Edward Piou's personal websiteLivesay Haiti
Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero; better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth; better to have taken some risks and lost than to have done nothing and succeeded at it. -E. LutzerT & T Livesayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17612227041383997608tl7inhaiti@yahoo.comBlogger2752125
Updated: 13 min 59 sec ago
Bombard
The people of Haiti need better/more options.
I don't want to ask you for help so often that I become "that guy" - you know the one - the one you avoid in order to avoid yet another request.
Truthfully, it is quite difficult to strike a balance in which we are not constantly bombarding you with the facts - especially when the facts look and sound like this:
"The maternity hospital that we were to take her to was nothing I could have prepared myself for. Even outside, the cries were loud and heart-wrenching. Every woman I saw was by herself, crying in the dark in the rain as the pains of childbirth ravaged her. Every woman was without a hand to hold, without a calm voice to reassure, every woman was... alone. It only got worse as I entered the labor and delivery room. There were no less that 50 women in labor, on the floor, in the hallways, screaming, bleeding, by themselves. No family was allowed to enter. Five valiant doctors were running around doing their best to handle birth after birth, but it was obvious that they had become numb to the pain around them. I looked over at a lady on a dirty plastic covered piece of cardboard for a bed. She was hemorraging. Two babies would die that night. So this is hell I thought."
"Since when was the miracle of childbirth reduced to something out of a horror film? This is life for the ladies in the developing world of Haiti. No education, no rights, no choice, no one to advocate for them."
(quoting Shelley Clay/The Apparent Project)
Because these facts grieve us we're moving forward in faith and praying for the big grant or the large donor to come along to help make this hospital a reality sooner rather than later. We wait in hope and anticipation of what God can do with Heartline's Hospital.
We understand that one fund-raising project after the other gets a little bit annoying. Maybe you've asked yourself, "What is with them? Do they think we're growing money on trees here?"
A year ago you gave to malnourished kids and the Medika Mamba program of World Wide Village. Last fall/winter we asked you to give to the ambulance fund, you gave. In May we asked you to give to build houses for Haitians living in tents and again -you gave.
When you couldn't give you prayed. You told your friends. You told your relatives.
The truth of the matter is not lost on us; generous, kind, and compassionate people sit on the other side of the internet connection and they respond. We are both humbled and inspired by your love and by your giving.
You've continually lifted up the needs of the Haitian people. We don't take any gift, $5 or $500 for granted. Each gift comes from the heart and we know that. We thank each and every person that has prayed and given of hard-earned dollars.
I don't want to ask you for help so often that I become "that guy" - you know the one - the one you avoid in order to avoid yet another request.
Truthfully, it is quite difficult to strike a balance in which we are not constantly bombarding you with the facts - especially when the facts look and sound like this:
"The maternity hospital that we were to take her to was nothing I could have prepared myself for. Even outside, the cries were loud and heart-wrenching. Every woman I saw was by herself, crying in the dark in the rain as the pains of childbirth ravaged her. Every woman was without a hand to hold, without a calm voice to reassure, every woman was... alone. It only got worse as I entered the labor and delivery room. There were no less that 50 women in labor, on the floor, in the hallways, screaming, bleeding, by themselves. No family was allowed to enter. Five valiant doctors were running around doing their best to handle birth after birth, but it was obvious that they had become numb to the pain around them. I looked over at a lady on a dirty plastic covered piece of cardboard for a bed. She was hemorraging. Two babies would die that night. So this is hell I thought."
"Since when was the miracle of childbirth reduced to something out of a horror film? This is life for the ladies in the developing world of Haiti. No education, no rights, no choice, no one to advocate for them."
(quoting Shelley Clay/The Apparent Project)
Because these facts grieve us we're moving forward in faith and praying for the big grant or the large donor to come along to help make this hospital a reality sooner rather than later. We wait in hope and anticipation of what God can do with Heartline's Hospital.
We understand that one fund-raising project after the other gets a little bit annoying. Maybe you've asked yourself, "What is with them? Do they think we're growing money on trees here?"
A year ago you gave to malnourished kids and the Medika Mamba program of World Wide Village. Last fall/winter we asked you to give to the ambulance fund, you gave. In May we asked you to give to build houses for Haitians living in tents and again -you gave.
When you couldn't give you prayed. You told your friends. You told your relatives.
The truth of the matter is not lost on us; generous, kind, and compassionate people sit on the other side of the internet connection and they respond. We are both humbled and inspired by your love and by your giving.
You've continually lifted up the needs of the Haitian people. We don't take any gift, $5 or $500 for granted. Each gift comes from the heart and we know that. We thank each and every person that has prayed and given of hard-earned dollars.
Categories: Random
Let us be kind
We cannot know the griefThat men may borrow;We cannot see the soulsStorm-swept by sorrow;But love can shine upon the wayToday, tomorrow;Let us be kind.
Upon the wheel of pain so may weary lives are broken,So may our love with tender words be spoken.Let us be kind.
Poem from Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman
Categories: Random
Be strong
Be strong!We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.Shun not the struggle; face it.It's God's gift.
Be strong!Say not the days are evil - Who's to blame?Or fold your hands, as in defeat - O shame!Stand up, speak out, and bravely,In God's name.
Be strong!It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,How hard the battle goes, the day how long,Faint not, fight on!
Tomorrow comes the song.
Maltbie D. Babcock
Categories: Random
Random Blathering
Isn't it funny how life brings seasons where you are literally aware that God is shaping you and maybe changing you and just - HELLO!!?!?! - trying to get your attention.
I just read this in a little devotional book and it seemed like it was in all caps it stood out so much:
"At certain times and places, God will build a mysterious wall around us. He will take away all the supports we customarily lean upon, and will remove our ordinary ways of doing things. God will close us off to something divine, completely new and unexpected, and that cannot be understood by examining our previous circumstances. We will be in a place where we do not know what is happening, where God is cutting the cloth of our lives by a new pattern, and thus where He causes us to look to Him."
The last couple of weeks have been sort of spirtually heavy for us. I don't feel that I can make sense of some of it. (Which is partially why I write blogs that are sarcastic and silly - to draw attention away from real feelings.) Certainly some things have gone on that won't be shared on the world wide web - it just wouldn't be appropriate and would cross multiple boundaries ... but suffice it to say we're feeling our brokenness in multiple ways and it has been a bit of a butt-kicking.
So we're plugging along and asking God to help us with the situations and we feel Him gently nudging and guiding and it is good and hard and sometimes confusing.
We heard a sermon at that bar church ;) (called the Austin Stone) about temptation but that same sermon also included great illustrations of mercy and grace that were helpful to us.
This is how he put it:
Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
Grace is getting what you don't deserve.
The example for mercy -
You are speeding. You are going 80mph in a 70mph zone. The cop pulls you over. He says, "You were speeding you know." You say, "Yes. I was. I know." The cop says, "I am only going to give you a warning, have a good day." You deserved a ticket. You did not get one. That's mercy.
The example for grace-
You are speeding. You are going 80mph in a 70mph zone. The cop pulls you over. He says, "You were speeding you know." You say, "Yes. I was. I know." The cop says, "I am going to give you a gift. Here, have $100 and go buy your family some lunch. Have a great day!" You deserved a ticket - you not only didn't get one - you got a gift too. That's grace.
That sermon added to some circumstances of recent weeks set off a chain of events in my head that won't seem to stop. I feel God doing something. I just don't think I know why or what yet. These weird reflections keep happening.
Among dozens of jumbled and confusing thoughts and feelings of conviction I thought about how often I have received grace and mercy as opposed to how often I've actively offered it. Not exactly a balanced picture.
In thinking about the examples of grace and mercy that Pastor Matt at the Stone gave I realized that mercy is usually what we can pull off - that is what we sometimes offer each other -- not grace so much. It seems that we mix the meanings of the two up a lot.
In only two instances can I recall being a part of giving grace to another person and in both of those instances I heard God tell me what to do ... it was not me at all. (God rarely speaks to me in a way I can hear tangibly - as in - so infrequently that I remember every occasion.)
One of the occasions was in early 2005. I was standing at a counter checking out of Target. I heard an audible voice inside my jumbled and confused head and it told me to buy a $50 gift card for a specific person. It made no sense to me. I did not want to buy a gift for that person. It was not that I was mad at that person but I certainly had no reason to drop fifty bucks on him. I tried to shake off the instruction ... I heard again that I should do it. I begrudgingly bought the gift card and did something I never do - I grabbed a pen at the check out and filled in the name of the person right there on the spot. (For no apparent reason.) I picked up my other purchases and walked out of the store where Troy was waiting in the car for me. As I exited the Target store I walked right into the person the gift card was purchased for - my heart raced. I handed it to him and told him that we cared about him. I went on my way. Many months later I learned a bit about where he was in his life at that time and I realized that I was privileged to be a part of God giving this person grace. (Giving him what he did not deserve.) It is five years ago and it still gives me a strange yet creepy yet cool yet freaky feeling.
The other occasion was in 2009 but would be difficult to tell without crossing privacy boundaries, but it was similar. I was on a run and I heard a voice tell me to give gifts to a person I was livid with at the time. It was equally freaky, awesome, scary, and amazing.
I have been on the receiving end of plenty of mercy in my life - and also an amazing amount of His grace. I am getting knocked around a bit this week as I think about how often I say I want to love and be more like Jesus ... and how actually doing it ... actually BEING that kind of love/mercy/grace ... well, that requires so much more of me.
I just read this in a little devotional book and it seemed like it was in all caps it stood out so much:
"At certain times and places, God will build a mysterious wall around us. He will take away all the supports we customarily lean upon, and will remove our ordinary ways of doing things. God will close us off to something divine, completely new and unexpected, and that cannot be understood by examining our previous circumstances. We will be in a place where we do not know what is happening, where God is cutting the cloth of our lives by a new pattern, and thus where He causes us to look to Him."
The last couple of weeks have been sort of spirtually heavy for us. I don't feel that I can make sense of some of it. (Which is partially why I write blogs that are sarcastic and silly - to draw attention away from real feelings.) Certainly some things have gone on that won't be shared on the world wide web - it just wouldn't be appropriate and would cross multiple boundaries ... but suffice it to say we're feeling our brokenness in multiple ways and it has been a bit of a butt-kicking.
So we're plugging along and asking God to help us with the situations and we feel Him gently nudging and guiding and it is good and hard and sometimes confusing.
We heard a sermon at that bar church ;) (called the Austin Stone) about temptation but that same sermon also included great illustrations of mercy and grace that were helpful to us.
This is how he put it:
Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
Grace is getting what you don't deserve.
The example for mercy -
You are speeding. You are going 80mph in a 70mph zone. The cop pulls you over. He says, "You were speeding you know." You say, "Yes. I was. I know." The cop says, "I am only going to give you a warning, have a good day." You deserved a ticket. You did not get one. That's mercy.
The example for grace-
You are speeding. You are going 80mph in a 70mph zone. The cop pulls you over. He says, "You were speeding you know." You say, "Yes. I was. I know." The cop says, "I am going to give you a gift. Here, have $100 and go buy your family some lunch. Have a great day!" You deserved a ticket - you not only didn't get one - you got a gift too. That's grace.
That sermon added to some circumstances of recent weeks set off a chain of events in my head that won't seem to stop. I feel God doing something. I just don't think I know why or what yet. These weird reflections keep happening.
Among dozens of jumbled and confusing thoughts and feelings of conviction I thought about how often I have received grace and mercy as opposed to how often I've actively offered it. Not exactly a balanced picture.
In thinking about the examples of grace and mercy that Pastor Matt at the Stone gave I realized that mercy is usually what we can pull off - that is what we sometimes offer each other -- not grace so much. It seems that we mix the meanings of the two up a lot.
In only two instances can I recall being a part of giving grace to another person and in both of those instances I heard God tell me what to do ... it was not me at all. (God rarely speaks to me in a way I can hear tangibly - as in - so infrequently that I remember every occasion.)
One of the occasions was in early 2005. I was standing at a counter checking out of Target. I heard an audible voice inside my jumbled and confused head and it told me to buy a $50 gift card for a specific person. It made no sense to me. I did not want to buy a gift for that person. It was not that I was mad at that person but I certainly had no reason to drop fifty bucks on him. I tried to shake off the instruction ... I heard again that I should do it. I begrudgingly bought the gift card and did something I never do - I grabbed a pen at the check out and filled in the name of the person right there on the spot. (For no apparent reason.) I picked up my other purchases and walked out of the store where Troy was waiting in the car for me. As I exited the Target store I walked right into the person the gift card was purchased for - my heart raced. I handed it to him and told him that we cared about him. I went on my way. Many months later I learned a bit about where he was in his life at that time and I realized that I was privileged to be a part of God giving this person grace. (Giving him what he did not deserve.) It is five years ago and it still gives me a strange yet creepy yet cool yet freaky feeling.
The other occasion was in 2009 but would be difficult to tell without crossing privacy boundaries, but it was similar. I was on a run and I heard a voice tell me to give gifts to a person I was livid with at the time. It was equally freaky, awesome, scary, and amazing.
I have been on the receiving end of plenty of mercy in my life - and also an amazing amount of His grace. I am getting knocked around a bit this week as I think about how often I say I want to love and be more like Jesus ... and how actually doing it ... actually BEING that kind of love/mercy/grace ... well, that requires so much more of me.
Categories: Random
Hay-uh: Before & After
Morphed with CostnerThe Johnald
Here we have a peek at many of the possible future looks of one John McHoul. Ignore the two long cascading curls - the barber we will use in real life will be better than our virtual barber.
CURRENT SITUATIONWe are not yet to 30 days of raising funds for the hospital (and John's hair-removal) - we are at 20K and 40% of goal! Thank you for chipping in and loving Haiti!
50K in 100 days = bald John.
Closest to actual future hair cut - John PittJohn would not be caught dead in that shirt
Here we have a peek at many of the possible future looks of one John McHoul. Ignore the two long cascading curls - the barber we will use in real life will be better than our virtual barber.
CURRENT SITUATIONWe are not yet to 30 days of raising funds for the hospital (and John's hair-removal) - we are at 20K and 40% of goal! Thank you for chipping in and loving Haiti!
50K in 100 days = bald John.
Closest to actual future hair cut - John PittJohn would not be caught dead in that shirt
Categories: Random
Amanda Update
Amanda trying to stay warm in MN
I think most of you are tracking with Jen and her updates, but in case you missed it she wrote here about Amanda and her trip to the USA.
(Thanks to Amanda's host family for the photo.)
I think most of you are tracking with Jen and her updates, but in case you missed it she wrote here about Amanda and her trip to the USA.
(Thanks to Amanda's host family for the photo.)
Categories: Random
The Stone
We have visited Austin on Sunday a number of times during our Tejas time. We love going to Austin, both to see friends, and to go to the "Austin Stone".
"The Stone" - a bar or a church? You decide.
Only totally vibey churches have a name that could easily go either way.
We enjoy the preaching/teaching, we love seeing good friends of ours lead worship, we love having lunch together afterward - it is one perk of being in central Texas.
The Stone is a large church. Like most large churches there is a labyrinth of mazes and flow charts and equations that must be completed in order to figure out what room each of your children needs to be dropped off to for kids church. Due to our family size, we must arrive shortly after sunrise just to allow the time necessary to figure out where to bring each of our children.
Not unlike many mega-churches, you get a claim number to get your kid back at the end of the service. I understand the need for this. I recognize that we live in a day and age where you cannot be too careful. I am not ripping the number system. I am only saying, the number system does not work for everyone. Some of us are not to be trusted with so much.
Today we were given three numbers. One for Phoebe, one for Lydia, one for Isaac, Hope and Noah combined. We enjoyed the sermon and the worship and chatted a few moments after the service. I asked Troy who he wanted, we always divide and conquer. He said he would get big kids and meet me at the little kids wing after he was done. He handed me the two laminated number cards.
Paige and I headed out into a very crowded area, I put the numbers in my back pocket. We slowly zigged and zagged our way toward the steps. We made a bathroom pit-stop after we got downstairs. I did what you do when you go into a restroom. Once finished I stood up, flushed, glanced down and ... OH.NO.
One of my claim cards was in the vortex of toilet water and urine about to disappear forever.
I had no time to reason it out or to consider which of the two children I might never see again. I only knew that one time many years ago at 'Open Door' in Minnesota (see - church or bar name?) they would not give me my kids when I lost my number ... and in that nano-second I made the decision to plunge my hand into a public restroom toilet to retrieve my laminated card.
My soaking wet hand prevented me from getting my pants buttoned. I said "Paige, this is disgusting, you won't believe it." I stumbled out to quickly get soap on my hand and the card ... only to find - soap.dispenser.empty. My next idea of scalding off the top layer of my own skin was not an option either, the high-school bathroom I was using only offered cold water.
I convinced Paige to stop telling me how disgusting and embarrassing I am and to just dry off the card and go get the girls with me. As we walked I reached into my pocket to find the other claim card, it was missing. At that point I felt both irresponsible and gross. As I walked toward the girls' wing of kids church it fell out of the bottom of my jeans.
I don't know. Don't ask.
We purposefully set the claim cards down in the box at the door, not forcing the poor volunteers to touch them. We gathered our two children and made for the exit to meet Troy and the other three kids.
Once to lunch with our friends I totally forgot about the whole plunging of my hand into a toilet that hundreds of women had used just that morning - that is - right up until Paige reminded me as I happily chatted with my friend and ate my chips and salsa.
I like stories with happy endings.
This is not one of them.
"The Stone" - a bar or a church? You decide.
Only totally vibey churches have a name that could easily go either way.
We enjoy the preaching/teaching, we love seeing good friends of ours lead worship, we love having lunch together afterward - it is one perk of being in central Texas.
The Stone is a large church. Like most large churches there is a labyrinth of mazes and flow charts and equations that must be completed in order to figure out what room each of your children needs to be dropped off to for kids church. Due to our family size, we must arrive shortly after sunrise just to allow the time necessary to figure out where to bring each of our children.
Not unlike many mega-churches, you get a claim number to get your kid back at the end of the service. I understand the need for this. I recognize that we live in a day and age where you cannot be too careful. I am not ripping the number system. I am only saying, the number system does not work for everyone. Some of us are not to be trusted with so much.
Today we were given three numbers. One for Phoebe, one for Lydia, one for Isaac, Hope and Noah combined. We enjoyed the sermon and the worship and chatted a few moments after the service. I asked Troy who he wanted, we always divide and conquer. He said he would get big kids and meet me at the little kids wing after he was done. He handed me the two laminated number cards.
Paige and I headed out into a very crowded area, I put the numbers in my back pocket. We slowly zigged and zagged our way toward the steps. We made a bathroom pit-stop after we got downstairs. I did what you do when you go into a restroom. Once finished I stood up, flushed, glanced down and ... OH.NO.
One of my claim cards was in the vortex of toilet water and urine about to disappear forever.
I had no time to reason it out or to consider which of the two children I might never see again. I only knew that one time many years ago at 'Open Door' in Minnesota (see - church or bar name?) they would not give me my kids when I lost my number ... and in that nano-second I made the decision to plunge my hand into a public restroom toilet to retrieve my laminated card.
My soaking wet hand prevented me from getting my pants buttoned. I said "Paige, this is disgusting, you won't believe it." I stumbled out to quickly get soap on my hand and the card ... only to find - soap.dispenser.empty. My next idea of scalding off the top layer of my own skin was not an option either, the high-school bathroom I was using only offered cold water.
I convinced Paige to stop telling me how disgusting and embarrassing I am and to just dry off the card and go get the girls with me. As we walked I reached into my pocket to find the other claim card, it was missing. At that point I felt both irresponsible and gross. As I walked toward the girls' wing of kids church it fell out of the bottom of my jeans.
I don't know. Don't ask.
We purposefully set the claim cards down in the box at the door, not forcing the poor volunteers to touch them. We gathered our two children and made for the exit to meet Troy and the other three kids.
Once to lunch with our friends I totally forgot about the whole plunging of my hand into a toilet that hundreds of women had used just that morning - that is - right up until Paige reminded me as I happily chatted with my friend and ate my chips and salsa.
I like stories with happy endings.
This is not one of them.
Categories: Random
MN and Mayo Clinic bound
Thankful today for the answered prayers for Amanda as she officially begins her journey to the Mayo Clinic. We're excited to hear about her flight to the U.S. of A from Dokte Jen. Their first flight got canceled after spending much of the day at the PAP airport yesterday, please be praying they make it to MN safely tonight.
In 25 days we YOU raised $19,000 for the first phase of the Heartline Hospital and for the removal of John's mangy mess hay-uh (which of course is secondary to the hospital but SO very satisfying).
John has a false sense of security ...
Begin forwarded message:
From: John McHoul
Date: August 26, 2010 5:49:57 PM GMT-05:00
To: Tara
Subject: shampoo
Hey Tara,
Trust that you are well.
I am bringing back with me a couple of suitcases of supplies to Haiti. I especially made room for a very large bottle of shampoo as I expect not to lose my hair anytime - or any year soon.
John
We hit 19k a little after noon today. THANK YOU to each and every donor. I will let John know to save the shampoo money and donate it to the hospital fund. (John, go ahead and do that by using the Chip In button to the top left side of the screen.)
Please spread the word to your friends. Heartline invests in the lives of the people they serve. Amanda is just one example ... after months and months of hard work by many players she is getting to one of the finest medical facilities in the world for specialized care. Rather than shrug and say, "Sorry, we cannot help", Heartline volunteers and staff made it a priority to fight for Amanda.
Heartline will advocate for those without the ability to fight the system and we will pray for answers when there seems to be no answers. We love these people we are blessed to interact with and we are committed to helping them. Your help and prayers are more than appreciated and key to our success. Please keep encouraging others to look at the work being done and invest in the future.
THANK YOU for your love!
In 25 days we YOU raised $19,000 for the first phase of the Heartline Hospital and for the removal of John's mangy mess hay-uh (which of course is secondary to the hospital but SO very satisfying).
John has a false sense of security ...
Begin forwarded message:
From: John McHoul
Date: August 26, 2010 5:49:57 PM GMT-05:00
To: Tara
Subject: shampoo
Hey Tara,
Trust that you are well.
I am bringing back with me a couple of suitcases of supplies to Haiti. I especially made room for a very large bottle of shampoo as I expect not to lose my hair anytime - or any year soon.
John
We hit 19k a little after noon today. THANK YOU to each and every donor. I will let John know to save the shampoo money and donate it to the hospital fund. (John, go ahead and do that by using the Chip In button to the top left side of the screen.)
Please spread the word to your friends. Heartline invests in the lives of the people they serve. Amanda is just one example ... after months and months of hard work by many players she is getting to one of the finest medical facilities in the world for specialized care. Rather than shrug and say, "Sorry, we cannot help", Heartline volunteers and staff made it a priority to fight for Amanda.
Heartline will advocate for those without the ability to fight the system and we will pray for answers when there seems to be no answers. We love these people we are blessed to interact with and we are committed to helping them. Your help and prayers are more than appreciated and key to our success. Please keep encouraging others to look at the work being done and invest in the future.
THANK YOU for your love!
Categories: Random
I spent a year there one week
What.a.year.week.
It only felt like a year.
This was one long and difficult week. A week in which many battles were waged between parents and children. On multiple occasions we (the two adults) looked at each other with baggy eyes and slumped shoulders and said, "What tha?!?!" We would have said more, had we not been too exhausted to form sentences. All conversations were kept to a ten word minimum.
"Troy, I need you to run to the store and ..."
Doh!
Out of words.
Will finish sentence tomorrow.
The kids did not plan the coordinated uprising - or so they say - but it was a full-on non-stop assault none the less.
Teenagers- We respect the privacy of ours. Let us just say: Not a great week.
School-aged-children- We have created some systems to be sure that all homework is done, all letters/notes are signed, all are fed their 3square a day. The hope is that all the teeth hookup with a toothbrush at least once daily, and they are clean and clothed as they walk out the door to school at 7:25 each morning.
These are not lofty goals, we recognize this.
The system broke down when somehow Isaac managed to go four nights without showering even though he was scheduled for bathtub time on Tuesday night. We learned a valuable lesson, though. Asking Isaac to shower is not good enough. You have to ask and then physically walk him to the bathroom and hear him turn the water on and get in. If you neglect this step, he'll skip it and put his pajamas on. Once in the shower you have to help him realize the size of his own noggin and shampoo more than two or three inches of the front of his hairline. If you cannot see the back of your head, it still exists. Who knew?
Noah has no plans of embracing his new Kindergarten life. On Monday night when I tucked him in, I told him I'd wake him the next morning and to please try to be cheery - or at least not hateful. He said, "WHAT?!? I have to go again? How many days till it is a day I don't have to go?!"
Thinking it would really excite him, I woke him this morning and whispered, "You get two days off after today honey." I waited for him to pop out of bed and do a end-zone celebration dance. I waited. Nothing. "Noah? Did you hear me?" Long pause, he rolled over and said, "I want TEN days off after today."
Small Toddler-sized people- These two believe they are in charge. From that belief, all problems flow. Phoebe and Lydia, for the first time ever, are watching all of the other kids leave and experiencing less divided attention from their parental unit. They get more wrestling time, more playing time, more one-on-one attention. They now have almost 8 hours to rule the roost together. One would think this would thrill them. Perhaps they'd even enjoy it? If the way to express content and even excitement is to bite one another and scream for half of the day, then yes, they are thrilled with this turn of events.
These two continue to impress us with their disdain for one another and their disregard for the rule of law. Neither is willing to secede in the battle over the role as top-toddler in charge of the drones parents living in their kingdom. If we would hand over the Suburban keys, and if they could reach the pedals, chances are they'd race to the driveway to see who could get to the courthouse to file for emancipation first.
Earlier today I heard Lydia raise her voice and yell, "No, I told you no first!" I wondered what had come between her and Phoebe. Then I heard Troy say, "That's it missy, you cannot talk to me that way." And so it goes. A two year old that will chew out her Daddy is a two-year old to run-from fear pray for fervently.
And we do.
All of that aside, we managed to sit down Sunday night and make a plan for meals. Typically at around 5pm I say, "What should we have for dinner?" Troy replies, "I don't know. Mac n Cheese???" From there we keep Kraft in business and never eat much more than white flour and powdered cheese products for days on end.
This week we tried something new. Maybe you've heard of it? It is called - Planning.Ahead.
Shockingly enough it led to five unique menus in a row, none of which called for a packet of florescent orange cheese powder. Who knows, maybe it was the real food that energized the troops and caused them to flip out in unison.
The rest of the non-child things that made this week a buttkicking are related to passport application rules, re-adoption hoop jumping, bills, and other horribly mundane things.
All of that to say - good riddance to the last full week of August 2010.
It only felt like a year.
This was one long and difficult week. A week in which many battles were waged between parents and children. On multiple occasions we (the two adults) looked at each other with baggy eyes and slumped shoulders and said, "What tha?!?!" We would have said more, had we not been too exhausted to form sentences. All conversations were kept to a ten word minimum.
"Troy, I need you to run to the store and ..."
Doh!
Out of words.
Will finish sentence tomorrow.
The kids did not plan the coordinated uprising - or so they say - but it was a full-on non-stop assault none the less.
Teenagers- We respect the privacy of ours. Let us just say: Not a great week.
School-aged-children- We have created some systems to be sure that all homework is done, all letters/notes are signed, all are fed their 3square a day. The hope is that all the teeth hookup with a toothbrush at least once daily, and they are clean and clothed as they walk out the door to school at 7:25 each morning.
These are not lofty goals, we recognize this.
The system broke down when somehow Isaac managed to go four nights without showering even though he was scheduled for bathtub time on Tuesday night. We learned a valuable lesson, though. Asking Isaac to shower is not good enough. You have to ask and then physically walk him to the bathroom and hear him turn the water on and get in. If you neglect this step, he'll skip it and put his pajamas on. Once in the shower you have to help him realize the size of his own noggin and shampoo more than two or three inches of the front of his hairline. If you cannot see the back of your head, it still exists. Who knew?
Noah has no plans of embracing his new Kindergarten life. On Monday night when I tucked him in, I told him I'd wake him the next morning and to please try to be cheery - or at least not hateful. He said, "WHAT?!? I have to go again? How many days till it is a day I don't have to go?!"
Thinking it would really excite him, I woke him this morning and whispered, "You get two days off after today honey." I waited for him to pop out of bed and do a end-zone celebration dance. I waited. Nothing. "Noah? Did you hear me?" Long pause, he rolled over and said, "I want TEN days off after today."
Small Toddler-sized people- These two believe they are in charge. From that belief, all problems flow. Phoebe and Lydia, for the first time ever, are watching all of the other kids leave and experiencing less divided attention from their parental unit. They get more wrestling time, more playing time, more one-on-one attention. They now have almost 8 hours to rule the roost together. One would think this would thrill them. Perhaps they'd even enjoy it? If the way to express content and even excitement is to bite one another and scream for half of the day, then yes, they are thrilled with this turn of events.
These two continue to impress us with their disdain for one another and their disregard for the rule of law. Neither is willing to secede in the battle over the role as top-toddler in charge of the drones parents living in their kingdom. If we would hand over the Suburban keys, and if they could reach the pedals, chances are they'd race to the driveway to see who could get to the courthouse to file for emancipation first.
Earlier today I heard Lydia raise her voice and yell, "No, I told you no first!" I wondered what had come between her and Phoebe. Then I heard Troy say, "That's it missy, you cannot talk to me that way." And so it goes. A two year old that will chew out her Daddy is a two-year old to run-from fear pray for fervently.
And we do.
All of that aside, we managed to sit down Sunday night and make a plan for meals. Typically at around 5pm I say, "What should we have for dinner?" Troy replies, "I don't know. Mac n Cheese???" From there we keep Kraft in business and never eat much more than white flour and powdered cheese products for days on end.
This week we tried something new. Maybe you've heard of it? It is called - Planning.Ahead.
Shockingly enough it led to five unique menus in a row, none of which called for a packet of florescent orange cheese powder. Who knows, maybe it was the real food that energized the troops and caused them to flip out in unison.
The rest of the non-child things that made this week a buttkicking are related to passport application rules, re-adoption hoop jumping, bills, and other horribly mundane things.
All of that to say - good riddance to the last full week of August 2010.
Categories: Random
More from Beth in Haiti ...
Carline (new photos in the previous post, scroll down) and baby are home and settled in as mother and child. Carline had a marathon labor and horrific birth and she will probably tell the story for years to come. We raise the bar of what women expect out of their birth experience and they are terribly disappointed when they get cheated out of delivering with us. Carline is sweet, cooperative and doesn't expect much from life. No husband, no job, a tiny house, not much of an education. Somehow she found our program and started to learn about how important she is as a mother, how much God loves her, how she can try to shape her life with good choices. She is learning that she is worthy of respect and honor. She was blindsided by a birth experience that ended up being at a large, overcrowded, understaffed hospital. But, she came through fine, the baby is fine and she has moved out of our prenatal program and into our child development one.
Today we had another birth with a young girl named Florence. It went perfectly as we wish all births would. She came in yesterday with a few cramps. Like any first time mom she was sure she would deliver any minute. We sent her home for the night with instructions to rest, drink and eat. Then the phone calls started. In a voice way too happy to be active labor Florence would tell me she needed me to get her right away. I held her off (after 6 phone conversations) until 5:30 this morning. Then I went and picked her up along with the baby's dad and two sisters. Immediately Florence was at ease. She was prepared after being with us for many months of prenatals. She responded to our every suggestion and cooperated throughout labor. After bathing, putting on a new gown, drinking and having all her needs attended to Florence delivered a baby boy on our birth bed. Right where she was supposed to be with three midwives and lots of love and encouragement.
Florence and her new son
Florence said later, "I listened in class, I knew what to do, and I did it." Not all births go so easily but we sure rejoice when they do. Our program works and when all goes well our women deliver surrounded by beauty, emergency medical supplies and love.
Jonna & Beth (midwives) with Florence & sisters
Today our maternity center did what it was made to do - it gave a mom and baby a safe birth, great post-partum care and a positive experience. Every woman should have this whether she has a perfect birth or an emergency situation. All women deserve good care. All babies should come into the world surrounded by love and equipment to save their lives if necessary. Today it happened. We are working towards it happening every time.
Today we had another birth with a young girl named Florence. It went perfectly as we wish all births would. She came in yesterday with a few cramps. Like any first time mom she was sure she would deliver any minute. We sent her home for the night with instructions to rest, drink and eat. Then the phone calls started. In a voice way too happy to be active labor Florence would tell me she needed me to get her right away. I held her off (after 6 phone conversations) until 5:30 this morning. Then I went and picked her up along with the baby's dad and two sisters. Immediately Florence was at ease. She was prepared after being with us for many months of prenatals. She responded to our every suggestion and cooperated throughout labor. After bathing, putting on a new gown, drinking and having all her needs attended to Florence delivered a baby boy on our birth bed. Right where she was supposed to be with three midwives and lots of love and encouragement.
Florence and her new son
Florence said later, "I listened in class, I knew what to do, and I did it." Not all births go so easily but we sure rejoice when they do. Our program works and when all goes well our women deliver surrounded by beauty, emergency medical supplies and love.
Jonna & Beth (midwives) with Florence & sisters
Today our maternity center did what it was made to do - it gave a mom and baby a safe birth, great post-partum care and a positive experience. Every woman should have this whether she has a perfect birth or an emergency situation. All women deserve good care. All babies should come into the world surrounded by love and equipment to save their lives if necessary. Today it happened. We are working towards it happening every time.
Categories: Random
Update on Carline & Baby
Beth sent these new photos of Carline and baby. She wrote about them here last week. They are doing well and Beth is loving on them.
Categories: Random
30 days of photos
Japanese Birthday Celebration
Birthday Party with the kidsBiggest kids and little kids
Britt made the cake
Isaac comforting LydiaSteven Bush photographed Troy in a tap-tap that sits outside of our Haiti house
In early July we took photos of Phoebe to get photo proof of her weak eye muscles. We've noticed an increasing problem along with a lot of depth perception issues. Both of her eyes shoot all directions throughout the day. She sometimes bangs her head into things due to the poor depth perception. She will be having surgery the second week of September on both eyes. I think we are far more nervous than she will ever be. Every time a kid of mine goes under anesthesia, I get a lot freaky. The specialist says she will experience amazing improvement and that it is a low risk surgery.
Hope and Phoebe
In late July I celebrated my birthday with all of my kids. It was a fabulous day. It started with meeting Britt and Chris at the YMCA to join a bunch of college kids to play water polo. The highlight of my morning and possibly the best birthday gift was when one of Chris's lifeguards said during the game, "Chris, your mother-in-law is persistent!" He could have said, "Your mother in law is old slow weak fragile!" I love that kid. After water polo Britt took me to coffee at Starbucks. Later in the day she took me for a pedicure. At dinner time we all met at a Japanese restaurant. Isaac was hilarious and totally impressed with the hibachi grill. He told the chef preparing our dinner how fabulous he was at his job. Over and over. and. over. It was one of my happiest birthdays ever. Thanks to my sweet kids and their fabulous daddy.
3 months shy of 3 years old ~ Lydie Beth
We are missing home a lot this week. There was a hope that we could start school on the 17th with QCS and be settled in and ready to roll without bothering with a Texas school. I recognize my plans are only that - mine. Oddly enough when word of the passport problems came to us I did not shed a single tear. None of the hassles with government bureaucracy or the challenges of adoption surprise me anymore. It would be weirder if it was easy.
While we were in Iowa there was one speaking gig that was much more relaxed. Of all the times we've shared it was my favorite one. We sat sharing a bit about the things God has done in the 14 years Troy and I have been together and when Troy came to the spot in the story about the things he feels when he steps off of the airplane in the beautiful paradoxical heartache called Haiti - and how deep those feelings run - and how they don't make sense in some ways - he started crying. From that moment in the morning and for the rest of the time, it was basically a cry fest. There is no true point in my telling you any of that, other than to say what I already said. We are ready to go back.
Birthday Party with the kidsBiggest kids and little kids
Britt made the cake
Isaac comforting LydiaSteven Bush photographed Troy in a tap-tap that sits outside of our Haiti house
In early July we took photos of Phoebe to get photo proof of her weak eye muscles. We've noticed an increasing problem along with a lot of depth perception issues. Both of her eyes shoot all directions throughout the day. She sometimes bangs her head into things due to the poor depth perception. She will be having surgery the second week of September on both eyes. I think we are far more nervous than she will ever be. Every time a kid of mine goes under anesthesia, I get a lot freaky. The specialist says she will experience amazing improvement and that it is a low risk surgery.
Hope and Phoebe
In late July I celebrated my birthday with all of my kids. It was a fabulous day. It started with meeting Britt and Chris at the YMCA to join a bunch of college kids to play water polo. The highlight of my morning and possibly the best birthday gift was when one of Chris's lifeguards said during the game, "Chris, your mother-in-law is persistent!" He could have said, "Your mother in law is old slow weak fragile!" I love that kid. After water polo Britt took me to coffee at Starbucks. Later in the day she took me for a pedicure. At dinner time we all met at a Japanese restaurant. Isaac was hilarious and totally impressed with the hibachi grill. He told the chef preparing our dinner how fabulous he was at his job. Over and over. and. over. It was one of my happiest birthdays ever. Thanks to my sweet kids and their fabulous daddy.
3 months shy of 3 years old ~ Lydie Beth
We are missing home a lot this week. There was a hope that we could start school on the 17th with QCS and be settled in and ready to roll without bothering with a Texas school. I recognize my plans are only that - mine. Oddly enough when word of the passport problems came to us I did not shed a single tear. None of the hassles with government bureaucracy or the challenges of adoption surprise me anymore. It would be weirder if it was easy.
While we were in Iowa there was one speaking gig that was much more relaxed. Of all the times we've shared it was my favorite one. We sat sharing a bit about the things God has done in the 14 years Troy and I have been together and when Troy came to the spot in the story about the things he feels when he steps off of the airplane in the beautiful paradoxical heartache called Haiti - and how deep those feelings run - and how they don't make sense in some ways - he started crying. From that moment in the morning and for the rest of the time, it was basically a cry fest. There is no true point in my telling you any of that, other than to say what I already said. We are ready to go back.
Categories: Random
For the love of everything good ...
... please help me quiet this man down. I beg of you.
Email #1 -On Aug 22, 2010, at 2:17 PM, John McHoul wrote:
We have Waterloo and Little Big Horn and so what shall we call your upcoming defeat of the Big Hair Challenge? How about: TARA'S FOLLY. Lets choose the name well for posterity as our children's children will be studying this great defeat in their history books. Yes I like it: TARA'S FOLLY.
John the Victor
My Reply -
I have 100 days. I would say it is faaaaar too soon for you to be smackin your lips ---- 30% of the way there in 19 days. You will be beautiful bald.
Email #2-August 22, 2010, at 3:57 PM, John McHoul wrote:My, my, my and I suppose that you believe in BIG FOOT as well. Poor dear, rest and don't over exert yourself. Drink warm milk at night so you can get some sleep.
John
I am not even slightly worried. It won't even take until November 12 for the hair to go.
You have no chance McHoul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obligatory serious portion of this post :
The hospital will serve far more than just pregnant women.
But today I am focusing on them.
From the World Health Organization- On maternal death rates ...
"Poverty also plays an important role. Some 99 percent of the estimated 500,000 women who die every year giving birth are in developing countries where medical supplies and skilled workers are in short supply."
Please read past posts to get an idea of the population we are reaching ..
here
or here
and here
and lastly here.
(The ambulance/transport vehicle that we raised money for when we ran the January 2010 Disney Marathon has been ordered and we are waiting on its delivery anytime.)
If you have time, look up the maternal death rate in Haiti. Think about having no place to take your tiny sick newborn baby. Think about having an infection after giving birth but having nowhere to go for help.
Heartline is positioned to help change those statistics. Our women do not need to have high risk pregnancies without care that end with a delivery at "home" (a tent? a 10X10 tarped off area?) and the loss of their babies and possibly their own lives. We know what the problem is. We don't want to look the other way and ignore it. With God's help, we are in a position on the ground - with experience and love we can and will impact lives. We will continue to work in relationship with each woman we meet. We will continue to support her in the crucial first six months after her baby is born.
Getting turned away by a hospital with a woman in labor that needs IMMEDIATE care is not acceptable to us.We need the facilities to handle the highest-risk cases and options for c-sections and complications with babies after their birth. Our choices and other options are incredibly limited and downright disappointing. We want to do better. We want to build a hospital. Will you help us?
Email #1 -On Aug 22, 2010, at 2:17 PM, John McHoul wrote:
We have Waterloo and Little Big Horn and so what shall we call your upcoming defeat of the Big Hair Challenge? How about: TARA'S FOLLY. Lets choose the name well for posterity as our children's children will be studying this great defeat in their history books. Yes I like it: TARA'S FOLLY.
John the Victor
My Reply -
I have 100 days. I would say it is faaaaar too soon for you to be smackin your lips ---- 30% of the way there in 19 days. You will be beautiful bald.
Email #2-August 22, 2010, at 3:57 PM, John McHoul wrote:My, my, my and I suppose that you believe in BIG FOOT as well. Poor dear, rest and don't over exert yourself. Drink warm milk at night so you can get some sleep.
John
I am not even slightly worried. It won't even take until November 12 for the hair to go.
You have no chance McHoul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obligatory serious portion of this post :
The hospital will serve far more than just pregnant women.
But today I am focusing on them.
From the World Health Organization- On maternal death rates ...
"Poverty also plays an important role. Some 99 percent of the estimated 500,000 women who die every year giving birth are in developing countries where medical supplies and skilled workers are in short supply."
Please read past posts to get an idea of the population we are reaching ..
here
or here
and here
and lastly here.
(The ambulance/transport vehicle that we raised money for when we ran the January 2010 Disney Marathon has been ordered and we are waiting on its delivery anytime.)
If you have time, look up the maternal death rate in Haiti. Think about having no place to take your tiny sick newborn baby. Think about having an infection after giving birth but having nowhere to go for help.
Heartline is positioned to help change those statistics. Our women do not need to have high risk pregnancies without care that end with a delivery at "home" (a tent? a 10X10 tarped off area?) and the loss of their babies and possibly their own lives. We know what the problem is. We don't want to look the other way and ignore it. With God's help, we are in a position on the ground - with experience and love we can and will impact lives. We will continue to work in relationship with each woman we meet. We will continue to support her in the crucial first six months after her baby is born.
Getting turned away by a hospital with a woman in labor that needs IMMEDIATE care is not acceptable to us.We need the facilities to handle the highest-risk cases and options for c-sections and complications with babies after their birth. Our choices and other options are incredibly limited and downright disappointing. We want to do better. We want to build a hospital. Will you help us?
Categories: Random
Road Trip Review
19 days and 2,000 miles after we departed Waco, TX, we returned in one piece (or seven pieces plus the one piece that came back here by airplane and skipped the dreadfully long ride home...lucky piece that she is). For the most part engaging in real life relationships and ignoring the internet turned out to be everything we'd hoped for. The 'Suburden' carried us and a billion crumbs and wrappers with only a few hiccups. When we pulled back into the driveway after 20 hours straight in the truck, Troy said, "Let's not do that again." (The drive - not the time away.)
The Highlights-
The Lowlights-
Looking Ahead
We're trying to resolve the issues to get Phoebe her passport. I guess the U.S. government is so thrilled to have her as a citizen, they don't want to let her leave. If the passport stuff won't work itself out as quickly as we'd like it to, Troy will plan a trip and a few weeks in Haiti next month. We'd much rather all go home together as one united family, praying for that to be possible.
Sunday we're going to worship with some of the greatest people in all of Texas at Church Under the Bridge. Troy gets to play guitar and sing with the worship team. The kids get to ask me lots of questions about why people are smoking at church. I.LOVE.IT! This place brings me to tears every time I attend, it is a beautiful picture of the church being the church to the lost ... rather than go on a rant about all that bothers me about today's christian church of america -- I will just say: If you are ever in Waco, TX on a Sunday, you MUST experience this beautiful place. We've enjoyed a couple of opportunities to be with Jimmy and Janet Dorrell - they are an absolutely fabulous and inspirational couple that we hope to learn a lot more from before we bail out of this state/country.
John is smack talking about his Hay-uh. Help shut him up for a few days. Please GIVE to the Gwo Cheve Challenge and help build a 20 bed hospital in Port au Prince, Haiti. (See previous posts for details and Chip In Meter to donate.)
The Highlights-
- Well planned food and beverage stocked in vehicle prior to departure
- Melatonin
- Singing 'Wavin Flag' at the top of their lungs, kids entertained us
- Stayed at a fun hotel in downtown Wichita, KS
- Spoke at a fun church in Wichita, KS
- Met the Glovers, a cool family in KS
- Had mandatory exercise session at every gas station stop, including wind sprints, jumping jacks, and the hokey pokey
- Made it to Iowa after a long car day to be greeted by the warmth of the Erickson's cabin
- Enjoyed the Conference and met a lot of great people for the first time
- Group meals with cousins and friends at the Conference
- Running with a friend
- Boating in Lake Okoboji with family
- Meeting missionaries from Afghanistan that instantly inspired us and touched our hearts
- Experiencing God's provision - received an amazing gift for our children's education in Haiti
- Phoebe became a US citizen!
- Fun with the Slaters our first days in MN
- Dinner with Aunt and Uncle and cousins in MN
- Went to G and G Livesay's to tube, ski, fish, enjoy the boat and beauty of their spot on the lake. Grandpa took big kids for an outing. Grandma made encouraged them get their teeth cleaned at her dental office. :)
- Spoke at New Joy Church and saw lots of friends from our home church
- Spent time with friends Sara and Joe and Jen and Erik and Nikki and kids
- Went to G and G Porter's and Uncle Matt and Aunt Tina's to jump on the trampoline, go to the YMCA and see a MN Twins game
- Running with Tina
- Met and enjoyed Sara Groves performing (long time fans of hers) at a small IJM gathering
- Met up with Joanna and Jen and Anne and friends after concert
- Lydia was in her car-seat 3/4 of the way south
The Lowlights-
- Could not start trip until late afternoon due to school orientation meeting - meant keeping kids up till midnight before church visit in KS
- Truck made bad noises the first 90 minutes of the trip
- Too many Peanut Butter Sandwiches days one and two
- Peeing in Styrofoam cups or "Little Johnny" (One small bladder spoils the travel strategy for the whole bunch of strategists - we found a way around it)
- Incredibly sucktacular gas mileage
- Paige refused to participate in gas-station exercises even though "mandatory" - needs lesson on the meaning of the word mandatory
- Whining Noah
- Bored Isaac
- Using Skittles and Licorice to bribe Whining Noah and Bored Isaac
- Getting lost in Iowa after 8 hours in the truck
- On the way North - Lydie almost never in car-seat
- Dragging an obnoxious amount of stuff in and out of many destinations
- Troy and Keith (cousin) leg wrestling for their honor
- Realizing that the passport people require more documents than the immigration people and not succeeding in application of passport for the newest citizen
- Realizing we would lose our spots in the Charter School if we did not truck it back to TX right away ... and without an idea of when passport people will become reasonable having a school seemed fairly important
- Realizing as much as we want to make a plan -- the time to make one has not yet arrived
- Sleeping from 5:30 am to 6:30 am at truckstop because eyelids would.not.stay.open.
- Finding three kids soaked in urine at 7am stop in Kansas
- Driving straight through to TX midnight departure ~ 8pm arrival
- One 1hour sleep stop ~ 1 change the pee clothes stop with breakfast added ~ 2 gas station/ caffeine stops ~ 1 we need a really decent meal to end this well stop
- Going to school 11 hours after returning for 19 days of non-stop fun/activity
Looking Ahead
We're trying to resolve the issues to get Phoebe her passport. I guess the U.S. government is so thrilled to have her as a citizen, they don't want to let her leave. If the passport stuff won't work itself out as quickly as we'd like it to, Troy will plan a trip and a few weeks in Haiti next month. We'd much rather all go home together as one united family, praying for that to be possible.
Sunday we're going to worship with some of the greatest people in all of Texas at Church Under the Bridge. Troy gets to play guitar and sing with the worship team. The kids get to ask me lots of questions about why people are smoking at church. I.LOVE.IT! This place brings me to tears every time I attend, it is a beautiful picture of the church being the church to the lost ... rather than go on a rant about all that bothers me about today's christian church of america -- I will just say: If you are ever in Waco, TX on a Sunday, you MUST experience this beautiful place. We've enjoyed a couple of opportunities to be with Jimmy and Janet Dorrell - they are an absolutely fabulous and inspirational couple that we hope to learn a lot more from before we bail out of this state/country.
John is smack talking about his Hay-uh. Help shut him up for a few days. Please GIVE to the Gwo Cheve Challenge and help build a 20 bed hospital in Port au Prince, Haiti. (See previous posts for details and Chip In Meter to donate.)
Categories: Random
Help Wanted:
We are in need of a few nurses, an EMT, and a physical therapist to help out at Heartline Hospital from 9/18/10-10/7/10. We will be partnering with a surgical team at Double Harvest Hospital (located in Croix-des-Bouquets, about 10 miles from Heartline). The leader of the surgical team, Dr. Steve Smith, is an orthopedic surgeon with whom we worked closely back in March of this year. He will be bringing a second orthopedic surgeon, 2 OB/Gyn surgeons, and an ENT surgeon. They will be in Haiti for 10 days and plan to be very busy operating during that time. Heartline has many patients we will be sending to Double Harvest for surgery. We will take the patients back to Heartline for all of their post-operative care. Additionally, we will provide post-operative care for any other patients the Double Harvest surgical team feels would benefit from more prolonged post-op care. Nurses and EMTs would provide direct patient care (including medication administration, dressing changes, wound care, and so on) working 12 hour shifts, either day or night. Nurses and EMTs may also assist with patient transport and with the Heartline women's program. Physical therapy is generally provided to the patients during the daytime hours.
If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail Jen at halv0105 AT umn DOT edu. Please include a short description of any previous experience you have in the developing world (especially Haiti), any language skills you have, and any other skills you have (wound care, IVs, OB/peds experience, etc). Please also let me know your medical background and what dates you'd be available to volunteer. Volunteers are responsible for purchasing airfare to get to Haiti. Once in Haiti, housing, meals, and in-country transportation are provided. Thank you!
If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail Jen at halv0105 AT umn DOT edu. Please include a short description of any previous experience you have in the developing world (especially Haiti), any language skills you have, and any other skills you have (wound care, IVs, OB/peds experience, etc). Please also let me know your medical background and what dates you'd be available to volunteer. Volunteers are responsible for purchasing airfare to get to Haiti. Once in Haiti, housing, meals, and in-country transportation are provided. Thank you!
Categories: Random
Hope
“Hope and despair are not opposites. They are cut from the very same cloth, made from the very same material, shaped from the very same circumstances. Most of all, every life finds itself forced to choose one from the other, one day at a time, one circumstance after another. The only difference between the two is that despair shapes an attitude of mind; hope creates a quality of soul. Despair colors the way we look at things, makes us suspicious of the future, makes us negative about the present. Hope, on the other hand, takes life on its own terms, knows that whatever happens God lives in it, and expects that, whatever its twists and turns, it will ultimately yield its good to those who live it well. When tragedy strikes, when trouble comes, when life disappoints us, we stand at the crossroads between hope and despair, torn and hurting. Despair cements us in the present; hope sends us dancing around dark corners trusting in a tomorrow we cannot see. Despair says that there is no place to go but here. Hope says that God is waiting for us someplace else. Begin again.”
(unknown author)
(unknown author)
Categories: Random