Haiti is still in need of our prayers.. As of right now there is no damage to the three homes and every one is safe.. However those in tents and living on the streets are still in need of our prayers it's been rough for them!... This was an update from Chris the other day...
HI Everyone! It has been a long time since I have updated things, but everything here has been on fast-forward since we returned in Aug. Just so you have a way to understand, as close as I can remember, we have had 1 day without visitors staying in Haiti with us since March 1st (except while we were in the states). We love the company, and the energy and supplies everyone brings, but also limits our available time to communicate.
We currently have 87 kids, and lots of them are kids with special needs. Have had lots of kids with colds and resp. infections, but that is improving. I had 2 babies in the hosp. for 12 days, but they are home now. Have also had Loubencia in the hosp. for around a month. She is in stage 4 aids, and in critical condition now. We are spending a lot of time back and forth to the hosp. Have a full-time nanny staying with her, but it has been very hard to both care for her at home prior to hospitalization (a month of her sleeping in our living room with IV's, and being very sick)), as well as sitting with her in the hosp. knowing that at this time prayer is the only thing we can offer her...Obviously the most imoportant thing, but still leaving us feeling drained. Also have a beautiful healthy baby boy sharing our lives, Baby James will be 1 month old tomorrow nd has been with us since he was 1 week. (Yes, that means I do not get much sleep...)
The new house (HIS ER) is doing well. Have 9 girls in the program, plus 2 adoptive girls living in the new house. Still expecting about 16 more girls, but have appreciated getting them gradually, so we could get to know everyone, evaluate their special emotional needs, and help them settle in. Everyone has completed medical exams, dental check-ups, labs, TB testing, and psych evals. This past week we have been blessed with a psych team from Canada who have spent a lot of time with the girls, and have advised us on things that we can do to help ease the transition. The girls are in Haitian school, and we are getting the vocational training established now. Lots of fun and exciting plans in store for the girls, and we appreciate the assistance of WAR (Women at Risk), an international organization working in 23 countries now helping us with some of the funding issues. Also receiving support from Mission of Tears in Canada.
With the cholera issues, we had a medical team here last Wed. from Haiti Baptist Mission Hosp. checking on the kids. The 2 doctors and 5 nurses examined all of the little babies, and will return tomorrow to follow up on them, and start on the toddlers. What a blessing! They brought their own pharmacy, and supplied lots of vitamins, pedialyte, etc. as well as meds for those with ear infections, coughs, etc. The dentist has also completed exams and treatments for all of the kids age 4 and older. We are stocked with supplies to treat the kids if they get cholera, but are limiting biofamily visits to try to prevent cholera from being brought into the home. Still have staff living in tents and coming to work, but encouraging handwashing, using hand sanitizer, etc.
With so many new kids, and many with specialized medical needs, we have had a huge emphasis on medical stuff since Aug. 3 of our new little ones were brought by IBESR/UNICEF. This is the first that I know of that UNICEF has brought abandoned babies to creches for adoption. Niko is 4 months and he has a crossed eye but is otherwise healthy. Kalandi is a beautiful little 3 year old girl who was in a coma when she was brought to Medicine Sans Frontiers (Doctors without borders). After a long hospitalization, they released her to us, with severe malnutrition, just learning to eat after having been tube fed. She was just starting to walk when she came a few weeks ago, but is all over now. Now she is loving her food! YEA! She is also deaf/mute, so we will be learning sign language. She has some cerebral palsy, but has good potential of overcoming many of her disabilities. Jackson is 1 year, and was abandoned in the hosp. with severe malnutrition and resp. distress. He als o has CP, and gets breathing tx. 3 times daily. As I said, Marlene and I spend a lot of our time distributing meds, and skin creams for new kids who came with scabies, ring worm, etc.
Related to Tomos, we have stocked food and have the house ready with the balcony cleared, laundry inside, and everything prepared that we can do ahead. Now we will focus on keeping enough staff to care for the kids. As the staff deal with their personal family issues related to living in tents, we know that it will affect staff availability, so am praying for mercy!
On the fun side of things, the kids have loved riding the new bikes, scooters, wagons, tricycles, etc! They have also enjoyed the new TV's which came in the container. Over the weekend the older kids went to an overnight retreat at the church, and the youth group program is growing.
Congrats to everyone who have completed adoptions!!! Hal and I were hoping to get back already to complete our adoption, but it sounds like it might be Jan. before we can get a court hearing date. We are scheduled to be in the US from Dec. 18-Jan. 9th. Am missing Berline, Michael, and Felineta, so looking forward to our first American Christmas together!!! What that measns is that Junior will be in charge when Marie Mika (one of our new girls from the tents) has her baby. She is due Dec. 30th. What an adventure for him!!! I told him that he can take the baby home to his mother until I get back... He didn't buy that!!!
Blesisngs to all and will stay in touch over the next few days as communications allows. Chris
