Been a while since my last post, but been so busy. Was so sad to see our nurses go. We saw and treated almost 400 patients in just 4 days. I LOVED working with both of these gals. I learned so much from them and was so thankful for the wonderful opportunity they gave me to be a part of their clinics. I was mixing medicines like a pharmacist and just serving as their assistant with their patients. It got to the point that we saw so many of the same things, I could diagnosis.
The skin infections were horrendous. Most kids have had scabies or currently are infected. Left untreated they can turn into eczema and then into oozing infected sores. This creates such a dangerous situation as they are walking through a cesspool of mud and raw sewage. Can turn septic easily.
We can all the kids a dose of worm medicine. Lots of hard bloated little stomachs that signal worm infestation. We saw a girl that was full of them. They affected her growth as you would not believe she was 14. More like nine. I am sure there was a lot of pooping going on in Les Bours these last couple of days.
I have not used my fan at night for the last 4 days. Cooler and lots of breezes. I am told Haiti got the tail end of Hurricane Alex and that was the result. So much better for sleeping, but the gals tent almost blew over in the night as the winds were strong.
Been fighting an intestinal thing again. Kept me going several times last night and had me weak and spent this AM. We had to register kids for school and thankfully I was able to get through it with light duty sign up. Just sat at the computer and filled in their info. We registered 33 this time. 20 3 year olds and 13 fill ins of missing kids from the earthquake. We got all the pictures taken. I still need to get about 40 more at the school next week for updates for our sponsors
Our resident mouse was caught last night. He had been hanging out in the area where I have been sleeping in the house. He was caught the night before. I heard him struggling and got lose somehow. Frenz put down some tackey paper with the trap and there he was this AM. Thank goodness he is gone, but worry there are brothers and sisters hanging out somewhere else inthe house.
Pray for July 2nd. Mallery and I will be headed to the US Embassy for Kelancia's visa appointment. I think it is at 7:30 am. We could be out by 10 am and then again be there till 4:00 and walk away empty handed. Mallery is a bit worried that since we took a child out for medical treatment in the past and did not return her that we may be blackballed. God is bigger than this! Keep praying. The child is such a doll. Full of attitude and old eyes. She wants you when she wants you and there is no bending. Cuter than a bug's ear too!
Well we will be enjoying spaghetti tonight. My fav in Haiti. Oh forgot to mention that we went to a grocery today. A bit more modern and I actually enjoyed a Mountain Dew! What a treat!
Love to you all,
Kim
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Update
Trying to copy Mallery's update for you here, but for some reason I cannot. We had a wonderful morning of respite at a resort near the property on Saturday. We took the 2 little girls with us. It was a treat to see Pierrelene especially enjoy the water. It was actually refreshing to a point. I had anticipated more like bath water. The beach and views were fabulous! Also enjoyed a nice hamburger and french fry lunch. It was yummy. We did another distribution on the way back home at the school. Served 50 families. They were so grateful!
It started to rain a bit and when we got back home it was torrential. The guy's tent really suffered and of course my bed nearest one of the openings was the worst of ours. I had to change all the sheets and we literally sopped up water from the air mattress. Cooled things off a little bit, but slept horrible and woke feeling not quite right.
We went to church on Sunday morning at Port au Prince Fellowship. It was all in English and had a lively worship piece. The pastor and his wife Beth McHoul run Heartline Ministries. Before the earthquake they worked mostly with orphans and ran a women's program that involved prenatal and birthing care. Their orphans all were adopted and they finished up more of a hospital program they ran since the earthquake. STill doing birthing though. Great work. RAn into a gal that I met from Utah last summer at the service who stayed at the guest house with us in June. Small world even in Haiti!
I continued to suffer most of the day with nausea. So layed down and enjoyed my fan plugged in as the generator ran a couple hours in the afternoon so the boys both American and Haitian could enjoy the soccer game. Thank goodness Brazil won or we would not be able to travel outside of our walls. We curtailed some of our earthquake touring as the streets were full of eager fans celebrating the win. It was like the Super Bowl in the streets here and not safe for us. Went to Epidor for a meal and it was not crowded. Brought back some wonderful bread and pastry for breakfast.
Today we went out to the school to run a health clinic. The two nurses that came in on Saturday did a wonderful job seeing almost 100 patients. Lots of scabies, upper respiratory issues, and blood pressure problems. I did a small teaching on handwashing and handed out some Feed My Starving Children food packets. Thanks to many in the Holland area that put these together this past winter. They are much appreciated.
Gang went to do some last minute shopping for coffee at the market. Four go home tomorrow and we pick two more up with 4 more coming on Wednesday. Mallery just passed off some wonderful java chip Starbucks my way. Elixir!!!!
Well all for now. Will do more school kid clinic tomorrow with lots of vitals updates. Thanks for all your prayers.
Love, Kim
It started to rain a bit and when we got back home it was torrential. The guy's tent really suffered and of course my bed nearest one of the openings was the worst of ours. I had to change all the sheets and we literally sopped up water from the air mattress. Cooled things off a little bit, but slept horrible and woke feeling not quite right.
We went to church on Sunday morning at Port au Prince Fellowship. It was all in English and had a lively worship piece. The pastor and his wife Beth McHoul run Heartline Ministries. Before the earthquake they worked mostly with orphans and ran a women's program that involved prenatal and birthing care. Their orphans all were adopted and they finished up more of a hospital program they ran since the earthquake. STill doing birthing though. Great work. RAn into a gal that I met from Utah last summer at the service who stayed at the guest house with us in June. Small world even in Haiti!
I continued to suffer most of the day with nausea. So layed down and enjoyed my fan plugged in as the generator ran a couple hours in the afternoon so the boys both American and Haitian could enjoy the soccer game. Thank goodness Brazil won or we would not be able to travel outside of our walls. We curtailed some of our earthquake touring as the streets were full of eager fans celebrating the win. It was like the Super Bowl in the streets here and not safe for us. Went to Epidor for a meal and it was not crowded. Brought back some wonderful bread and pastry for breakfast.
Today we went out to the school to run a health clinic. The two nurses that came in on Saturday did a wonderful job seeing almost 100 patients. Lots of scabies, upper respiratory issues, and blood pressure problems. I did a small teaching on handwashing and handed out some Feed My Starving Children food packets. Thanks to many in the Holland area that put these together this past winter. They are much appreciated.
Gang went to do some last minute shopping for coffee at the market. Four go home tomorrow and we pick two more up with 4 more coming on Wednesday. Mallery just passed off some wonderful java chip Starbucks my way. Elixir!!!!
Well all for now. Will do more school kid clinic tomorrow with lots of vitals updates. Thanks for all your prayers.
Love, Kim
Friday, June 18, 2010
Distribution Day
Two of our men headed out to the property to dig footings and lay rocks and cement. Beautiful views of the ocean, but hard and sweaty work. We stayed back and prepared things for a food distribution at Les Bours School of Hope.
Went out and first went into each classroom and gave the students a large bag of black beans and a box of corn flakes. Corn flakes in Haiti are a bit hit. The children also had tortilla medika mamba roll ups. Gordon Foods donated many of these tortillas and they work great for the nutritional infused peanut butter. They actually call them Jesus bread. So grateful to have something to eat. Great that it is so good for them too!
I loved seeing the familiar faces of many of the children I worked with last year during VBS and the teachers again. There was recognition on their faces as well! The classrooms look great after repairs, but we need to have another coat of the famous "gum drop green" paint to finish up the plastering job.
We had another 50 families come from the tent city today. We gave them 3 canned goods, a jumbo can of beans, pasta, soap, and a sheet to wrap it up and carry it home. They were very pleased to get it. I saw a large group of men today which is so different from past distributions I have been involved in other years. I am hoping that they are stepping up and taking care of their families instead of leaving it to the women.
It has been a blast making balloon animals and other things for the kids around Hope House. They have really enjoyed them. Thank you Tara Squires for showing me how to make them. We have another team coming down with an "expert" and he will dress up as a clown for the kids at the school. Should be fun and interesting to watch their reactions.
Tomorrow we have a plan for a respite morning at one of the beach resorts. Really looking forward to it as the heat really taps out your strength. We have a doctor coming down in the afternoon that we need to get from the airport. She will be running an immunization clinic at the school next week.
Well the smell of dinner is calling. Our dinners are so good! Frentz even made us fruit smoothies of fresh watermelon and mango last night. Hit the spot.
Thanks for all your prayers. Things are going very well.
Love, Kim
Went out and first went into each classroom and gave the students a large bag of black beans and a box of corn flakes. Corn flakes in Haiti are a bit hit. The children also had tortilla medika mamba roll ups. Gordon Foods donated many of these tortillas and they work great for the nutritional infused peanut butter. They actually call them Jesus bread. So grateful to have something to eat. Great that it is so good for them too!
I loved seeing the familiar faces of many of the children I worked with last year during VBS and the teachers again. There was recognition on their faces as well! The classrooms look great after repairs, but we need to have another coat of the famous "gum drop green" paint to finish up the plastering job.
We had another 50 families come from the tent city today. We gave them 3 canned goods, a jumbo can of beans, pasta, soap, and a sheet to wrap it up and carry it home. They were very pleased to get it. I saw a large group of men today which is so different from past distributions I have been involved in other years. I am hoping that they are stepping up and taking care of their families instead of leaving it to the women.
It has been a blast making balloon animals and other things for the kids around Hope House. They have really enjoyed them. Thank you Tara Squires for showing me how to make them. We have another team coming down with an "expert" and he will dress up as a clown for the kids at the school. Should be fun and interesting to watch their reactions.
Tomorrow we have a plan for a respite morning at one of the beach resorts. Really looking forward to it as the heat really taps out your strength. We have a doctor coming down in the afternoon that we need to get from the airport. She will be running an immunization clinic at the school next week.
Well the smell of dinner is calling. Our dinners are so good! Frentz even made us fruit smoothies of fresh watermelon and mango last night. Hit the spot.
Thanks for all your prayers. Things are going very well.
Love, Kim
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Arrival and First Day
So thankful! Made all my connections, but the one that I least worried about was in GR and I almost missed it. The lines were long and clerks testy. Actually the gal behind me was not allowed to check in at all. I literally ran to the gate only to see that I still had wiggle room to spare.
Switching airlines from Delta and rechecking into American in Ft. Lauderdale was a breeze. I befriended a Haitian seat mate on the plane and she walked with me through the process at the PAP airport. Trying to get my luggage was interesting and the area was absolutely stiffling. I was so happy to see Mallery's smiling face the minute I walked out of the doors of the airport.
Met the other team members from Kentwood Community Church that had arrived the day before. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and then I delivered lots of goodies that I had brought down for Mallery. I think the melted Reeces was her favorite.
Got out the battery operated fans for a night in the tent and I can honestly say I was comfortable sleeping except for the fact that my air mattress had a leak. The barking dogs and roosters crowing were not a hit, but found I dozed till about 8:00 am.
This morning I enjoyed the instant Starbucks coffee and bagels I brought down. After breakfast we bagged up beans for a distribution and went through many of the boxes from the previous shipment that I personally helped pack. It was like Christmas with some of the discoveries. I could tell Mallery where some of it even came from or who donated it. Very fun.
While some of the team were doing this, the guys went out to the property hoping that water could be hooked up so they could pour cement footings. As it goes in Haiti, they waited and it began after they had to return to the orphanage so we could go out to the school to do a food distribution. We sure do need the other truck badly. It has arrived, but trying to work out details to get it through customs. Pray hard that we can get it by next week when more arrive from KCC. It is a much larger truck and when you have 100's of pounds of rice and beans with people to transport it leaves little room.
We went out to Les Bours school and handed out large cans of beans, energy bars,canned goods, and hygiene kits that Faith Reformed in Zeeland put together for us. I got some great pics to share with them, but uploading takes forever with this internet server. Mallery and I made Medika Mamba Tortilla rollups for the street kids. They looked at it strangely as they had never seen them before. Gordon Foods donated boxes of them and what a great way to serve the peanut butter.
After we toured the tent city where many of our school children and their families live. What a joy it was to see the tents that were distributed last week. These tents were given by a small group that are out of Alto. People were so proud of them and eager to pose in front of them for us for a photo op. Thankful we did not have to step in muddy puddles as other groups had done.
Now back at Hope House waiting for dinner. Mislene is a wonderful cook and I am told we are having lasagna tonight. Yum!
Well all for now. Thanks for your prayers!
Love, Kim
Switching airlines from Delta and rechecking into American in Ft. Lauderdale was a breeze. I befriended a Haitian seat mate on the plane and she walked with me through the process at the PAP airport. Trying to get my luggage was interesting and the area was absolutely stiffling. I was so happy to see Mallery's smiling face the minute I walked out of the doors of the airport.
Met the other team members from Kentwood Community Church that had arrived the day before. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and then I delivered lots of goodies that I had brought down for Mallery. I think the melted Reeces was her favorite.
Got out the battery operated fans for a night in the tent and I can honestly say I was comfortable sleeping except for the fact that my air mattress had a leak. The barking dogs and roosters crowing were not a hit, but found I dozed till about 8:00 am.
This morning I enjoyed the instant Starbucks coffee and bagels I brought down. After breakfast we bagged up beans for a distribution and went through many of the boxes from the previous shipment that I personally helped pack. It was like Christmas with some of the discoveries. I could tell Mallery where some of it even came from or who donated it. Very fun.
While some of the team were doing this, the guys went out to the property hoping that water could be hooked up so they could pour cement footings. As it goes in Haiti, they waited and it began after they had to return to the orphanage so we could go out to the school to do a food distribution. We sure do need the other truck badly. It has arrived, but trying to work out details to get it through customs. Pray hard that we can get it by next week when more arrive from KCC. It is a much larger truck and when you have 100's of pounds of rice and beans with people to transport it leaves little room.
We went out to Les Bours school and handed out large cans of beans, energy bars,canned goods, and hygiene kits that Faith Reformed in Zeeland put together for us. I got some great pics to share with them, but uploading takes forever with this internet server. Mallery and I made Medika Mamba Tortilla rollups for the street kids. They looked at it strangely as they had never seen them before. Gordon Foods donated boxes of them and what a great way to serve the peanut butter.
After we toured the tent city where many of our school children and their families live. What a joy it was to see the tents that were distributed last week. These tents were given by a small group that are out of Alto. People were so proud of them and eager to pose in front of them for us for a photo op. Thankful we did not have to step in muddy puddles as other groups had done.
Now back at Hope House waiting for dinner. Mislene is a wonderful cook and I am told we are having lasagna tonight. Yum!
Well all for now. Thanks for your prayers!
Love, Kim
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Final day at home
Wow! I have so much stuff to take down. Yesterday I packed a suitcase and was fearful it was over. Took it to the post office to be weighed and it was almost 20 pounds over!!!! I switched out suitcases, took out my coffee and creamer, and begged someone else to take the 10 pound CDs and cases for me with their team. Mallery promises me she will get me coffee and creamer. ;-) Haitian coffee is so good!
I still need to pack my clothes in my carry on and one other suitcase is on it's way to being 50 pounds easily. It sure is different packing for 3 weeks with all the extra food you have to bring down. Doesn't help I am bring 2 fans and batteries this time too.
Lots of last minute errands today. Prescription pickup, trip to the bank, and double checking my suitcases again. It will all come together. So glad I started earlier than usual.
Leaving the house tomorrow 5:45 am for my 7:15 am flight. Flying Delta my first leg with a layover in Cincinatti before traveling on to Ft. Lauderdale. I will have a 2 hour and 45 minute layover to switch flights to American. I will need every minute to recheck in with American so I would so appreciate your prayers from that leg of the trip on to Port au Prince. The airport in PAP can be absolutely crazy. I am so praying that Mallery will be able to come into the airport and meet me so I can avoid all the porters grabbing at my bags to make a buck. At this point wishing I was traveling with the team that left today. Safety in numbers for sure. ;-)Taking my netbook with me so I might be able to post while in the airports.
I will try to post everyday if the internet is available. Thanks for your good wishes and prayers.
Love, Kim
I still need to pack my clothes in my carry on and one other suitcase is on it's way to being 50 pounds easily. It sure is different packing for 3 weeks with all the extra food you have to bring down. Doesn't help I am bring 2 fans and batteries this time too.
Lots of last minute errands today. Prescription pickup, trip to the bank, and double checking my suitcases again. It will all come together. So glad I started earlier than usual.
Leaving the house tomorrow 5:45 am for my 7:15 am flight. Flying Delta my first leg with a layover in Cincinatti before traveling on to Ft. Lauderdale. I will have a 2 hour and 45 minute layover to switch flights to American. I will need every minute to recheck in with American so I would so appreciate your prayers from that leg of the trip on to Port au Prince. The airport in PAP can be absolutely crazy. I am so praying that Mallery will be able to come into the airport and meet me so I can avoid all the porters grabbing at my bags to make a buck. At this point wishing I was traveling with the team that left today. Safety in numbers for sure. ;-)Taking my netbook with me so I might be able to post while in the airports.
I will try to post everyday if the internet is available. Thanks for your good wishes and prayers.
Love, Kim
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Getting Ready
School finished up Friday and now I can concentrate on preparing for my 3rd mission trip to Haiti. Leaving Wednesday morning. So much to do. Mallery has contacted me about picking up some much needed supplies to add to my packing in addition to sponsorship gifts that are trickling in. I have my own gifts to give to little Julicene too. Add food and items that are necessities, I will have no problem filling up 2 suitcases of 50 pounds each plus my very full carry on.
So excited to see Hope House, our new property, and meeting the kids. A little concerned about the destruction I will see of what I knew as Port au Prince. Know it will be emotional. Sleeping in a tent for almost three weeks and a lack of consistent electricity will be a huge stretch for me. My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn... So hoping that the tremors will be over soon and we can move into the house.
I will try and blog as often as the internet allows me. No worries if you do not hear from me everyday as the weather and just unforeseen things mess with the internet access. Feel free to share my blog with others that may be interested in all things Haiti.
Thanks for your interest and support.
Love, Kim
So excited to see Hope House, our new property, and meeting the kids. A little concerned about the destruction I will see of what I knew as Port au Prince. Know it will be emotional. Sleeping in a tent for almost three weeks and a lack of consistent electricity will be a huge stretch for me. My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn... So hoping that the tremors will be over soon and we can move into the house.
I will try and blog as often as the internet allows me. No worries if you do not hear from me everyday as the weather and just unforeseen things mess with the internet access. Feel free to share my blog with others that may be interested in all things Haiti.
Thanks for your interest and support.
Love, Kim
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