Haiti bound Again!

a last set of pictures from HCH

Me and Joanna!











This was all of us after an attempt to stay clean while using spakles with our craft. We ditched that idea quick and just put them all over ourselves instead! much more fun i would have to agree









Some of the after affects of the sprinkles.







James sporting his better shinnier side.












Just this morning the kids brought flowers (weeds). So thoughtful. But at least they actually smelt good!

going, going, GONE.

So this is my last post from Haiti Children's Home. I've kissed my goodnites and said my goodbyes and will be catching the old grey truck to Port at 4:3o am Haitian time tomorrow which actually means I will be leaving the yard at 5am or later. Haitians are notoriously late!
It was hard but I managed to keep my eyes dry for the most part of the day.
It was untill I was sitting downstairs and Joanna was finishing up her prayer, "Help her on the plane and get to her home good. and come visiting me in my home." I felt blessed to get to know all these kids. Even tonight David prayed, "please help Anna find her suitcase..."
I dont know what exactly to write. Or how to explain how I feel about leaving.
Mixed feelings doesnt really explain it. I feel like my being here was selfish. Because when I look back at my short three months here, I realize I probably got more out of it then I gave into it. Like the kids just allowed me to come into their lives, watch and observe them, then leave. Am I making any sense?
I will miss being swarmed when i come down stairs, "Anna! Anna!"
I will miss having rice and beans and chicken (or goat)
I will miss the toddlers drool
I will miss the awkward conversation over the dinner table
I will miss the abundance of kisses
I will miss mixing english and creole and people still understanding me
I will miss yelling "Shitta!"
I will miss Lori and Minnie
I will miss Thursday's laundry day
I will miss going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and being handed a baby to feed.
I will miss everything.
But mostly I will miss the Kids.
And I pray God will bless them with families that will love them until no end. Just like i tried to do while i was here.
So yea. I guess I owe a huge thank you to the kids.

Thank you:
Andre
Jean-Diny
Amanda
Derson
Jenny
Ketteline
James
Chris-nelson
David
Moise
Joanna
Eddy
Robentzson
Naika
Shelentsky
Gerald
Golson
Daniel
Josef
Conleigh
Julie
Berto
Danae
Lineda
Jamesky
Evan
Levi
Viens
Isaiah
Samuel
Ester.

Thank you for letting me into your hearts while i was here.
I will keep praying for you.
That God keeps growing in your hearts and that you will continue to be a light for him.
I love you all soo much.
Muah!

5 days to go...

It’s so funny to think that the last week is here already. I remember my first day driving up the mountain thinking it would be forever before I got back to normal paved roads. Now, the thought of having to drive on the right side of the road, with no kids in the back and wearing my seat belt sounds ridiculous. I mean people drive like crazy people and never once have I, or anyone I’ve seen gotten in an accident since I’ve have been here. Makes you wonder if Canadians are a little too careful.

Anywho, these past weeks have been relatively busy. It’s nice to have a routine and have the kids set into it. With the help of Shannon and Teresa from BC taking care of the cooking Lori, Melissa and I have been downstairs. That is when we aren’t hiding in our rooms in front of the fans because of the humidity!

We have had a few new arrivals at the house since I have past written. 2 have stayed and the others went home. Melinda has been hard at work. First we got this baby whose mother is 16 and had a caesarean section. The baby was born with the first knuckle extra of a finger by her pinkie on each hand. Melinda Tied string on around it then cut it with scissors. She is Pat’s Godchild so Pat named her Patricia. She is living with her mother and father who are not married.










Then there was another baby girl whose married mother had an affair with a different married man. She just dropped her off because she is headed to the states to be with her husband who doesn’t know a thing about the entire pregnancy. She is absolutely adorable! Her name is Ester. Melinda is pretty sure she was post-partum, which means she was left in her mom’s tummy after she was supposed to be born. They think she was left 10 months. It’s affected her skin color and her eating, but other than that she is normal and sleeps alot! She will be staying with us and will be up for adoption.

The third was a little boy named Berto. Melinda isn’t sure if he was dropped on his head of if he was shaken but he has definite brain damage. He is also covered in impetigo. A skin infection from scabies and bug bites. I have never seen anything like him and Melinda tells me she has seen so much worse. He is a year old and only weighs 9 pounds. His feet were so bad when he first came, but are doing a lot better now. He is being fed by a tube every 4 hours and is starting to heal slowly. He will be staying with us.






(excerpt from Lori's blog) "He arrived Sunday afternoon after we received a call from a neighbouring pastor who had come across this sad little boy when he arrived to pray with Berto's grandma. Our first sight of Berto brought tears to my eyes as he was by far in the worst condition I've seen first hand since starting to work in Haiti. His whole body was covered in sores, and his fingernails were embedded into his hands. His feet were covered in sores and scabs and his toenails were jelly-like. Berto's head was filthy and also covered in sores, and right away we could tell there was some form of brain injury by the telltale flitting back and forth of his eyes. I was amazed to suddenly realize how much he resembled Naika, another brain damaged child we have here. We asked his mother if he had been dropped or had fallen and she said no. SO, at this point we are speculating trauma at birth or perhaps shaken baby syndrome. Berto has a very high pallet and so Melinda figured that he is so small because he cannot suck, and his mom did not have the means or knowledge to feed him other food."

"Berto is holding his own at this point. He is being tube fed and is doing well with 4oz of formula. His head and feet are looking much better today. He was seizing constantly so he is now on an anit-convulsant medication called Phenobarbitol, and this has helped tremendously. He responds when we call his name, though is not able to focus at all. Please pray that he continues to improve and that stay well when Melind heads to the states on Wednesday." (also from Lori's blog)



The latest was a little boy whose mom also had a caesarean section. They cut his umbilical cord but it got infected so they brought him back to the hospital and wouldn’t do anything about it. So they brought it to Melinda to fix. Supposedly they wrapped it in bandages and the baby got urine on it and it got infected. Thank goodness for Melinda! The baby went back home with his mother the next day.








So lots of little things have been happening these past days. But tomorrow (June 11th 2008) will be one of the biggest things to happen while I’ve been here. Samuel and Bedza will finally be going home. Pat and Melinda are taking them to the states where the family will meet them and then they are off to BC to live. It’s an exciting and sad time. Exciting because they will finally get to go home and be with their parents and brothers and sisters. But sad because this is the only home they have ever known and are starting to deny leaving. Its also sad because pat and Melinda will be coming back on the 18th. The day after I leave. So I will be saying good bye to them too tomorrow.
Anyways, I need to get back. I’m trying to get some more pictures of me and the kids before I leave and get a little packing done too. Kinda nervous about leaving all alone so if you could pray for peace of mind and a calm heart I would appreciate it!
Love you all lots and I will try and write again once more before I see you all again!
Muah!

a long awaited post?

Hi everyone.

I thought an entry was long overdue. so here goes.

Nothing to excitting has been going on, there was a team here from BC for a week and they did some VBS and worked a little with kids outside the walls. I never realized how much new people effect these kids. They get attached and spoilt and then are crushed when they leave. Made me want to cry because it will be hard for me to leave them. I really am looking forward to coming home, its just leaving these kids that makes me need to stay.

Oh and i guess some new news would be that Shannon left early. Her parents were uneasy with the kiddnappings and she opted to head out with the team just this morning.

Oh!!! and Paina's family came and left. Her two older brother (Tyler and Justin) and her mom and dad (Helen and George) came to get her. I was amazed at how quickly she warmed up to her mom. The guys of the family is another story, but that will come in time. Anywho, her leaving brought tears and the realization that soon alot more kids will be leaving too.

Come christmas Moise, David, Joanna, Shelinsky, Eddy, will all be gone. Not to mention Bedza and Samuel will be leaving this week. its crazy.

Also today was the kids' big end of school concert program thing. The sang a bunch of songs, recited some math and stuff they learnt in school and got presents! It felt like a gongshow to me but the kids really enjoyed themselves. The even got cake and ice cream at the end, which the toddlers enjoyed wearing! I'm putting a couple pictures up from today's party and maybe you'll see what i mean... haha.

I guess alot new has happened. it just seems like everyday life to me! And its all going by so fast, i'll be home in no time!

anywho i need to get to bed. its laundry day tomorrow and today was extra long.

I love and miss you all lots and will be home in 19 or so days!

Muah!

Hi everyone, By now i assume you have all seen the news, and have heard of the girl who has been kidnaped. Please dont be alarmed.She was in Port-ay-prince and wasnt in a closed locked in compound like I am. Also, I am perfectly fine. there is no threat to me in Mirabalais. And my plans are to stay in the orphanage walls the etire time.

I'm sorry for all of you who have been worrying about me. Anywho just thought i would let you all know i'm safe and sound and am so far still coming home on June 17th. Melinda says that so long as we arent in port-au-prince we are all fine. The sad part is Kalico is cancelled. It was a dissopointment at first but i know its better safe than sorry!!!!!

Anywho again, sorry i didnt get this up here any sooner and please dont worry to much.
I love you all very much and am looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Pictures from Wozo Plaza where we spent the day for my birthday.