photos - various - part 6

These 2 happy boys are also unschooled children. Haiti is making progress in providing education but as you can see there are still children who can't go to school.

Walkensly Lapaix and his mother visited us on the week-end. He was born with a urinary genetic defect that hindered him from urinating. He almost died. He was hospitalized at Hopital Nos Petits Frere et Soeur Hospital for almost 3 months and his mother stayed by his side. An American urology doctor that was visiting performed surgery and he now is able to urinate. He still has some kidney damage but he looks a lot better than he did.

We helped her out by paying for some exams that she didn't have funds for. She was selling everything she had so that she would have food in the hospital to buy food for herself as she was there 24 hours a day. When I saw a receipt that she had in her hand from a Haitian pawn dealer and that she had put up her cooking pots for collateral I knew she was having trouble. We helped her with funds for her stay in the hospital. Pray for Walkensley, that he continues to gain strength and healing and that he will be cured of his genetic defect. He sure looks good :)

Dominos is a favorite game for children and adults. Friends of the children come in from the neighborhood to relax in the afternoons. They don't get this opportunity where they live. We are thankful that our yard can be a refuge.

We continue to bring food to the hospital for the hydrocephalus mothers and their children. Here are some of the Coram Deo family helping to prepare the morning meals. We sure have been going through a lot of bread :)

photos - various - part 6

AS you can see it is a flurry of activity every day with Haitian and American medical personnel working side by side.

Maguy on the left is responsible for the hydrocephalus program for Project Medishare. She coordinates everything at the hospital for the neurosurgery team and the hospital.

The hydrocephalus evaluations were on January 12th. We handed out sandwiches and crackers to the parents as they waited for their children to get evaluated. Erol is opening up a package of crackers.

Bony, is one of our translators and he came along to hand out food. I never have to ask for people's help. They are all eager to participate and help out their people.

Here Bony is distributing sandwiches to the mothers.

photos - various - part 6

It sure was nice to spend time with my family. I think it was the best visit home yet!

Chrisno is a Coram Deo alumni too. His Haitian mother Joanna works here. Chrisno is sitting in this pvc walker. He is doing great with his American family. He just had a surgery a few months ago and is recovery nicely from it.

Chrisno is a big kid too!

He is eagerly opening his presents.

Here Chrisno is lying back in his recliner enjoying his new presents. Thanks to all those who help out these children and welcome them into their homes and families. This week there is another round of neurosurgeries taking place from January 12th to 14th at the Bernard Mevs/Project Medishare Hospital. Pray for all those who will be receiving surgery and the chance for an improved life.

photos - various - part 6

I enjoy looking at the Haitian sailboats. Everything is hand-made.

Simple but functional.

A lot of Haitians take to the sea each year with the hope of a better life in an attempt to reach the shores of the US, Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos

The man who owns this small boat is a crab fisherman. The crab pots are stocked at the back of the boat.

The fishing industry is one thing that can be improved in Haiti with an improved access to higher technology boats :)

photos - various - part 6

Sometimes mothers come with their babies who have illnesses. WHO (World Health Organization) sponsors a free program for children under 2 years of age at Bernard Mevs/Project Medishare Hospital. The consultation, lab tests and xrays are free of charge. The only thing that wasn't provided was the medicine but we were able to help the mother in purchasing it. Pray for healing for this baby.

Sometimes the babies end up being hospitalized. This baby had breathing problems and we brought mother and child to the Bernard Mevs/Project Medishare Hospital and they put the baby right away on oxygen. After a couple of weeks the baby was discharged healthy from the hospital. The mother came over to visit and to say thank you. The best reward in living in Haiti is seeing people get help!

This man had a large cyst/tumor on his neck. We helped him get to the PIH hospital in Cange and they did surgery to remove the mass. Bernard Mevs/Project Medishare helped him out with the follow-up/dressing changes.

Sometimes mothers come in search of help for their children and there is no doctor here in Haiti that can help . This was the case for this young girl.

She was born with a vaginal deformity which will cause her problems as she develops. We are searching for medical care for her in the United States. Pray for Betshcaida, that a hospital can be found to provide for her care free of charge and that we can get the necessary paperwork done to enable her to travel.

photos - various - part 6

This old wooden building stood up through the earthquake.

Both sides of the street on the up and down sides of the road were blocked by dumpsters and burning tires.

Here is a street-side view of the obstacles.

The protest symbol for Haiti is the burning tire. The students have a right to protest. Pray for security in the Champ Mars, that the police arrest those responsible for the increased crime and also that the 20,000 refugees be moved to another location. When I told the people here at the house that the mayor of Port-au-Prince wanted to move the Champ Mars refugees to Goat Mountain everyone here cheered. I didn't expect that response. The Haitian people know that the Champ Mars is a bad area and that the best solution is to move the camp from the Champ Mars.

I saw a better way to use a tire. Instead of burning them , make them into toucan tires with a Dunlop (Michelin, etc.) beak and then sell them to tourists. This will improve the economy and the lives of the people who make the "Toucan Tire" souvenirs.

photos - various - part 6

She got a cat scan done and the tumor has not entered to her brain. She will need a maxillo-facial surgeon and they just don't exist here in Haiti. Pray we can find a way to find help for her. The tumor is painful and slowly grows larger each month.

Jansika is doing well. It will take time for her to be able to hold up her head. But I am sure that one day she will. Pray for strength and health for her.

We were able to help Marie-Ange St. Vil get a visa to travel to the United States for medical care. She is in Ohio and will be attending the Shriners Hospital there for plastic surgery for the next year to treat the skin contractions that resulted after being burned during the earthquake. It was difficult to eat because her bottom lip was being drawn down towards her neck. Pray for those treating her and healing mercies for Marie-Ange. It will be great to see Marie-Ange with a newer face!

Driving in the city one day I noticed this banner. It reads Mickey + Rouzier = a change for the people. Daniel Rouzier = e-power = development. Daniel Rouzier was Michel Martelly's choice for the job of Prime Minister. The parliament yesterday voted to not accept Rouzier for prime minister and instructed Michel Martelly to find someone else. It is frustrating for Haiti. So much politics and the country can't move forward. Pray that a prime minister can be found. Until then there is little that Michel Martelly can do.

On the top of this building I noticed that someone had installed the sign upside down. Nobody ever corrected it. Haiti sometimes seems like a country upside down.

photos - various - part 6

This is the Natcom head office on Pont Morin. This building of several stories survived the earthquake. The damage has been repaired and the vietnamese have invested 100 million $ of improvements. They are installing fibre optic lines with the goal of offering telephone, cable, internet service. A big step up for Haiti if they can get past the strike.

Target date for upgrades was June 2011. I think it will be pushed further back because of the strike. The riot police were keeping an eye at the headquarters.

The workers are on strike and are determined to stay out until the 36 month arrears are paid. Pray for an end to the strike, that vandalism doesn't occur to the new lines that have been put in place and that Haiti can move forward.

Right now the police have their work cut out for them, babysitting the telephone building sites across the city.

I read a banner that was hanging over one of the roads we were driving on. Translated it reads "Love one another; without violence, with dialogue". Pray that everyone reads this banner and uses discussion instead of violence to handle the many problems here in Haiti.

photos - various - part 6

Amos's brother Jn. Richard is the teacher of the kindergarten/handicapped class.

Jn. Eddy is the grade 3/4 teacher. He is determined to succeed and in the afternoons attends university. He is studying accounting. He is one of the fortunate 1% of students who graduates from secondary school here in Haiti. It is a big accomplishment and his mother is proud of him. So are we!

6 of our secondary school sponsor students attend the College Baptiste Guilgal school. One day as we were driving by the school we noticed some familiar faces! This is Johnny. He is in his 5th year of secondary school. 2 more years to go and he will be a secondary school graduate!

"Danzou" is peeking at us over the gate. Standing on the balcony holding a paper is Herode. Both of these students are sponsored students.

This week we bought some more mattresses for the house. Manu needed a new one and is happy with his new mattress!

photos - various - part 6

This man is Jude Celestin and he is the presidential candidate for the Inite party; the party of the Haitian president, Rene Preval.

This house is the headquarters of Jude Celestin and the Inite party.

The front door was damaged....

People were angry that the CEP had Jude Celestin in the number 2 position. I don't know anyone who voted for him. The popular vote was for Michel Martelly. The people of Port-au-Prince held one large temper tantrum and 3 days of chaos erupted on the street. Protesters entered the compound and set fire to the headquarters of Jude Celestin.

Only the cement wall structure remains. After a review the CEP now concludes that Jude Celestin should be eliminated and Michel Martelly advances to the second round of the elections to be held on March 20th. Michel Martelly will face off against Mirlande Manigat the leading vote getter of the first round. Go Mirlande! I think a woman should run the country! ... But I won't tell too many people this.