on "Haitian Time" This means that five minutes could be anywhere from six minutes to an hour or two later, or leaving at 6:30 means you will be lucky to be out the door by 7:00. It is just the way things work in Haiti. It is kinda nice for time to be relative for someone like me, but I can see how it would drive some people bonkers.
So Troy showed up and we went to a "nursery" (ie a bunch of people with plants lined up beside the road). Troy had his three year old with him and so I got to babysit (much more appealing than plant shopping to me anyway). His daughter is so cute I could just eat her up. It was precious to spend time with her, even if it was about a 100 degrees outside and we both were sweating horribly. After another stop to get some planters for the flowers we went to meet up with the rest of the group that had been at the sewing center.
We went out to the Ok "Corral" for lunch. This is where they are building a new school, some new homes, a new medical center, and a new maternity center. The ladies out there cooked the food really, really, really spicy. I ended up only eating the rice and beans, however they were delicious.
After lunch we went to a place where tin artists work. I bought a few pieces from people I knew were Christians because I wanted to be careful about what I brought home. I also had some "ice cream" that was a mixture of a bunch of different flavors, every bite had a new taste. The tin work in Haiti is ornate and beautiful. It was just awesome to be able to see them at work. I took several pictures.
We then went back to the guest house and started packing and getting ready to leave the next day. I was on one of the early morning flights. We took some group pictures and then loaded up to go out to dinner with John and the Heartline staff. As we were starting to load up one of the guys in our group told this joke. It goes like this, "This man was in construction and he started building a house. However he kept bragging that he was so good that he would order materials and not leave one scrap. So he kept bragging and bragging and day after day this group of men would come over and watch him. So finally one day when he was finished he invited the group in to tour the house and they kept saying to one another that they had to find something to keep the guy from bragging so much. So they went and looked and finally in the back yard way in the corner they found one brick. The man took the brick and threw it up in the air." We all stood around looking at him like he had lost his mind. We had no clue what the point of the joke was. It was just one of those random moments I thought I would share.
So we loaded up and went off to a time of great fellowship and just enjoyed time with each other. We spent time laughing and spending time together. I ate some delicious beef kabob thing. It was some of the best meat I have ever had. We thanked John and Beth and Rebecca and Barry for their hospitatlity. Finally the meal was over and we headed back to the house.
Dwan, Aaron(who is like an annoying big brother), Michael, and I rode up top. This was fun and exciting because I had never seen Haiti at night. It has a totally different pulse at night. It is alive and jovial. There are several bars and clubs and casinos. Also the street vendors are out, some of them with candles lighting their wares and some of them with lights. It was just a beautiful sight to see and the sounds of the music were filling the air. It was quiet exciting.
Back at the guest house we packed up, said our goodbyes, made our final purchases from the gift shop, and settled in for the night. I think some of us lingered not wanting to let the experience end. There is just something special about being on a mission trip.
Anyway, yesterday we got up and had breakfast. John came in and gave us the plan for the day and gave us some very exciting news. Liona gave birth to a healthy baby girl who weighed 7 lbs and 3 ozs and was 20 inches long. It was the healthiest babies they have delievered so far. Liona is a young girl living in the teenage mom home. This is truly a testimony to how well the program is helping the girls.
After breakfast and the plan we headed out to a traditional Haitian market (ie where the Haitians buy their food). You really need to experience this for yourselves but I will try and describe it. You walk in and up this narrow little pathway with people pushing and trying to get buy. There are narrow stalls and you can find just about anything there, from shoes, to bibles, to books, to clothes, to suitcases, to tolieteres, to fresh vegetables, and to meat (including goat). John loves to play a joke on groups saying that he is going to get some meat for lunch and then having one of the butchers to cut up a goat head. That is just his sense of humor. The smells and sights are intense. We were not allowed to take pictures, but I think that everyone should be able to experience that at least once. While we were there a woman came up to a young lady in our party who was adopoted and told her she was this lady's mother. The poor girl was visibly shaken and while it might not have been her intent to do so I just really got upset. I can just put my boys in her place and I would of been so mad at someone doing that. I understand it was a different culture and the lady probably just wanted someone to take care of her but the mama bear side of me wanted to protect the young lady in our group. While there I bought a Bible in Creole. I hope the boys and I both can learn to read it. It would be a neat experience to have together.
After the market I went to the Harbor House and Ron and I waited on Troy to show up to go buy some plants. When you are in Haiti there is something called being on "Haitian Time" This means that five minutes could be anywhere from six minutes to an hour or two later, or leaving at 6:30 means you will be lucky to be out the door by 7:00. It is just the way things work in Haiti. It is kinda nice for time to be relative for someone like me, but I can see how it would drive some people bonkers.
So Troy showed up and we went to a "nursery" (ie a bunch of people with plants lined up beside the road). Troy had his three year old with him and so I got to babysit (much more appealing than plant shopping to me anyway). His daughter is so cute I could just eat her up. It was precious to spend time with her, even if it was about a 100 degrees outside and we both were sweating horribly. After another stop to get some planters for the flowers we went to meet up with the rest of the group that had been at the sewing center.
We went out to the Ok "Corral" for lunch. This is where they are building a new school, some new homes, a new medical center, and a new maternity center. The ladies out there cooked the food really, really, really spicy. I ended up only eating the rice and beans, however they were delicious.
After lunch we went to a place where tin artists work. I bought a few pieces from people I knew were Christians because I wanted to be careful about what I brought home. I also had some "ice cream" that was a mixture of a bunch of different flavors, every bite had a new taste. The tin work in Haiti is ornate and beautiful. It was just awesome to be able to see them at work. I took several pictures.
We then went back to the guest house and started packing and getting ready to leave the next day. I was on one of the early morning flights. We took some group pictures and then loaded up to go out to dinner with John and the Heartline staff. As we were starting to load up one of the guys in our group told this joke. It goes like this, "This man was in construction and he started building a house. However he kept bragging that he was so good that he would order materials and not leave one scrap. So he kept bragging and bragging and day after day this group of men would come over and watch him. So finally one day when he was finished he invited the group in to tour the house and they kept saying to one another that they had to find something to keep the guy from bragging so much. So they went and looked and finally in the back yard way in the corner they found one brick. The man took the brick and threw it up in the air." We all stood around looking at him like he had lost his mind. We had no clue what the point of the joke was. It was just one of those random moments I thought I would share.
So we loaded up and went off to a time of great fellowship and just enjoyed time with each other. We spent time laughing and spending time together. I ate some delicious beef kabob thing. It was some of the best meat I have ever had. We thanked John and Beth and Rebecca and Barry for their hospitatlity. Finally the meal was over and we headed back to the house.
Dwan, Aaron(who is like an annoying big brother), Michael, and I rode up top. This was fun and exciting because I had never seen Haiti at night. It has a totally different pulse at night. It is alive and jovial. There are several bars and clubs and casinos. Also the street vendors are out, some of them with candles lighting their wares and some of them with lights. It was just a beautiful sight to see and the sounds of the music were filling the air. It was quiet exciting.
Back at the guest house we packed up, said our goodbyes, made our final purchases from the gift shop, and settled in for the night. I think some of us lingered not wanting to let the experience end. There is just something special about being on a mission trip.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Haiti-Day Six
Yesterday was an interesting day. When I woke up in the morning I was just feeling a bit off. My stomach was hurting and I just felt a little achey all over. I got up and got ready, eating a little breakfast, and headed out for the day. I knew that I had two things to do that day. I was helping to teach an embrodiary class (I was teaching cross stitching to the ladies this day) and also we were supposed to do our skit we had done earlier in the week for the ladies in the prenatal program. I really was ready to get the day started.
Dwan and I decided to ride on the back of Renald's four wheeler over to the sewing center. Now I had been doing this all week and had not gotten wet, but today Renald was not so careful and I had one side of my pant legs that was literally caked with mud. I had to give him a hard time about it, but I also tried to be a good sport. I heard John saying that was why he never rode with him. I was like thanks for that information now. LOL If I had been home it would of been more tramuatic I think and I would of wanted to go back and change. However, when I got in the sewing center I just went in the restroom and washed out my pants. Thankfully all of the mud came out and then I was just cold and wet. That was better than being mud covered though.
I still was not feeling great, but I managed to teach the lady cross stitching. Sue and I decided that the next time we came we would send down some Aida cloth and some cross stitching supplies. Perhaps I will send some down with one of the ladies who is a midwife here and will be coming to the States soon. I just need to see about gathering up some supplies. Anyway, after I showed them how to do the cross stitching several of them begin to add these to the towels they started the day before. There is one lady in there who does great hand work and I am really praying that she gets into their sewing program. After our class we took several pictures of the ladies and their work.
Teaching the class was just really special for both Sue and I. We pulled out our work as well and as the ladies were working so were we. I think it is always special to share something like that with people of a different culture. It just reminds you that at the core level we really are the same. It was fun to sit there and listen to them chattering and laughing. I made the comment to Sue that this was how handi work should be done. It was my pleasure to be allowed to fellowship with the women in this way.
I was still feeling pretty rough at this point in the day though. I think I was feeling worse instead of better. Renald came over to walk us back to the Harbor House for lunch, after Sue and Kay picked out some purses for their purse party. It was hot and muggy in the store and by this point I was feeling worse and worse. We finally made it back to the guest house, but I did not want anything to eat. Karen encouraged me to eat a little rice, so I did so. I also drank part of a 7-Up. I was still planning on powering through but I must of looked really bad because the ladies told me to just stay put and rest.
I settled in on the porch and took a few naps. I kept having cold chills while sitting on a hot porch with a little breeze. I knew I had a little bit of a fever. After sleeping on and off for a little while, John came back and asked if I wanted to go back to the guest house. While I felt bad about doing so I knew I needed to. Sharon came back with me and helped me carry my back pack and got me some ice water. I settled in for a nap and I was told I did not even move for several hours. After I got up I felt much better. I was told I still looked a little puney though. I just drank a lot of water and ate light (mashed potatoes and some bread). I also ate a little sugar cane last night. It was really good and fresh. After a little time of fellowship I went to bed.
Today is our last full day here and I fly out early Saturday morning. I will be glad to see my children and my husband, but sad to leave this place. I could easily call here home one day. I do love Haiti and its people.
Dwan and I decided to ride on the back of Renald's four wheeler over to the sewing center. Now I had been doing this all week and had not gotten wet, but today Renald was not so careful and I had one side of my pant legs that was literally caked with mud. I had to give him a hard time about it, but I also tried to be a good sport. I heard John saying that was why he never rode with him. I was like thanks for that information now. LOL If I had been home it would of been more tramuatic I think and I would of wanted to go back and change. However, when I got in the sewing center I just went in the restroom and washed out my pants. Thankfully all of the mud came out and then I was just cold and wet. That was better than being mud covered though.
I still was not feeling great, but I managed to teach the lady cross stitching. Sue and I decided that the next time we came we would send down some Aida cloth and some cross stitching supplies. Perhaps I will send some down with one of the ladies who is a midwife here and will be coming to the States soon. I just need to see about gathering up some supplies. Anyway, after I showed them how to do the cross stitching several of them begin to add these to the towels they started the day before. There is one lady in there who does great hand work and I am really praying that she gets into their sewing program. After our class we took several pictures of the ladies and their work.
Teaching the class was just really special for both Sue and I. We pulled out our work as well and as the ladies were working so were we. I think it is always special to share something like that with people of a different culture. It just reminds you that at the core level we really are the same. It was fun to sit there and listen to them chattering and laughing. I made the comment to Sue that this was how handi work should be done. It was my pleasure to be allowed to fellowship with the women in this way.
I was still feeling pretty rough at this point in the day though. I think I was feeling worse instead of better. Renald came over to walk us back to the Harbor House for lunch, after Sue and Kay picked out some purses for their purse party. It was hot and muggy in the store and by this point I was feeling worse and worse. We finally made it back to the guest house, but I did not want anything to eat. Karen encouraged me to eat a little rice, so I did so. I also drank part of a 7-Up. I was still planning on powering through but I must of looked really bad because the ladies told me to just stay put and rest.
I settled in on the porch and took a few naps. I kept having cold chills while sitting on a hot porch with a little breeze. I knew I had a little bit of a fever. After sleeping on and off for a little while, John came back and asked if I wanted to go back to the guest house. While I felt bad about doing so I knew I needed to. Sharon came back with me and helped me carry my back pack and got me some ice water. I settled in for a nap and I was told I did not even move for several hours. After I got up I felt much better. I was told I still looked a little puney though. I just drank a lot of water and ate light (mashed potatoes and some bread). I also ate a little sugar cane last night. It was really good and fresh. After a little time of fellowship I went to bed.
Today is our last full day here and I fly out early Saturday morning. I will be glad to see my children and my husband, but sad to leave this place. I could easily call here home one day. I do love Haiti and its people.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Haiti-Day Five
Yesterday morning we learned that Maria was doing wonderful and had a healthy baby girl. We later found out that when they had taken her home that her living conditions were horrible. She had a tarp held up and then some piece of plywood on the ground and that was where she slept. She is oneo of the poorest of the poors here in Haiti. I can not help but feel that in general even the poorest American has it better than the richest Haitian. Their lack of clean water, sewage systems, free education for their children, lack of food, etc all make even the best possible living situation here much harder than just living in the US. However there is joy and peace here too. I could move to Haiti and live but my life would be very different. I would have to give up hot showers because hot water heaters cost a lot of money, I would have to have a generator because you are never for sure when the power company is going to turn off the power, etc. I feel like as Americans we take so much for granted. Yet I am content here and it almost feels like home.
We got a special treat yesterday morning in that Renald, one of our Haitian guides, started the morning off by having an impromptu praise and worship time. It is great to just praise the Lord together. We got our assignments for the days and we were off. I choose to ride with Renald on his four wheeler and being Ms. Grace that I am almost fell off in the mud trying to get on. Poor Renald felt bad, but I was too busy laughing at myself. We went to the sewing center where I set up a purse party (Yes ladies I am bringing home 35 purses and some jewlery and expect everyone to buy something). I also got some picture of the ladies using old singer sewing machines while they were practicing their sewing. I then went upstairs and helped Sue teach her embrodiary class. The ladies enjoyed it so much that we will be going back today and I will be teaching them cross stitching. That way they can outline a design and then fill it in. It will be nice to see them doing that. They were very smart and caught on quickly. Sue also taught one lady how to do quilting. They also are very thankful. We enjoyed working with them.
After our morning passed it was time to get to work finishing up stuffing pillows. We did some before lunch and then after lunch. Sue and I worked together to finish up the 2,000 lb monstrosity that had been there. So this week we stuffed about 1,300bags of pillow stuffing. The women should have plenty of stuffing to last them for a while. That is such a hot and dirty job and the pillow stuffing flies up and gets all over you. You can literally roll off big black lines of the stuffing off your arms. We agreed to finish the one bale and then go. It was a joy working with Sue and getting to know her a little bit better.
I had decided that we should just walk back to the Harbor House since I knew it was just one street over. Troy told us in which direction we should go when we got to the end of the street (I thought it was left and he said no it was right). Sue was a little nervous about walking but I thought it was an adventure. She followed behind me and it was a little muddy. However my entertainment for the day was listening to her as we walked. She had out her mace and was ready to get any intruder. I was about to die laughing. A little girl followed us all the way to where we were going. I said Bon Swa (good afternoon) and then she just started following us. I guess she was wondering where the crazy blanc (white) people were going.
When we got to the Harbor House we just sat down and rested for a bit and fellowshiped together. Sue and I then went and primed a wall that will be painted for the two Haitian women who run the Harbor House. It was soooooo hot in that room. The sweat was just pouring off of us as we worked. However we got one side of the wall ready to be painted.
When John finally showed up we were ready to quit work. We hoped in the vehicle and headed back to the guest house. We took our showers and got ready to go to John and Beth's last night for dinner. After showers I took a little nap. I was told most of our group did. It was just hot and the heat had drained me. Dwan woke me up and we headed out to John and Beth's home.
We had a wonderful dinner of pasta with white sauce, a lovely salad, the most delicious bread, and some chocolate chip bars for desert. After dinner we played with their new puppies. They are Mastif puppies and just so cute. However my highlight of the night was getting to play with Melody. She is a little girl who is one of two of the last children to be adopted. Her and I looked through a photo book and had fun just playing and spending time together. She is so sweet I could just eat her up. I just wanted to hold her and spoil her and if I thought she could fit in my suitcase I would take her home with me. Right before we left she came up and gave me a big hug. I held her and gave her a kiss. It was just a very sweet moment and made me miss my boys.
When we came back to the guest house I thought I would go right off to sleep. However I got into playing a game of Dominoes with Karen, Aaron and David. My first time through I was not doing very good and Aaron was aggrivating me telling me to get my head in the game. We were having a lot of laughter and fun. Then the second round I actually won and it was hilarous. Aaron came in last so I got to give him a little bit of his own medicine back. That is the wonderful thing about hanging out with Christians. We are so different and yet we all have this thing in common. We are blessed by our differences instead of divided by them. After beating Aaron I figured I should end the night on a high and finally went off to bed.
We got a special treat yesterday morning in that Renald, one of our Haitian guides, started the morning off by having an impromptu praise and worship time. It is great to just praise the Lord together. We got our assignments for the days and we were off. I choose to ride with Renald on his four wheeler and being Ms. Grace that I am almost fell off in the mud trying to get on. Poor Renald felt bad, but I was too busy laughing at myself. We went to the sewing center where I set up a purse party (Yes ladies I am bringing home 35 purses and some jewlery and expect everyone to buy something). I also got some picture of the ladies using old singer sewing machines while they were practicing their sewing. I then went upstairs and helped Sue teach her embrodiary class. The ladies enjoyed it so much that we will be going back today and I will be teaching them cross stitching. That way they can outline a design and then fill it in. It will be nice to see them doing that. They were very smart and caught on quickly. Sue also taught one lady how to do quilting. They also are very thankful. We enjoyed working with them.
After our morning passed it was time to get to work finishing up stuffing pillows. We did some before lunch and then after lunch. Sue and I worked together to finish up the 2,000 lb monstrosity that had been there. So this week we stuffed about 1,300bags of pillow stuffing. The women should have plenty of stuffing to last them for a while. That is such a hot and dirty job and the pillow stuffing flies up and gets all over you. You can literally roll off big black lines of the stuffing off your arms. We agreed to finish the one bale and then go. It was a joy working with Sue and getting to know her a little bit better.
I had decided that we should just walk back to the Harbor House since I knew it was just one street over. Troy told us in which direction we should go when we got to the end of the street (I thought it was left and he said no it was right). Sue was a little nervous about walking but I thought it was an adventure. She followed behind me and it was a little muddy. However my entertainment for the day was listening to her as we walked. She had out her mace and was ready to get any intruder. I was about to die laughing. A little girl followed us all the way to where we were going. I said Bon Swa (good afternoon) and then she just started following us. I guess she was wondering where the crazy blanc (white) people were going.
When we got to the Harbor House we just sat down and rested for a bit and fellowshiped together. Sue and I then went and primed a wall that will be painted for the two Haitian women who run the Harbor House. It was soooooo hot in that room. The sweat was just pouring off of us as we worked. However we got one side of the wall ready to be painted.
When John finally showed up we were ready to quit work. We hoped in the vehicle and headed back to the guest house. We took our showers and got ready to go to John and Beth's last night for dinner. After showers I took a little nap. I was told most of our group did. It was just hot and the heat had drained me. Dwan woke me up and we headed out to John and Beth's home.
We had a wonderful dinner of pasta with white sauce, a lovely salad, the most delicious bread, and some chocolate chip bars for desert. After dinner we played with their new puppies. They are Mastif puppies and just so cute. However my highlight of the night was getting to play with Melody. She is a little girl who is one of two of the last children to be adopted. Her and I looked through a photo book and had fun just playing and spending time together. She is so sweet I could just eat her up. I just wanted to hold her and spoil her and if I thought she could fit in my suitcase I would take her home with me. Right before we left she came up and gave me a big hug. I held her and gave her a kiss. It was just a very sweet moment and made me miss my boys.
When we came back to the guest house I thought I would go right off to sleep. However I got into playing a game of Dominoes with Karen, Aaron and David. My first time through I was not doing very good and Aaron was aggrivating me telling me to get my head in the game. We were having a lot of laughter and fun. Then the second round I actually won and it was hilarous. Aaron came in last so I got to give him a little bit of his own medicine back. That is the wonderful thing about hanging out with Christians. We are so different and yet we all have this thing in common. We are blessed by our differences instead of divided by them. After beating Aaron I figured I should end the night on a high and finally went off to bed.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Haiti-Day Four
Today was an interesting day with a lot of hard experiences. We started out the day learning that a wall had collapsed in Petitionville and that several people had been killed, as well as flooding had happened in the tent cities. We were safe and snug here in our beautiful guesthouse while people were just outside fighting for their lives. It is a hard reality here in Haiti. The rain is expected again today and tonight. They say this is the most rain Haiti has had in a while.
John also played for us this song by John Wicham called Beautiful. I would recommend everyone listening to it. We sang this in our mini worship service on Sunday night. It is just a moving and touching song. After this we set out for a long hard day of work.
I had been bugging Renald for a ride of his four wheeler and so he agreed to take me this morning. He told me I was going to get wet and I had seen the road the day before with just some water puddles on it and I was like oh ok no problem, thinking to myself no big deal. However when we got to his four wheeler I realized that the road was now not a road, but a river. You literally could not see the bottom of the road. However up for an adventure I hopped on the back of the vehicle and away we went. I looked down at one point and the water was up over Renald's feet. I held mine up a little higher at that point. He dropped me off at the maternity center.
We were supposed to go to the Maternity Center to help sort things, but when we got there Jonah was not sure what to do with us. So she gave us a very informative tour of the maternity center. She is a midwife and lives there. She was explaining that the care they can give at the maternity center is much better than the care that they would get in the hospital. However, right now they can only take in five women per month who will deliever in that month. The program is wonderful though because the women come in for prenatal checks during their pregnancy, and then continue through the program for six months afterwards. The women are in the two different programs for about a year, and at the end they are much more confident and sure mothers with beautiful, fat babies. They also have a program on Fridays where they open up the center to the community and they do a Bible Study and family planning clinic. About 150 women are on the Deprovera birth control shot.
While we were doing the tour there was a woman in her late 20's who came in that was one of their patients. She got checked out and we were given our assignment to work on a skit teaching the women about cleanliness. We prepared the skit and practiced it sevearl times. I think we laughed more than anyone else did. It was just hilarous and we had a clean and dirty family. It was fun practicing with these Godly women. It is wonderful how God puts all of us from different backgrounds together and we just mesh and work well.
After we finished practicing we had a little time left before lunch so we decided to go over to the Harbor House, the teenage mother's home, and help finish up with putting up some screens over there. We are building and painting screens, and we also sorted some donations that had gotten mold in them, throwing out the bad stuff and salvaging what we could. Before we could leave the maternity center though we saw the woman who had came in earlier and we saw Beth cleaning up their ambulance. She said that the woman was too high risk and would have to be transported to the hospital. We asked to pray for her and were allowed. We found out that she had lost three children already and that she was six weeks earlier. I think all of us were about to lose it by the time we were done crying and she was just so scared. We have not heard about her or her child yet, but we are still praying for her.
While we were at the Harbor House, there were two what looked to be teenage mothers came up and I thought they knew someone there or wanted to come in, so I opened the door to them. Renald came up behind me and started to speak to them in Creole. Both of the women were holding between three and six month old children. When they left I asked Renald what they wanted and he said they thought we were an orphanage and they wanted to give up those babies. He said he told them where an orphanage was down the street. I felt lost and helpless as I watched them walk down the street with their babies, walking toward the other orphanage. I asked Renald if it was a good orphanage and he just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't know. I wanted to be like how can you send kids to a possibly horrible situation and not care or not know. However I just smiled and turned back to getting back to work. I can not put my ideas and thoughts coming from Americans on Haitians. I understand that it is different. They live with a reality that I do not, and putting a child in an orphange is just a part of that reality.
After this and finishing up some work it was time to eat. We had a traditional Haitian meal of rice and beans, chicken, akra, and pickelese (no I did not eat the pickelese). It was so delicious and it was great to get to fellowship with the other members of the team for a while.
After lunch we went back to the Maternity Center, riding on the back of Renald's four wheeler because the road was all flooded. We performed our skit for the women. It was great fun to do so. I am truly not sure who laughed more us or the women. Then after the skit they did some singing in Creole and were praising the Lord. The babies are just beautiful and I wanted to hold them all. One of the beautiful things about Haitians is there is no shame about breast feeding. They were allowed to listen to their bodies and their children and just breast fed no matter who was around. They did not try to cover up and hide what they were doing. I could not help but think of my friend Christine who is putting up her magical milk of the week pic on her blog. It was just a precious thing to experience.
We finished up our work and headed back to the Harbor House once more on the back of Renald's four wheeler. A short while later John showed up and offered to take us out to the OK property where some exciting new things are happenng. After a bumpy ride in the back of our truck we finally arrived. We were shown around the property. They are building a missions school there, two of the missionaries will have houses there, they are setting up some apartments for the people who will be coming to stay at work at the medical missions there, and finally the apartments for the teachers who are coming. They also will be building a medical building there. There is a lot of work to be done, but it is going to be wonderful.
Finally we came back to the guest house to eat dinner and enjoy some free time just spending time with each other and talking.
John also played for us this song by John Wicham called Beautiful. I would recommend everyone listening to it. We sang this in our mini worship service on Sunday night. It is just a moving and touching song. After this we set out for a long hard day of work.
I had been bugging Renald for a ride of his four wheeler and so he agreed to take me this morning. He told me I was going to get wet and I had seen the road the day before with just some water puddles on it and I was like oh ok no problem, thinking to myself no big deal. However when we got to his four wheeler I realized that the road was now not a road, but a river. You literally could not see the bottom of the road. However up for an adventure I hopped on the back of the vehicle and away we went. I looked down at one point and the water was up over Renald's feet. I held mine up a little higher at that point. He dropped me off at the maternity center.
We were supposed to go to the Maternity Center to help sort things, but when we got there Jonah was not sure what to do with us. So she gave us a very informative tour of the maternity center. She is a midwife and lives there. She was explaining that the care they can give at the maternity center is much better than the care that they would get in the hospital. However, right now they can only take in five women per month who will deliever in that month. The program is wonderful though because the women come in for prenatal checks during their pregnancy, and then continue through the program for six months afterwards. The women are in the two different programs for about a year, and at the end they are much more confident and sure mothers with beautiful, fat babies. They also have a program on Fridays where they open up the center to the community and they do a Bible Study and family planning clinic. About 150 women are on the Deprovera birth control shot.
While we were doing the tour there was a woman in her late 20's who came in that was one of their patients. She got checked out and we were given our assignment to work on a skit teaching the women about cleanliness. We prepared the skit and practiced it sevearl times. I think we laughed more than anyone else did. It was just hilarous and we had a clean and dirty family. It was fun practicing with these Godly women. It is wonderful how God puts all of us from different backgrounds together and we just mesh and work well.
After we finished practicing we had a little time left before lunch so we decided to go over to the Harbor House, the teenage mother's home, and help finish up with putting up some screens over there. We are building and painting screens, and we also sorted some donations that had gotten mold in them, throwing out the bad stuff and salvaging what we could. Before we could leave the maternity center though we saw the woman who had came in earlier and we saw Beth cleaning up their ambulance. She said that the woman was too high risk and would have to be transported to the hospital. We asked to pray for her and were allowed. We found out that she had lost three children already and that she was six weeks earlier. I think all of us were about to lose it by the time we were done crying and she was just so scared. We have not heard about her or her child yet, but we are still praying for her.
While we were at the Harbor House, there were two what looked to be teenage mothers came up and I thought they knew someone there or wanted to come in, so I opened the door to them. Renald came up behind me and started to speak to them in Creole. Both of the women were holding between three and six month old children. When they left I asked Renald what they wanted and he said they thought we were an orphanage and they wanted to give up those babies. He said he told them where an orphanage was down the street. I felt lost and helpless as I watched them walk down the street with their babies, walking toward the other orphanage. I asked Renald if it was a good orphanage and he just shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't know. I wanted to be like how can you send kids to a possibly horrible situation and not care or not know. However I just smiled and turned back to getting back to work. I can not put my ideas and thoughts coming from Americans on Haitians. I understand that it is different. They live with a reality that I do not, and putting a child in an orphange is just a part of that reality.
After this and finishing up some work it was time to eat. We had a traditional Haitian meal of rice and beans, chicken, akra, and pickelese (no I did not eat the pickelese). It was so delicious and it was great to get to fellowship with the other members of the team for a while.
After lunch we went back to the Maternity Center, riding on the back of Renald's four wheeler because the road was all flooded. We performed our skit for the women. It was great fun to do so. I am truly not sure who laughed more us or the women. Then after the skit they did some singing in Creole and were praising the Lord. The babies are just beautiful and I wanted to hold them all. One of the beautiful things about Haitians is there is no shame about breast feeding. They were allowed to listen to their bodies and their children and just breast fed no matter who was around. They did not try to cover up and hide what they were doing. I could not help but think of my friend Christine who is putting up her magical milk of the week pic on her blog. It was just a precious thing to experience.
We finished up our work and headed back to the Harbor House once more on the back of Renald's four wheeler. A short while later John showed up and offered to take us out to the OK property where some exciting new things are happenng. After a bumpy ride in the back of our truck we finally arrived. We were shown around the property. They are building a missions school there, two of the missionaries will have houses there, they are setting up some apartments for the people who will be coming to stay at work at the medical missions there, and finally the apartments for the teachers who are coming. They also will be building a medical building there. There is a lot of work to be done, but it is going to be wonderful.
Finally we came back to the guest house to eat dinner and enjoy some free time just spending time with each other and talking.
Haiti-Some Extra Thoughts
Haiti is well....Haiti. This holds especially true in the city of Port Au Prince and the outlying areas. There is the smell of exhaust in air, trash lines the streets and rivers, and well there is the sad reality of poverty. I love this country and yet my heart breaks at what seems to be overwhelming poverty. I love Heartline Ministeries and what they are doing here, but it seems like just drops in the buckets when there needs to be a flood. I went to bed last night and woke up this morning with these thoughts on my mind. I mean I come here to stay for a few days and then leave. I see the poverty but it never really "touches" me, not in a long term way (ie I do not have to live that way day in and day out). I really had some questions for God about why? I know it is not our place to question, but I am human and I do. I do not think any of us understand the suffering of the Haitian people. However, even in these moments God is good.
This morning I woke up and was singing some secular song about "Silly love songs." I was like that is interesting and then picked up my ipod and the first three songs there were about love and God's love and His prodigal grace. So following in the love trend of the morning I decided to read all the verses listed in my Bible's topical index on love for the morning. I found a couple that were just awesome and wonderful. One of them I wrote beside in my Bible "The Haitian People." It is "More than that we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." The people of Haiti do suffer and it is largely due to know fault of their own, but I have seen their endurance, charcter and hope this week. It is evident in the sound of their singing priase and worship songs despite what is happening to them. It is evident in the faces of Haitian Christians even when speaking to them. The Lord is good and He is great, this I know, even when I do not understand His ways.
This morning I woke up and was singing some secular song about "Silly love songs." I was like that is interesting and then picked up my ipod and the first three songs there were about love and God's love and His prodigal grace. So following in the love trend of the morning I decided to read all the verses listed in my Bible's topical index on love for the morning. I found a couple that were just awesome and wonderful. One of them I wrote beside in my Bible "The Haitian People." It is "More than that we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." The people of Haiti do suffer and it is largely due to know fault of their own, but I have seen their endurance, charcter and hope this week. It is evident in the sound of their singing priase and worship songs despite what is happening to them. It is evident in the faces of Haitian Christians even when speaking to them. The Lord is good and He is great, this I know, even when I do not understand His ways.
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