Up to date...

It has been while since I have written and a lot has happened since then. I had the opportunity to go back home for a couple weeks for my brother Tom's wedding. I am so thankful I was able to be there to share in the celebration and be a part of Tom and Hannah's special day!My sister flew back to Haiti with me on the 11th of September. The Lord blessed us with two special weeks together, and she just left to go back home on Thursday. We did many things while she was here as I tried to share with her all the aspects of my life in Haiti: my work at the clinic and in Milot, friends, ministry, church, and just everyday routine interactions/encounters. We were able to see some of God's beautiful creation here in Haiti as well when we visited the Citadel and the beach. It was such a treat to have her companionship, encouragement, and help these past two weeks and our relationship only grew deeper as we shared these experiences together.

Wadner gave us a ride on his bike

Documenting our fatigue during a hot long day at Milot hospital

Now I'd like to share with you about some of the things that are happening in the lives of some of my friends and patients in Milot. The first person I'd like to talk about is a 23 year old girl named Tania. I met Tania for the first time in Milot the day after I got back from the states. Julie filled me in a bit on her story before I met her. She was admitted about a month ago now, for breast cancer and has already had 4 operations to remove a sarcoma tumor from her left breast, but the tumor just keeps growing back. She was told at the hospital that she needs to go to the states to receive chemotherapy treatments to completely rid her body of the cancer so the tumor doesn't keep coming back. She really has no means of getting to the states, so she had asked Julie if there was anything she could do because the Haitians know that when patients are sent to the states, a lot of time it is the "white" teams of doctors and nurses that come in, who organize it. We have been talking with some of the people in Milot, trying to figure out a way we can get her there so she can get the care she needs. Without the chemo treatment, she will die. She went in for surgery last Wednesday to remove the tumor because it had grown to be fairly large again. But it will just continue to grow back until she has chemo to kill those cancer cells. Em and I were able to spend some time with her and her little sister each day we went to Milot. She is a Christian and told me that she knows it is all in God's hands and all we can do is pray. Please pray that the Lord would work out all the details and provide the means for her to get the care she needs in the states. Please also pray for God's strength and peace for Tania during this time as she is fighting for her life.

Tania and I

Em and Tania's sister

Next I have some exciting news about something that happened while I was in the states. This is the story as told to me by Julie, because she was here when it all happened and I will paraphrase what she told me. This took place a little over 3 weeks ago in the morning just after clinic devotions. Ms. Ketely who is a nurse here at the clinic called Julie over to show here a little baby girl who had just came with her dad. She was crying and the father told them that he left his house at 3am that morning to come there. He said the baby's mom died about 2 months ago and he was left with the baby. He wasn't sure what to do because he didn't know how to take care of her. They asked him if she was sick because he had come to a clinic, but he said he didn't think so, she just cries a lot. They got the baby some clothes and Julie sat and tried to feed her a bottle of milk, but after the first few tries it was obvious that she didn't know how to use a bottle. So they asked the dad what he had been feeding her and he told them cows milk with a spoon and butter and flour. So they kept her for awhile to feed her and try and calm her down. In the meantime, Dr. Rodney had come over to see what was going on and after hearing the story, out of the blue, told Julie that he would take the baby. She asked him what about Vedane(his wife) and he told Julie to call her and tell her to come to the clinic. Vedane didn't hesitate whatsoever in saying yes and came right away to see the baby. Vedane sat and talked with the dad and sorted out all of the legal details, the father had already brought everything with him that he needed to give the baby away.

And that was that! Later on after the fact, Julie asked Dr. Rodney how he was able to make such a huge decision like that so quickly. He said that he knew by the way the dad was talking that he didn't want to keep the baby and was looking to give her to someone else. He said he just felt like he should be the one to take her. When she asked Vedane the same question, she told Julie that the night before she had had a dream that she was with someone and there was a baby there for her to take, but someone came along and asked for the baby. She didn't want to fight so she said "Ok take the baby, God is going to send me a beautiful baby girl." So when Dr. Rodney told her about this baby in the clinic, she knew right away that it was from God.

Her name was Dalundy, but they changed it to Alisha. She is such a wonderful addition to their family, everyone who comes to see her falls in love with her immediately. She is adorable, loves to smile, and is such a good baby! She eats well, sleeps well, and has just been a huge blessing for their family already. I was able to hear about her before I came back from the US and I brought some baby clothes and other necessities. She is so beautiful and Em and I had a great time getting to know her and playing with her. Here are a few pictures of Alisha....
There is some more exciting things coming up in the this next week. We have a team of doctors and nurses from the states here that will be working at the clinic. Dr. Rodney decided to organize a special clinic for this week in which everyone patient who comes is only required to pay 50 goudes($1.25) for their medical care. Dr. Rodney has been announcing this on the radio and at church, so the word is out and we are expecting a large amount of people to come every day. The staff will be starting at 6, clinic opens at 8, and we will be closed roughly at 4. It is going to be a bit insane, but I am really looking forward to it. What a great way to reach out to the community, to those who would not otherwise be able to receive treatment, and to be the hands and feet and mouths of Jesus. I would ask for your prayers for strength and endurance this next week, for unity among the staff and medical team, for each of the staff to be administers of the grace and love that we've so freely been given, and that God would begin preparing the hearts of those who will come that they would be softened and ready to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support, I know God is faithful and can and will do much more than we could ever imagine.