Hello Friends and Family! We are in Jacmel right now, literally on the Carribean Sea! It is so beautiful here, I can hardly believe we are 4 short hours away from Port au Prince.
I went to a private hospital the other day, and we visited the chilren's ward. Then we went to the general hospital, downtown PaP. It is the largest hospital in Haiti. People line up outside, with massive injuries and illnesses, because they won't be let into the hospital w/o money. So they sit there, begging for help until the get enough to go inside. There was a woman lying in the street w/ blood streaming from her head. She was waiting for someone to give her enough money to go get looked at. I doubt she lived through the massive blood loss. When we arrived at the children's unit, we found it almost completely empty. (This was on Tuesday of this week). Last Thursday, our first day here, there was a violent demonstration downtown, at the justice building. The police used tear gas to clear everything/everyone out. This happened while we were driving around downtown, touring it. Our van filled w/ tear gas, and our eyes began to water and we all started coughing, and our noses and throats were burning. So on Tuesday, the children's unit was empty b/c all the children had been sent home w/ their parents b/c of the tear gas. All the children, except those abandoned at the hospital. These children truly are the least of these. They have physical and mental illnesses. Most children born in Haiti with any sort of abnormality are abandoned, most of them to die. Some are brought to the general hospital. Those are the children we met on Tuesday. All living in crib-like beds, 2 and 3 children to each bed. Filthy with their own excrement. Crying to be touched. The nurses in that unit are saints. There were only a few nurses for ab
out 30 children. I stepped close to a crib where a girl was, obviously older, like maybe 12. I don't know what her condition is, but it was obvious she did not have the mental capabilities of a 12 year old. We gave her a beanie baby, and she immediatly broke into the hugest smile! As I began to walk past her, I paused and put my hands on the sides of her face. I told her that she is a beautiful child, loved by God. She smiled and kissed my face. The sweetest kiss. I walked away thanking God for her gentle spirit, that knows Him. When I got to the back of the unit, there were 3 children, all with Iv's in. I started to cry, and grabbed a teammate's hand. We stood there crying and praying over these precious little ones. Tuesday was a very difficult day. I don't necessarily like to show weakness, certainly not when others are struggling as well. But I just couldn't recover from what I'd seen. How can this even be happening? These children are forgotten by humanity, cast off, and left to die. And I was blessed enough to be in their presence, in the presence of those that our Lord loves with a passion that we cannot begin to fathom. I can see her sweet face as I sit here staring at the sea, and wondering how to not let this happen any longer.
out 30 children. I stepped close to a crib where a girl was, obviously older, like maybe 12. I don't know what her condition is, but it was obvious she did not have the mental capabilities of a 12 year old. We gave her a beanie baby, and she immediatly broke into the hugest smile! As I began to walk past her, I paused and put my hands on the sides of her face. I told her that she is a beautiful child, loved by God. She smiled and kissed my face. The sweetest kiss. I walked away thanking God for her gentle spirit, that knows Him. When I got to the back of the unit, there were 3 children, all with Iv's in. I started to cry, and grabbed a teammate's hand. We stood there crying and praying over these precious little ones. Tuesday was a very difficult day. I don't necessarily like to show weakness, certainly not when others are struggling as well. But I just couldn't recover from what I'd seen. How can this even be happening? These children are forgotten by humanity, cast off, and left to die. And I was blessed enough to be in their presence, in the presence of those that our Lord loves with a passion that we cannot begin to fathom. I can see her sweet face as I sit here staring at the sea, and wondering how to not let this happen any longer. Tuesday was also the day we visited the Village. This is an area that wh
ile doing street witnessing, Linda and her team came upon 88 people sharing one lot of land. They had erected 15 homes on this small area, and were living together as a huge extended family. However, none of them are related. They have no running water, electricty, or sewers. Yet they maintain peace in their walls. Linda and some groups have been taking food and helping them in whatever ways they can. We took rice and beans to them, along with shoes and clothing. What an amazing example of the Acts 2 church. They share everything, and Paie, the "father" of the village makes sure that all things are share fairly. I was amazed!
ile doing street witnessing, Linda and her team came upon 88 people sharing one lot of land. They had erected 15 homes on this small area, and were living together as a huge extended family. However, none of them are related. They have no running water, electricty, or sewers. Yet they maintain peace in their walls. Linda and some groups have been taking food and helping them in whatever ways they can. We took rice and beans to them, along with shoes and clothing. What an amazing example of the Acts 2 church. They share everything, and Paie, the "father" of the village makes sure that all things are share fairly. I was amazed!Yesterday (Friday) we said goodbye to our first team. They were truly amazing, and God worked such unity in that team, that I am amazed. I was so sad to see my friend Beth leave, as she was my last tie to home here in Haiti. But at the same time, I am so thankful to have shared this time with her. I know God worked out some pretty miraculous things with Beth, and I cannot wait to see how He keeps working and moving and using her!Our next team comes in on Tuesday. There are so many projects to be done, and so many kiddos to love! Thank you all so much for your continued prayers. I truly feel them sustaining me, especially on those days that I'm not sure I'm doing anything to make a difference in anyone's life.
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