Saturday, March 30, 2013

Teams - Part 4

 


Jantje Scheele went with her church service group to pack food at Feed My Starving Children. Volunteer labor is used to pack the thousands of packages of rice meals that are sent around the world for distribution. While she was here we picked up 25 cases of rice meals, called Manna Packs. It was neat for her to see that packages that her group were packed reach the ones who need food assistance. We give thanks to all those volunteers who pack these meals. She could see first-hand that the efforts of the volunteers reach those in need :)


This young boy is recuperating from surgery. he is quite an acive boy and they had to cover his hands so that he wouldn't touch his head.


Another baby resting after surgery.


It is amazing to see these children have the opportunity for an improved life.


We took a drive out to Paulna's village so that the visitors could see what life is like in a Haitian village. We know the people of Bonnette and have helped some of the children there in the past. As we were walking we see a flock of sheep walking by.


They were heading to the spring to drink.


In the area where the people live scrub brush and cactus grows. Here are more sheep walking past a dead tree.


We were heading towards Paulna's family home.


The area near the spring is green. This pasture is used by cattle to graze.


One of Paulna's neighbours' is the local "hougan" or witchdoctor.


Hanging from the tree are various voudou charms.


They are used in offerings to the spirits.


Near her home is a voodoo cross. An offering of a small bottle of rum is attached to the cross. There is a spiritual battle in Haiti between the cross of Christ and the cross of voudou. It is comforting to know that the cross of Christ is triumphant. Christ paid the price for all our sins. We don't need to make offerings to keep the spirits happy. We rejoice that on Easter we celebrate the risen Christ. One day Christ will return and the voudou cross will stand no more.


This is Paulna's family home.


2 lambs are resting in the shade by the door of her family's home.


A donkey is tied to a scrub brush.


A different voudou cross not far from her home.


We passed young children on their way to get water for their family. Noice the young child carrying a small bucket. From an early age the children learn to haul water.


They took a rest near Paulna's aunts house. Her aunt is leaning on the doorframe of her home.


This is the typical Haitian home in the countryside. This home is quite large. The frame is made of small trunks/branches of trees .


The front door and 2 wooden windows are in place.


Hand-made shutters and windo frame.


A typical door frame.


The walls are made by weaving small sticks. Once the walls are in place mud is stuccoed on and then the house is white washed.


A view of a side door to the home.


The neighborhood is cactus and scrub brush with no shade in site. The temperature seems to be always hotter here. It doesn't take long to dehydrate.


We went a visited a couple of handicapped children that we check up on each time we visit the village.


Williamise is a hydrocephalus girl who now walks! She can walk and has good speech. It is amazing that she does this without ever having had a surgery. Her head just stopped growing. The father wouldn't allow her to have surgery and all we could do was pray. Living proof that God answers prayer!


Marlene is holding the hand of a young handicapped boy.


Jantje is standing with 2 of the handicapped children.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Teams - Part 3

 


It was a nice walk hiking up to the hill top.


At the top you can look out to the bay.


Christ died for our sins and is risen again. The cross atop Morne Christophe is there for the families and friends of all those who died during the earthquake. Jesus is in heaven and will one day return. The cross is there for all to see. In Haiti there is no shame to be a Christian and the government does not ban the cross on public grounds. Pray for the countires in the world where it is illegal to place a cross on public property.


In the barren land the cross stands as a symbol of hope. Pray for Haiti and all those working to rebuild the country.


It was good that the visitors made the effort to hike up the hill of Morne Christophe.


A young boy who was bareoot watched us part way down the hill.


We spent time taking in the view from the top of Morne Christophe.


More visitors drove to the site.


The guys talked with the visitors (they didn't want to hike up the hill :) The foreigners below were a group from France.


Only Herode and Jefftay joined us atop Morne Christophe.


Some people who lost their homes to the earthquake have set up homes near the mass grave site. As you can see they are in the direct sun... no trees... and no shade.


We headed down the slope.


Deslie was accompanied for the hike down by a young friend :)


I hope that one day the government establishes a memorial here and have caretakers looking after the grounds. It will help people to never forget the ones who lost their lives during the earthquake.


Kimosabee can haul large loads! Here everyone is trying to find a spot in Kimosabee for our drive to bring food to the hospital.


This day they were bringing the hospital bags for the moms with the hydrocephalus babies.


Each mother received a bag which was packed for a male or female child with the appropriate size for their child.


We are thankful to all who made this possible.


The mothers were very happy with their gifts :)


So was Yvens :) He was the security guard for the bags.


With the food that is donated from Feed My Starving Children and distributed by Love A Child, we are able to provide a meal to the mothers of the hydrocephalus program at the hospital.


Sandra is carrying in a plate of food.


Joanna, wearing a pink shirt prepares the morning and evening meals on her own time. In exchange we help her pay 1/2 her rent each year.


Aldai, Rosquini and Yvens enjoy accompanying us to the hospital. It is good to see young people taking an interest in helping others.


This baby had ventriculoscopy surgery. With these types of surgeries the incision into the brain is made at the top of the head and there is no shunt put in.


Here is a happy hydrocephalus young boy. He sure is a charmer. He speaks well and made everyone laugh with his antics.


This is a cute baby girl. Her hydrocephalus is not too advanced. She will benefit well from a surgery. These children are eating and drinking and bright eyed one day after surgery usually when the ventriculoscopies are done. It is an amazing sight to see.


Driving around town lately we are greeted with traffic jams for road construction. Sidewalk work is going on everywhere! Here you can see some new sidewalks that were made in the Delmas 75 area. Delmas 83 is in the process of being paved. It will be great when it is done and will relieve some of the traffic on Delmas 75.

Benji and his mother live in the Jacmel area. He had surgery a year ago and the shunt got infected. The shunt had to be removed. He used to be a happy boy but the infection in his brain caused some brain damge. Now his mother struggles to provide for him. She has 5 other children at home. Benji has become malnourished because he can't eat properly. The mother struggles to provide for him. She asked me if I could find an orphanage for him.There just isn't people who take in hydrocephalus children. The ones who do are full and can take no more. Pray for Benji and his family. When she comes to Port-au-Prince we send some food back with her.
Medika Mamba is a mixture that is produced here in Haiti and that was developed by an American pediatrician. She has opened a factory here in Haiti to develop the product. The main ingredient is peanut butter, milk, vitamins, sugar. Malnutrition can be reversed quickly when children are put on a diet of this mixture. We had some packages of this and gave it to Benji and his mother.