Thank you from Pastor Ronel Mesidor

Ronel Mesidor

Dear Shantia

I wouldlike to thank you in the name of Haiti  (Haiti Baptist Convention) for your help, your support and mostly your love for Haiti.  More than 500 people had opportunity to see a doctor, received appropriate medecines.   I receive good testimony from  the dean of the school  about improvement of teachers. the therapist was very useful for tutors at touch of hope. Because of your support Concorde Baptist church have a safe place to install a water purification system. We  are so grateful for that.    Please let all members of team know how their presence was a blessing for us.   thank you so much for coming  and we are waiting for you next year.

Rev. Ronel Mesidor

West Executive Ministry

Haiti Baptist Convention

Phone: 509 38538506

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. Psa 41:1

Last day at the clinic #3

Boy I do go on & on, hope you are not bored.


A final cold shower and it was time for bed. I was sad to leave Haiti and the children with so much left undone but eager to see my family. I pray for the team that is staying, that they will have a safe and productive week and that God guides them to serve in the best way they can.

Dear God,
Thank you for the therapists, I know I should be calling them aides because they do not have a college degree or a license but they truly are therapists in spirit and in their skillful handling of the patients. Bless Isenanie, Eunice, Nachela, and Anscy in their work and bless the children who come to the clinic. Please, Lord, find a way to allow more parents to bring their children to the center, I am sure the need is overwhelming. We prayed for the van that transported us everywhere so I think You will understand if I pray for a van with a lift and a wheelchair that will work and the money for a driver to pick these kids up and bring them to,the center. With You, Lord, I know all things are possible. May the practice of all kinds of therapy continue to grow,throughout Haiti so,that all the children who,need these services may receive them. InJesus' name we pray, amen.

Home sweet home

So I've been home for a couple of days now and settling back into my own routine. I remember when I first got to Haiti how unreal it seemed, like I was in a movie. Then after a couple of days it seemed like the only reality. I wanted to learn everything there was to know about how it worked and why. The more I learned it seemed the more barriers there are to the Haitians being successful. I read a book a while ago by Paul Farmer, many of you might know him as the doctor from Massachusetts who has done so much for Haiti. His book is called the Pathologies of Power and it discusses the issues of how the first world contributes to keeping the third world oppressed. I want to read it again now.
Once I was settled into my routine in Haiti, it seemed my life at home was just a dream. Now it feels like Haiti was a dream. Did that really happen? Was I really a part of it? Or was it a movie I watched? I look at the pictures and I am in them so it must be real. If I close my eyes I can feel the orphans arms around me and smell charcoal burning. I miss it and my team and the therapists and Pierre, my translator. He was one of those people you meet who you instantly feel you have known him your whole life, and even if years go by before you see him again, you will pick up right where you left off. I felt like I could ask him anything about Haiti, how or why or why not or what did it feel like and he would not hesitate to share himself with me. What an amazing young man. I cherish his friendship and I hope he is reading this. He knew exactly how to convey what people were saying to me and when to leave something out, either something I said that wasn't quite sensitive enough, or something the therapists said. He helped me to joke with them and that broke the ice and created connections and respect. It's so complicated to try to talk in Haiti, many people have some English but their first language is Kreyol and then when they are old enough to go to school it is the law that school is taught in French. Maybe Maureen wrote about this. Anyway the people switch back and forth between Kreyol and French and I don't really speak any of either except 'bonjour,' 'Merci,' 'au revoir' in French and one Kreyol word, 'excusem' for excuse me. It would have been good to know 'Holy Shit!!' or 'yikes!!!' for driving in the van but not very missionary-like so just as well I didn't.

Anyway the dream that is Haiti haunts me and I find myself talking about it wherever I go. And my mind is still swirling with questions. I have to try to get Young Jonathan's email because I want to know exactly what do the orphans eat for their two meals a day? And does the rain come in those windows in the rainy season and get them wet, the bunk beds are right next to the windows? And why do they only have fitted sheets, no top sheets? I know it's hot but do they ever get cold? And can I send some light soft flannel blankets, for loveys if not for covers? Even when I am hot I can't sleep without some kind of sheet or cover on me.

I tried to google the FLAME therapy program tonight with no luck. Agnes, one of the Hungarian missionaries, emailed me some of the Book they wrote about it but it only the first 9 pages and I want to know more. I think I have found a new hobby, not that I needed one, you know me I am always up to some craft or project or cooking or other mayhem. Haiti is my new hobby, but hobby is too casual a word for it. What should I say? Obsession is too strong a word but maybe passion is close. I hope as I continue to settle into the routines of American life that I don't forget all the goals I have. 1. Learn more about pediatrics to help the therapists more. 2. Come up with some kind of webinar for them & figure out a translator, Pierre or one of the Haitian aides I work with in the nursing home. 3. Send packages and books. 4. Plan talk for church, you are all invited, April 13 at East Congregational church in Milton, 10:00 amservice, be there or be square. 5. Learn to cook rice and beans, Dave loves it and I want to make it for church. I could go on & on. But it's late & I have to work tomorrow so I better pray and go to sleep.

Dear God, thank you for opening my eyes to Haiti and all it means. Thank you for all the Haitians who opened themselves to me and to my team members who understood and felt it with me and taught me and coached and supported me, especially Shantia. Lord, thank you for my life of privilege, for books and the internet for learning. Please watch over my team in their medical mission this week. Please help me post the darn blog successfully, it is giving me some trouble and I have so much to say. Lord, continue to bless the people of Haiti with your love and their strong faith. Bless the leaders of their country and all the countries of the world, that they might see by working together we can give all your children enough to eat and a cozy place to sleep. My lord Jesus, you walked among us and you loved the poor, healed the disabled, and hugged the children. Help me do the same in your name. I love You. Amen.

Last day at the clinic #2

So this is the story of Friday continued. Sorry for all the typos but blogger is giving me a little bit of a hard time, I seem to select an copy and paste things I don't want to. But here is the continued story, copied from a draft in my email because we had about a 24 hour period with no wifi (horrors!)


So home to dinner and it was a long wait for the ladies to cook it and we were all tired and hot and dirty and I was VERY cranky. I wondered if the Prestige had been such a good idea. But eventually dinner came & it was pretty good, but the meat was scary again, we thought maybe goat but later Ada figured out it was ox tail. While we were at the restaurant earlier Jonathan had bought a pineapple upside down cake and we had that for dessert, so much for losing weight in Haiti, I ate my piece and then Maureen didn't eat most of hers so I ate that too. The. We went to pray and discussed going to the orphanage, some went but I just couldn't. I felt guilty. It I felt like I had said goodbye to that place earlier and I just couldn't do it again. Later I heard that Jonathan, Shantia, Ada and Jenn had gone and they were there for he children's nighttime prayers. They sing songs and stand up to pray and half the children were so sleepy the adults were holding them up. Shantia had one child on either side she was holding up and Jenn was sitting down with one child laying on her lap, another one cuddled up on her side, and two more stretching their feet out to touch her. They just want that loving human touch. They must be so lonesome. Earlier in the day whe the little one (one of the two Marvin's, I think) was sick he couldn't eat his cereal so he sent his friend in to eat it, so they do look out for each other. But it is not the same. They need a mommy and a daddy figure at least at the orphanage and that would be a huge job for someone. Right now there is really only one person who serves in that capacity. There is Pastor Ranell who oversees it and visits often, and someone must cook for the children and do their laundry, but no one person that the buck stops with. Two young missionaries have been filling those shoes but one just went home and that leaves Young Jonathan, who I think is around 25, responsible for 28 children between the ages of about 3 to 14. At 14 they "age out" of the orphanage and are expected to go out in the world and make their own way good luck I. A country with 90-95% u employment. One of the members of our group, David, is really concerned with this issue and hopes to move to Haiti someday to start a "halfway house" type thing for the 14 year olds to go until they are able to be more independent. One thing you notice in the school, which serves both the orphanage and the community, is that as the grade gets higher, the class gets smaller. There are around 30 in the kindergarten but only 8 in the 5th grade (I think, Maureen? Close?) as they get older and are able to beg or work at all that is the end of school for them. There is no public school in Haiti, it is all paid for by the parent so many cannot go to school at all. I was kind of sorry that I missed the good night prayers and cuddles but it was good for me that I stayed home and took a shower, relaxed, I was exhausted. I didn't do that. Ich physical work this week but emotionally it takes it out of you.

Sent from my iPad

Last day at the clinic

Medical Miracles

The second week of our work in Haiti is focusing on medical clinics. The blog for this week is shifting over to the blog that focuses on that medical week. Please join us on Medical Miracles.

Here I am, Lord

A song I know from singing in the Folk Group in church as a teenager. I don't know who to give credit to so if you do please write it in the comments section. David if you see this and can embed a link so people can hear it that would be awesome. Can't find, "paste" on the iPad.




Here I am, Lord


I The Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save

I who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear My light to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am , Lord,
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go,Lord,
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I The Lord of snow and rain
I have borne My peoples pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
I will speak My word to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, lord
Is it ,I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart.

I The Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart.

So you might be thinking that I am singing this about myself, whom Shall I send, sending me to Haiti, but really it is the Haitian people God is sending to us, to renew our faith. We have the material possessions but they have the faith in God. Which would you rather have?

Dear God, let us Americans be inspired by the faith and joy of the Haitian people that can only come from You. Of course ease their physical suffering but please Lord, let them not fall into the same trap as America, rich in money but poor in spirit. I am filled with love for You and the opportunity You have given me to learn. I love You Lord and thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to save us and bring us to eternal life in You. Amen.

Friday, March 28, 2014


So yesterday was a tough day. Off we went to the clinic as usual and the aides were very happy with the evaluation form, actually one of the last things Deliris did was type a version of an evaluation and she dropped it off after we left, but that was ok, they liked some of the things I had on mine and we wanted to combine the two forms. No problem, I can type it and use Google translate and email it to Pierre and he can print it for them, or they can keep their records on the computer David is going to leave for them. Some good patient time with a bowling game. I was showing them how to adapt the bowling game for grading and for different goals, finger goals or more resistance or half kneeling, and that was good. The therapists tried every single suggestion I made and it seemed they were enjoying the feedback.

 Then a group of 3 orphans came in for more educationally based goals, these are the ones that seem to have learning disabilities, and we were doing letter identification with one boy while Shantia did another game.

When the orphans were ready to leave one of the aides mixed up bowls of milk for the orphans. Deliris used to buy cereal and milk for the orphans and the therapists would give the orphans a bowl of cereal and milk before they left because Deliris thought they were not getting enough food. They get one meal in the morning and another one when school is over at like 2 or 3. This is when I hit the wall with the enormity of it all. How can we buy the cereal and the milk and get it to the clinic? We can do it today, enough to last about 2 weeks but then what about the other 50 weeks until we come back? No, we can't give the $$ to the aides to buy it, they don't have time or transportation, they are trying to work and go to school and take care of their families.  No, we can't give the money to Pastor Ranell , he is too busy as well and may see another need that is more important. Everyone is sick or homeless or starving. How do you choose where the money goes?


 By American standards Dave and I struggle financially a little bit, not as much as some, but we are facing downsizing our house so it will be more manageable for us and we have to think more about our purchases. Now I want to send money to Haiti for everything but where is that coming from when I am not working full time?  It just hit me, before that I had been able to just look at and help the child in front of me but then I got caught up in the scope of the problem. All 28 kids in the orphanage, all 90 kids in the school, all the schools, all the orphanages, all the children on the street, in the sex trade, in the mountains in the huts, all the adults with the pain of watching their children starve, all of Haiti, all of the countries in the world like this. 75% of the world is more like this than what we are used to at home with more food than we can or should eat! We have heat, light, air conditioning, cable, comfy couches, books, e-readers and tablets, kids have more toys than they can play with and we have more clothes than we can wear. We keep buying stuff because we are trying to fill some kind of hole in our spirits. When we have a bad day at work or we are lonely or bored we go to the store and buy ourselves something and that cheers us up temporarily. At least I do. And then we have to buy stuff to hold our stuff, every store has boxes and bins and drawers and hooks and organizers so we can cram more stuff into our homes. When we are looking for a new place to live what is a deciding factor for many? How big are the closets. It was too much to think about. The guilt was overwhelming.


And there are hungry children in America too, homeless people in the street right near my house. I grew up in this neighborhood, and it used to be upper middle class but has slid downhill a little bit. One morning I was returning some books to the library and I surprised a homeless person who was sleeping in the doorway. Right outside the CVS where I pick up my prescriptions there was a homeless man last week, I bought him a water and a couple of energy bars, but how far does that go?


I couldn't take it. I bawled and bawled.  Then another little girl came in for therapy, about 12 years old, with terrible spastic cerebral palsy in all 4 limbs. She walks, kind of, but she can't control her head or any part of her body or her mouth or speech, but she seems to understand everything that is going on around her. She has constant involuntary movements and tight muscles that put her limbs at risk for getting stiff in an awkward position (contractures).  Her father brings here to therapy in a private car, so they must have a little more money than others, but she is reaching the level of being too big to carry her to the clinic. The car has to park outside the orphanage gate and he has to half-walk, half carry her from the car to the clinic. No shoes, they wouldn't stay on her feet. Unless a miracle happens soon she will be unable to leave her house because she cannot walk, does not have a wheelchair, and you couldn't push a wheelchair on the streets of Port au Prince anyway. It took the therapists the whole hour of massage and stretching to get her limbs straight. Then I tried to handle her a little bit and I was able to walk with her a little bit but unable to get her to sit in a chair. I was kind of thinking about a wheelchair, the ones you sometimes see at the beach with the giant wheels that roll on the sand. I had tried to get her to sit on a bench when I got tired of walking with her and there was no way she could sit on a chair at all because she cannot balance her torso and it was so uncomfortable for her. We asked the therapists what else they usually do with her and they do the FLAME program with her, working on standing with the back of the ladder chair, I will write about the FLAME program in a separate post.


Anyway at this point I had the good sense to say to Shantia, let's go home after lunch. We had a good talk with the therapists about things they needed and promised some small things like a 3 ring binder and a bathroom scale which I was sure we could get at the grocery store. Later when we went to the store we couldn't find those things so I felt terrible knowing I had to go back without bringing the things we promised. They must be used to that, to white people showing up and making promises they cannot keep. We can try to send them but it might take months for these small things to get here or they might go missing. My heart is breaking. This clinic is so good. The 12 year old has been coming to the clinic for 3 years, pretty much since they opened, and she was doing better but then she wasn't able to come for a while because she was sick and she lost ground. The clinic is so beautiful, toys, mats, the FLAME equipment, but the first walker they had seen was the one I brought. They work on the floor on these interlocking foam tiles that some people use for kids to play on. They didn't have a pillow for this little girl to rest her head on, we were trying to find anything to use. I had packed a yoga mat because I was expecting the clinic to be a bare room with a concrete floor, so at least it was much better than that. I had an inflatable travel pillow with me and I thought I might give it to the clinic but I have been sleeping on it every night, here because the pillow at the guest house is like a rock and  I want it for the ride home on the plane and I am too selfish to give it to them. This is the story of Thursday that I am writing. I had to wait until Friday morning to say anything about it because I was so upset.

Today is the last day. I know I have helped these therapists somewhat this week but there is so much we weren't able to do for them, never mind all the places that have no therapists, no doctors, no nurses, no knowledge of how to care for disabled people, young and old, strokes, broken bones, CP, everything. My heart is aching. God, how can you allow this to be Your world? How can you allow Your children to suffer so? Don't You love them? How can You let them be hungry and sick from dirty water and have broken bodies and be stuck in the house, lonely sad, hurting? I have my own struggles at home, some of you know about my illness, my year, my losses, our plans to move out of our home because we can't afford it, and it is nothing compared to what these people go through every day, cooking their food  (if they have any) over a charcoal fire or maybe a fire of trash because they have nothing else to burn? No microwave and no pizza delivery. Haiti has a 90-95% unemployment rate. Maybe I said that before. So people sit along the roadside, many trying to sell things to scrape out a meager existence. Some just sit with a blank look on their faces. These beautiful people, Your people, God.

I don't know how I can stop crying and go back to the clinic but I must, I must show hope and encouragement to these people so they will continue to do such good work with the one in front of them, and try not to think about all those they can't help. I know God has sent me here to help them and I cannot waste time crying about it all. So I will pray and get my butt out the door.

Dear God, help us all to get through this day. Help the therapists and children feel my love for them and believe that I will not forget them when I go home. Help them believe that one person at least cares so much. By American standards I have some financial struggles myself but help me make good decisions about what I do with my resources so there is some left for Haiti. Thank you for the opportunity to be here, for all the hugs and smiles and kisses from the children that have supported me this week. Lord, I do know and trust that you love all Your children and the Haitians believe this firmly. Maybe even though we have more material possessions, their faith is the greater gift.  Help me to take some of this faith home with me. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
 

Reply

Reply to all

Forward

Click here to Reply, Reply to all, or Forward

Dirt Moved, Colorful Houses, And Goodnight Prayers

Friday was our last day at the construction site. The goal was to move the unused dirt from the front of the church to the back. We were not quite sure why this was needed as more of it will be used when the floor is poured after ceiling is set, but apparently it was more important to have the dirt out of the way for church; even if that means someone else will have to move the dirt back at a later date.

But it was done and when they last bucket of dirt was carried and dumped there was a general sigh of relief.

The work day actually ended a little early so we headed to Petion-Ville to do a little walk-a-bout. There was a nice park that we walked through called "Place Saint Pierre". There were lots of people about and apparently it is common to go to the park and have public discussions. While we were at the park there seemed to be two groups discussing something or other. The discussions were quite lively. I am not sure what they were discussing, but I like the idea of a place to have public discourse.

On the hills above Petion-Ville there are what look like hundreds of houses all painted various pastel colors. It reminded me of the houses at Capitola Beach, California. It was comforting and wonderful to see the color in the hills when most of the houses we see are the same gray color of concrete and cinderblock. While Port-au-Prince is full of life and activity and there are splashes of color, a large part of the buildings are monochromatic.

Before we headed back to the dormitory we stopped at a small bakery for a snack. I ordered an iced coffee as I have been getting to much sugar with the nightly cokes accompanying dinner, but what I was handed was something akin to a Frappuccino including whip cream and chocolate syrup. So much for less sugar, but I must admit it was great going down.

After we got back to the dormitory and had dinner a few of us went to the orphanage to pick up a suitcase we needed to bring back. We got there about 10 to 15 minutes before the bed time prayer time for the kids. We sat with the kids as they sang night time songs, prayed, and generally calmed down for sleep. By the time we were done each of us had a least one child that was asleep and had to be carried to bed. It was a great way to end the day. It was a side of the life of these kids that I had not yet seen in the 5 years I have come here as usually we head to the dormitory earlier. But it is a time I hope to participate in again.

The Gift Of Teaching

By Maureen White

Hearing of the opportunity to presumably "pioneer" in a Haitian elementary school to assist teachers with their curriculum, I agreed to travel this year with WAYS (Workday for Adults and Youth in a Service) on their annual mission trip to Port au Prince, Haiti, where they serve the Baptist Convention Community in various capacities. Aware of the country's unemployment rate and devastating conditions since their 2010 earthquake, I enthusiastically filled a suitcase with paper, notebooks, pencils, crayons, scissors, children books, teacher manuals, and other assorted teaching aides which were hoarded in my home from my teaching years of all grades, K through graduate levels. I had been told materials in English would be helpful so it was a bit of a shock when I learned one week before our departure that I would be assigned a translator for her to communicate in French for me. This young woman, age 22, and nearly completing her high school degree, turned out to be the greatest gift I could have been given.

The first day in a new school of 2 years, I spent observing the 5 teachers' in their classrooms and quickly realized all my imagined plans --- and many of the materials I brought --- were totally inappropriate. The teachers are mandated to teach everything in the national language French, and once I saw the children copying and parroting back their lessons with little or no understanding, it dawned on me that this was clearly a bi-lingual school, yet not implemented as such. I became discouraged and disillusioned at the outset, watching these beautiful, neatly coifed kids struggle. On day two I discussed this problem with my translator, nick-named, JJ, and was stunned with how she grasped the whole difficult situation I was in --- to model lessons which didn't make sense.

I had observed the wonderful rapport the teachers had with JJ and how she translated --- in their native language, Creole --- my plans for each of their classes. Of course, many rolled their eyes. When I realized how bright and perceptive she is, I decided on a role reversal; I would teach her how to teach the lessons I had planned.

It thrilled me beyond words to then observe this young woman take over a class, engage all the kids, and even get most of the teachers to participate with her.

When I first saw her read one of the French stories we were practicing, at the finish of a school day, I was struck by what a magnet she is with kids. A few circled around her as she read, and then others watching, just gravitated to her.

In praising her afterwards, she admitted she read the story in Creole. She intuitively knew if she wanted to engage and have them enjoy the story, they had to listen to it in Creole, then have them execute the intended lesson(s) in French.

I have taught many teachers, over my tenure of 32 years, and JJ is at the top of that list. She possess the innate qualities of: aptitude, personality, compassion, love of children, and a hungry thirst to learn. I came to Haiti, with the lofty thought of giving; I'm leaving this country, blessed with gratitude, knowing it is I who became the recipient.

I Didn't Think It Bothered Me So Much

Each evening after dinner our group gets together to talk about the day. It is a sort of de-briefing, a sort of venting, and a sort of releasing. During tonight's session while someone else was talking it triggered a memory from the day and until that moment it was unclear that it bothered me as much as it did.

A couple of days ago during lunch a group of us met a young woman that lives over the wall from the church / school. Her name is Barbara, but pronounced differently and with a rolling "R". We chatted for a bit, shared family photos (it turns out Haitians are as interested in our lives as we are in theirs; that is a "no duh" moment that took me a while to get). And then we went about our day.

Today durning lunch I was walking back from the room in which we eat lunch to the work area and saw Barbara so I said hello and we started talking a bit. I was asking if she went to school (yes), how old she was (18), and what she wanted to be (a doctor). I told her the age of my children and just stayed chatting for a bit.

While we were talking one of the Haitian workers that has been with us this week walked by and gently stroked her chin while looking at her and then walked on. I didn't really think much of about it and simply thought it was two young people that knew each other and were sort of joking around. But after he left she had this strange look on her face and said that she did not know him.

I was shocked to say the least. I told her that I was not aware that they did not know each other and that he was incredibly wrong to do what he did. In fact, I told her that in several different ways. I apologized to her. I also assured her that if I had known I would have stopped him.

During this evening's session I sort of went off on a rant about this and about how the Pastor at the church, who is presumably mentoring these young men in some way, needs to embed (I think I used the word beat in the meeting) into them a sense of respect for all people and especially women. It is simply not right that even in Haiti a young man thinks it is OK or that he has a right to touch or stroke the chin of a young woman that (a) he does not know or (b) has not given him permission to do so.

It has been well documented that societies improve as the lives of women in that society improve. As their nutrition improves, so does the nutrition of the children. As the quality of their livelihood improves so does that of the children. And this ripples throughout the society. This can be greatly inhibited if women lack the respect of and are mistreated by the men of that society.

My plea tonight is to the male role models in Haiti. Treat the women in this country as the daughters of God they are. Treat them with respect. Honor them. Hold them before yourself. And instill this respect and honor in your sons, brothers, fathers, and friends.

Bending Rebar and Laptop Computers

While rebar and computers don't often relate to each other, they did today. The day started back at the construction site where the early morning was spent moving rock that will be used in the concrete from the back of the church to the front where we are building the building for the water purification system. We already moved this rock once and we are pretty sure we will have to move it again before the week is up. While we were doing this the local craftsmen were starting to bend the rebar and setting it up for the roof of the building.

Working with rebar in Haiti is likely slightly different from what you might expect. The rebar is delivered in lengths of about 25 feet bent in half (so they can fit on top of the tap-tap). From there you have to straighten the rebar out using a tool that looks a little like a shepherd's crook and then cut it (by hand) and further bend it to the shape that is required; all by hand using a hacksaw and the shepherd's crook-like tool.

Normally the local craftsmen don't really like us helping with this part of the construction. We are not exactly sure why, but we suspect it has to do with the fact that they don't trust us doing it. But for whatever reason we were allowed to do this work today and it turns out we were pretty good at it.

After the construction work I went to the orphanage to help set up the laptops that were donated and observe the typing classes in which the kids participate.  [Young] Jonathan teaches the kids typing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in two groups after their school day: older kids and younger kids. With the older kids he is attempting to get them up to 20 words per minute, with the younger kids he is just acclimating them to the keyboard and letters.

Jonathan does have some older computers that he has been using so the ones that we delivered (as well as the router) are greatly

appreciated. These additional computers not only gave him some much needed equipment it also means that more kids can attend the class without having to double up on the laptops. These laptops are offering these kids an opportunity to utilize technology to which many do not have access. This will help these children as they progress through school. It also allows them to communicate to the world and get a glimpse of far away places. Most of these children rarely go outside the walls of the school / orphanage.

Incredible Gratitude! (Teacher Training, Occupational Therapy and more!)

What gifts we have!
I am at the school with the Teacher who is training teachers and the OT who is helping to train the therapy aids in the Touch of Hope Therapy Center....
For years we have invited teachers to share and OT's or PT's to help with training...
I can't begin to tell you how exciting it is to finally have a beginning - AND how much I hope we can build on this...
Maureen is presenting exciting ideas for reading and writing - and the teachers (4 out of 5) are very interested!  Her translator, Eugenie , is an amazing young lady who we met last year.  She is bright and personable and enthusiastic. She totally gets Maureen's concepts and how much they can help to engage children in the classrooms and help with classroom management.
On Monday they visited 5 classrooms, on Tuesday they met with the teachers for a great session that was to be 1/2 hour and lasted for about 2 hours because they were so very interested, on Wednesday (today) they demonstrated in one classroom before Eugenie got sick.  Hopefully tomorrow they will visit the other 4 classrooms and continue their demonstrations...
There is tremendous need for classroom story books in French, for pencils and paper and crayons....
The teachers have a blackboard and some workbooks - that's about it...
But we hope to leave with 3 books in each of the 5 rooms -  if we can convince the principal that it is VERY valuable.
It is extremely hopeful!  Very helpful!

therapeutic walking

therapeutic playing before therapy

And in a Touch of Hope Therapy Center... Jenna is sitting WITH the therapy aids...
watching, affirming (they really are wonderfully trained), quietly offering ideas if they wanted them.



She brought a walker for small children on which they can train children to walk...
They have been well trained in evaluation - but did not have a form.  With the help of a translator, she talked with them about the questions they would typically ask and they have created a form which we've edited with 2 aides and will edit with the 2 others tomorrow.  We are trying to set up Skype options for them to consult with OT's and PT's - that may take awhile... But David had brought computers to donate and had one with a camera - and we think we have a link to wifi... so it's a begining....









I have been consulting with missionaries and pastors to consider possibilities for the future....
We are planning a trip to "Be Like Brit" orphanage in Grand Groave (google it - it's exciting).

So VERY much to be thankful for.... and this week is only half over!!!!!!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED US TO OFFER ALL OF THESE RESOURCES!

Lots Of Pictures

Jenn has been kind enough to take lots of pictures while we are working. She has put them on DropBox and shared the folder publicly. This means that you should be able to see them at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sf15bvgpx2wlxyv/3IJzYXzj4a.

Jenna #3

So its Wednesday today and two more days at the clinic have flown by since I have written. I'm sitting here back at the guest house and its rather sweaty but what can you do. I have a little Haitian buddy who must be around 10 years old who has been hanging out with me in the afternoons while I have been working on the computer. Yesterday he did some coloring and today he is working on a puzzle. Kids here don't have electronic toys and they LOVE things like coloring books and puzzles.

Two great days at the clinic. Since my last post I decided that I should address the issue of evaluations and I was grateful to find out that Deliris had done a fair amount of training with the therapy aides on evaluation and that she had promised them an eval form but had never gotten around to it. Voila! A useful project. I spent yesterday afternoon discovering the joys of google translate and was able to put together an eval form in French which I took to the clinic today. My translator, Pierre Riche Junior volunteered to fix my French after I got the form typed. Apparently google translate is good but not perfect and I couldn't put in all the little accent marks that are necessary. So I emailed it to him and he looked at it for me.  It took a bit of doing as everything in Haiti does, the printer doesn't work with this computer, the wifi goes down just as you finish typing a section, but the stars were all aligned and I was able to get a printed copy to take with me today. There are two sets of aides, two work on Mondays and Wednesdays and the other two work on Tuesdays and Thursdays so it was a bit of a risk. I had discussed the eval form with the Tuesday/Thursday group but due to time constraints presented it today to the Monday/Wednesday group today. Thankfully they were pleased with it, engaged right away in helping Pierre make corrections and modifications as they way I expressed some things was not as clear in French. So giant victory and if I accomplished nothing else this week I would feel my trip was worthwhile

But it gets better! Little Islana, who is 2 years old, is the little girl who we brought the walker for. She had another appointment today and I got to work with her with the therapy aides. I have been careful to always say, "What can I do for YOU?' to try not to be an overbearing American and they said they would like some more treatment ideas using the equipment they have but are not sure how to incorporate. So knowing that standing was a goal for Islana I was able to use a little rolling walking toy with cars and shapes etc. on it to get her standing and interested in the toy. One small aspect of the treatment at the clinic is that it seems they are so focused on their NDT and other techniques that they sometimes treat the children like little adults, pretty much straight exercise. I wanted to model the value of play in engaging the child in activities meaningful to her. We started out playing with a little doll and car and asked her did she like the doll? She said no, the car! so we transitioned to the walking toy with the cars on the top and sure enough she did not want to sit down. Good girl!!We did a great treatment with her, using both hands together, reaching across her body, supporting herself on her hemiparetic arm, awesome.

After that Shantia had brought a game that she likes, a counting game which happened to have instructions with it in French. Some other children from the orphanage were supposed to come for therapy but they didn't come for one reason or another, so we taught the aides the game. A lot of laughs, hopefully building connections we can take with us. We have a couple of ideas for continuing support for the clinic once I leave, one is that we have a computer that we may be able to set up for Skype consults for questions about treatment, another is sending some reusable laminated sheets for them to use on more school based interventions.

I was happy to meet Agnes today, she is with the Hungarian team that funds the clinic. She gave me a lot of information about the FLAME program that the aides have been trained in, and was able to tell  me about other places they are using it including Albania. It has many advantages, it uses simple equipment that is inexpensive and can be built on site out of local materials, it is very organized and easy to teach to people who are not therapists, it can be used for a variety of disabilities, and it incorporates elements of physical, occupational and speech therapy so a lot of bang for the buck.. We exchanged information so we can be in touch and I can continue to learn about it for use in the future.

Over lunch I happened to be looking at my Disabled Village Children book about building wheelchairs and it came to me to have a conversation with Pierre about wheelchairs. I asked him had he ever seen a wheelchair on the street and he told me a story about a woman he knows, 33 years old, who needs to use a wheelchair. It is a big problem to get any kind of wheelchair here so if you can't walk you are pretty much limited to bed. Even if you do have a wheelchair to get around the house you can't really leave the house because the streets are so bumpy and filled with rubble and trash that you could never roll a wheelchair down the street. Most of the affordable (relatively) transportation here is on something called a tap-tap, which is like a modified pick up truck, open air in the back. Some have seats but many you just stand up in the back and hang on for dear life as the truck rumbles over the bumps. So it is impossible to get a disabled person on and off a tap-tap. That means even a trip to the doctor is out of the question. This friend of Pierre's doesn't really have any family so she can't even get out to get any groceries. No Meals on Wheels here. Its like every problem you think you could help with has 20 layers of complexity about it. Can't get a wheelchair anywhere except maybe a hospital. Can't afford to buy a wheelchair. Even if someone gives you one, can't use a wheelchair because you can't fix the street. Never mind does the wheelchair fit, do you have a pressure sore, on and on and on. These people fight for every day. The basics of water, food, and shelter are as much as some can manage and more than many can manage. Just keep remembering, help the one in front of you as best you can.

So it makes me think more about little Islana and how important it is that she learns to walk, and walk well. Otherwise she will be homebound as soon as she is too big for someone to carry her on the tap-tap to get to the therapy clinic. That's why a lot of children don't come to the clinic, no transportation. Then you think, well, we could get a van. A wheelchair van. Whoops, no wheelchairs. And the gas. and the van would definitely break down because every road is like mountain biking. Hmmm.

One more cool thing about today: a lady showed up at the door this morning carrying her baby. She said she wasn't there for therapy but instead she came to thank us. Apparently she works at the school and last year she came to one of the medical clinics. She was pregnant and her blood pressure was really high. The medical team gave her some medication immediately and sent her to the hospital. She came today to thank us for helping her and to show us her healthy baby.

Can't have a better day than that. I'll sign off on that note. Oh, except for a prayer.

Dear God, how can I possibly thank you for all the joy you brought me today. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in this way. Thank you for providing for your children and help us to share what we have with all people. Help all people with disabilities throughout the world but especially those who live in places where there is no one to help them. Bless our loved ones at home for supporting us so we can be here. Thank you for all the wonderful Haitian people who have been so open and loving to us. You are our strength, You are our salvation (to quote a friend of mine). Amen.

Two, Two Days In One (Blog)

Monday had a great start. I had a nice walk around the neighborhood with Ada. Followed by a tour of the new water purification facility at the orphanage. This water purification not only provides clean water for the kids at the orphanage (and us), but they are selling water to the neighborhood as a source of income (including flavored water drinks).

We left of a couple of our group at the orphanage, one to lead some teacher training the other to help with physical therapy, and headed for the Concorde Baptist Church, which also houses a school, where we were going to building an out lying building to house a water purification facility. The church seems to supply the surrounding community with water today and so clean water will help improve the health of community.

We spent the bulk of our day moving cinderblocks, 94lbs bags of concrete, mixing concrete on the ground (which is harder than it sounds) and moving it all again as the day progressed. It was a hot, dirty, and hard working day. But there is something about doing this type of work that is just amazing.

There were some setbacks, such as the Haitian masons forgetting to leave a space for the door and forgetting to remove the several large rocks before laying down the foundation; but it is Haiti and that is simply expected. (By the way, we removed that big rock in the picture after the foundation was poured. It took about 3 or 4 of us, but it was removed.)

In between spurts of manual labor we were able to interact with the kids and even spent some time on the street out in front of the church just talking with people. All the Haitians I have met while walking around have been extremely friendly and most are just looking to say hello or practice their english.

Speaking of english, the last thing we did before leaving for the guest house was to attend about an hour of the "Easy English Club" meeting. This club meets two times a week with each meeting lasting about 3 hours. This was a club started by some of the translators that we have worked with; the aim being to, well, teach conversational english. Tonight's meeting including a song, I Can Only Imagine, as well as a solo by a member who sang Italian opera ... you don't get that in many English clubs in Haiti.

Tuesday started off with a walk as well. This time Maureen, who came with us to Haiti to help provide some teacher training joined us. Then it was off to the construction site to continue work on the water purification building. We had some down time as the local builders put some scaffolding together to support the concrete roof that is required to support the water tank. We used this time to do some general trash clean up at the school. There is still a lot of trash in Haiti and the culture is such that most people toss food wrappers, etc. on the ground. Lots of children saw us cleaning up today so we are hoping that at least one of them catches on.

After the work day we spent some more time with the children at the orphanage. There were some parachute games, board games, and reading. The children really do enjoy being read to, but it rarely happens. I delivered the donated laptops to the school while we visited the children. My plan is to visit the classroom tomorrow while they are teaching typing to the children.

Jenna's entry #2

At first I was very intimidated to write on this blog at all, I read a few of the other entries and they were so eloquent , so beautifully written. My voice is not like that. And to share my faith and prayers so openly felt naked. It was fine to write on it when I hadn't shared it's existence with anyone I knew, but to push the button to share it on Facebook was hard. Now that I have, however, the words don't want to stop. BTW, it's the middle of the night and I can't sleep because the rooster has decided it is morning and tough patooties to anyone who does not agree. So blog it is.
 It's hard to want to be here when you are uncomfortable, like now. It does help to some extent to remember that just next door, or even maybe down the hall, other children of God who happen to live here are much more uncomfortable. They don't have an air conditioner or maybe even something soft to lie on when they are trying to sleep. Or I think the ladies who cook and clean for us are getting here and starting breakfast right now. But it doesn't take away the crankiness. It does affirm that I am different from lots of Americans who don't care, or who do care but not enough to get their butts on the plane, feet in the rubble, hands busy. So good for me. Yeah, right. I miss my own bed and my snuggly husband. Oh well.
The therapy clinic has my mind spinning. I don't know where to begin describing it. Before I came I didn't have any idea what to expect so I bought this amazing book called Disabled Village Children. It is a great book, describes the kind of disabilities one might see in a third world country, and a good overview of occupational therapy with children in general, which I sorely needed, having only worked with adults for 24 years. It is written in layman's language but does not skip the medical terms, just explains them clearly and simply. It is meant to empower anyone who cares about these children who are often marginalized, ignored, maybe even given less food than their healthy brothers and sisters, not hugged and sung to and read to and given special attention in school. More likely they don't go to school at all. It teaches everything you need to know to keep these children safe and healthy and involved in the life of the community, employed in whatever way they can be, seen for their abilities and not their disabilities. It's a good lesson for us in the US as well because although we have the latest equipment, wheelchairs, special transportation, ramps, PCA's, organizations and support groups, we still see people with disabilities as less than ourselves rather than differently abled. I know I am guilty of it myself in my own life and job when I prefer to do thingsFOR my patients rather than give them the time and encouragement to do it themselves. The truth is I get tired or frustrated or rushed because I have so many patients to see in this amount of hours and if I don't make a certain productivity quota I get in trouble. It's no excuse and I will try to remember the days when I was a new OT and was more in tune with the basic tenets of my profession: people who are differently abled need a coach and problem solver to be there for them, present with them in the physical sense and spiritual sense, as they struggle to put their socks on. Because they deserve to feel the kind of self respect that only taking care of yourself can bring. It makes you a real person to be able to dress yourself, take yourself to the bathroom when you need to go, get up and move around and communicate with the people around you, find ways to laugh and love and have a purpose in your community and be respected for what you can do. Whoops, kinda forgot in the hubbub of the nursing home and Medicare and my own needs. Thanks God for reminding me. And thank you, thank you God for giving me the gift of this profession that I am uniquely suited for and that feeds my spirit when I allow myself to get caught up in loving people with disabilities. And BTW, thanks Mom who knew me well enough at a very young age to insist I choose a direction when going to college and even to guide me towards this profession. She knew my talents and what would make me happy and I'm so thankful for that. Everyone should have a mom like that. And thanks Dad for coughing up the bucks so I could go to school, writing me letters while I was there, and believing so strongly in the value of education and in me that I could do it. But I digress.
So when I got here I was delighted to find a modern therapy clinic, in all the ways that matter. So they don't have air conditioning, a working bathroom, a wide selection of Tumble Forms, wheelchairs, walkers, easy access to braces and splints, whatever, but they do have floor mats, therapy balls, more toys and puzzles than they can use. They have very carefully selected toys that can be used to achieve lots of different goals, standing, reaching, cognitive and speech and ADL goals. I learned more about pediatric occupational therapy in one day than I ever learned in school. And they use modern, sophisticated therapy approaches, they are these 4 Haitian therapy aides who have amazing NDT handling skills and they know another different therapy genre/system that I have never even heard of called FLAME and for Pete's sake I need to google that. So these two aides carry out amazing treatments. It was hard for me to think of any suggestions for them to improve their treatment. I wish they could read this blog because they don't believe me when I tell them that I am sure there are lots of therapists in the US with advanced degrees who don't understand and carry out the theories as well as they do. What a gift from God these therapists are. They do not have letters after their name or a diploma on the wall but they ARE therapists.The clinic is called A Touch of Hope and that is really what it is for these children, and for these employees who have a steady, pleasant, and mostly fulfilling job in a country with 90% unemployment.
The clinic was founded by a woman named Deliris. I am not sure of all the details but I know she was an occupational therapist for 17 years and worked in an NDT clinic. Then somehow she was called to be one a minister and missionary. I am not sure exactly where she is from or how long she has been in Haiti. She is leaving Haiti tomorrow to go home for a while. I think she is a Baptist missionary and there is some rule that you have to go home after 4 years and have a period of 'discernment' to see what God is calling you to do next. I won't give my thoughts on that but suffice it to say that I am concerned about how the clinic will run without her. Right now she is the evaluating therapist. She sees all the new referrals and sets up the program and teaches it to the aides and they carry it out. So when she goes I don't know how that will happen. Shantia assures me that the clinic will continue without her because there is a Hungarian mission that is also very involved in this orphanage and clinic and has agreed to keep funding the aides' salaries. But I am sure they will feel lost without Deliris the same as any therapists who lose their supervisor and mentor and I don't know how I can possibly help them through that in a week. I have no idea of their assessment and treatment planning skills but I am not sure it is the right thing to go there, to assess that and try to teach them that in 4 more days. I pray about it a lot, God, please tell me what is the most important thing I can do for them and help me do it. They don't have any kind of documentation system for evaluation or treatments or measuring progress. So they have to remember each patients program and they do, it seems, exactly as Deliris has taught it to them. I wonder if I should try to get them to keep notes, at least for themselves, and to show some objective progress, not that anyone would ever see them or read them or certainly not send them to the insurance company (therapists wouldn't that be a dream come true? No notes. I know of a job opening. No salary, benefits, food, or place to sleep but very rewarding.).
The last thing I want to do is make these aides (OMG I have GOT to learn their names today!!) feel discouraged or that they are not doing it right. So much of what they are doing is absolutely perfect and way ahead of  (I'm sure) the rest of the whole country. (PS they don't believe me when I tell them that and they don't believe Deliris either). But I know and trust that God has sent me here for a reason and please, please God tell me what it is quick QUICK so I can get it done in a week! I am so willing. Please help me. I know You have brought me here for myself, to help me rebuild my own confidence after a tough year, and to give me an invitation to work with children at home, but please God there must be a way I can serve here, NOW, these wonderful people who are so faithful to You. I'll do whatever You ask. Even though it means I have to be up in the middle of the night listening to the stupid rooster. Note to self: do you REALLY want to live in the country? Lol.
Sending love to all from Haiti,
Jenna

Update From Brian

i am in haiti enjoying getting my hands dirty in rock and concrete and dirt and building something that the church can use.   i am blessed to be able to help these happy lovely people who don't want seconds on their water and smile at you when you give them eye contact.   i thank pilgrim and its members for supporting my travel to haiti and thank god for showing me how to help in any way i can.   i hope to not get sick this time and gonna try to not ask Pastor Jonathan Wright Gray for a Prestige (beer) tomorrow and just having fun.   i am loving life and believe my second trip to Haiti is more fun than the first.   best regards to all my friends at pilgrim```~~brian

Monday, March 24

Thankful.

Thankful for the opportunity to be here in Haiti.

Thankful for God's call and the fact that He knew exactly what I needed right now, and brought me to a place where I could receive it and help someone else at the same time.

Thankful for new friends to work alongside.

Thankful for our bounty at home: hot running water that is safe to drink right out of the faucet, more clothes and food than I know what to do with, my comfy clean house and bed, all my loved ones, that the children I love most are healthy and happy and warm and clean and well fed all the time.

Thankful for the small luxuries here: ice in my drink, a shower even if it is cold, (surprisingly delightful after a hot day), flowers, yummy food, a comfortable place to sleep, the fact that all my luggage made it here so I am not required to spend a week without what I think I really need.

Thankful for the beautiful orphanage that was built here, despite its limitations those children get 2 meals a day, clean clothes, clean water, to go to school, and loving caregivers. So maybe they don't leave the orphanage and live their lives within those four walls; but they are not hungry, dirty, begging, and sick on the street. Praise God for a safe place for at least those 28.

Thankful for a wonderful church service.

Thankful that the church was so full, that our hosts had to kick people out of seats of honor for us. Thankful for beautiful expressive music during the service.

Thankful for the amazing man who sat in front of me. He was so filled with faith. I don't know what he was praying about but at one point during the service he got down on his knees on the concrete floor and leaned on the folding chair and opened his heart to God. I had to be careful that my tears didn't fall on his head. All I could do was join my prayers with his.

The Haitian people have so little but are so faithful. The church was packed. There were people standing outside in the courtyard to listen. Everyone was so dressed up, and who knows how these people do their laundry. I am sure they do not have the nice new modern washer and dryer I have and I go to church wrinkled and they do not. They praised God so loudly and fervently and sang with all their hearts. I've never seen anything like it. The preachers sang and there were these beautiful young people playing a keyboard, saxophone and bass guitar. Anytime someone would start singing something, seemingly without any planning or organization, the instrumentalists would join in and be in the correct key. The Spirit was in that place.

I knew when I came here that it would make me more thankful for what I have, but I didn't know how much. My heart overflows with how good God has been to me.

My prayer is, Dear God, I offer myself to you in service. Use my hands and my heart to do your work in this day and place and always. For I owe all that I am and all that I have to Your grace, made clear by the gift of Your son, Jesus. Amen.

Sunday In Haiti

It was a good day.

The day began at church, it was a short service and only lasted 2.5 hours. It is inspiring to participate in their worship service. It was a service of hellos and goodbyes. Our group was welcomed by the community, but the community was also saying good bye to some people that will be missed.

Deliris, a missionary from Porto Rico, who has been serving in Haiti since shortly after the earthquake. Her first night in Haiti was spent in the church sanctuary as when she arrived there was no other place to sleep because of the damage. She has been providing physical therapy to children with physical disabilities. She will be missed. She is, however, not leaving empty handed, as while here she met and married her Haitian husband Mois. I have seen and worked with Deliris almost every time I have been to Haiti, Haiti won't be the same without her.

Also saying goodbye is Lorianna. She is a 22 year old Swiss-French student and has been in Haiti doing research for her masters thesis about kids in orphanages and how best to meet their needs. She has been in Haiti for about two months and has had quite an influence on the kids and their care. 

She is staying at the orphanage while in Haiti so I suspect her days are quite full of activity, but it is clear the kids are quite taken with her.

Lastly, is [young] Jonathan, a 22 your old from Virginia. He has been to Haiti a couple of times and has been in country on this last trip since January. He is teaching the kids English as well as teaching them to type. He will be one of those using the laptops we brought down to help in his work until he leaves later this month.

After he returns home, Jonathan will be starting officer training as part of the marine corps reserve. A very impressive resume for 22 years.

I am deeply honored to have met each of these individuals, if some only for a brief while. They are amazing people.

In the evening today we walk down to the orphanage to spend some time with the kids. Sidewalk chalk, crayons, flying disks, books, and balls all were brought in to action. [old] Jonathan even found a stick and started some batting practices. 

I was able to see old friends like Edna and Christina and Jenna (a first time traveler to Haiti) made some new friends. 

A good day indeed.