Odette

Meet Odette. She is 25 y.o. and has quite the story to tell. 

When she came to the Clinic two weeks ago (June 6th), she was 8 months pregnant with her sixth child. But she had not felt the baby move in 4 or 5 days. Upon physical assessment we could tell that the baby had not only died but had already started to decompose...inside her. We sent her to the hospital in town for a D&C or for them to induce labor to deliver the dead baby. And put her on LOTS of antibiotics - the big risk with a spontaneous abortion/miscarriage is that infection sets in and the Mom is at severe risk of getting septicemia (a blood infection which can very easily lead to death.)

Last week (June 12th) when she came in again she looked a lot healthier and was smiling. Happy to still be alive. 

She is HIV+ and has already lost 4 of her 5 children and her first husband to the disease - though she didn't know she was HIV+ til coming in two weeks ago.  Thinking the reason her family was dying was a spiritual issue, she turned her back on God, stopped going to church and sought out help from a witch-doctor. Who told her that Satan was 'eating' her family and she needed to offer a 'gombo' (sacrifice) of a mother hen and a cock to stop/appease him. 

Prudence let me pray and share Scripture with Odette. I'd just read Romans 8 in my Devotions that morning and so much of it was applicable. THANKFULLY I had my Creole/English New Testament with me! I read both from Romans 8 and Romans 9. I explained that even if she had left God, He had not left her, and He still loved her and was waiting for her. That she was His child. We prayed together thanking Him for the plan He still has for her life. And asking for forgiveness, coming back to Him and wanting to LIVE for Him. 

We asked some more questions about the witch-doctor and if she'd already offered the sacrifice? She said she had NOT and that, "Mwen chute boko - map viv Jezi" - I've rejected the witchdoctor and I'm living for Jesus."

I was able to get a Creole Bible for her and the next time she is in for HIV meds she will be able to take it with her. Prudence 'happened' to know of someone in a church near to where she lives - even though she is quite far from Vaudreuil - and wrote to let him know about her situation and her coming back to Christ. 

When asked if I could have a picture with her and share her story she smiled and said she had no problem with this. 

Continue to pray for her and her walk with the Lord. And continue to PRAISE Him for the amazing work He is doing in changing lives!!!

I trust Him

So, the past week and a half has been difficult.  If you know me, you know that I tend to bottle-things up and then one little incident will push me over the edge. This was the case on Monday. I'd had some news about my family, and some issues with friends and co-workers, and deaths in friends families, all which I kept inside until, the internet was out and the jump drive I'd bought for such occasions did not work. That was the last straw. And the tears flowed. I got to work and just sobbed in Prudence's arms - but work for the day had already started and I had to pull myself together. I saw a posting recently: "You never know how strong you are...until being strong is the only choice you have." - Cayla Mills. Friday felt like that. All I wanted to do was collapse into a heap and sob my heart out. Instead I had to pull myself together, I NEEDED to pull myself together. Praying for strength I plunged into the work day ahead.

Specifically in regards to Nate, I'd had some disturbing news earlier in the week about his latest with Cancer - he's started on a chemo drug and finding it rough - barely having the energy to get off the couch, plus a new oncologist appointment that I'D put hope in went horrible. I'd written to my prayer partners over the weekend and said:

"I sit here and the tears well up in my eyes as I hear a Still Small Voice whisper: "My hope is in the LORD" - but I cry out and say - but Lord, is it? I know that's what your Word tells me - I know that's what David said - but can I?
In the Dominican last week on retreat we had a time of prayer for some of those of us in pain. We didn't share - we just sat in a circle and people prayed as they felt led. I sat there and cried. I had two people who prayed for me - strength and encouragement in being away from family at this time, for hope in the Lord, and one - one who just held me and that may have been the best thing. I clung to her and cried and let the prayers of others wash over me.

God knew this was ahead. He knew that I'd been hoping on this appointment - this 'second opinion/second chance' and He knew that I was going to need to be lifted up.

I need to make sure that my HOPE is in Him and whatever the circumstances, whatever He's going to allow to happen in my life, in my brother's life is not beyond His control. Nor is it beyond His grace."

Today, I admitted out loud some of my recent stresses in life. Life itself is stressing. Broken water pipes are stressing (see Friday Night Fun?.) Having no one to share with is stressing. Feeling the weight of teams is stressing. Trying to be a good hostess but barely knowing where to start is stressing. It's how I handle the stress. And lately it's not been so good.

But at the same time I realized that I have to trust Him and His timing. With the little things as well as the big things in life. I trust Him.
 
I need to let these words, and their truth echo in my mind when I feel discouraged.

I trust Him.

May they ring in my ears when I lie awake at night and the tears wet my pillow.

I trust Him.

When my arms ache to hold some loved one close, may I cling to them instead.

I trust Him.

When my heart is heavy and I feel alone.

I trust Him.

Today, He pressed me to read Evidence Not Seen  by Darlene Deibler Rose. It is the story of her life and faith in the midst of a Japanese POW camp during WWII. 

As I read through her incredible story I was brought to tears  so many times. I've written out below a portion that fitted with my earlier "I trust Him" phrase.

"Lord, I believe all that the Bible says. I do walk by faith and not by sight. I do not need to feel You near, because Your Word says You will never leave me nor forsake me. Lord, I confirm my faith; I believe." The words of Hebrews 11:1 welled up, unbeckoned, to fill my mind: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The evidence of things not seen. Evidence not seen -- that was what I put my trust in -- not in feelings or moments of ecstasy, but in the unchanging Person of Jesus Christ....More than ever before, I knew that I could ever and always put my trust in my faith, in my glorious Lord."

Paul, Jean-Pierre

It all began last week, January 18th to be exact.

When I met Paul, Jean-Pierre, he looked in pretty bad shape - he could barely walk beyond a shuffle and needed his mom and friend to help get him in the door of the TB clinic.

Prudence had me call Dr. Hall (a retired OMS missionary doctor, who's been back to help for a week and a half). Dr. Hall examined him and once he was done told me it was my turn - I listened to his lung sounds - horrible scraping/scratching - lung sounds are NOT supposed to sound like that. His stomach was tight due to liver enlargement. His feet were swollen, and he was anemic. Though Dr. Hall told me he had seen conjunctiva as white as my (snow white) skirt!

Dr. Hall sat back in the chair - looking at Prudence he said gravely - "He may not live through this." He and Prudence explained to the mother that her eighteen year old son was very sick - that he NEEDED to take the medication we were giving him and she needed to feed him multiple small meals throughout the day.

Fast-forward to today - January 20th.

Dr. Hall is consulting another patient and has me come in to listen to breath-sounds - "Listen, poke, and prod as much as you can - to learn as much as you can," he tells me. In the course of our conversation he laments the fact that a lot of times when treating a patient they never come back - the one he was consulting had been to the clinic back in '96 or '97 been treated for 6-8 months and hadn't been seen or heard from since! "Like the boy we saw last week," he says, "we may never know what happened to him." Nodding I agreed before returning to work with Prudence in her TB office.

I'd only just come back when Jean-Pierre's mother arrived and said he was MUCH better! I ran back to tell Dr. Hall - he came within a few minutes and when I saw Jean-Pierre I could hardly believe it was him - though still sick - he LOOKED so much better - the listlessness was gone from his body and he looked bright and interested in what was going on around him.

We were all very happy to see him looking so well. Though his lung sounds were still horrible to listen to, they were improved. At the end of the appointment, Prudence asked the mother if she was a Christian? Upon hearing the affirmative she asked where she went to church? The Baptist church in Plain du Nord was the reply. Then Prudence asked Jean-Pierre, are you a Christian? Hanging his head he said No...but then said - "I would like to become one now." Prudence motioned ME to pray with him! ME?!? I needed a little bit of coaching but she was confident I could do it in Creole as he spoke no English. I knelt beside his chair and told him to repeat after me - stumbling along a little in Creole I led him in a simple prayer of acknowledging his sin and asking Jesus to save him. To come into his heart and his life and to change him. That he was putting his confidence in Jesus. Thanking the Lord for all that He has done and will do - in His precious name. Amen!!!!

Just after 10:00 am Jean-Pierre passed from death into LIFE!

Prudence spoke with him a little after this and we got a picture together. Prudence took one of us sitting as we'd prayed and one standing up in front of the exam table - as we stood there Jean-Pierre slipped his hand into mine and I squeezed joyfully! Prudence gave them some instructions on what further medicine and treatment he needed.

Me? I was overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving! This is the first person I have ever led to the Lord! :D I could NOT stop smiling - I called my Mom - but she was away from her desk - so got a hold of my Dad instead and couldn't hold back the emotion - I just started crying! I woke Erika up in Washington state at 7:00am to tell her the news. Her groggy 'Hello' changed to a voice of Praise when she learned the reason of my call!

Prudence talked to me afterwards and said, "Yes, this is the first thing you do for the Lord in Haiti! The nursing it is second."

All throughout the day I've been telling people that I am very happy because there was a patient that got saved today! Everyone from other missionaries, to our Cook - who'd seen him waiting for meds on the 18th, to fellow coworkers and friends at the Clinic.

God is so good - I wanted to let you join with the angels in rejoicing over this one that became a child of God today.

I've been home for Christmas one whole day!!!! So far I've:
- Managed to annoy my sister and
- Slip into some old immature habits :-/
On the up side, I've:
- Been greeted by my OMS family with warm hugs and smiles
- Spoke briefly in Chapel about the mercies of God - Ps 111:1-3
- Had a wonderful time at Coffee Break at MFM
- Went shopping at the Mall with Daddy - and was NOT stared at by everyone there!
- Visited Grama and Grampa!!!
- Played Mexican Train
- Ate Mother's amazing home-made Enchilada's for dinner!!!
- Met a newbaby OMSer ;) - just 3 months!
- And was awestruck by the words to Selah's song 'Mystery'.

It's been a busy day - just remembering it all is tiring me out and I really should get to bed as it's after one now - but I felt the need to write and pour out what's on my heart.

It is the song "Mystery" that I really wanted to take some time to talk about...the one verse that got me I've bolded - but it seems to lose some of it's power when taken out of the rest of the song - so I've copied the song in it's entirity:

A child was born on Christmas Day

Born to save the world

But long before the world began

He knew His death was sure

The pain and strife secured

Mystery, how He came

To be a man

But greater still

How His death was in His plan

God predestined that His Son would die

And He still created man

Oh, what love is this

That His death was in His hands

The Christmas trees

They glow so bright

With presents all around

But Christmas brought
A tree of life

With blood that sacrificed

The greatest gift in life

Mystery, how He came

To be a man

But greater still

How His death was in His plan
God predestined that His Son would die

And He still created man

Oh, what love is this

That His death was in His hands

I am just a man and

Can’t begin to comprehend

When You look into this traitor’s eyes

What do You see that justifies the Lamb

God predestined that His

Son would die

And He still created man

Oh, what love is this

That His death was in His plan

Mystery, mystery

 

 

 

Even now as I read through it again - I get tears in my eyes. The chorus too, is captivating.

 

The word 'selah' means to think about/reflect/ponder/meditate on.

 

And I am doing just that. The chorus and verse stood out to me - blaringly - forcing me to stop mid-game and say - "Wow. Those are really powerful lyrics." That was hours ago. I've been 'selah-ing' ;) and here's what I've discovered:

 

- God - All-knowing, all-loving, ever-present, self-sufficient One,

- Predestined that His Son - this one whom He loved above all others, would...would what?

- Die. DIE?!?

- And yet, He still created man. - Man who would turn away, would choose in ignorance and lust to be 'more like God' would eat of the forbidden fruit and forever corrupt and destroy the relationship with the loving Creator. Man who would kill His Son. He STILL created Man. I echo the words:

- Oh what love IS this? That His death was in His plan...His PLAN! From the beginning He already knew, He already loved.

 

And as I sit here and 'selah', the song continues to challenge, reverberating in my head:

 - "I am just a man" - a mere human, who screams "Why?!?" at the simplest ordinances that come from Him, who cannot even BEGIN to understand this love - "this love that surpasses knowledge" (Eph 3:19).

- "Can't begin to comprehend" - how true - I fall so short - His thoughts and His ways are so much higher than mine.

- "When You look into this traitor's eyes" - Oh my God! How this describes me - a traitor to my God and my King - yes, Lord - it IS a probing question...when You, Abba, look into my eyes

-"What do You see that justifies the Lamb?" - What is there? In my sin, in my weakness, in my utter betrayal of You? what can even be thought of as *justification*? For the Lamb - the perfect, final sacrifice for my sin and the sins of the world? There is nothing in me that justifies this act. This, is pure LOVE. So rich and full and endless, it rolls over me and engulfs me - I sit here with tears coursing down my face- it is UNBELIEVABLE. And yet. It is TRUE.

 

What love is this? This is the love of a Father for a Child. The love of a Husband for a Wife. The love of a God for His Beloved. This is the greatest love this world has ever known. That I have ever known.

 

And even though I know it - I want to live it. I want to live this love. To live this mystery.

P's: Problems and Praises

Today alone has been long and interesting...I started my fourth day at work in the Clinic! I've been working Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Today was a show of God's wonders...

Problem: Friday after two other days of work I was discouraged once again when a baby was brought in by her father. Sad story, the mother had left and the father had no formula to feed her. And we were out. For the past two months we've been out. This had made me so sad - while we could provide the medical care the infant needed we had no way to give her the FOOD she needed. Instead of turning to God in prayer as I should've, I let myself become discouraged and frustrated by this. This was the third infant this week - whom we could not provide simple fomula for. Formula IS available in Haiti but it is very expensive. When we can, we ask others to bring it in from the Dominican.

Praise: This morning I met a woman named, Linda, who is a medical assistant and X-ray tech who is here with her husband for the first time and is interested in helping in any way that they can! What's more she brought medical supplies with her. Not only medical supplies - but Formula! Praise the Lord!!!! I offered up a prayer of repentance for failing to bring my needs to Him and trusting Him with that which is important to me and the Haitian people.

Problem: I still didn't have my bank book from UniBank - they'd insisted I needed to have my Permis de Sejour (visa) before they would give it to me. Today I had the opportunity to go into town with Colleen (another OMS missionary) to get it. I brought my Permis - that's all they needed right? Maybe not - upon further thinking - they would probably need the account number at least? if not my receipt from the last time I was in? "Oh God!" I prayed, "Why could I not think of these things when I needed to? Why do I feel so stupid - Please let things go smoothly? I'm sorry that I'm such a dunce."

Praise: When we arrived at the UniBank - the same cashier that had been there on my previous two trips was there - after saying hello in Creole, I asked her if she remembered me? She did - ok good. I said that I'd come for my bank book - and that now that I had my Permis - produced it proudly - could she give me the bank book? She smiled took the Permis and thus commenced 5-10 minutes of hurried paper shuffling and looking through files. Not once did she ask me for additional information though? She kept smiling at me every once in awhile before excusing herself to go look for something. Eventually she came up with my paperwork and my bank book! She made a copy of my Permis - I signed my name and what's done is done! Praise the Lord!!!

Problem: I had a phone call last night alerting me to the fact that a missionary couple would be on their way up from Dessalines today as he is very sick with pneumonia and will be flown out with Missionary Flights International (MFI) in the morning and do we have Oxygen at the clinic/could I check in the morning with Doctor Rodney? A second phone call (completely unrelated) a few minutes later revealed that Doctor Rodney is in Port until Wednesday. Ok - we'll see what's what in the morning. Asked at the Depot and was assured that, Yes, we did have oxygen - yes! Passed the word along. After leaving in the morning unexpectedly for Cap (to get my bank book) - having only assisted Miss Ketlye with one patient - I returned in the afternoon to see if I could actually do some work? But she 'ordered' me to go home and rest. On my way out I stopped by to get the Oxygen. Which we didn't have. The depot manager (Magdala) had thought I meant Albuterol - which we have tons of. Back to Miss Ketlye - Doctor Rodney has some? Look in his office - so Magdala and I looked but didn't find anything - I'm thinking it's kind of hard to hide an oxygen tank? Next Miss Ketlye and I go on a search through the entire Clinic - looking for the Oxygen - we end up once again in Doctor Rodney's office because Miss Ketlye says he has a portable oxygen unit in a black bag (who knew? right!)  Sure enough there is a black bag with "Rheumonotics" (or something) written on it!

Praise: We not only found the oxygen machine, but managed to figure out how it worked not two minutes before our patient arrived! Extra praise - is there such a thing? His daughter had also come with his wife and she is a nurse too! Already had given him some antibiotics IV and still had viable access. Doctor Xavier - who's only been with us one week - was able to see the patient and though the X-ray didn't come out. Pneumonia was diagnosed and Oxygen, Ceftraxin, Lasix, Histanol, and Vit C prescribed. After getting the family settled into the Holiday House - with a few runnings around to look for supplies from the Clinic - some of which we had and some of which we didn't - I was finally able to drag myself to my house and enjoy a Haitian rice and beans dinner with a mildly spicey Turkey, onion, potato sauce whilst watching The Quiet Man (old romantic Irish movie starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara) with my housemate Erica. And I am now sitting in front of Tink II (my laptop) with an ice pack on my right ankle - which decided due to all the running around to become sore - contentedly letting the world know I SERVE AN AMAZING GOD!

In other news: Samuel Joseph is a little boy (between 9-12 months old) who was brought to me 3 weeks ago with severe malnutrition. His mother is crazy. A friend of the family had brought him to the Clinic and Miss Ketlye brought him to my house to give him reusable diapers that a lady in the States had made. The next time I saw him - a week later he was looking a little better - his legs were not swollen but I was told he was still not eating or drinking anything. His aunt had brought him to the Clinic but said she could no longer take care of him. That very day Jane - (a missionary who is helping with an orphange) came by with some sick kids - she agreed to take Baby Samuel. Today I met her again as she was in the Clinic - she said that Samuel is doing very well, eating and drinking. And stays with her the whole day versus at the orphanage. What great news to start the day with!

Also: In talking with Linda today I found out that God had worked a miracle with their luggage. When they came in with United they let the airline know that one of their checked bags was full of medical supplies for Haiti - their fee was waived! (Apparently if you call in ahead they will sometimes do this? but this was the day of! at the check in desk!) Then when they were flying from FL to Haiti the airline let them rearrange their luggage and permitted her husband to come on board with a back-pack AND a 10# carry-on! Praise the Lord!

Don't forget to check out pictures at renewhaitipics.shutterfly.com

Malaria, typhoid, and salmonella - oh my!

Well it's been a while. A long while. And I think that most of you know why. I've been extremely sick. I no sooner moved into my teacher's home in Port on Monday then I started to feel sick on Tuesday and by Wednesday I had a temperature that kept climbing til it got to 104.8!

 A few days of feverish delirium ensued before a doctor was called in - he wanted to do some tests at the hospital so away we went. The next day revealed apparently no malaria - but he started me on malaria meds anyway. When my fever did not improve he asked me to come back to the hospital only for more tests but ended up keeping me for observation. I had an IV put in as I had not been able to keep anything down for the past few days - including jello water - you know that was bad! I'm not an easy stick when I'm partially hydrated - it was even harder being so dehydrated - but they did get it after a few attempts.

My tests results came back with Salmonella O and Salmonella H being 1/320 and 1/600 - I was so sick I asked what the normal was?!? :D

The room I was in was nice. Air conditioned and cool. I shared with two other patients both with respiratory infections - praise the Lord I didn't come down with pneumonia as well. They each had a a person staying with them. And Camitha my friend from 'home' stayed with me the whole night. She was such a good friend.

The doctor made fairly regular check ups on me. Sometimes by himself and sometimes with another doctor friend. At one point we got talking about the action films we all liked :D

The rest of the hospital was horrible. I've since been told that it (the General Hospital) is the worst hospital in Haiti. The beds of the patients were sometimes just mats on the floor. Friends or relatives would hold up IV fluids where there were no IV poles. Gaunt faces stared out from emaciated bodies. The smells were a mixture of cleaning fluid and rotting flesh.

Whenever I needed to use the bathroom the doctor would walk with me holding my IV fluids as we walked through various wards - the last of which was the worst. It smelled the worst and it was the ward for prisoners. So the patients were all chained to their beds - some of the beds had two patients one chained to each siderail. I saw one patient who was an arm amputee he was chained by the leg.

The bathroom was just a tiny little room with the toilet and sink. Trying to use the facilities with an IV and a skirt with barely enough room to turn around in was an adventure - but not a fun one. The one time I had TWO IV bags - one was the antibiotic - there was a screw that was holding a pipe in the wall and we had hung the IV bags on that!

Every time I came back I vomited. I don't know if it was the sickness? The smells? the walk? or a combination. The one time we came back they were carrying a litter with a body under a sheet - rather ominous. I almost dreaded coming back because I knew I was going to be sick. But someone was always there - Camitha borrowed the bucket from the lady with the respiratory infection and the doctor patted my back or held my hand.

I did manage to get a few hours sleep sometime between 2 and 4 in the morning.

I was discharged from the hospital late the following morning and taken back to Charlotte's house. The Doctor said he'd usually keep a patient like me in for another day but he trusted me. That I would take the medicine he was prescribing on time and with diligence. He wanted me on them for 10 days and he didn't think I should go to Cap any time soon.

When we got home I was still out of it - I can't remember all that happened a lot is a blur, a lot I WANT to forget. I know that they brought me food and I said I was sorry I couldn't eat it - it was Haitian food and 'strange' to my stomach. They were able to get some 'american' food for me but even that wasn't appetizing. I didn't eat for a few days.

The Sunday I came home after the church service some of the members came up and sang, and prayed around my bed - very cultural but a little embarrassing. I think there were nine people including two children and two men. The two men turned out to be the Doctor's brothers. One a policeman and the other a doctor himself. So after the 'blessing service' they stayed and talked for a bit - the doctor making sure I was taking my meds and drinking - I said I was trying.

On Monday I was moved back to the Villa - where it became apparent that I was reacting to the Ciprofloxacin - the antibiotic I had been instructed to take - the palms of my hands were so itchy and felt like they would never stop. I felt well enough to join a prayer/praise meeting that a group was having. They laid hands on me and asked the Lord to bring healing. The next day I felt a lot better but then began to get worse again - the decision was made to fly me to Cap Haitian where OMS's Clinic is - so that our Doctor and Nurses there could take care of me.

So a short flight the next morning brought me to Cap! I went to the clinic and was eventually put into a bed and a few more IV attempts later started on another round of fluids and a different antibiotic. I was transferred to the house I wil be living in now - Number 6 with Erica who teaches at Cowman.

I made a few trips back to the Clinic after my feet and legs began to itch like crazy - two separate days -  the first Miss Prudence practically dragged me down to the Clinic I was repeating 'itchy, itchy, itchy' over and over - I couldn't figure out why they were so itchy? nothing I had done at home helped? washing with cold water/ washing with warm water/putting anti-itch powder on them. She put hydrocortisone cream all over them and someone jabbed me in the thigh with a shot of phenergen - it's STILL sore. The next day I dragged myself down there and had almost the same thing happen. Only it was the other thigh that got the jab - it's still sore too but not as bad.

Most of what happened wasn't too clear - I kept telling myself: this isn't real. This isn't happening. they wouldn't treat me like this. For example the day after I got in was a Sunday - I lost track of days but I know it was a Sunday - because there was nobody around. I felt like I was dying. I wanted to die. I know so many people ALL around the world were praying for me. From Japan to Australia, and the UK to Mozambique not to mention people here in Haiti and in the States. Thankfully internet was working and one of my friends - Jessica - was on - I'm sure she knew I was crazy because I kept telling her not to leave me, and please don't leave me - Jessica don't leave me - she didn't, she stayed right there and talked me through making oatmeal and jello to get something into my system.

I had fairly constant communication with my family/parents. My Mom just kept encouraging me to drink, drink, drink. I felt miserable. I wanted to come home - but I knew I needed to stay here - for one thing I wasn't strong enough to be moved. I did want to go - but it's one thing to say "We'll fly you to the States." but it's quite another to actually DO it. I mean where would I go when I got there? Who would look after me? How would I pay for a hospital stay? Most American doctors don't know a lot about Typhoid/Malaria - no I was much better off where I was. And the doctors and nurses not only knew me here but they love me.

Prudence kept telling me that she loved me and that she was here there was nothing to be afraid of. She taught me to pray: Jezi ede m'; Jezi geri m'. Bondye kenbe men mwen. - Jesus help me, Jesus heal me. Lord God hold my hand. I repeated that over and over til I fell asleep.

One night after I had started to get better I had a return of the fever. I felt so close to death - I prayed Psalm 23 - I called my family and cried that I would never hold my niece, Abigail - I had been so brave - I had not cried but maybe twice through the whole ordeal but this was just too much - I felt so alone and so helpless and so tired. Tired of fighting, tired of being sick, tired of not being able to do anything without setbacks. My mom sang to me In the Name of Jesus We have the Victory and reminded me of the Haitian song: Eske Ou Vle Ale Lakay Papa Mwen - Would You Like to Go to My Father's House. Which of course I REALLY did want too!

I prayed in anguish that night - Jezi kenbe men mwen, pa kite m'. Jezi geri m' tanpri, si ou pa vle geri m' pran mwen vit - si tou ple; mwen vle ale lakay ou si ou vle; tanpri Jezi ede m' - Jesus hold my hand, don't leave me. Jesus heal me please, if you don't want to heal me, take me quickly - please; I want to go to your house if you want; please Jesus help me. Praying like that I fell asleep feeling as though he held my right hand in His and my head in His lap - soothing me.

Last Monday I went back to the clinic and had lab work done - I was declared free of Malaria and Typhoid - salmonella typhi is the bacteria that CAUSES typhoid so that explained the salmonella part - kind of. But I was also diagnosed with a urinary tract infection - thankfully it is asymptomatic (meaning I don't have any of the symptoms :D) I was ordered back to bedrest for the next several weeks and to drink a gallon of water a day - for someone who is lucky to drink a gallon of water a week - this is a challenge.

I continue to improve slightly day by day. I've been on a steady carb diet for the past number of weeks and STILL love mashed potatoes. They have been my staple since I've been here. I still get tired out easily and spend most of my time in bed or the bathroom - all that water ;)

I'm learning patience and that God sees us through our darkest hour - I will have much more empathy for typhoid and malaria patients than I would've before now that I've gone through this - of course I could become cynical and say - Oh get over it I had malaria AND typhoid! If I had both you can handle one! :D But all joking aside - I know that when you suffer with the ones who are suffering they are have a deeper respect and love for you.

Thank you so much to everyone who was and is praying. I wish you knew how MUCH it means to know when you're laying here that there are people who love you and are continually bringing you before the throne of grace - begging for mercy and healing. It's not over yet - the next few weeks of recovery will be difficult as I like to be DOING things. I may get a few odd jobs - last night I helped Erica grade papers - that wasn't too exhausting :D but very hilarious. One student when asked on a history test to list two things that Miles Standish did for the Pilgrims stated: 1. he wooch the cohte. - We still have no idea what that means - but we found it hilarious!

Well this post has gone on quite enough I am sure. But I just want to leave you with this:

I knew Haiti would not be easy - it's not. But I knew God would be faithful - and He is.

Life goes on...

Well Peeps!

Thought I should write you again :D What's been happening?

Well a lot and yet not so much. I'm continuing in my language and God is keeping me humble - just about the time I think that I've got it - He gives me an experience to show me I'm still an infant learner.

Like today when I went to a church service with over 1,500 people with a Canadian couple who are here with Power to Change (used to be called Campus Crusade for Christ) and felt good that I was able to translate (if only a little) for them the 15 minute sermon before Phil got up to speak.

...And then...

...went to the house of a friend's Uncle and struggled just to understand conversational Creole....

...devastating! :'(


But I am advancing - I just have to think where I was 2 months ago! HaitiHub helped a lot in getting me jump-started but on the whole? Nowhere near where I am now! Which IS a good thing - like Stella says on White Christmas: "Advance, advance, never retreat!"

Let's see: this week we had a group from Germany here - who provided some head whirling, entertainment, and theological conversation!

Head-whirling: Hearing German spoken in Haiti!

Entertainment came from conversations like:
Dave: Bon Apetite. What do they say in German?
Helmut: Vee don't say anyting - vee jus eat!

Theological conversation: Why do we pray 'in Jesus name'? is that just something we say because we've been taught to say it? or do we realize what Jesus meant when He said to 'ask the Father in My name'?

Then we have a mobile clinic team here with one ER nurse, a midwife and her hubby and their four ADORABLE kids, and a Chiropracter - got my back sorted the other week - yay! and a little message therapy! One story I am sure they will take back with them to Kansas City? The SEVEN hour return trip from their clinic that was just 15 miles away! Due to rain and 'blockis' (traffic jam) - they said it took them longer to do that 15 miles than to travel from Kansas City to Haiti!

I have one more week here at the Villa before I will, Lord willing, be moving in with my Creole teacher - Charlotte! Eeeeek! a little nervous - I've grown accostumed to living here at the Villa and how things are here, my room/routine - as my dear Mother said: "..another chapter in the life and times..."

Well, I think "that's all for now folks!" ;)


Don't forget to check out pics on www.renewhaitipics.shutterfly.com!