tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54996067555137627342024-03-13T16:43:10.485-04:00LC's whereaboutsI have been living in Haiti since January, 2008. I came to start a medical clinic for Canaan in Montrouis. After 3 1/2 years, God called me into a differnet field - that of motherhood. I am adopting two of the sweetest Haitian kids and am in the process of finishing their adoptions. Once that is done, I plan to immigrate them to Canada. Till then, follow my life here and continue to see the blessings God as given me in coming to Haiti!Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-28592486650888516152012-06-22T12:50:00.000-04:002012-06-25T12:51:05.927-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hello,<br />
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It is almost 2 months since I wrote last - with the good news that Chania was out of IBESR. I really thought the next letter I would write you all would be with info on tickets bought. NOT SO! </div>
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I'm in Haiti. What more needs to be said?????</div>
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Chania's papers took longer to be finalized than expected. After the St Marc courts approved the adoption, it had to be sent to Northern Haiti since that's where she was born, for the adoption decree to be made there. But we got that done, and at that time I was still hopeful to be on the plane this month. </div>
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Then the news: the Immigration officer got fired, and with the new one, new staff brought in. Now my lawyer lost all her inside contacts to speed things up. She told me this could take as long as end of July or August to get the passports. Not news that I wanted to hear. I really feel my time is up here. Money's running low, and I'm starting to worry. But I believe God has a plan, and I'm still in it! </div>
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The passport stage means: first the adoption papers have to be taken to the Ministry of the Interior to get legalized. Then to the Ministry of the Exterior. After that to the immigration. Caleb's is through both Ministries and ready for Immigration. Chania's is through the Interior already and in the Exterior right now. Hopefully that won't take too long!!! Caleb's took a couple months for both. Which should not be necessary.</div>
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So not sure how long the Immigration will take with it's new people. I called the Canadian Embassy for help, and they said things are back to normal, so hopefully it will be in decent time. Please pray that this will get finished before end of July. I really don't have the money to pay another month's rent here, and I'm good till July 23. :) Surely that's enough time!! It's starting to feel like an unreal dream to think I can go to Canada with my babies. So many setbacks! And here mine was suppose to be a fast, easy adoption! But it seems every high official of a department got fired during my adoption time. First, the Judge for Caleb (He was through IBESR in September already, originally). Then the President (of the country) changed (that sets everything back). Then the IBESR director got fired. And now the Immigration director. Makes me wonder if there's a reason God is trying to keep me here. Or if I'm doing such a great thing is adopting these kids that the devil is hindering it all he can. Or maybe it's just 'HAITI'.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktEADjI-9pI/T-TGZoWZzDI/AAAAAAAACHQ/lg6Gks96i-c/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktEADjI-9pI/T-TGZoWZzDI/AAAAAAAACHQ/lg6Gks96i-c/s320/IMG_4858.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktEADjI-9pI/T-TGZoWZzDI/AAAAAAAACHQ/lg6Gks96i-c/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Chania is almost a year. Getting more interested in the world around her.</a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktEADjI-9pI/T-TGZoWZzDI/AAAAAAAACHQ/lg6Gks96i-c/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ktEADjI-9pI/T-TGZoWZzDI/AAAAAAAACHQ/lg6Gks96i-c/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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Ready to go to Canada!<br />
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Heather threw me an Adoption Celebration party, and took time to bless me and my family as we start this family together.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Meanwhile these last 6 weeks or so I've been busy. I mentioned in my last letter that I was taking in 2 babies. For those who don't keep up on Facebook, Andrew did excellently. The scrawny 4 month old is a chunky 5 month old now. Not fat, but heavy and solid. Still struggles with Bronchiolitis a lot, but he is such a HAPPY baby; he grabs everyone's hearts when he smiles. He's still waiting to find a family for adoption.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Daniel, the little one year old has had a struggle but is doing very well right now. We had to urgently admit him with an intestinal blockage, though it didn't seem like a big problem at the hospital. I am wondering if they gave me the correct child report. He was so sick when we took him in, and then they brought him home with a 104.8 F fever, which went up to 105.1 later. I could not believe they'd send him home like that. I called the hospital next day, and they said he hadn't been sick at all in the hospital. Hard to understand hospitals here!!! He did get better next day, but had a random day of fever several days later, so am thinking there might still be something wrong with him. But now he seems to be doing good. We got him on a special formula for malnourished babies that can't eat the Mamba/plumpy nut. He did well on that, and has gained more than a kilo since I got him, which is good, considering he weighed less than 6 lbs. Last weight a couple weeks ago he was already 8.5 lbs. Little by little.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><br />
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Then 3 weeks ago, Heather added another baby girl to my household - almost 3 month old that was found abandoned in the worse section of Port au Prince. Apparently a woman recognized the baby and reported her to the police/IBESR. When she got here, Heather called me to check her, saying she was dying. She did look bad. She was extremely dehydrated. By morning she was much better and the next day was brought to me. She has thrived on regular feedings, her skin has pretty well healed, and she has become a beautiful baby.</div>
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Rosemita, the evening she arrived</div>
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Thursday morning all three babies were moved up to another apartment on the 3rd floor. Since my plan had been to do this temporarily, and planning to leave soon, Heather made other arrangements, before she leaves for the summer. She is developing a little foster care system, with a little more one on one for some of the babies. They do well with that. (by the way, if anyone wants to come take care of a child for at least 3 months, get in touch. There will probably always be openings :)</div>
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So today felt quite empty. Kind of nice though, I'll admit. Since I still didn't sleep well last night with the babies, I had hoped to get a nap in, but .... I still have two little ones. :) Caleb kind of misses them. I'm glad they're close so we can go visit.</div>
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Most of my friends here have gone home for the summer too, so it feels kind of empty. But there's always more people to meet and get to know, and there still are some friends here.</div>
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So this is where we are right now, STILL WAITING! Please pray for patience for me, as that is getting harder and harder, the closer it gets. And pray that God would have his way with me during this time, that I can use it to grow more in HIM!</div>
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<br /></div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-1272781137836954112012-03-11T22:00:00.001-04:002012-03-11T22:29:22.535-04:00Haiti 2012<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;">Greetings from Haiti!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;">Yes, I'm still here. I noticed I haven't written on here since around New Years. Since many of you have followed my Kornelsen Adoption Saga emails, I guess there hasn't been that much else to say here.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;">I am still playing the waiting game. I'm thinking I must have a major lesson in patience and trusting God to learn here! The letters that we finally were able to apply for in January, after the Embassy "learned" how to do the procedures are still sitting in BC, waiting to be sent - 3 months later!!!! The only consolation I have is that I know they have been written. The frustration is in, why aren't they sending them, since it takes 3-4 weeks? I know why, but it still is frustrating, because someone didn't do their job!!! They had a confusion on Chania's name, and were putting everything on hold till it was confirmed. The problem was, nobody knew they were waiting on that. But I wrote a confirmation this weekend, to be sent tomorrow, so hopefully that will clear up the issue. And HOPEFULLY they will send a copy electronically, so I don't have to wait the full 3-4 weeks. I think Chania's adoption is waiting only for this.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i1GCHexVEts/T11Me0u_PeI/AAAAAAAACFo/kndO_dukKv0/s320/IMG_4276.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718811194265910754" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;">Chania, 8 months old.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;">For those of you who didn't know, Caleb's adoption got signed Feb 6 and less than a week later I got all the paperwork. I still need to make him a Haitian KORNELSEN passport, but I'm kinda waiting for Chania's to do them together. </span></div><div>I took both of them into Port a few weeks ago and got a medical done that had to be done by a specific doctor since it was for the Canadian immigration. These forms get sent to Canada to be reviewed by a doctor there, and they told me it takes 6 weeks. Sadly, at the rate we're going, that shouldn't be a problem getting them back on time.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krP8PI6amVo/T11MgdrUs5I/AAAAAAAACGM/C1QHw0m40ck/s1600/IMG_4240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krP8PI6amVo/T11MgdrUs5I/AAAAAAAACGM/C1QHw0m40ck/s320/IMG_4240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718811222436262802" /></a><div>Caleb, 24 months</div><div><br /></div><div>The weather's been getting warmer, and we've started going into the pool more this week. For awhile, believe it or not, the water was just too cool. I haven't taken Chania in for a long time, because she was having so much trouble with Bronchiolitis. But thankfully after hitting her 6 month mark, she hasn't had a bad episode. Before that, she seemed to have it every month. They say they outgrow it but can keep getting it up to 2 years. I've also been more diligent in suctioning her if she is too stuffed, and that has helped tons!!!!</div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RvLYm66x9H4/T11MfERzAyI/AAAAAAAACF4/Vjj7Uy1DY1A/s1600/IMG_4267.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RvLYm66x9H4/T11MfERzAyI/AAAAAAAACF4/Vjj7Uy1DY1A/s320/IMG_4267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718811198438441762" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-weMLb4oZQog/T11Mf1Yh07I/AAAAAAAACGE/76Ai4wVxIdQ/s320/IMG_4263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718811211620012978" /><br /><br /></div><div>Yesterday, The Canadian Embassy put on a 'meet and greet' here at the bar at Club Indigo. They've put "wardens" in each area and this was so those of our area could get to know each other betther. So basically a 60 km range maybe of Canadians were invited and some of the Embassy staff of course. The Ambassador and his wife were there too. Had never met him before; I was always dealing with the Vice-Consular. It was fun. First drink was on the Embassy. </div><div>Caleb had fun playing with his friend Olivia Rolling, but Chania on the other hand wouldn't go to any stranger, except for Ed Cashman (Vice Consul). We've met several times, and he knows my kids. :)</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uhkzLiFzYxQ/T11MehZwdRI/AAAAAAAACFg/2-Dy0yFEF4Q/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uhkzLiFzYxQ/T11MehZwdRI/AAAAAAAACFg/2-Dy0yFEF4Q/s320/IMG_4281.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718811189076587794" /></a><br />Canadian Ambassador Henri-Paul Normandin</div><div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday, the President here signed a new law, initiating Daylight Savings time and yesterday (Sat) he announced it to the country, affective TODAY!!!! Talk about quick work!! I personally can't see why. The light doesn't change THAT much. I guarantee a lot of people had no idea about it. Apparently Haiti has tried it before in differnet administrations, but it's never been very successful. I'd be surprised if it were now. But I suppose it's more useful in the city than here in the country, where people rise with the light and go to bed when it gets dark, since few people have electricity. I don't think this will change those people's lifestyle much. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing that has happened here in the last couple months is an English Christian church was born. They've named it Montrouis International Fellowship. I do believe there was a need for this, because there are so many English speaking people in this area. Even if you're involved in your ministry, it's just good for missionaries and anyone to go get an English message and worship once in awhile. I'm hoping it will cut down on so many missionary problems. Watching all the other missions around here, I've been amazed how Satan attacks everyone! And usually it is in relationships, often if not usually with other missionaries. Instead of binding together, the opposite so often happens. That is definitely something to pray about when you pray for "missionaries".</div><div>I've been really enjoying going to these. Didn't know how much I missed it. And God has been speaking to me a lot through this.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Red Cross has been setting up these huge tents in the (my) backyard. (I can't see the sunsets now :( ha!) They've even 'built' a couple small buildings/lean-tos. I expect this week they'll be having a huge seminar or something. Can't believe they would have so many people working for over a week setting up, just for a 4 day seminar, so maybe there's information I'm not privy to. I do kind of hope these tents won't be here for very long.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Reeves family (my neighbors) moved away from here last week. They found a house in St Marc. It's so empty without them. Poor Caleb has been missing them SO MUCH! Every day, often after climbing in my bed in the mornings, waking me up, he'll turn up his hands and shrug and say "where Justice?". Justice is his age, and they played together SO MUCH. He's trying to compute why people he knows aren't around. He'll to that with other friends lately too. One being Naomi, who's teaching at Canaan. She comes and spends the night almost every other week, so she's a "regular" here, especially when she leaves a towel or something that Caleb recognizes as hers. "Where Yaomie?" Then he'll answer is own question "Yaomi bye bye", or whoever he's talking about. It's kind of sad :( He's definitely feeling it, not having playmates around. Still, he's able to play by himself too and that's good. I just have to spend more time outside with him. Before, the Reeves' nanny would watch him sometimes too, so I could do things inside.</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can tell, my babies are my life right now, so that's what I write about (lol). They are growing so much, and I'm really blessed to be able to spend my time with them now. Caleb is picking up on a lot of words; my he's gonna be a jabber box! Chania at 8 months, is finally learning to roll from belly to back!!! Took her awhile. She sits well though, and now that she's learned she can move herself, she's picking up fast. Sitting, she'll lunge toward what she wants. Not so safe on the bed/couch anymore! I love watching Caleb's reaction when she reaches out for him; he turns all gentle and lets her do whatever she wants. Even laughs when she grabs his hair. She loves to eat, and gets so impatient when the spoon isn't right at her mouth the minute she's swallowed!</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, by now you're probably thinking making it up for not writing for so long by writing a long one isn't worth it :) so I'll let you go. Ha!</div><div>Thanks for reading, and please say a prayer for Chania's adoption to be finished quickly and for me to have patience!!! Thank you!</div><div><br /></div><div>Elsie Kornelsen</div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-33808321293920835772012-01-01T21:06:00.005-05:002012-01-01T22:21:58.839-05:002011/2012Hello, everyone!<br /><div><br /></div><div>Here's hoping everybody spent happy holidays, and is ready to face a new year! I personally can say I'm excited to see what this new year will bring. Yes, I have several plans. But continue to remember that God directs our lives and I want to walk in that plan. </div><div>Some of the things I hope to see happen this year are 1) finish my two children's adoptions 2) move to Canada 3) visit Costa Rica at some point with my babies. 3) find a place to live 4) find a way to support myself and kiddos</div><div><br /></div><div>I think that's a lot of changes for a year, and though some of them a bit scary, they're also exciting. </div><div><br /></div><div>I find a look at a new year very different than I used to. Now, my thoughts go to "I wonder if anything drastic, any 'act of God' will happen this year". I always remember 2010, and how shortly into the year, with the earthquake, all of a sudden my life looked SO different. So many changes happened in less than a minute, that affected so many people. Could something like that happen again? Praying nothing so fatal, but it is exciting to think life couldchange in an instant, or over the year,in a good way just as well.It is so wonderful to know our livesour in God's hands and and He has a plan. But I also remember, if I want something tohappen, I may have to be the one to take a step of faith. 4 years ago I did that, and it definitely changed my life drastically over the long term. To the point that now I am a motherand responsible for two precious little souls!</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back over the last year, it's hard to believe it really is a year. So many things happened, especially emotionally for me. As a quick recap, I went from living at Canaan with a 10 month old last January, relating to a group of missionaries as well as kids and Haitian staff, to a trip home in May, to moving to my apartment in June, to starting Caleb's adoption in July, to getting newborn-size 7 week old Chania in August, to having relatives (my mom and a cousin) come visit in Sept, to patiently and impatiently waiting for the adoptions to go through to where I am now. A great year! </div><div><br /></div><div>One thing that stands out to me that God was teaching me this last year is RELATIONSHIPS! A lot of drama and testing in that area!!! I did learn a lot, and hopefully I can go on and apply that to my life in the coming years.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p4U9zvOQGGA/TwEVMSK3qMI/AAAAAAAACD4/xkzHZ4QwK3o/s320/IMG_3926.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692854704753060034" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Using a ticket somebody had given me, I was able to join friends for a meal at Club Indigo for Christmas eve. It was lovely! They had the candlelight tables set up by the pool. Being close, I was able to put tired Caleb to bed after he ate and return to finish dinner.</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCz-PgtQ-uA/TwEVOikrKJI/AAAAAAAACEk/U9me0XSobJc/s1600/IMG_3947.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCz-PgtQ-uA/TwEVOikrKJI/AAAAAAAACEk/U9me0XSobJc/s320/IMG_3947.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692854743515998354" /></a><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gCz-PgtQ-uA/TwEVOikrKJI/AAAAAAAACEk/U9me0XSobJc/s1600/IMG_3947.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Loves her little doll. It's soft, and also like a little rattle.</div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0p2h92aron4/TwEVOKe6LOI/AAAAAAAACEc/fG90V0ieSHE/s1600/IMG_3944.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0p2h92aron4/TwEVOKe6LOI/AAAAAAAACEc/fG90V0ieSHE/s320/IMG_3944.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692854737049365730" /></a></div><div>Caleb has learned matching. He can now match a puzzle like this of animals. Hasn't quite learned how to make them fit.</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0p2h92aron4/TwEVOKe6LOI/AAAAAAAACEc/fG90V0ieSHE/s1600/IMG_3944.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2EYhereGSgA/TwEVNYkGvoI/AAAAAAAACEQ/z_iURgWdKb0/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2EYhereGSgA/TwEVNYkGvoI/AAAAAAAACEQ/z_iURgWdKb0/s320/IMG_3949.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692854723649388162" /></a></div><div>LOVES swings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Christmas day we went over to the Creshe. I enjoyed their little service, and all the kids got a nice gift. They were so excited. That's an awesome place! After an early lunch there, Kris and I went over to other friends of ours, where those of us missionaries that meet regular that stayed here for the holidays got together for a wonderful Christmas dinner. Awesoeme!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H7epjUnHzlg/TwEVMw7gLhI/AAAAAAAACEE/7CftkrFjYqw/s1600/IMG_3974.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H7epjUnHzlg/TwEVMw7gLhI/AAAAAAAACEE/7CftkrFjYqw/s320/IMG_3974.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692854713010105874" /></a><br />Both babies were sick the week after Christmas. Caleb got sick with fever on Christmas day. Monday he was fine again, and Tuesday and Wed. fever again. Chania had been coughing again for quite awhile. So I found my way to the clinic, where a Doctor friend of mine was visiting for a week. Caleb had an ear infection - easy to get rid of, and it happened to take away his runny nose as well. What a relief! He was like a faucet. Chania's problem may be a little longer lasting. Bronchiolitis. Doctor said she could be getting this very frequently till she's two or more. Don't like that! She is so congested and can't get rid of it. I've been trying to Nebulize her, but don't think it really makes a huge difference. She got worse but today her choking coughing episodes were a little less I think, so maybe she's getting better. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zGKusgE6DwU/TwEdbJoyvwI/AAAAAAAACE0/fmmczjqzy1I/s320/IMG_3985.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692863756253708034" /></div><div>Kris juggling feeding Clare and Cole at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bA-wy3m514/TwEdbaAAs-I/AAAAAAAACFA/TK4mhhSqPGU/s320/IMG_3983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692863760646058978" /></div><div>Yesterday, My friend Kris came over to spend the weekend with her two kids (1 year old twins) she's adopting. Caleb loved having company, but doesn't quite know how to treat them. Kris brought food for soup and salad and we invited another couple over for supper last night. Man, she's a good cook! That baked potato soup was amazing!!!! Then this morning she made breakfast. I don't mind having someone else cook in my kitchen :), if it can be called that! I keep the food simple. The day went fast! Our friend Heather joined us before lunch and afterwards we did a movie and had great chats. Since we're all adopting, we have a lot in common!!! It was great to spend the weekend with friends.</div><div>Oh, and last night, at midnight, I saw a new thing (probably common to a lot of you, but a first for me). Club Indigo put on a HUGE party, and gave everyone what I call a burning paper air balloon. I'm sure they have an official name but I don't know what it is. It's like a 3 ft or more paper? balloon, open at the bottom, connect to something that they lighted. That fire propelled the balloon into the air, all lighted up. They had hundreds of them, so they sky filled with floating, bright lights. SO beautiful!!!! Of course, I always enjoy the fireworks as well. Not so much their extremely loud music till 3 a.m. Didn't seem to mind the kiddos. All 4 slept right through it!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Excited for the coming 2012 year!!!</div><div>God bless and guide and protect you all!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Elsie, Caleb, & Chania</div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-22973934275038689712011-11-07T20:15:00.000-05:002011-11-07T20:15:36.021-05:00Hospital visit<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Monday, November 7, 2011<br /></span><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">This morning as I packed up my kids and took a moto out to the Creshe, I realized how long it’s been since I left here. Over two weeks I think. About time!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I left my babies at the Creshe, and went with Heather to Saint Marc. Mondays is her day thatshe often goes to the St Marc Hospital to help. How this woman does everything is beyond me!She will go there and just do whatever she can. More often than not, it’s holding dying babies. The Haitians do not like holding their baby while it’s dying. They think there’ll be a curse of something.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Since she isa legal Creshe, they’ve called herseveral times already when they had abandoned babies there.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I had heard her stories, and wanted to see the situation for myself. I’ve been to this hospital before – lots of times, but not to thissection. They’vedone some building and remodeling.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We walked in, and Heather’s contacts, an American Pediatrician and his wife, told us we could continue bagging a 3 day old baby that had come in about half an hour before. Or we could just hold him, as he was going to die anyway. So we went to the bed in the hallway (thankfully this was a daythey had oxygen. Often they don’t have oxygen for the babies there). Here they had this little (I guess not more than 4 pounds) baby. They had stopped doing CPR.He had had a pulse of 40 when he came in (should have been 120) and then it stopped completely, so they had been bagginghim for like 20 minutes. As weapproached, a visiting pediatrician informed the doctor that he was actually breathing quite well on his own. The doctor’s like, “if this baby survives, it’ll be a miracle”, and the other one responded, “I think a miracle is happening”. He was still holding his own when we left an hour later. This baby had not been given anything but water for 3 days. Mom said she had no milk. And being smallanyway, that was too long!!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1m29yRbq2Iw/Trh-RnFzi5I/AAAAAAAACDI/8ukh3zlrPYk/s320/IMG_3701.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672422571689347986" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">It was kind of emotional being there. I went into the rooms – so many thin and malnourished kids!!!! They do have a malnourished program there, so that’s good. The PROBLEM is the babies under 6 months, that don’t qualify for peanut butter. And they have so many!!!! The parents are responsible to feed them, so if the mom doesn’t breastfeed, they’re in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lisa (the doctor’s wife) told me that she frequently finds a baby hasn’t had anything for a couple da</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">ys. And these are often premature babies!!!! </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Can you</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">imagine????</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">She said the hospital wouldn’t supply formula for them. Sometimes they have individual people giving, b</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">ut not usually.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">It was heartbreaking!! These little bitty babies, and nothing to feed them??? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Another sad situation is the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">undependability of oxygen there. It causes a lot of deaths. They said over the weekend, 5 babies died.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The other difficult situation is the lack of staffing. I don’t know what the capacity there is (if there is such a thing in H</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">aiti) but Lisa said they’ve sometimes had 1 nurse for 40 patients, though usually there’s 2 or 3. Usually they have one Haitian doctor and one American. They also do a lot of outpatients too. Can you imagine nursing like that? And we’re talking some are babies born at 6 months of gestation!! I saw no normal size baby – all were either too small or preemies, or other problems, like heart, etc.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">She said basically the only thing nurses can get done there is give meds.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">What to do??? Yes, they have people trying to find solutions. But in the meantime……</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">If anybody would like to help donate money for milk, I would suggest going through Heather, whom they call sometimes if they have an abandoned child and she’ll give them stuff.</span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Heather’s website should be up thi</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">s weekend, but you can still go there; I believe it directs you. Just let her know if it’s specificallyfor that.</span><a href="http://www.GivingHopeHaiti.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">www.GivingHopeHaiti.org</span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I just gave my baby her fifth bottle of the day. Can’t help bu</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">t think of the little ones I saw today, who haven’t had any...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j9pm-pblgB0/Trh_5wTeDrI/AAAAAAAACDU/1DvoDP5WICg/s320/IMG_3704.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672424360868974258" /><div>Experimenting play with the fork, post dinner</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SMNjouCcttg/Trh_6KJPVCI/AAAAAAAACDg/3D48aan9jB0/s320/IMG_3692.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672424367805387810" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></div><div>My cutie pie</div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-15317974251343831532011-10-29T19:31:00.001-05:002011-10-29T19:31:29.313-05:00My little familyGood morning,<br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">A cousin reminded me that I haven’t posted since August. I went online and I guess it was true! I apologize to my faithful readers. Time has sped up I think, from what it used to be. I will blame it on that. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:"Bookman Old Style";mso-hansi-font-family:"Bookman Old Style"; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">I did however find a started blog from September, which I have just posted now. Sorry!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">I feel very blessed of God. I LOVE my life. Having said that, of course it’s not perfect. I am definitely</span>in the waiting period. But sometimes I wonder why God gave me such a great place to recuperate. I say recuperate, because I feel like emotionally I am recuperating. I feel like I am being healed in a lot of areas; at the same time, I am learning lessons that I wonder if most people don’t learn about 20 years earlier in life; Namely, relationships with friends and fellow workers. Although, a lot of the relationship issues that I’m having probably wouldn’t come up quite that young in life; At least not my life. So I am trying to learn and be faithful to God as I go. I am grateful for the chance to learn these lessons.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">Yesterday, a lady that lives here as well asked me if I don’t go stir crazy here. I told her ‘No’. I love it here. I think I get around a lot more than she does, despite my two babies. And also, I guess my focus is different. She’s waiting for a place to live to be done. I live here and am busy with my babies. I’ve always wanted to live somewhere on the ocean for awhile, by myself; me and God (and now my kids). It’s giving me a chance to get to know God better. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">Having said that, yes, I do feel like I’m in a waiting period, and when you wait, you have to be strong not to get impatient. I find myself waiting anxiously for all the paperwork to be done. Not sure why, since I love it here (beside the expensiveness of it) but I think part of it is just wanting to have all the paperwork done and not worrying anymore, “what if”. In Haiti anything can happen, and I want to be free to take my little ones whenever, wherever. It’s not so much what I’m going to (although it will be good to see many of you again) since I don’t even know where I’m going, but just being able to close this chapter in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">OK, enough ramblings….. and down to logistics.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">Caleb’s adoption is still just waiting on the judge to sign the adoption decree. This should have been done the about a month ago, but the Judge went out of the country, on vacation. And now, apparently because he was gone longer than he should have been, they have fired him and are replacing him with another next week. Our lawyer plans to</span>make friends with him (that’s her way of getting things done, making good relationships with key people) and hopefully get him to sign it next week. That will mean after that, he’s legally mine! YEA!!! I will celebrate somehow!! Of course, there’ll be more paperwork to do afterwards, like name changes, new birth certificate with me as mother, and of course a Haitian passport.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ko8t_G3cZCk/TqyXfJt2RrI/AAAAAAAACCk/EczoNqyMOD0/s320/IMG_3651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669072592392570546" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">Chania’s paperwork has been held up more than I liked too because of the authentication of the mom’s death certificate. There's too much fraud - people making death certificates of people still alive. The dad finally did show up yesterday (He lives way up close to the northern border of Haiti) and he brought the death certificate, so now that is ready to go into IBESR, the Social Service that has to approve all adoptions. That can take awhile in there normally, but hopefully hers won’t, since I’ve</span>already been approved for adoption.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfyeyEDgebA/TqyXfQP-HyI/AAAAAAAACCw/vuKQsVJzc4s/s320/IMG_3647.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669072594146303778" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">I</span><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"> was happy to meet Chania’s dad (Eddy) and ask more questions about Chania. He seemed happy to see her doing so well, and that I’m adopting her but when I asked if he wanted to hold her, he said “no”. It’s gotten me thinking about emotions. What do the parents feel when they give up a child? I think not holding them is often a protective issue – they’re protecting their hearts from being attached to the child. I can see this dad can’t afford Chania, since he’s poor and has 8 other children (which is a whole different issue in my book - birth control </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:"Bookman Old Style"; mso-hansi-font-family:"Bookman Old Style";mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">.) His other children are ages 4,6,8,10, 14,16X2, 18.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">I don’t understand why the mom died. She had the baby in a hospital; everything was normal. She went home, ate and drank something, and then died. But God had a hand on Chania, and I’m grateful she ended up all the way over here with me. It really can only be God. Makes me realize more than ever that God intended her for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">Vanessa, a missionary from Angel Missions who worked at getting medical visas for kids needing treatment in the US, was way up north visiting a friend for 20 days. Her car had trouble and Eddy (a mechanic) ended up working on it. He told her about his wife dying and his newborn baby. She offered to help but since she couldn’t keep her, she asked him to find a lady to take care of her, and she would provide the formula. After 15 days, she found out little of the formula actually went to Chania. The lady was giving it to other children as well. She was feeding Chania other foods too, gerber, etc.(Yea a newborn!) They said she almost died. Vanessa took her than and kept her for 5 days, and then returned to Port au Prince with her and put her in an orphanage. Again the formula she provided was given to other babies as well, and she wasn’t being taken care of well – dirty, no diapers, etc. When Vanessa met Heather (from my Creshe), she asked her to take her and give her a home, and Heather took her for me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">Yes, the first month was difficult – she was very anemic, and didn’t know how to suck, and was full of gas. But now… She is a different baby!!! So easy to take care of, and smiles so easy. (I must be the most beautiful person in the world to her, cause all it takes is seeing me, and she smiles </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:"Bookman Old Style";mso-hansi-font-family:"Bookman Old Style"; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"> ) I guess that’s how that unconditional mother love gets developed, eh?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">My first step in sponsoring them to Canada is done too. I just heard from Canadian immigration yesterday, that I’m eligible to sponsor them. I think now we have to wait to finish the adoption before I can do the next phase, although I can definitely get all the paperwork ready. Right now I feel a little lost of all that I need for that, but I’m hoping the Embassy will guide me in that. They get notified from the government of my eligibility, and tell me what I need, I believe. So that will be my job in the next few weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">So my prayer requests I guess are obvious: A quick Judge appointment to be able to finish Caleb’s adoption, fast proceedings in IBESR for Chania, and for me to know how to get ready for the application for Permanent Residency to Canada for them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">May God bless you, guide you and give you a good day today!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";">Elsie, Caleb & Chania<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="Bookman Old Style"font-family:";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-36839098752912308942011-09-29T19:02:00.000-05:002011-10-29T19:04:56.712-05:00<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">Hi<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">Blessings from Haiti!’<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">Life continues busy here. My baby of 5 weeks ago is a darling, but does take up a lot of time. Although she is a LOT better now. She is taking her bottle like a normal baby, burps almost regularly, and sleeps better in between. Now I have to be very careful because Caleb also LOVES her, but lacks the wisdom in knowi ng how to care for her. His hugs are quick bumping her, seeing her in bed is a challenge to mount her and start “burping” her roughly, and when she cries, he knows the solution is the pacifier, so in it goes by force. So cute, but unsafe.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">So I borrowed a play pen finally, thinking now she’d be safe. Would you know it, the first day, he found a way. He was like a cat, looking at a mouse. The screen keeping him out was strange. He’d put his nose or feet or hands to it, thinking it would give, but no. Then in a moment when I left the room (in all security thinking she was safe) he climbed my bed, and through himself in. Thankfully she was on the far end. We obviously have some training to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">He’s also getting more bold outside. Today he headed to the ocean for the first time on his own, and actually entered it. OK, that scared me. Up until now, he wouldn’t go so far without me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">His will and reactions are also climbing, making me pray harder for wisdom and knowledge to train him. Hopefully his zest for life and energy can be channeled into proper activities.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">Chania’s dad came to the Creshe on Sunday. He’s from very far away. FINALLY we were able to get some information about her. I didn’t get to meet him though and he didn’t see Chania. She is his 8<sup>th</sup> child – there’s 4 girls and 4 boys. No wonder he gave her up! That’s a lot for here. She was born in a hospital. He said her mother ate and drank some after the delivery, then died. They don’t really know why, but figured she didn’t have enough blood (a common cause here if they don’t know. After all, so many women are anemic, and don’t eat right). He had a birth certificate already made, so legally her name is Love Naïca Jean. I’m still planning to change it to Chania Delea, so that’s what she is to me. She is a full month older than what I thought; born July 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2011. Almost 3 months. Now that she’s gained weight and is more responsive I can believe it, but she sure didn’t seem like an almost 2 month old when she came. Makes me wonder what they were feeding her. 7 lbs at 7 weeks! She didn’t know how to suck, so they either spoon fed her or used a bottle that they cut such a big hole into that it was basically pouring in. That is, if they gave her formula. I personally doubt they did; At least not the first month, before she was at an orphanage. I have heard so many things that they feed babies here (less than a month olds) when the mom dies or is sick and they can’t afford to buy milk that nothing really would surprise me anymore. Some things they’ve told me in the past are: only tea, cookies, (these are soaked and water added to be able to drink it), flour water, rice water, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">So I wonder what my baby had…. Thankfully her belly is becoming more normal again. She still has a harder time getting the gas out, but that’s coming too. She was very anemic when I got the blood test for adoption done, so I’m giving her vitamins with iron, and will need a blood check basically every month. It could take quite a few months to build up. But again, I hope it was from the lack of food, and not an internal problem, which will then be solved more quickly by good formula and vitamins.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">I have had some great help this last month with my babies. My cousin Jessie from Manitoba came for a one week visit and we were able to get quite a few things done in preparation for the adoption. It’s easier taking two babies out on tap taps and motos when there’s two of us. </span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota";mso-hansi-font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"">Then a week after she left, my mom came from Costa Rica for a little over a week. She finally got to meet her two future grandchildren! She also did some baking in my little toaster oven (a 9x9 doesn’t fit in it). AND she did my laundry by hand!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yesterday we walked to the clinic to get a medical certificate for Chania’s adoption. It is great to see the staff there. I miss them! But I’m really glad I can be a “stay at home” mom during this time. They change so fast!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-74293408283469694642011-08-25T20:28:00.003-05:002011-08-25T21:17:24.026-05:00My daughter<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">Well, this has been an interesting week! And life changing for me.</span></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">God gave me a daughter!!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">For some time now, I have been thinking and praying about another child. I felt Caleb needed a brother. I hated the idea of him growing up as a single child. I can’t imagine a life where you’re the only one. Of course, this is me, the 3<sup>rd</sup> of 8 kids. But I just felt he needed one more, and a boy would be best so he’d have another male figure to rump around with.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">So after I moved here, I have been waiting for God to send me a baby, “if it be His will.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">We plan, but hopefully we trust Him to direct. So it was with a struggle, that none of the ladies giving up their babies had boys, except one, who decided to keep her baby for 3 months “so she wouldn’t kill him”. Finally all women had delivered that would deliver before September, and I gave it up to God. Only Caleb. Well, I told myself, it’ll be easier when I leave. Settling in a new place with 2 babies would be a lot of work. I started wondering if I had made a mistake in saying I wanted only a boy. What if God had a girl for me? Was I open to that? And all of a sudden, it didn’t matter so much. Still, I didn’t know any baby girl available either. I also had a desire for one as young as possible. Living where I can take care of them right away, I wanted the bonding process to start as young as possible. I always loved it that I had Caleb from 2 weeks old.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">I talked to the lawyer doing Caleb’s adoption and she said if I have another baby before his adoption is done, then she can almost tag it with his, at least a lot of the paperwork. Later would make it take a lot longer. Also, later in the year there is a chance that the law will change again, for single women. They will need to produce at least a boyfriend. (Hey, I guess one could always hire one for a few months </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Also, there’s a law or something about newborns not being able to be adopted till they’re 2 months old.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">So I gave it up to God, feeling like it would not happen. I had about a 2 week period max I figured. This is (hopefully) the last week, since I’m hoping Caleb’s adoption will get approved by IBESR this week. (fingers crossed)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">Then on Tuesday I saw a note from Heather (in charge of the Creshe that does the adoptions) saying they have an almost one month old baby girl. I told her I want to see her and she brought her over.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">And in came a beautiful, 3 week old baby girl. My first thought was “she’s beautiful”. (I’ll admit, I’m not one of those that think every baby is beautiful; Loveable, yes. Beautiful, let’s be honest. </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">) But my first impression was – beautiful!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">Heather said I could keep her overnight, and pray about it, and get a feel, whether I want to keep her. And I hope she’ll never go out of my life again.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">When deciding such a monumental thing, it’s hard to be objective when you have one day to decide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How do I know I don’t make my will God’s will?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">But as I watched Caleb’s reaction to the baby, I just felt that I would be depriving him of something special if I did not take her. He already loves her; is thrilled with her. Of course, I still have to watch how he expresses that. His first instinct is to grab at her face; Then, her feet. But he already watches what she does sometimes like a big brother making sure she’s ok. He loves stroking her downy soft hair. (Haitian babies’ hair is incredibly soft).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">He can imitate her cry as well. Sounded just like a little baby. And he’s been pretty good at not claiming my lap if I hold her; instead he’ll lay his head against my legs, and make me feel a little guilty, he’s so sweet about it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">So I feel peace about it, and have decided to adopt her.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">I went to the clinic to weigh her today. OK, that’s not as easy as before, but I did it. You can pretty well do what ever you want if you want it badly enough. (Did you know that?) Any way, she’s 3.46 kg (about 7 1/2 lbs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Measures 19 ½ inches.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">She was born the first week this month. I don’t have the exact birth date yet. But she’s 3-4weeks now.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">I also don’t know her name yet. I think they had done a birth certificate, but if it hasn’t been ‘archived’ yet, we can do another and I can name her. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">I don’t know her story very well yet but this is what I was told:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">Her mother died. (I don’t know when or why)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">She was left at a dirty orphanage in Port au Prince. She was there about 2 ½ weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Vanessa from Angel of Mercy Mission rescued her and she was kept at their clinic till now, while they looked for a family. They thought they had one but it fell through.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">They are associated with the Comfort Ship (They do the consults there). Heather had to take one of her babies there and when they found out she has a Creshe, they begged her to take her and find a family for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">I think God picks your family, whether by birth or otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He picked a couple beautiful kids for mine.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; ">So my prayer requests:</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">TThat the adoption will go smoothly and quickly as I start this. Most of my documents are good for this one too, and will make it easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Her age is good too. Since she’s already almost a month, we only have to wait about a month, and hopefully that’s all the time it’ll require to finish it up.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That we will adjust as a family – Caleb since he doesn’t have mami all to himself any more and me to being busy and not getting full nights of sleep, and it being harder to get out for grocery shopping, etc But God provides friends to help, and I’m grateful!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Happily,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">The Haitian Kornelsens<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Elsie, Caleb, & “baby girl” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Enjoy the pics!</span></i></o:p></p></div><div>
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<br /></div></div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-14720586259124949082011-08-12T21:40:00.000-05:002011-08-12T21:40:41.852-05:00Paperwork<div>Hi,</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So this is really today's update. The last couple ones, I had written off line, and then either forgot they weren't posted, or was waiting on pictures.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I've been really busy getting all the last minute paperwork in Haiti. Being the first "Haitian" adoption for this lawyer I think, and the first for the Cresh, it's one of those things: "Oh, I need another 4 pictures". "Oh, I need a statement from a Haitian bank with 'so and so much' money so yesterday I went and opened a dollar account. Had to return today for the statement. This done going to St Marc with a taptap. Thankfully I already had a Gourde account so it wasn't too complicated, only time consuming.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Early this morning we took 2 pregnant moms to Pierre Payen to do ultrasounds. I am open to adopting another baby boy, so wanted to see if these were boys. :) The earliest one is a girl, the other a boy but not due till Nov., so I guess not for me. God knows if there is another for me. Right now I don't know of any. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T22f321chiQ/TkXafdrxpaI/AAAAAAAACA8/8mWff6uD2ac/s320/IMG_3322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640154342430451106" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heather is in charge of the Creshe, and becoming a dear friend here</span>. I am SO thankful for her, and all she does for me.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>After the U/S, I went to the Creshe, where a psychologist was waiting for me. He did Caleb and my Psych evaluations. I could've done that myself and saved myself all that money!!! Basically it was a matter of recording my data (name, education, etc) and all my family's names, my hobbies, personality, etc.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Anyway, I am now DONE with all the requirements for the adoption, and I think the lawyer's hoping to have it done this month yet. That would be such a miracle!!! But such an answer to prayer. I need to get on the ball with the Canadian Sponsorship paperwork!!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Apparently there's a chance that the laws will change, so that single people can't adopt. Or at least, they have to have boyfriends.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AWttL_5cAac/TkXagEHGdvI/AAAAAAAACBU/dlHpP51PkQo/s1600/IMG_3313.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AWttL_5cAac/TkXagEHGdvI/AAAAAAAACBU/dlHpP51PkQo/s320/IMG_3313.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640154352745608946" /></a><div>Has started LOVING books. ALSO loves the camera. He started smiling like this as soon as he saw me with the camera.</div><div>
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<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iETHh18Epuk/TkXaf94VCZI/AAAAAAAACBM/uz60wrE5z30/s1600/IMG_3314.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iETHh18Epuk/TkXaf94VCZI/AAAAAAAACBM/uz60wrE5z30/s320/IMG_3314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640154351073036690" /></a></div><div>He's also learning to smell - loves scented tissues, but even likes smelling his diapers. The other day I told him to smile, and he started sniffing like he was smelling. Guess it does sound similar.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iETHh18Epuk/TkXaf94VCZI/AAAAAAAACBM/uz60wrE5z30/s1600/IMG_3314.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nnaf9BjM5E/TkXafgoDvqI/AAAAAAAACBE/prmHE7Jlk84/s1600/IMG_3333.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nnaf9BjM5E/TkXafgoDvqI/AAAAAAAACBE/prmHE7Jlk84/s320/IMG_3333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640154343220166306" /></a></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nnaf9BjM5E/TkXafgoDvqI/AAAAAAAACBE/prmHE7Jlk84/s1600/IMG_3333.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>The shower water drains so slowly, it gives him time to play.
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<br /></div><div>Well, I guess you're not reading this just to hear and see pictures of Caleb. But he pretty well is my life right now. It is really nice to have the time to dedicate to him. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>It is a strange feeling to still be here in Haiti, and not be actively involved in Mission work. Time is flying, and it seems there is always something to do. Of course, since I don't have a vehicle, everything takes longer if I need to go out. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I feel very blessed at this moment, it's like a "pause in time", only things don't pause. But emotionally speaking, I'm starting to relax, which I realized I needed a lot. I don't know for sure what I'll do after this stage, but God is faithful to guide me. He always has in the past, I don't doubt he will continue.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>God bless you all!!!</div><div>Elsie</div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Here's a few site about the American attorney, Time Rowe, for those interested in possibly adopting from Haiti.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>http://www.theindianalawyer.com/indianapolis-attorney-creates-rescue-mission-for-displaced-children/PARAMS/article/26763</div><div>
<br /></div><div>http://goodnessofgodministries.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/voice-of-the-orphan-in-haiti/</div><div>
<br /></div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-83363712668972903302011-07-27T20:08:00.008-05:002011-08-12T20:54:05.517-05:00Home.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, July 27, 2011</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
<br /></span><div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Greetings from beautiful Haiti!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FLxryOkec-g/TkXRNI3MXFI/AAAAAAAACAU/gZrDnI9_2Hk/s320/IMG_3270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640144131998899282" /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yea, I’m still alive! I trust many of you that read this have Fac</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">e</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">book, and so keep up a little with what I’m doing. For those that don’t, I’ll recap a lit</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">tle what has been happening with me.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Life has changed drastically for me. Both for the good, and also for the sad.</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For awhile now, I have felt that my time at Canaan</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">was drawing to a close. It continually astounds me how God does</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">this: I’m</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">at a place without a timeframe – just till God leads me away, and somehow, when the time comes, I go. Sometimes (often) it is negative</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">things that let me know “you’re getting too comfortable”, or “too settled”, or anything else…. And God says it’s time. It does not always happen suddenly, and in my case it has basically been adding up since almost the beginning of the ye</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ar. And neither is it always a pleasant thing. For me it’s been a great struggle. The end??? No</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">w what??? I think that is the biggest fear – now what?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Quite awhile ago, I starte</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">d looking around for another place to live. One of the reasons was that with adopting Caleb, I really needed my</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">own home, where they could come do a “home study”. I am able to do the adoption as a Haitian Resident, which is really nice. Secure and s</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">afe residences are hard to find around here, especially for a sing</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">le woman and child, so I decided to go ahead and rent a small apartment</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">at Club Indigo. It’s close to Canaan (1 mile) and of course a beautiful place to live (though very expensive for someone</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">not working).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Love the Sunsets!</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"></span>It is now 4 weeks since I moved in,</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and the time has flown!!!! I just love it here. I don’t even mind doing my own cooking so far! It comes with housekeeping included, and I just LOVE that! After living in a ho</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">u</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">se t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">hat was dirty ALL the time, it is wonderful to live in a place that is clean ALL the time (except when it’s not temporarily :)</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e7mKwOVIXoU/TkXRM3Okx2I/AAAAAAAACAM/xJy0lC-2McE/s320/IMG_3252.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640144127265130338" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bones are so fun - this T-bone kept him busy quite awhile</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Caleb also just loves this place</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He i</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">s such a happy fellow.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzwBNa7_4p0/TkXRMAIDU3I/AAAAAAAAB_8/yHvSARkIKTA/s320/IMG_3223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640144112473822066" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He enjoys seeing his friends at Canaan, but if I put him down, he screa</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ms.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pdlWih2fwI/TkXYJf4mp8I/AAAAAAAACA0/MLgyn7HhSNQ/s320/IMG00077-20110707-0944.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640151766040750018" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> He has started saying “bye bye”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">accompanied by waving. Hello and bye are the same waving. He is such a people</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">person. He will walk along and someone passes and he starts waving at them, or pointing to them to draw their attent</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ion. Everybody here loves him. His biggest joy is playing with the neighbor boy, and all t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">heir toys outside. That’s when I take my computer or other work outside and let him be.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uNjok05P9yY/TkXRMjxwO4I/AAAAAAAACAE/pZGOkXKm8yA/s320/IMG_3222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640144122043972482" /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
<br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vErYcdsQQpk/TkXT1X5Dj7I/AAAAAAAACAs/fYGn9GOOOBU/s320/IMG00117-20110718-1538.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640147022251265970" /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"In front of our house, playing with neighbor boy, Judah Reeves"</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"></span>I was thinking today, this is my transition time – not q</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">uite so</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">drastic going from Canaan to Canada to live. Hones</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">tly, I’m not very excited about going back to the North American life style. There are parts I really dread. Of course many things are easier, but I’m not sure if I won’t feel a little g</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">uilty living like that. I think the thing I fear most is that I will enjoy it too much and get too comfortable.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But meanwhile, I’m still here, and I’m going to enjoy my time here. As of end of this month, I don’t plan to work at the clinic anymore. That gives me a really sad feeling sometimes. I loved that wor</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">k. I’m sad it came to an end. It doesn’t feel real yet. I am really still in Haiti, and not working there??? I have some projects to finish and someone to train, but otherwise, I’ve already stepped aside a lot.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I know a lot of people are probably asking “Why?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">” There are many reasons that I cannot write about. But the ones I can – Adopting Caleb is definitely one. The adoption is going very well. In fact, the lawyer said the Haitian part of it should be done next month. That would be incredible!!! 2 months or less! It’s not a done deal yet though, so we’ll see. I love the chance I’m having of staying home more and taking care of him – being a stay-at-home mom.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Canadian side of it is a bit more complicated than I expected. Because I was not born in Canada myself, I cannot make him a Canadian citizen right away. I have to go the ‘Sponsoring him to Canada’ route, and getting him a Permanent Residency card first. Which means that we have to live in Canada as well. So I’m working hard trying to get that started, figuring what forms to fill out, etc.</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today the lawyer asked for more photos of Caleb, and I also need a bunch for the Sponsor application, so I packed up Caleb, walked to the road (10 min), and took a TapTap to St Marc. Caleb is a true Haitian!!! It did not take him 2 minutes to figure out you tap to stop. All he lacked was the coin to make noise (I couldn’t do that to the driver; he’d have had him stopping constantly </span></span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.) The truck would slow down to pick someone up and instantly he’d pretend to tap. So funny. He was oohing and trying to talk constantly. Haitians aren’t really used to that in babies I think – at least not in public. Anyway, he had the time of his life, sitting on the last seat in a crowded pickup truck. Arriving, I took a moto taxi to the photo place. That too was a novelty to him and he loved it. Taking the photos presented a new challenge for the photographer. I think he seldom had a toddler that he couldn’t get to stop smiling (the photos were suppose to be without smiling). Caleb is so photogenic. He’d be all serious looking around and then when we had him look at the camera, he’d sit and grin. He held still nicely but grinning. It was so funny.</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We then walked to the grocery store, and I tried to gage how much would fit into my backpack.</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Haven’t quite figured out how to do grocery shopping without a vehicle. There were so many things I needed. I finally got all my meats and things into the backpack and carried the eggs and bread. The mototaxi was not as fun this time. Holding Caleb in one arm and the eggs in the other, my backpack was top heavy, enough to lift my feet from the pedals at times; and of course I couldn’t hold on to the driver. I was so happy at the end that I hadn’t tumbled over backwards </span></span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Don’t think I’ll do that again. For some reason, at the end, the driver took off with out accepting payment. Still can’t quite figure out why. It wasn’t like he was flirting or anything like that. I’m wondering if he really was a taxi or if he just happened to be waiting outside the grocery store for someone and I just took him for one. I did kind of ask if he was a taxi… Anyway, an empty taptap was loading up, and as luck would have it, being the first, and having a baby, they let me ride in the front. Whew! My eggs were saved! Had a moment of confusion though when a well-dressed lady wanted to ride up front too. How she thought she would fit in the single seat with me and Caleb, I’m still not sure. She wanted me to move into the console area). No way possible. It was a kind of double cab (not nice back seats) and she ended up going there. Guess for her that was better than in the back. I would have preferred the back. I had left Caleb’s stroller at the guard house close to the road, so was able to use that for my heavy groceries. Caleb loves walking that stretch anyway. He got to see a rooster (first time??) and honestly got scared of it’s crowing.</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hey, I just thought you might like a glimpse into how people go grocery shopping in other countries. </span></span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Enjoy your grocery carts to your vehicles!</span></span></p></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WP5yfS94Lho/TkXT1EGG68I/AAAAAAAACAc/usvEP6KYcNc/s320/IMG00131-20110723-1408.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640147016937302978" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Last leg of my grocery shopping trip.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FdpIE3RXxOc/TkXT1JwWFuI/AAAAAAAACAk/XapCszct2sA/s320/IMG00130-20110723-1407.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640147018456635106" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Though life is much more relaxed now, there are still alway issues to deal with. Please pray for me during this time of transition, and Caleb's adoption.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sincerely,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Elsie</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-65711212280393646132011-06-18T11:23:00.006-05:002011-08-12T20:07:26.989-05:00AdoptionsHello, <div>
<br /></div><div>Life here in Haiti continues, with it's ups and downs. My focus these days, besides the clinic, is getting all the paperwork ready for Caleb's adoption. I'm still waiting to move off of Canaan, so I can do the home study, but Sister Gladys has not been at home and available on a week day since the first week in May to sign the paper for me to take Caleb. It is suppose to happen this coming week, but we'll see if she made plans to take a group to a different part of Haiti for the week. They say Patience is a virtue. I hope that's right, because I'm definitely forced to build it.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I am doing the adoption through the "Giving Hope" Creshe. Run by Heather, it has become the only Creshe so far in our area; there are apparently only 16 in the country. In Haiti, a child has to belong to a Creshe in order to be adopted. Canaan is working on becoming one, but so far isn't. It is a long and strict process, requiring all kinds of things, like enough space per child, vaccinations for all your dogs (I wonder what Canaan will do with that???:).</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Heather takes in only children that are up for adoption. At the moment, there are 23. Some have prospective parents, others are still waiting. They have hired an attorney that will work only with their Creshe. Because she has "connections" she says she can do the adoptions in about 6 months (which for Haiti is really really fast). Of course you're in Haiti, so you have to think a little flexibly when talking time. I think that is only the adoption part, not the immigration.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>One of the reasons I'm saying all this is that if you or any one you know is looking at adopting from Haiti, this is a better way than a lot of others. Run in big part with volunteer service, it is a lot less expensive than other adoption agencies. One of Heather's passions is to allow children to be adopted without the corruption and high cost that many agencies charge. Of course, we are only starting with the first adoptions with this lawyer, but she has given us references, and has done over 20 adoptions since the earthquake.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>They have the backup and support of "The Voice of The Orphans", with an American attorney working together with the Haitian attorney. In fact if I understand right, it's "The Voice of the Orphans" that is actually in charge of doing the adoptions, or that has hired the local attorney.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Here's some pictures of kids available for adoption.</div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Arial Bold';color:#8E0015;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191493484247116.47816.100001593960971</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Arial Bold';color:#8E0015;"><b>(Hope you can open it ok).</b></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; ">If you are interested, contact me and I'll get you in touch with the right person and information.</span></div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-14489679657944400102011-06-10T21:50:00.013-05:002011-06-10T22:35:41.521-05:00AdoptionHello,<div>I feel like a lot has happened since I last wrote. I was able to spend a week with my family in Costa Rica. Love going there! Beautiful weather, nice place, good food, home...</div><div>From there I went to NC, which was actually the reason for the trip in the first place. Had a "planning meeting" concerning Haiti. While there, I spent a day shopping. That was fun! </div><div>I was ready to come back to Caleb though. Missed him! I kept thinking what it would be like traveling with him.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GBl6f0wZLK4/TfLc6cyUqeI/AAAAAAAAB_k/S6SGG4XU7q8/s320/IMG_3141.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616794582002215394" /></div><div>He is such an active child. My focus with him now is some serious training. Typical toddler stuff but he sure has a stubborn will. Little by little.</div><div>Since I'm back, I've been focusing on getting the papers ready for the adoption. It's more difficult because Sister Gladys isn't here to sign him over to me. But there's ways. I can go ahead and start the paper work before she gets back. Just can't do the homestudy, since I need my "home" to do it. My plans are still to move out, as soon as Sister Gladys can sign the paper.</div><div>So Wednesday I went to pick up his birth mom to sign a paper to get it started. She and her aunt came and I took them to Heather's, through whose Creshe I'm doing it. As I was waiting for them, it seemed the whole neighborhood came to peer at him. They all seemed to know him orof him, which kind of surprised me, though I don't know why. They talked of him as the little baby. A year changes a baby. They were all so happy to see him. I found out he has a 14 yr old aunt too. </div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu5YE93sUMk/TfLc6KjAiNI/AAAAAAAAB_c/R2jL-Xkz_ck/s320/IMG00023-20110608-1622.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616794577106143442" /></div><div><br /></div><div>It seems every time I see her, I find out new stuff. This time they said they had been afraid the dad and his uncle would try to find him to kill him. Hard to imagine...</div><div>It was interesting to see how pleased they were that he knows me so well and loves me so much. The mom said they liked that I was the one adopting him, because he'd have a "doctor" as his mother. I guess that is only if I'm in Haiti. :) And she added that she's a teacher, so he should become very smart. :)</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87Epfc63rgU/TfLc6pxMmdI/AAAAAAAAB_s/zsa7Dkwc3TQ/s320/100_3375.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616794585487153618" /></div><div><br /></div><div>So I'm very positive right now about the adoption. The attorney has done 20 adoptions since the earthquake, and she says she can do them in 4-6 months. Because I'm living here, and I don't need a presidential waver (since I have no other kids), she says it should be on the shorter side of it. I'm so excited. That is of course the Haitian adoption, not the immigration. I've heard so many horror stories, that I can't believe it'll be that smooth, but who knows... Maybe mine will. She wants to start in July, but we need all my paperwork before. She takes care of all of Caleb's stuff, like tests, and exams, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>So if you remember, please pray that all goes well with the adoption in the next months!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>On another note, our staff is turning around. 4 of the girls that have been here for months left this week - 2 for the summer, 2 for good. One is going into nursing school (inspired by all the needs here??) and one is coming back to Port later in the summer under a different mission. So of the two left besides me, one's leaving next week for the summer and one just came to fill in with Mamba for the summer.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ICB2oyS56fI/TfLg7wIl94I/AAAAAAAAB_0/-2MV2CFGdHw/s320/IMG00027-20110609-1424.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616799002422278018" /></div><div>So we got to take Cassie in yesterday, and we enjoyed Dominoes. We don't go there very often. Pizza's such a treat here. Then we went up to a lookout of the city. I can't believe I've been here over 3 yrs and just now found this place. It has such a perfect view of all of Port au Prince.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pastor Henri had his pacemaker replaced today and Praise God, everything came out ok. </div><div><br /></div><div>God bless you today, as you continue living for him, whereever you are.</div><div>Elsie</div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-69364232233103417202011-05-16T19:30:00.001-05:002011-05-16T19:30:00.900-05:00Witchcraft<p class="MsoNormal">Hello from Haiti again!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This blog may mostly be a prayer request. For some reason, there’s spiritual warfare going on like never before since I came here. Or maybe I’m just feeling it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It has been a month of frustration in every area – kids, leadership, missionaries, clinic, even Caleb has started acting rebellious, openly defying me. (Too bad I can’t handle everyone like him. Ha!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t until this afternoon that it hit me – Spiritual attacks! It’s got to be that, or why else, in every area? I mean, my best employee up and openly defied me in a job I asked her to do! And today another one! I could go on of things in every area, but I don’t suppose that would help much.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">What has made me think about this so much is something that happened at the clinic today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Christerline is a baby of about 5 months, that we’ve been working hard to get ready to take to the States for surgery, with her mom Estherline accompanying her. Christerline was born without an anus. She was going for reconstructive surgery. The hospital, surgeons, hosts, and private plane has all been lined up and just today we got the final forms to fill out, hoping to take her end of the month, or beginning of June. She was also a Downs’ baby.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YQSyGDYRRA/TdG-UWi2zgI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/_sa91fsceLY/s320/102_3943.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607472267911417346" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Today her mom came in, in tears. Last Thursday morning, about 5 a.m. she was playing with her baby when a turkey made a screeching noise outside (she says they don’t have turkeys in their village). Christerline also gave one big screech, and died. The mom felt her throat right away, and she was gone. A friend lent her money for a coffin, and they buried her in their yard. She says her mother in law told her not to tell people yet (they do that here sometimes), and she says that’s the last she remembers till yesterday (Sunday) when they found her by the ocean (they live maybe a mile or less from it). She doesn’t remember anything else.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">WITCHCRAFT?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think I don’t give enough credibility to witchcraft. Just because I believe in a God that is bigger than the devil, doesn’t mean that the devil doesn’t exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And we are so surrounded by it here. I’ve gotten used to the negative feelings, the superstitions and almost just ignored them. But to these people it is real! I don’t know if there was a physical reason for Christerline’s death. She had been a little sick a week or two ago, but she was doing fine now. And this is not an uncommon or unheard of thing. There are witch doctors that do this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Please pray for the mother, Estherline. I believe she is a Christian, but she is surrounded by people who aren’t and who are telling her all kinds of things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pray she won’t be overcome with influences from them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pray for Canaan. Henri and Gladys are basically in the US for a few months and it is hard to run the place smoothly. Gladys came back for the first week of May for a week of ACE training, and now is back again for a few days to get the Visas ready for the kids going to convention on Wed. Which by the way is very difficult and will take God’s intervention (too bad they didn’t start this 5 months ago!).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pray for the teachers in the school. They have been stepping down harder in the organization of the school and the kids are learning SOOOO much better, but years of neglect is hard to change and it gets frustrating for the ones in charge. They’re doing an awesome job though!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pray for the kids. Though this place is so much better than a lot of Haitian orphanages, the fact still remains that there are not enough “moms and dads” to mother them all, and that is hard for any kids.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pray for the missionaries. Unity among us is essential, but difficult sometimes. Especially when there are more than two of us here. Right now there’s 6 or 7 of us. With all of us having our own way of doing things that needs to jive with the Haitian culture, as well as missing what we’re used to, it’s a challenge for anyone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pray for the clinic. I am still working with getting us all to work together smoothly in an unfinished place. The container that has the doors, file cabinets, some of the furniture, etc is still not out of customs. With Gladys gone so much, it just sits there. But more than that, pray that we can meet the spiritual needs as well as the physical in the patients that come. Pray for patience; especially since the weather is getting warmer. It’s amazing how that affects everyone’s dispositions. <span style="font-family:Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pray for Caleb and me. Frustrated is putting it mildly, but we’re ok. I am still waiting on Sister Gladys to have time to go to the Judge with us, so we can take him out of Canaan, giving me the responsibility for him. I am praying this will happen tomorrow since Gladys is leaving on Wed. again, but we’ll see what will happen to the kids’ visa situation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then I want to focus more strongly on getting the adoption going. One of the holdups (the first one) was B.C., Canada not wanting to adopt from Haiti as of last May. They say this May they will revisit the case. Pray they will go ahead now. If not, it might mean making me go to Canada and changing my province.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">L</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I also haven’t decided on which lawyer to use. Need wisdom there. Heard of a new one that can get adoptions done faster. PRAY that is true!!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pray for my living situation. I have an apartment ‘on reserve’ for June 1<sup>st</sup>. If Gladys will get to sign Caleb’s papers, I plan to move out on my own with Caleb. I am SO looking forward to it. I need that change here. But it doesn’t come without cost. Financially it’s really a little more than I can afford, so pray that that will all work out ok. I feel God’s peace about it, so trust He’ll provide a way, as well as transportation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Wednesday I am leaving for an almost 2 week break. I am going to Costa Rica for a week, and then a meeting in NC. I am so ready!!! I hadn’t realized that it’s almost a year since I had a longer break than a long weekend. Hopefully I can get refreshed a bit. It's hard to leave Caleb though. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sorry if this whole blog sounds negative. I believe we’re in a Spiritual Warfare, so please fight with us. There will be a happier one coming,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am convinced.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But to include at least one very special even that happened in the last month – my youngest sister and her boyfriend came to visit. We had a great time together. They got to meet Caleb. On the weekend we drove to Cap Haitian. This gave us the chance to see more of the countryside, which is really beautiful through the mountains. And they even have mountains covered in trees there! We stayed at a nice hotel, supposedly where King Henri (Haiti’s first king) worked in the kitchen as a slave. (debatable <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span>) We ‘horsed’ up to the Citadel. That’s worth visiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Coming back we ran into numerous “Ra-Ra” groups, making the 5 hr trip into 6 hrs. This is a kind of celebration where groups are formed that danced down the road, sometimes peaceful, sometimes not. Many of them looked drunk. Some dress up in weird clothes, many of the women hiked up their tops all the way – who cares???</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Elsie</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-3301700091919092102011-04-12T22:35:00.005-05:002011-04-12T22:48:35.869-05:00Canaan<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Good morning!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s 6 A.M., and I’m starting this letter. That’s unheard of for me <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span> but after struggling for 3 hours off and on to sleep, I might as well do something worthwhile. There are 3 reasons for that: </p> <p class="MsoNormal">1) Caleb woke up a couple times </p> <p class="MsoNormal">2) The inverter power went off, and the humidity and fighting off mosquitoes got me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">3) (and worst of all) there was a rat in my room, eating away at something – plastic? Shining my flashlight, I saw him a few times, but he was in no hurry to leave. What do you do with that at 3 o’clock in the morning?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I guess these reasons are part of why I am writing this specific letter. This is not a newsletter. To make up for this, I promise I will write one soon. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>It is over 3 years since I came to work and manage the clinic here in Haiti. It has been an awesome 3 years, seeing God work and dealing with so many people. I want to continue doing what I am doing, but after 3 years I think I’m starting to get burnt out – the heat and humidity, the rats, the lack of space and privacy (especially with a baby), the lack of electricity, tadpoles in water, and the difficulty in keeping supplied with good drinking water all are taking a toll on me. These are all doable for a while (I have been doing it for 3 years), but as time goes on you start wondering what normal, like what we would have in North America, would be like. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have been thinking about this for quite awhile, and have been keeping an eye out for a place I could rent not far from here, while continuing to work for Canaan and the clinic.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Now, looking for a place to rent here is not the same as in N.A. because you have to consider things like safety, electricity and water supply – besides the cost. So finding a place that would suit me and a baby has been almost impossible.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The costs of renting a house in Haiti has skyrocketed since the earthquake, due to so many NGO’s coming in and needing places. One place that was charging $1,000.00 a month is now charging $7,000.00 and I heard another organization is paying $15,000 a month (these are probably not small houses). But everything has gone up; plus you’re responsible for getting a generator and the gas and security (with a guard most likely) and all the other hassles of being responsible for a place here in Haiti. It has just seemed so overwhelming to me, I haven’t done anything about doing it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, though, there’s a wonderful place (apartment) that has opened up as a possibility for me. It has almost everything I need.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">100% secure and safe</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Only a mile from Canaan</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Electricity 24/7 and internet</p> <p class="MsoNormal">No rats <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I can’t imagine a more ideal situation for me. It would be hassle free; only food to worry about – no generator/gas, or other things.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> There are only 3 issues I need to deal with before I can do it.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Caleb’s custody (I don’t think this will be a problem. I’m hoping to work on this next week or so)</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>The cost of the place. Though the price may be reasonable for here and other places, it is still more than what I can do on my own. Up until now, I have lived off of an investment I made before I came, but that is not returning the same amount now, and it does not cover the cost of the rent, plus food at this place.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Transportation. Although it is only a mile or so, I feel it is too far to walk every day with a baby and it’s stuff, in all weather (heat and rain), plus I would need to go do my own shopping etc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So I am writing this letter to let you all know where I stand, and if anyone would like to help me with my expenses here, it would be much appreciated. It would enable me to continue working in the clinic here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I appreciate all the prayer support you’ve given me through the years. Without prayer, I know I could not do this.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely, </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Elsie</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-65126798480062043572011-03-01T20:45:00.000-05:002011-03-01T20:45:01.024-05:00Jan/Feb<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">Good afternoon from Haiti, on my favorite type of afternoon here. I’m on the hammock in my garden, with a view of the ocean and a wonderful breeze. I love these Feb/Mar breezes.</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">I was reminded the other day that I haven’t blogged since New Year’s. I couldn’t believe it, but since it’s true, I apologize! The older I get, the faster time seems to travel.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">And of course it’s hard to remember all the interesting things that have happened this year already! Life never stands still here.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Our clinic construction has kept going. Th</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">e men are working hard to finish it by April 4<sup>th</sup>, the date we’ve set for the inauguration. They’re working on the outside porch right now, while we wait for out containers to get out of customs. T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">hat is a frustrating process here, but in the end, I’m sure it’ll work. It just takes time. On it we have the doors, all the furniture, cabinets, etc. so there’s still quite a lot to do before April 4. I’ve moved all my medicine and supplies down already, but still need to find places for it all. The pharmacy is not big enough to be storage as well. So a lot of my mornings get spent there.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Otherwise, the present clinic is going well. We are very pleased with the Haitian doctor the Lord provided for us. That takes a lot of medical responsibility off me. When you have to do something, you do it. But I’m glad there’s someone more knowledgeable now; And that we have a lot of the same values for the patients.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">An unusual incident that happened in January was when one day I heard a lot of yelling going on (not so unusual) and investigating, found a ma</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">n with a machete, threatening to kill another woman. Apparently she had picked up a thread of the man’s baby’s blanket, and he thought she was going to put a voodoo spell on the baby. Found out that he actually is a voodoo priest or something, into all kinds of evil things. He had a bad look in his eyes. I brought him into a room to talk to him but he wouldn’t listen. He did give me his machete. He went for the police, but they ended up not coming. We tried to get both parties seen quickly so they could be on their way. I called Pastor Henri down and he talked with both parties. We kept the lady for</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">awhile, till someone in her family could come because we didn’t want him to be waiting for her somewhere down the road. As far as I know, everything worked out ok, but it was an unusual thing to be dealing with. I couldn’t imagine something like that back home. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi- font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5artm99cIi8/TW2Xs8aOriI/AAAAAAAAB-w/cl-JAbOtKNA/s320/IMG_0368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579282311768092194" /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Feeding little babies continues to be a challenge. It seems every week there are more babies that need milk. Milk is such an expensive item here, they just can’t buy it. We have 8 babies under 6 month that we are providing milk for now – several are orphaned, 2 sets of twins, and a few others. They are too young for the Mamba program. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ssK5kBBUrf8/TW2XtM1iEZI/AAAAAAAAB-4/1stdEDVUTFQ/s320/IMG_0384.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579282316177576338" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">3-4 month old with Kwashiorkor. She looks very different now. All swelling in legs and arms and most in the face is gone. Worth it for $50.00 a month? Mother died soon after birth.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Last week, God blessed us with providing a lot of milk through CAM, the organization that gives us medicines every month. The one problem is that it is for 1-3 yr olds. I’m checking whether it can be given to younger ones by diluting i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">t. If so, a lot of our problems would be over in that respect for this year. I also keep getting asked to take a lot of these babies. It makes me sad when we can’t… but right now we just don’t have room for them at Canaan. We want to build us a nice nursery that will have space for them but making a building is so expensive. Right now the 5 babies we have get moved from place to place. We need a house where they have room to sleep and play, and that has a little kitchenette, etc. It would make life a lot easier for the ones taking care of them. Anybody want to help?? (If so, donations can be sent to Chris Hlavacek at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; "><a href="http://www.canaanchristiancommunity.com/">www.canaanchristiancommunity.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">We’ve been enjoying a lot of people coming and going here. Right now there are 7 of us girls here. That is more long term people than we have ever had since I came 3 years ago. Most of them are in the school. Caroline is doing the Mamba program. Speaking of which, tomorrow we’re going to Rosseau to open up another mobile mamba program. It’s about half hour away, on bad roads.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Caleb is continuing to be a happy and growing baby. In January he started taking his first step and he learned his first word – Aleluya! A wonderful word to start with, eh? And usually when he says it, he raises both arms. And it’s always</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">whe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">n he’s happy. It really does describe his emotions. Clapping is for singing, and sometimes when he hears all the kids come in for meals, he’ll start clapping, expecting them to sing. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; "><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">He’s also started hugging me spontaneously, which is enough to melt anybody’s heart. I thought that was something you teach babies. Not him. It’s just something he started on his own. </span><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9bQvvRxqoOg/TW2XsRwZQuI/AAAAAAAAB-g/DxdBKmUJGdw/s320/IMG_2865.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579282300318335714" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CNxr0XB-fZs/TW2XstoKD2I/AAAAAAAAB-o/e6BeKTIDfDk/s320/IMG_2869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579282307799977826" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">He turned a year in February. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">On his birthday, he took off walking and is quite good at it now. Two weeks ago he came down w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; ">ith pneumonia and pylonephritis (kidney infection) where I had to fight for 3 days to keep his fever under 103 F. Thankfully he has recuperated from that. His teething is keeping him congested though, to the point at night sometimes I’m afraid he’s going to choke himself to death with his coughing and phlegm. Hopefully the nasal lavage we plan to do tonight will help.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">This next month is going to be a busy one for Canaan, as we prepare to celebrate it’s 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary in April. We are going to set aside the 1<sup>st</sup> ten days in April. We plan to have booths of various things, sports competitions, music groups, food to sell, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Sorry this has become a bit general. I’ll try to make it more personal next time, and before 2 months.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Thank you all for your prayers!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Elsie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-53810276017705148722010-12-24T14:00:00.001-05:002010-12-24T14:06:41.482-05:00ChristmasHello again from Haiti,<br /> <p class="MsoNormal">Hope this finds you all well. Sometimes I feel like when I write here, it’s just out there to the universe. Then people comment on what I say, and I realize again how many people read this and want to hear from happenings in Haiti. Thank you for that!! And I apologize again (seems I do that a lot; I better stop) for waiting so long to write. I didn’t even want to see how long, but I forgot what I wrote about last! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Yes, Chibelson! So I’ll start with an update on him. He is in Knoxville, TN, with Kendall. He’s had two surgeries to remove the stones in his ureters. The stone in his kidneys is not moving and I think they’re going to leave it (have to trust the doctors – me, I’d say take it out while he’s there). Apparently you can live with it. He’s doing very well – as been gaining weight and is sitting by himself. He turned a year this month, so hopefully he can soon catch up with his age groups. He’s coming back with Kendall on Jan. 5.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My Caleb is growing well and is a continued joy to me, and all of the people here. He’s so active and smiley all the time, which is probably why he also sleeps a lot. He loves rice and beans and is getting strong. He can hold onto fingers and be lifted up completely, and he’ll hold onto the top of the crib and walk up the sides. This week he’s also learned to stand without holding on to something. Guess he will soon be walking. He just turned 10 months<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TRTrstLCD3I/AAAAAAAAB9Y/EsakMHfk1wM/s320/IMG_2651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554323393727303538" /> old.<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TRTrseZI6XI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/Oc-ps1XY8_Q/s320/IMG_2621.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554323389759940978" /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Our weather has turned beautiful. I didn’t remember December to be this cold already. (it’s a good time to visit –hint hint). People are looking for blankets at night. And I’m looking for warmer clothes for Caleb. It’s fun to be able to dress him up more – instead of having him go with only a diaper all day and night. Of course, it makes for lots more laundry.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’ve had different teams here in the last couple months, and have gotten a lot of work done. The new clinic is in it’s last stages of completion. All the floors are tiled. We’re working at finishing the painting. Everything has a couple coats already, but what with tiling and all, it needs it’s final coat. The last team that was here (a team of 27 from Oregon) was able to move my existing pharmacy shelves to the new clinic, (though they pulled them all apart) and rebuilt them. I now have a thousand dollars’ worth of shelves in the new pharmacy – 5 shelves about 40 ft long. It’s getting its last coat of paint this weekend and hopefully next week I can start filling them. That is one ‘looked forward to’ project. Right now I have my meds scattered in so many places. It will be wonderful to have it all in one place and be able to see what we have. Hopefully we can keep the rats out of it, since the doors aren’t in yet. (We have steel doors in already.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The container with all the furniture for the new clinic is enroute. It also has the wooden doors. Pray that customs won’t take long. Right now there’s a major hold up at customs, and they’ve basically stopped for this year. They say they’ll start again in Feb. That seems a long time to wait since we’re this close to done.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I don’t think I’ve written here about the way God blessed us with the needed clinic stuff. A friend, Dell, from Victoria works with getting stuff together for missions, and she filled a container for us. She had so many ‘Divine provisions’ it is awesome to hear. For example, a 5 room clinic called her up and said they’re remodeling the whole thing, and she has a day or so to come pick up anything she wants; including consultation tables, chairs, cupboards, dental chair, otoscopes, blood pressure machines, etc etc. SO awesome! Even a little used X-ray machine from a cruise ship, where of course you have to have the ultimate and change them every so often.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TRTrsynIv5I/AAAAAAAAB9g/Tvpkmu_aoWo/s320/P1060355.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554323395187359634" /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This has been a very slow month at the clinic, due to all the political unrest and, I imagine, the holidays, and everyone saving up their money. We’ve only had one day with over 60 patients. This isn’t a good month for it to happen, since in Haiti you have to pay your employees and extra month of wages in December for a bonus but God has and always will provide. We have added a guy to our staff that is an x-ray technician. Until we have the x-ray going, he is working in the pharmacy. Our doctor is working out real well too. He is perfect for our needs here. He understands the culture, teaches the nurses, and loves kids, so fits in at Canaan as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Yesterday we took the staff out to a little restaurant for a holiday celebration. They enjoyed it, especially after they got their gifts!! <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> We were blessed with friends that came down from Canada, and who brought good gifts for all of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’re not doing a lot of Christmas celebration this year, but plan a big New Year’s celebration. (New Year is also Haiti’s Independence Day). We have a group coming on the 27<sup>th</sup>, and they’re bringing turkey and ham, so it should be good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Many of you have heard of the political unrest here. Right now things are calm again. The corruptness in the government is incredible. I don’t support the violence that went on but I can’t help applauding the people of Haiti trying to let their voice be heard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How can or should they react to this type of government and foreign control here? They have postponed further elections till after the holidays. Apparently now they’re deciding between 3 people for president. But basically everyone knows who’ll get in – the one that has the current government and foreign people backing him up; the one that put in millions of false ballots before people even started voting. The one that shouldn’t even have entered the top list if everything had been done legally. But, TIH! (This Is Haiti)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This year is almost over. What a year! I can’t believe how many things can happen in a country in one year. This has been such an eventful year in Haiti – the earthquake, which was an unbelievable and surreal happening, the hurricane (which was really scary for Haiti, because it had the potential to kill hundreds of thousands. Thankfully God spared the P au P area, which is where the majority of people in tents are), the cholera which killed over 2,000 people and sickened almost 100,000 thousand and continues in its deadly path, and then the elections, which turned deadly for many. And between all this, people suffering from hunger, loss of everything they had, loss of family, sickness, and discouragement. I know most of you reading this cannot grasp this kind of life. I cannot grasp it, and I drive by it all the time. Once in awhile it really hits me, but the helplessness that I feel in those times is not a “comfortable” feeling and I don’t think I have learned yet how to respond to it. How much do we avoid the “uncomfortableness” of a situation and therefore do not do anything? (just something to reflect on in our lives).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>And yet, in spite of all this, the Haitian people still live and survive. The numbers in tents is slowing going down. From July to Dec it went from 1.5 million to 1.0 million. It’s good or rather better than nothing, but imagine a million people still living in a tent.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Let's pray this coming year will be a good year for Haiti. Pray for a better government. Pray for funds and jobs for the people. Pray for the people caring and trying to help. And thank God for His protection.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hope you all have a good Christmas and a fruitfull and good new year.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Elsie</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-64084103870779819242010-11-10T17:35:00.006-05:002010-12-24T14:11:34.612-05:00Cholera<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">You never know what life will bring here. That’s the interesting part of living here, though not always easy to know what to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Monday we had a boy fall outside the clinic. We brought him in. Skinny as can be, probably about 12-13 yrs old. He was dehydrated, and said he hadn’t eaten in 3 days. We gave him IV and some food. He had come with another young girl and her 3 yr old sister.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">We had some people visiting from a neighboring mission, and they found it in their heart to take the boy in temporarily. He said his dad had died in the earthquake and his mom had died of cholera. Bless these missionaries! They have great hearts. We warned them about getting it legal, about getting a family member to come sign; I encouraged them to wait till next week. They asked me if I believed him, and I told them the story is to set up. It’s not likely both parents die in tragedies like these.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">(He was taken up to his home town today, and low and behold, both his parents were there. The mom had been really mad at him making up such a story. Apparently he’s having “bad habits” problems, which is why he’s so thin.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">At 4 p.m., I took our doctor Jean Robert, Nick (a guy that’s here for a week) and a patient and we went to a hospital 3 miles down the road. We wanted to try doing an Ultrasound, though now I know that was just something God used to get us there.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">While there, Nick (who had come with teams to volunteer at that hospital several times this year already) wondered over to the public patient area on the other side, which they had open to cholera patients. All the others left cause they don't want to be there with those patients. Judy and Susan, a couple of our visiting nurses were with us, (Judy has been helping both in St Marc with the cholera patients and in PP the week the team was there). They found two men dead from cholera, lying there, and 8 other patients, some with IVs, some not. They talked with the nurse and she showed them her supplies. She had no more LR left and only two 500 ml Sodium Cloride, very few gloves, the limited intracatheters of course, no alcohol, no bleach, and patients vomiting and having diarrhea all over and no buckets for them. It wasn't a pretty picture. We asked her if they really didn't have more stuff or just hadn't given her more. She didn't know, said "maybe" they have more, but that's all she had. By now it's past 5 and no doctors around. So we asked the nurse if it would be ok if we took some patients (the worst ones) to St Marc, and she said that would be no problem; in fact, she looked very relieved</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">So we took 3 kids, a 3 or 4 yr old boy who was vomiting a lot when we got there, and they weren't able to put an IV in again, but did seem a little more stable later but who's father was one of the two dead men lying there (they had come in together that morning), a teenage girl from that morning who lay barely conscious and very sunken eyes, and a 6-8 yr old girl from a local orphanage in Montrouis that looked like death, and went to St Marc. The sight there was INCREDIBLE! You can't imagine unless you're there. People everywhere. They've built these tarp over wood beams shelters on the lawn and everywhere. They're big. The "triage" where we ended up must have had 100 patients. They have narrow, 3 strips metal benches, maybe 6-8 rows and maybe 60-80 ft long and ALL head to toe with people on IVs. Strings across the room allow you to hang as many as you can. Total at the hospital they figured they had about 400 cholera patients, but I'm sure they didn't have all counted. The 3 we brought in were attended without registering. The leading doctor, from Spain, was very nice, and attentive, right there with the patients, and grateful we had brought them in and said they would turn no cholera patients away. He took one look at our little girl and there were about 4 people trying to get an IV in on each limb, and one putting in an NG tube because it seemed almost impossible. That girl was almost gone. They had to check the heart several times. I was impressed by all they were doing. We could see everyone was busy. They told us where to lay them (squeeze everyone closer!!) and soon Dr Carlos checked the little girl. She looked so bad, I can’t believe she made it, but she did, thanks to the many doctors that worked urgently on getting a vein to take fluids. Meanwhile, other patients’ family members would call us to check their family member’s IV. Because they want to get so much fluid into them, they have the IVs going fast, and so often run dry, and sometimes stop working. So for a long time, I went around, hanging new ones and a few times, starting new IVs. They were so grateful. I can still see both the patients and family members faces relax a little with each new IV bag that was hung. To them, this is life (and for many of them it literally is). (good place to practice IV starts, especially since they’re dehydrated!). Just truly an amazing sight!!! I’ve never seen so many critical patients in one area. At the same time, it can be cured and treated, and quite fast. You would see them bring a patient in that seemed lifeless and an hour later and a few IV solutions, their eyes have stopped the glassy looked and they look more relaxed and less scared.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">We told the doctor about the hospital that didn’t have supplies and they ended up giving us 3 boxes of RL and other supplies to take to the hospital for the patients there (which was good because I felt bad leaving anyone behind; but it didn't help to find the nurse sleeping while IVs were dry)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">We got home a little before 10 p.m.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Today was another busy day. The eventful thing was a 2 ¼ kg baby that came in (I can’t believe how many preemies have come lately!) This one was brought in by the aunt. Said her dad had died after being shot several months ago. The mom died 3 days ago; she had had a bad vision about the father coming to her as a zombie (real here in Haiti) and attacking and beating her. In the morning she got a fever and died that day. How do you deal with that? This is something they believe in. Anyway, I helped the aunt with some things, and hopefully she’ll come back in a week to see how the baby is.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Whew! These 2 days feel longer than two days!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-20354129502140382152010-11-04T16:07:00.005-05:002010-11-04T17:12:49.595-05:00God's Miraculous day.Hello from Haiti,<div><br /></div><div>As the possible third tradgedy of the year is arriving, you can sense a lot of fear in the Haitian people. I don't blame them. It's been a devastating year. The Cholera is still going strong. We heard it was slowing down, but apparently it's picking up again. They admitted almost a hundred new patients to the St Marc hospital yesterday. Apparently over 400 deaths yesterday. There are many people that never make it to the hospitals. How I would love to drive and take them there. Judy, our visiting nurse that's helping out there this week says it's awful. The rooms filled from 20 to 40 to 60 in a room now. The families take care of the diarrhea and the nurses are kept busy hanging IVs for hydration. They lose all minerals so fast! A couple IVs can bring a blood pressure up from 60/40 to 130/70 and warm up the ice cold hands due to lack of circulation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now Hurricane Tomas is on the horizon. I believe God can still put it on another path if it's his will. Already it looks like it'll hit only the southern tip of Haiti. Still, it'll probably produce a lot of rain, the first of which is just starting here at 4:15. Supposedely the worst is to hit around midnight. We're preparing here by filling all the water tanks so the wind can't blow them over, boarding up some windows, or moving things away from windows. We've bought extra food. Because we're on a hill, I expect we will be fine. You can pray for our safety, but more than ours, pray for the 1.3 million people still living in tents. We heard the government was starting to evacuate them... but where to.... Nobody seems to know. Can't imagine many have a place to go. Even just big rains causes a problem for them. Flash floods have already killed many this year. With so few trees, the ground goes too. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've continued busy with Chibelson, up until last night. I think God has an awesome plan for him. He’s sure going to a lot of trouble for him. Or maybe it’s not trouble for him but fun! Can you imagine God sitting up there, looking down and thinking, “Hah! Let’s see what the cute little people down there will do with a bitty thing that’s needy. I’ll get a chance to show them a glimpse of me and that’ll be fun.”</div><div> <p class="MsoNormal">So since last blog, we’ve had him at home and the visiting nurses have done the primary care with the rest of us pitching in, especially days when there is no clinic or school. He continued to be very fussy – more than before I think. I can just imagine the ureters hurting with a stone in each.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We’ve been quite concerned about his continued care. I think actually we could have found specialists here, but everything takes time. So we decided to start the process of going to the States.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first step was finding a Pediatric Urologist. Kendall, who came down to teach, had a friend that was friends with one, so she contacted him to see if he would take care of him for free (for this kind of permit, all medical care has to be free or paid by someone in the US). His response was “I already heard about this baby”. A doctor friend of his (2 actually I think) that he goes to church with had talked to him about Chevy. He said of course he’d take him. Kendall’s family was happy to host him and pay for those expenses, so then we needed to find a hospital that would take him when needed. The hospitals didn’t want to take him without a diagnosis, and the doctors didn’t want to give a diagnosis without seeing him. Then Tuesday morning, the doctor said (and in writing) that he would take responsibility for the full medical costs. Which means if the hospital doesn’t want to do it free, he’s responsible to pay if no one else does. Quite the commitment! Guess he feels pretty sure his relationship with the hospital will get them to give it free. What a doctor, eh?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Monday and Tuesday were National Holidays here - called the day of the dead, which is the start of voodoo season (not a coincidence that it falls the day after Halloween – after all that celebrates and fears the dead spirits as well, ‘put on those masks so the dead spirit won’t recognize you). This meant we couldn't do anything.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday morning, 5 AM I took Kendall and Chevy to Port. She went prepared to leave with him. Somehow I had peace that it would happen, but how I did not know. Robin, a lady in the US that has coordinated a lot of trips and paperwork for Haitian people since the earthquake, had sent all the US papers to the Embassy already and put us in contact with the the director. She also had a private jet she sent, which was here before noon (what faith). Remember this kid doesn't even have a passport. So we met with the director, explained our situation, presented all our papers. He said he'd see what he could do. It has to be emailed to the US and they give the approval over there whether he can go to the US on an emergency medical parole. He explained with that, he could enter the US but he couldn't do anything about a permit for him to leave Haiti. He said anymore it's impossible for someone to leave the country without a passport. I looked at him and said, "I believe in a God that can do the impossible, so I'd like us to try anyway". He looked at me, and finally said, "Well, I can do my best on our side but I can't do anything about the Haitian side." I'm like that's fine; we appreciate anything he can do. We spent the morning basically waiting at the Embassy and finally about 11:00 he said it's been approved (very strange to be approved that fast). We were elated and hopefull. He slipped us a paper with the name, phone numbers and email of the Minister of the Interior and told us never to tell anyone who gave it (I haven't told you either name so I'm not breaching the confidence, right?)</p><p class="MsoNormal">Oh and I forgot to say that the dad, instead of coming with us, had to go make an ID for himself (didn't have anything!) and get a paper from St Marc which is the opposite direction that would give Kendall the custody of Chevy so she could travel with him. So at noon we met up with him and Sister Gladys and Pastor Henri and we all drove straight to the Ministry of the Interior, thinking it would be pointless to try getting a passport at this stage since it was so late already and we couldn't get a hold of the Minister of the Interioe. So we went to her office. The place had moved and we lost a lot of time searching it, but finally found it only to find she wasn't in. I'm glad Gladys was with us - she can get things done. So after being sent to the third office, we talked with a man who obviously had some power in the place, (Henri says he's an angel) and he got in the vehicle with us and took us to the director of the Immigration - top guy. Nothing like going straight to the top. By then it's past 2:30 and our pilot said they HAVE to leave by 4 p.m. And we haven't started with the passport. So the guy talks a bit. Well we have to have passport photos for Chevy; so we run across the street where they take pictures on the busy streets (indescribably; you have to be there to believe it; and Gladys is trying to hurry everyone and it's wild. Then we find out the ID the dad was to get is useless, so we quickly take photos of him too hoping that with the paper (basically a receipt with his name) will be enough. In the process Gladys finds a paper where he gave custody to Canaan in the beginning, and they decide that's enough. We get back to the director (by now it's past 3) and he says he can't do anything because all his employees have left early because of the hurricane warnings. He said he can't go into the computer and make a passport. He doesn't have that kind of authority, especially since Chevy wasn't even in the system yet. If he had something to print out maybe he could, but now he can't. We keep telling we already have a plane that's waiting and will leave at 4 and we just need a paper with his signature to leave. He's getting frustrated with us too I'm sure. He's like, just like we can't call back a plane when it's already left, so he can't call back his employees. He goes out of the room for what felt like a long time, and meanwhile Gladys tells me when he comes back to just ask again nicely if he couldn't just sign a paper that they would accept at the airport because we don't need a passport to enter the USA. I start asking him when he finally came back and he bruskly just told me to wait. About 2 minutes later he hands me a paper he just signed and calmly says "This should get you through". We were all in a little unbelieving shock because by now it's like 3:40 already. All of a sudden, "Let's go, lets go, grab the baby and go!!!" It was so hilarioius actually. I called the piot and told him we got it, we'll be there as fast as we can. Traffic was bad, but we got there to the small airport and absolutely no problem. I don't know if they even looked at the papers. By 5:15 they were gone. Whew!! What adrenaline!</p><p class="MsoNormal">It was a test all day whether we had faith to really get it. Strangely, I did. I was pretty sure we would, because things looked so impossible. I just felt God wanted this day to show that he can do the impossible and I had a good peace all day. Even when the director said "It's too late" I thought, "I don't think this is the end. It can't be. It's not like God." That's why when he said "this'll get you through' I saw even more clearly "Exactly like God!!!" </p><p class="MsoNormal">It was a full day of miracles. Robin says she's never had the US give parole that fast. Meeting the guy that took us to the director was a miracle. The director's action was a miracle. </p><p class="MsoNormal">What a relief when we saw Chevy's plane lift up. They got to Miami safely, even if it was more than an hour later than what the pilot said was the latest. They arrived in Knoxville before midnight. It's strange to think of him being in the US right now. Kendall is planning to bring him back when she returns in January for school. Meanwhile let's pray he'll get all the treatment he needs and God will guide the surgeon's hands.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for all who have been praying for him. God answered all those prayers in a miraculous way! May that encourage all of you to continue in even more faith!!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Let's use that faith also to pray for Haiti in this time!!</p><p class="MsoNormal">I was going to include pictures but they're not uploading and I want to send this because who knows how long the internet will be on. </p><p class="MsoNormal">God bless and protect us all!!!!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Elsie</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-10439047557660864882010-10-21T22:00:00.000-05:002010-10-22T07:45:14.926-05:00Chevy<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">I wonder how often I’ll be interrupted while writing this blog or how many days it will take. </span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> Maybe I should just set a cut off time. Or just make it quick, eh?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Last Wednesday I flew to Costa Rica to arrange some financial issues for me that came up and I arrived back Monday morning. I feel like I landed having to run and haven’t stopped since.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">I got back to Canaan at around 9:30. Only a short time with my baby Caleb, whom I think I missed more than he me, and I dropped him off at the nursery again. He, by the way, got his second cute tooth while I was away. He is developing nicely, basically does whatever babies can do at 8 months – maybe more. He doesn’t walk alone but can walk along his crib and crawls under and into things. And his laughs are a joy to hear, especially if you’re the reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Our Haitian doctor, Jean Robert Celicourt (Cuban trained), arrived that morning and was waiting for me to take him down to the clinic. Also having arrived on the weekend while I was away were 3 Canadian nurses, here for 5-8 weeks. So off to the clinic! I worked with the doctor awhile, just to see how he works and to orientate him to our way of doing things. I think he’ll be good. He’s not totally fluent in English but thankfully he is in Spanish, so I actually have a fluent way to communicate with him (and I can talk so the patients or others don’t understand </span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">) <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">The nurses I think were feeling a little bit like, what will we be doing here – since we don’t really have translators so they can’t actually see patients. Now I think they’re counting the days till Sat when they will take a break. I am so glad they’re here. Not sure what I would have done without them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Monday night Chibelson got sick. He’s the baby I took in after the family just did not feed him the Mamba correctly. He has been doing great and last week he graduated with sufficient weight (in 6 weeks with what’s calculated to take 8 weeks). He’s had great caretakers. Maira from Canada for 2 weeks, then Ashley from SD came to dedicate a month to him. He has been sick off and on, not unusual for such a malnourished baby (He’s 10 months now, weighing just over 5 kg (11 pounds) which for his height is normal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He still has a lot of catching up to do for his age developmentally though.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Last week while I was gone they took him to a doctor in Port but Monday night he got sick – worse. The 3 nurses have taken over his care, since Ashley left Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They woke me at 3 a.m., and I in turn woke the doctor (what else do we have him living here for? (But quite the start to his life here). He didn’t think it was urgent so we waited till morning to make changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Basically kept observing him all day Tuesday. His problem was that since about midnight he vomited everything he took in, low-grade fever and didn’t void (pee) or poop. We even feared a partial bowel obstruction, which now I don’t believe was the case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Wednesday we took him to Port – question is where? Last time the University of Miami field hospital didn’t receive us because they were too busy but I decided to make that our first try again. Sometimes I will use my “blanc” color to my advantage. I walked to the gate, they opened without any questions, and I walked straight into the peds ward, where I had been before and asked for a pediatrician. I knew that wasn’t exactly correct protocol, but I figured I had a better chance of getting attended. And it worked. After a bit, he looked at me and asked “How did you get in here anyway? I told them at the gate to triage everybody.” I guess God knew.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">They gave him 400 cc IV fluids, and he still didn’t urinate. They catheterized him and got a little bit but not enough. Basically the doctor said, “Go home, you can do as much at home as we can here if you can contact your doctors for help. If he doesn’t start voiding, you can bring him back and I’ll call around for someone to tell me what to do for him.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Not exactly what we wanted to hear. He didn’t improve yesterday at all. This afternoon, he’s voided a little bit 3 times which is an excellent sign, but not NEARLY enough for what he’s drinking. He is in some kind of renal failure, and that’s not something to play around with. I’m ready to take him back in the morning. Or anyplace where someone can help him. In fact, we heard Mercy Ship is in Haiti, but we don’t have a way to contact them. Anybody know??<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">So we’re praying and going one day at a time… Please join us in the next few days. This little fellow has gotten into many hearts. His life has been a constant struggle, especially since his mom died at 2 months of age, but I’m imagining even earlier, since she was sick since he was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I contacted his family today while waiting at the hospital in Pierre Payen for blood work, and 3 of his mom’s cousins came. They seemed to care, but when I asked if they were going to take him, or leave him at Canaan, they said leave him, without even hesitating. I’m a little relieved to tell the truth. I didn’t want to give him back. This ill, or if he has a chronic problem, he’d never make it there.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Well if I want to send this tonight before the power goes off, it means soon. Not much time to write about the last month here, but it has been a hive of activity. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">School is in session, and going well. Teri came for a couple weeks in Aug, went home for 5 and is now back, long term. She’s in charge of the school and doing a fantastic job, with all its challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Kendall is doing awesome with teaching reading to the kids. Many kids are learning to read that have been in grade one for a few years. She changed the way of teaching, and we plan to KEEP her here. Her family had better be letting her go. </span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol; mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Caroline has arrived to take Bobi’s place with the Medika Mamba program, and is learning fast. It can get quite challenging. All 3 are focusing on learning the Creole language.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">I was happy to have Wayne, my friend, pastor and mentor here for a few days end of September. He doesn’t come often enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">First week in October was a busy, interesting week. We had a team of about 40 people come, most from South Carolina. They worked in different groups – nurses at the clinic, dental tech and helper saw and cleaned all the kids and staff and pastors’ teeth, pastors had seminar for 40 Haitian pastors who stayed here for those days, about 5 guys were in the kitchen (they took over the kitchen cooking for everyone), work crew painted the clinic – huge job, among other projects, some had school duties, and I think I’m missing some. Anyway, lots got done. They were a great, organized and refreshing group. Thank you!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">The trauma and challenge of this week is that someone broke the metal doors that house our water pump and stole it and all that goes with it. So now it means conserving water like never before and what we have gets hauled in. Not fun. Pastor Henri found most supplies in Port; now to buy them. Costs almost $3,000.00. But that’s an essential.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Many of you probably have heard about the deaths in Haiti. Rumor has it that it’s Cholera but don’t know if it’s been confirmed. As of this morning, it wasn’t – I got that straight from the Health meetings that go on weekly in Port. However symptoms and deaths sure sound like it. Though the outbreak is 2 hours north of here, they are being taken to the hospital in St Marc and people there are quarantined which is only about 20 miles north of here. We are not in danger but the whole country needs to take precautions. It can spread so fast. That area is Haiti’s best agricultural area, but the water is awful – often brown. We are starting to teach the kids preventive measures. Pray it doesn’t spread. One report said over 140 people have died. Others put it at lower, but hundreds have already gotten sick. Symptoms are fever, vomiting, and extreme diarrhea. Haiti does NOT need this! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">And now I need to end this before the generator ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Keep praying! It’s a challenging week.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Elsie<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-69259149579781202392010-09-13T18:38:00.006-05:002010-09-14T08:04:44.967-05:00Canaan new kids<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And lives continue to be changed.....</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Today, life changed for 3 Haitian children. They came to live at Canaan Christian Community, and with it the opportunity of a totally different life to what they would have had before. Not everything will always be glorious for them I'm sure, but they will have the normal future opportunities that all children in the world should have - a chance to be loved, a chance for an education, and a chance for a future. So many Haitian children don't have all three. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Juveterson (nickname Sonson) and Stephania (nickname FaFan) Plaisir are brother and sister - no mom. Sonson is 5 yrs old and Fafan is 3. Mykenly Saintelmy will be 5 months old on the 19th of Sept. I took them down to the clinic for a bit of a physical. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I also took Caleb and Maralucia for weight checks. Caleb is 7 months old today and weighs 16 pounds. Honestly, that's a lot of weight to be carrying around all the time. My shoulder is feeling it (or is it because of my age :( ? I feel this last month he has become a lot more solid weight. Having said that, I guess he's not all that heavy, cause the other babies seem to be passing him. Mykenly (2 months younger) is the same weight (he was breastfed). Taina was only about 300 grams behind him a month ago. I'm not worried. Nobody looking at Caleb thinks he's malnourished. :) I guess I just got what I wished for in the beginning - I said I'd rather not have a baby with all those big rolls (though they make the baby look healthy, I don't want to carry that weight around - selfish, I know). Caleb continues to be such a joy - with a pleasant personality, very quick to laugh, and catching on to things quickly. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">This last week, we had a preemie come to the clinic - the baby was born from 7 months and weighs 1.2 kg. (2.6 lbs) The mom needs a breast pump - would anyone have or know of one they'd be able to donate? We have people coming soon that could bring it if you could mail it to them (Both US and Canada). Can't be electric. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">So Chibelson, the baby we took in 2 weeks ago is doing so awesome!!! He gained more in 4 days with us than the 10 weeks prior with the family (and we gave them Mamba for him as well). He's becoming more active and happy too, holding his head up well, and alert to what's going on (after all, he's 9 months already. He weighed 4 kg (8.7 lbs) on Tuesday). You can hardly see his ribs anymore. He's also following Maira around with his eyes. She's leaving next Monday - has done such an awesome job with him. This Friday we have Ashley coming to take over for her. Which is just in time. He needs a little more care, since he gets fed Mamba basically every hour. Pray about his future in 2 months. I don't want to give him back (nobody else does either). I think everybody is hoping the family won't come back for him, which is a possibility. They haven't proved they want to take care of a baby. </div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We have hired another baby caretaker (Asmine), just in time. We now have 5 babies under a year at Canaan. That's interesting, since it's been probably 7 years since they had a baby here. In the mornings the 2 ladies take care of at least 4 of them (Yolene takes care of her own usually, and sometimes helps with the others). They're a little overwhelmed by it today since the new one came, but they'll get the hang of it. First while he may be a little hard because he's used to breastfeeding. The mom just felt she could not take care of him; she has a two year old as well and since the earthquake can't find their father. I can't imagine I guess how difficult that would be - not having anything and losing the one person that might help with the family. He's a cute, chubby baby, as you'll see in the picture if I ever get it uploaded. It's so difficult to upload onto the blog.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">OK, gotta go.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">P.S.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I gave up with the pictrues. See if this link to my FB works:</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1564603&id=1058022139&ref=fbx_album</div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-78496006773425647272010-09-02T21:47:00.009-05:002010-09-03T08:16:36.664-05:00Benjamin Chivelson<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;">I look at what my life was like 3 years ago and what it is now, and nobody would recognize me by what I do. Before, my life revolved so much around myself - all I did was work 9-5 to make money for myself, read, watch TV and once in awhile visit people. Now it's been weeks since I read a book, don't own TV, and my work doesn't pay. In my free time, I take care of my baby, write blogs, clean my house, talk to people that are visiting here, and to unwind at night, sometimes do suduko. Right now I wouldn't go back to the old life. Yes, it has many advantages, like drop your clothes in the washer at any time, pick them up half an hour later, drop them in the dryer, and voilà - they're done! Or, driving on the road without getting frustrated at the incourteous drivers, or the comfortable weather (if it's hot, switch on the fan or a/c). Instead, I spend all evening doing my laundry in a washing machine where the ONLY thing that works is the washing motor (all the switches and the spinner have stopped working), plus you do it in the evening, it's hot (WHEN will summer be over here?), and I try to figure out what to do with a malnourished baby.</span><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">That has been the challenge this week, and I'm left astounded at how God answers prayers!! I'm praising Him! Not 24 hours after posting on Facebook about needing someone to help with this baby, I had someone offer to pay for his care. Not 48 hours later, I had someone actually respond saying she might be able to come do it for a month. Thank you, Ashley!!! I think God has a plan for this child. He's almost 9 months old and weighs 3.9 kg (about 8.5 pounds). He came to us about 10-12 weeks ago and was put in the Mamba program, but he has not been gaining well. There are only 2 reasons why a child does not gain well in the program - one is if they have HIV, it can be very challenging, or some other severe disease (though they can still gain). The other is the more common reason - THE CHILD DOES NOT GET THE MAMBA. This is what I believe is the case with this baby - Chibelson. (HIV is negative) I don't think the family is giving it to him. His mother died, he's brought here by a young aunt, but the sickly grandmother takes care of him at home. He has a dad, but apparently does not take care of him either. He has that unkempt look. I am really looking forward to seeing how he will look in 2 month of taking care of him. I will post a picture of him then.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TIDrGbQn-5I/AAAAAAAABzw/8TOat38RME0/s320/Aug+10,+2010+040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512664439530716050" /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">I asked the family to bring him tomorrow for our decision. Please pray that everything goes well. We always make a paper with the judge, just in case something happens to him while he's in our care. Maira, a nurse that is visiting here from Edmonton, has offered to take care of him till Ashley gets here. That is so good of her, because he will need a lot of care and there goes most of her free time. Kendall, our first grade teacher, has also offered to help when out of school, so "many hands make light work".</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">School opened here today and most of the kids are excited. They're all walking around in their crisp uniforms, looking good. Kendall came for 3 months to teach the learning to read class. We're hoping she likes it enough to stay the year (I think there's a chance of persuading her :) - if she can just get used to the cockroaches. Teri is here for a couple weeks now, but planning to come back in October long term. Pray for her as she returns and prepares everything. It is a huge commitment, but her heart is here in Haiti, and I think she'll do great. She is overseeing the school, kind of being Gladys' eyes and hands.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Maira, who is a nurse (muslim) and a great person to have around, came for a month. We have lots of fun conversations about the differences in culture and beliefs. She is not Suni, the traditional muslims, so it's not so strange for her. She's leaving the 20th.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Sunday a week ago, we had a baptismal. Kendall had never been baptized and really wanted too, and then two of the other guys requested it too. Estime and Dionel. This was special. These guys came to work with the pigs a couple years ago, and have slowly through their faithfullness, learned to do a lot more. They get to all the odds and ends jobs, many of the difficult ones. Estime has learned construction and does a lot of the building now. It's great to see them opening up slowly, from very shy guys, to participating more in things.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We are in the process of hiring a couple doctors and an RN for our clinic. This will change a lot of how we do things, but it's good. We still Both need to sit down again and decide on the last things. As soon as that's done, they can start work. Both are trained in Cuba, so have a bit better education than locally trained. are Christians and seem to have the desire to help people, rather than make a lot of money.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">And Caleb is continuing to grow beautifully, learning things like standing up in his crib, holding his own bottle (it's fun to see him learn to do that. He holds it, then gets distracted and it falls and he quickly grabs it). He still loves people but is becomming a little bit more of a mommy baby. His delight at seeing me is so evident, it's hard to say no. He's eating quite a bit and loves it. Which is good, cause we're running out of formula for our babies. We'll have to see what we do about that, especially if we're getting two more. Besides Chibelson, we have another baby waiting to come. The only reason he hasn't is that we haven't been able to afford hiring someone to take care of him. He was two months when we agreed to take him - now about 4 or 5.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Here's a way to help if someone wants to. We're finding out how much it costs to have babies. The salary here is more for taking care of babies than other jobs (more responsibility, I guess). It's atleast $100.00 a month. Right now Canaan isn't able to add that salary to what they're receiving. We've already got one person offering to pay the salary of one. We'll probably have to hire two people (maybe not right away, since Ashley is coming) but having 4 babies (not counting the one that has a mom here), will take 3 people for when they need time off, etc. So if you have it in your heart to help with the salary or supplies, or to come here for a year, let me know!! :) I take care of Caleb, but still need someone for him when I work.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">We're working with getting Canaan's paperwork finished (becoming a Cresh) so adoptions can start. Meanwhile, I'm working at gathering all the things I need myself. Just getting a list of what I need is taking frustratingly long. But, "Patience is a virtue", right?</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Well these are the highlights of what's going on around here. Please continue to pray for us, that God will provide all our needs, in His time.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; ">Elsie</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "><br /></span></div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-15161452199908238982010-08-05T21:28:00.000-05:002010-08-05T21:37:20.036-05:00MambaTuesday<br /><br />Today again reminded me of how blessed we are. Something I forgot just now as I was complaining with myself because one of our inverters burned out, which means, right now no internet (maybe things can be rewired later), and for me personally, no fridge in my room, no fan at night, and a dictated time to go to bed because no lights. But during the day I got a glimpse into the lives of others, and I have NO REASON to complain.<br /><br />One lady especially touched me. She has a 1 yr old who's in the Medika Mamba program. She hasn't been doing the greatest so I'm trying to probe into her lifestyle to see why. She gets up at 4 a.m. to walk to where she works the corn fields all day. She takes her little girl with her. She arrives home at 10 p.m. Every day she says. And I'm trying to tell her to feed her girl 8 times a day. She feeds her twice a day. Imagine for a minute replacing your life with hers....<br /><br />Two other babies, one 10 days older than Caleb and one 2 months older, weigh exactly half of what Caleb does. It's so hard to compare the two. Caleb is so joyful and a picture of health. The only difference is - Caleb got milk 6 times a day. The one that's 8 months is especially hard to see - I so badly want to take him from the family. He doesn't have a mom but does have a dad. He's been in the program for about 7 weeks and hasn't gained much. I know it has to do with the family feeding him. Is it decent of me to take the baby away from them? I'm not one to do that, but would it save his life?<br /><br />We had 49 kids in the program come today - long day. Today was Jessica's last day. She came 2 months ago, and was a godsend, what with Bobi leaving. We have someone coming to replace her but not until end of September, so I guess till then, I'll be helping my Haitian nurse with them all every week. <br /><br />OK, it's Thursday night by now. - Laundrys finished, Baby bathed, and internet will go out in an hour and I still have more to do.... So I'm ending this here. Our internet has been off because one of our inverters burned. We're hoping to get a part from the US with someone coming on Sunday. Pray they'll find it. Two days' not a lot of time. That requires patience here too. It means no battery backup at night for fans and fridge, and we can't have all the freezers running and no internet during the day. So praying for a speedy fix.<br /><br />God bless you!Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-23694072148625350212010-07-28T16:45:00.000-05:002010-07-28T16:46:52.449-05:00Back at CanaanSo Monday, after a bit of a rough start, I'm back full swing. A 2 hour delay because of engine problems in Miami resulted in not arriving here till after 8 p.m. Then there was no water, which meant no shower and no cleaning a very dirty house - which gets much dirtier here after 3 weeks of no use - after all, it's not empty. There were lots of spiders and lizards still inhabiting inside. Caleb was asleep but it was wonderful to hold him again!<br /><br />Yesterday was Mamba day, and busy as ever. 53 medical patients (many of them babies) and almost 50 Mamba patients made for a lot of children. In the afternoon it was housecleaning emergency, then later some of us went to visit a 10 day old baby they had sent to the hospital the day before. He is malformed - his genitals and belly button are almost in the same place, which can easily cause urinary infection. Hopefully the surgeon coming next month can fix him.<br /><br />It's been so good to be with Caleb again. He is such a happy baby - I don't think it is just because I'm back. At first I didn't think he recognized me - he's so interested in all that's going on about him and we were outside. But when I got him to focus, he reached for my face and started almost screeching, like he had so much to tell me. The funny thing was that was his reaction almost every time throughout the day. He didn't do that with others. So needless to say, he's happy.<br /><br />He had his first fall today. One of the girls was holding him, and standing him on a chair. Not sure if she let go or what but all of a sudden he was tumbling off like a ball. He made a clean summersault onto the tile floor, landing on his back. After a crying spell, he seems OK - didn't seem to injure his back or neck. <br /><br />We have a team of 8 people here from the World Race group. They go to missions in 11 countries, in 11 months. Sounds exotic but I imagine they have their many challenges. This group is leaving Friday and another group is coming, I believe.<br /><br />Today we have another group of 12 coming. <br /><br />Guess what I would ask prayer for this week is just for patience. With so many people coming and going, it's hard to stay in a routine that's established and sometimes even an invasion of personal space. I suppose I should be used to it by now, and it is great to have them come but ... Patience is always needed with a lot of things - patience till the hottest time of the day is over, patience when things aren't done efficiently to our American mentality, patience in getting rid of spiders, .... I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. And when it can't be done, God does miracles. Yesterday our generator wasn't working. When the guy didn't show up to fix it, Pastor Henri told one of the other guys: Let's pray, then go start it. It started perfectly. Praise Him, who knows our needs!<br /><br />I'm not gonna make this a long one, but want to try and keep more up to date. <br /><br />God bless you for your interest in the work here and for praying. Thank you!<br /><br />Elsie<br /><br />p.s.<br />I was going to try to upload pictures, but the pictures symbol isn't appearing. Internet's been too slow anyways. If I can later I will.Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-74120083540131095632010-06-05T08:23:00.011-05:002010-07-14T21:11:14.718-05:00Long time...Hello<br /><div><br /></div><div>I don't even want to look at the date when I sent my last blog. I apologize for the long time. Things have been extremely busy and I guess my focus has been elsewhere. I promise I will try to do better next time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a little recap on the last couple months. </div><div><br /></div><div>May: We had 3 teams in. First an electrical team that started redoing the wiring at Canaan (much needed). That is a big project and of course they couldn't do all. Then we had a team of hard workers come from Colorado. These guys started digging the big cistern for water on top of our hill behind us. That is an extremely difficult job, as you have to dig and pick at rocks. We're still having guys digging but the rain and mud in it are holding up the progress. Then a family from my church in northern BC and friends of theirs came. They're also electricians and they wired the new clinic (YEAAA!!) They worked hard and probably did the wiring in about 2-3 days, but we're in Haiti so they had to go into Port a couple times for needed items. It was awesome to have them here.</div><div><br /></div>June:<div>The 1st, we had 3 girls come to help with Mamba and whatever - Morgan stayed a month, Chelsea 6 weeks, and Jessica 2 months. They have been a big blessing. </div><div>On the 1st we also got a team that came for a week to do VBS with the kids.</div><div>The day they left, another team came for a week. There's always lots to do here.</div><div>The day they left, the ACE group leaders came. A couple days later, 50 more people came. They are from the ACE school that we use, and they were busy working on redoing all the school desks and making large bulletin boards. I was amazed how well it worked, hosting so many extra people. They had great leadership and direction.</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing that happened that was monumental, and not so nice for Canaan was that Marcus and Bobi left. With Bobi expecting a baby, they decided to go home. They will be missed a lot, but we pray God's continued blessing on their lives as they settle back down in the US as a married couple to raise their family. Marcus was at Canaan for one school year, and Bobi was there for about 20 months.</div><div><br /></div><div> We also had 3 med students plus Stephanie, a friend that is now a nurse practitioner for a week. They were kept busy at the clinic. We had many sick and challenging patients that week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Caleb continues to be very much in the center of things when I'm not at the clinic. He is loved by everyone, and growing well. He is a happy little fellow. Even when he was sick with diarrhea, he remained cheerful - only less alert and energetic.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZzkkowTtI/AAAAAAAAByo/TLRSa1gYOcI/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZzkkowTtI/AAAAAAAAByo/TLRSa1gYOcI/s320/IMG_1807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487200268144627410" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZzkyXwo_I/AAAAAAAAByw/YWIfryRodnc/s320/IMG_1805.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487200271831442418" /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZzkkowTtI/AAAAAAAAByo/TLRSa1gYOcI/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG"></a><br /><div>He captivates everyone's attention - even tourists from Mexico at the resort, which we enjoyed for the day.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYyZMTKI/AAAAAAAAByg/ZijxCknDpes/s1600/IMG_1813.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYyZMTKI/AAAAAAAAByg/ZijxCknDpes/s320/IMG_1813.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487198966167391394" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYsuipCI/AAAAAAAAByY/70VvN-9CIbo/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG"></a></div><div>During the time he was sick, one day he wouldn't eat, despite being so hungry. The nurse in me found a solution - syringe feeding him. He was happy with that.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYsuipCI/AAAAAAAAByY/70VvN-9CIbo/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYsuipCI/AAAAAAAAByY/70VvN-9CIbo/s320/IMG_1810.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487198964646323234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYKTNJgI/AAAAAAAAByQ/S0awGd5ptX8/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG"></a></div><div>We saw some really sick patients that week. This girl is almost five and was struggling with heart failure. The medicine we gave relieved her difficulty in the next 2 days and she is able to wait till our American pediatric cardiologist comes down in August. He'll give her a good check up. He brings his cardiogram machine.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYKTNJgI/AAAAAAAAByQ/S0awGd5ptX8/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYKTNJgI/AAAAAAAAByQ/S0awGd5ptX8/s320/IMG_0391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487198955404862978" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This girl is 12, but more like a small 8 yr old. She's an orphan of several years, living with a now sick aunt. A friend brought her to our clinic. We found out she is HIV positive and got her admitted to the program in St Marc. Pray for her. She will need a lot of prayer and care to get her weight and health back. Right now she has a lung infection and who knows what else.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TD5rhL0jChI/AAAAAAAABzI/1ukbHk_xtd0/s320/IMG_0392.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493946813291629074" /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyYKTNJgI/AAAAAAAAByQ/S0awGd5ptX8/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a>Another VERY sick baby we got is this 2 month old, in with a high fever. I was happy to have Stephanie there. Ismaylove, this baby, really came in this white (and she's a black baby). We found out she had malaria - the youngest I've ever seen with it. She was dehydrated and very weak, and feverish - too dehydrated to get an IV in, so we just made sure she got other fluids. We were able to get one in the next day. Because the mother came from hours up the mountain, we kept them in our dorm for kids for two nights. We didn't feel comfortable the way she was doing so Stephanie and I took her to the University of Miami field hospital in Port au Prince. Her hemoglobin was 3.4 (it should be minimum 9 or 10 for that age). No wonder she was so pale!!!! They got blood from the mother and one other person and gave her a blood transfusion.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyX-aI0WI/AAAAAAAAByI/AsvRabtN7zA/s1600/IMG_0393.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyX-aI0WI/AAAAAAAAByI/AsvRabtN7zA/s320/IMG_0393.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487198952212713826" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyXD--vJI/AAAAAAAAByA/2i1YF7kP1-I/s1600/IMG_0396.jpg"></a></div><div>This is the next day, post the transfusion. What an amazing difference. She's still doing ok. (These picture colors are true to life!)</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyXD--vJI/AAAAAAAAByA/2i1YF7kP1-I/s1600/IMG_0396.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyXD--vJI/AAAAAAAAByA/2i1YF7kP1-I/s320/IMG_0396.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487198936529550482" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TCZyXD--vJI/AAAAAAAAByA/2i1YF7kP1-I/s1600/IMG_0396.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"></a>Remember the Kwash kids that came in one of my last blogs? At least, I think I blogged about them. Here they are. They're almost 3 years old. This is SEVERE malnutrition. The boy was already swollen all over and the girl starting, up to her knees. We got them going on the mamba program pronto....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp35HonLTI/AAAAAAAABx4/XXPwspJkIyk/s1600/IMG_1300.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp35HonLTI/AAAAAAAABx4/XXPwspJkIyk/s320/IMG_1300.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479323719835266354" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp35HonLTI/AAAAAAAABx4/XXPwspJkIyk/s1600/IMG_1300.JPG"></a>Before and after pictures. This took only 8 weeks!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp340GpU-I/AAAAAAAABxw/IiRuLfaQQ9w/s1600/IMG_1298.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp340GpU-I/AAAAAAAABxw/IiRuLfaQQ9w/s320/IMG_1298.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479323714592527330" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp333pUVuI/AAAAAAAABxg/VSpzzeM0V64/s320/%235472+May+18.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479323698363389666" /><br /><br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp34JQIQpI/AAAAAAAABxo/CzS3uVfzXvs/s320/IMG_1295.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479323703089578642" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TAp33d8kBiI/AAAAAAAABxY/8nd57-GYR1s/s320/%235471+May+18.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479323691464787490" /></div><div><br /></div><div>One unexpected blessing I received this month was that my Uncle Henry and his son Glenn came to visit me for a few days. That was special!!!!<br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TD5mQK8MqGI/AAAAAAAABy4/radWsyL68hQ/s320/IMG_0679.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493941023439366242" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/TD5mQSgKEeI/AAAAAAAABzA/aonbRx99PCQ/s320/IMG_0687.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493941025469239778" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also Joel Busby and 2 of his friends came for a few days.</div>Then on July 9, I flew to Miami. It's such a contrast. I found I had to do some adjusting yet. But that's probably easier then the other way. We had a great couple days in a meeting with some of the key people working for Canaan, reviewing and strategizing, and prioritizing. </div><div>July 11 I flew home for 2 weeks. Home for me this time is in Costa Rica. I'm loving it and getting rest (and I'm wearing a sweater a lot). I hadn't realized how tired I was till I got here. Naps, not doing anything, bowling, Pizza Hut..... Time's flying. The one big negative though, is I miss my baby, but I know he's in good hands, thanks to Jessica and Naomi and all the Canaan people that love him!</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, I better end this. I'm hoping with lots of pictures, you'll forget how long it's been since I wrote. lol</div><div>God bless you all!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Elsie</div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-89080432333091892142010-05-03T20:48:00.001-05:002010-05-03T20:50:10.966-05:00Container<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Many of you have expressed desire to help fill a container for Canaan. We appreciate this very much. Below we have compiled a list of stuff we need. There are probably things we haven’t mentioned. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">We realize shipping costs a lot too, so if you prefer to donate money, we can buy it in West Palm Beach. In that case you can send the money to Chris Hlavacek, making a note what it's for. His address is on our website: <a href="http://www.canaanorphanage.org">www.canaanorphanage.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">We have the warehouse till the first days in June, so please have everything there for the container by June 1<sup>st</sup>. Jeremy is receiving the smaller items in his home and the bigger things at his church.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Address for smaller items:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS Italic"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Jeremy Hopple/Canaan<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS Italic"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">1714 17<sup>th</sup> Lane<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS Italic"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 33418<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">The address to send the big stuff to is:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Grande";mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Grande"; color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Grande";mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Grande"; color:#333333">Jog Road Baptist Church <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Grande";mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Grande"; color:#333333">855 Jog Road West <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Grande";mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Grande"; color:#333333">Palm Beach, FL 33415 <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Plywood (2x4, 3/4, 3/8, 4x4 - all sizes)</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Wood for Cupboards/shelves and supports for shelves<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Unfinished wood for construction<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Several corke boards and push pins<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Tin<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Pipes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Latrines<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Water and oil based paint<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Paint brushes and rollers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Electrical wires (#2, 6, 10, 12)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Outside/patio furniture (all weather)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Kitchen sink<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Bathroom sinks<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Microwave<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Paintings (for wall decoration)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Christmas lights<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Ice cream maker (electric or hand held)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Washers<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Concrete mixer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Block making machine<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Cutter sander router<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Air compressor with accessories<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Air nails and air gun<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Regular and concrete nails<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Ladders<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Wheelbarrow<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Rakes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Shovels<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Pick Axe<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Door locks with handles<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Hand tools (hammer, levels, screwdrivers, wrenches, saw)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Electric rebar cutter<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Power tools<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Power tool accessories<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Drills, saws, grinders<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Circular saw<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Cordless drills<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Table saws<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Windows and screens<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Welder with gasoline motor<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Mechanical tools (wrench, screwdriver, vice grips, pliers, etc etc)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Doors - hospital doors (we need 12, sizes 36x80 inches)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Musical instruments (trumpet, saxophone, flute, guitar, drums)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">P.A. system<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Chairs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Folding tables<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Folding chairs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Coffee tables<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Mattresses/beds<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Single bedspreads<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">fans<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">furniture (couches) <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">nursery outfit (changing table, dresser, 2 high chairs etc)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Desks<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">New or good used T.V. (3-5)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Plastic </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">drawers (rubber maid)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Refrigerators</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">freezer – 2 big ones<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Commercial oven<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Water coolers 7-10<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Baking pans (bread, cookies, muffin, cake)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Serving trays<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">50 gallons drums<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Canned goods: vegetables (not hominy), Tomatoe paste, Meats<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Wedding dresses and suits of all adult sizes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Cubic zirconium rings<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS Italic";mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">(These are for us to lend to other churches (esp Eben-ezer churches) in order to encourage them to get married rather than live together. Many don’t get married simply because of the cost of a wedding)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS Bold"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Other things for Clinic:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:14.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Desks, chairs, fans, filing cabinets!!, <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Trebuchet MS Bold";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">For others:</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS Bold"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"> </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS Italic";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; color:#333333">(The people are starting from scratch)</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">household stuff like: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">pots, pans, dishes, utensils/cutlery, sheets, pillows, towels, bathroom stuff<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Trebuchet MS Bold";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Daycare</span></u></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; color:#333333"> – we want to set up a daycare , so anything that would go with that.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">- Please ask if you need explanation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Trebuchet MS Bold";mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">Volunteer needs:<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">We have a lot of openings and needs for people who would want and be able to dedicate at least a year of service in Haiti.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">-Agricultural person<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">-Repair and Maintenance <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">-Trade school teaching<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">-School teaching<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333">-Medical/Midwifery<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Grande";color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499606755513762734.post-63745317770232457192010-04-20T16:17:00.011-05:002010-04-23T09:32:32.615-05:00Warehouse<div>Tuesday</div>OK, this has been awhile. In a way, it felt like not so much was happening to write about but at the same time, we're always busy doing this and that.<div><br /></div><div>Today was Mamba day, and I like to be at the clinic more, since we have more sick kids come in - often some really malnourished ones. One that was hard to see was a 2 month old baby, 2 days younger than Caleb. He weighs about 1 kg (2 lbs). The mom is breastfeeding but only like once a day. She doesn't eat well enough to feel good herself. She does have milk, and I spent some time encouraging and training her on feeding. The poor baby has been losing a lot of weight since birth, instead of gaining.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/S84c1gyU2ZI/AAAAAAAABxI/ffgQ7O4qRHY/s320/IMG_1546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462335103706651026" /></div><div>More and more, I see the BIG need for a women and children's hospital. We have GOT to start one. This baby should be under constant care. Any partners with me for that??? In the next month I want to go visit 3 places in Haiti. One is 1 1/2 hrs north of us. They have a training program that teaches moms how and what to cook cheaply for their families. They have also trained community midwives. Another one is a mission in Port that does pre and post Delivery care and teachig to ladies. They feed them high protein foods on their weekly visits. The other is farther away from here - half way to Cap Haitian on the other route. Talking with a doctor who has been going there for many years, he was saying the community training that they've done there has resulted in the lowest mortality rate for kids in the whole country. Worth looking at.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last night we celebrated Gladys Mecklembourg's birthday. Gave the kids a chance to decorate and the women a chance to cook a nice meal for everyone. The kids idea of entertainment was to do parades - kind of like a runway show and dance mixed together. It was hilarious. Funny how inhibitions fly out the window when doing that.</div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/S84c1DCRiUI/AAAAAAAABxA/qlAp_OT8hb0/s320/IMG_1545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462335095720479042" /></div><div>Naomi made a beautiful (and delicious chocolate) basket cake for her. A lot of people really thought the cake was sitting in a basket, so they were a little surprised that when they touched it, it was frosting.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been working many hours organizing my medical storage room. Bobi helped me a few days as well. </div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/S84c0OKMqVI/AAAAAAAABww/ED-S1HzkHAQ/s320/IMG_1537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462335081526634834" /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/S84cziuDynI/AAAAAAAABwo/jTXNehyxNGI/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462335069865888370" /></div><div>I'd put Caleb in is basket outside, but the sun moved so fast, he got really sweaty one day, poor thing. </div><div>Or he'd help me inside. </div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z3MEsTixZu0/S84c0qBaFhI/AAAAAAAABw4/HJKf9cMzOkM/s320/IMG_1538.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462335089005958674" /></div><div>A guy named Don built me shelves so that has helped. It's fun looking for stuff now. Of course not everything was quite in it's place and now yesterday I got another truckload full of stuff (actually 3 small truckloads) so now I need a ton of hours again. But I'm so thankful for it, I'm not complaining. Only wanting the job done!</div><div><br /></div><div>Gladys and Henri are working on getting a certificate or something from the Cult Department (which simly means Religious) and they've had some great contacts. It's something like getting an NGO status without all the paper work and close supervision. We should be able to bring stuff in duty free (not vehicles, though) which would be a great help. So we are now collecting things in West Palm Beach to fill a container. We have a guy that's offered to take the stuff to the warehouse, so he's accepting things in his home for us. Big things though have to be shipped elsewhere. I will include his address.</div><div><br /></div><div>Besides for Canaan, we are also collecting things to build houses for other people. Many have asked what kind of things they can send. Here are some things, though not nearly exclusive. :) Things don't have to be new, but please, in good shape.</div><div>For Canaan:</div><div>Wood, tools, fridges, freezer, furniture (couch/chairs, ), nursery outfit (changing table, swing sets, etc), windows, </div><div>For Clinic:</div><div>Desks, chairs, fans, filing cabinets!!, fold up tables and chairs, wood for cabinets/desks, fridges (staff and Lab), </div><div>For others: Wood, tin, nails, household stuff like pots, pans, utensils, sheeets, pillows, etc. The people are starting from scratch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Friday</div><div>OK, this didn't get posted because I gave up on the above list and wanted to talk to Sister Gladys about it. However, she's been either in Port or not feeling well, so haven't had the chance. Bobi and I will try to come up with a list this weekend that should help all of you asking out. Sorry about this! I know many of you have been frustrated!!!! So have we; if you've been to Haiti, remember we're in Haiti :(</div><div><br /></div><div>I will include the shipping address here but remember it's for smaller items that can go into Jeremy's home till he can transport it to the warehouse. Thanks so much, everyone!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><blockquote type="cite"><div><div><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.8ex; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; padding-left: 1ex; position: static; z-index: auto; "><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="blue"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:navy;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy; ">Jeremy Hopple/Canaan</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:navy;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy; ">1714 17<sup>th</sup> Lane</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:navy;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy; ">Palm Beach Gardens</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:navy;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy; ">, Florida 33418</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:navy;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy; "></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:navy;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; color: navy; ">Phone: 561-317-3355</span></span></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></blockquote></span></div>Elsiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08717091520068091227noreply@blogger.com1