Blankets for Haiti

When Josh came home from Haiti, he mentioned how the doctors would come into the supply tent asking for blankets or towels or just anything to wrap babies in. It was frustrating to have nothing to give them. I immediately thought of the project we did making blankets for the Disneyland tickets. The lady coordinating the project has received thousands of blankets and has been rather overwhelmed. I contacted her and she was very enthusiastic about providing blankets for us to send to Haiti. She had thought about it, but didn't know who to contact or how to pay for the shipping.

Josh was able to contact the state-side coordinator for the Miami Field Hospital in Haiti. He enthusiastically gave us an address. Within two days of the initial contact, we had 60 blankets on their way to the hospital in Haiti!

Below are some pictures of us packaging the blankets for shipment with some friends. The lady from Binky Patrol has said she may have up to another 1,000 blankets for us. We are hoping to ship these over also.

Pictures from Haiti

Josh left for Haiti on March 7. Here are a few of the pictures he brought back. It was hard to pick from the hundreds he has. The time serving there was very difficult on the team. They saw so many hopeless situations and so much suffering. Every night they would debrief together to help them work through the events of the day. There were some bright moments, but also some very, very difficult times.

A "Tap-tap" which was used to transport the team around Port-au-Prince. Josh says all the taxis, buses, etc. are painted in bright colors like this!

Some of the team and interpreters inside the "tap-tap"

So many of the people have been displaced they are setting up literal tent cities. The tents stretch on for blocks and blocks. Even then, there are not nearly enough tents. Currently, teams are going through the city and inspecting homes because people are afraid to go back to their homes. They encourage people to move back into structurally sound homes to free up tents and get life back to some normality.

Some of the damaged buildings

The government buildings

The first day in Port-au-Prince, the team worked in a clinic. People came with less serious problems for care. Here Josh is doing some preliminary examination.

Josh's medical team of 4 people ended up serving in the Miami University field hospital because the team doctor was unable to come at the last minute. God put them in that hospital at that time for some very special reasons. This is the hospital, which was set up in a series of tents. Conditions were primitive, but the staff performed some amazing things with very limited resources.

Josh was assigned to help in the hospital supply warehouse. Since this is his area of expertise, I believe God put him there at that time to help. They had large quantities of supplies that were so disorganized no one could find what they needed. It took someone with medical knowledge to even sort the supplies. By the time he left, he had established an effective ordering system and brought some order to the chaos.

The medical staff doing some amazing things with very limited resources and unconventional set-up.

One of the ladies on the team had past experience as a neonatal ICU nurse and it turned out they had a tremendous shortage of neonatal help at the hospital during the time they were there.

Due to some amazing circumstances, the team chaplain was the first one allowed into the hospital. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief had been working to get their chaplains into the hospital, but access had been denied. The chaplain on the team was also placed there at that time by God. He had such an impact that when he left the entire hospital staff gave him a send-off and asked to know more about his God. He openly shared the Gospel with them and many were touched.

Our "occupational forces" in Haiti. These U.S. Soldiers volunteered to help in the hospital in their free time. Here they are cuddling babies.

This is a picture of a church service the team attended on Sunday. Despite the tremendous loss of possessions, everyone dressed to show their greatest respect for the Lord, even though they are living out of tents. The team felt quite under-dressed. Evangelical Churches in Haiti are growing rapidly and are a shining light in a spiritually oppressed land. The churches are very actively serving the victims of the earthquake and fulfilling the Scriptural mandates to care for the poor, widows, and fatherless.

These are some of the orphans cared for by the church. As you can see, they are well cared for, happy children. Before the quake, the church care for 95 children in the community. Now they are caring for 275! God is providing in amazing ways for their dedication to true religion.

Spring is Here!

Two weeks ago, we had our last snow! Now, spring has come in full force and we are enjoying delightful weather in the 60s every day! There are evidences all around us that spring has arrived. Enjoy the view from my house.

About 5 years ago, a friend gave me a whole sack of bulbs he had dug out of an old flower bed. I planted them all along our driveway. This year they were magnificent! It is amazing how quickly the bulbs multiply into a beautiful border.

The snow peas are just starting to come up in the garden!

My coleus, pansies, and other bedding plants are well on their way!

The tomato and pepper starts are ready to go in the greenhouse this week. I have never had such nice looking tomatoes.

The fruit orchard is in full bloom.

Some of the trees are finished blooming, but it is still a beautiful sight.

New Chicks

This weekend we brought home a new batch of chicks. Hopefully by late summer, we will start having some fresh eggs. And hopefully we can keep the preditors out this year! The children adore the chicks. I have to mandate "rest times" for the chicks or they would be loved to death! Since we are studying eggs, metamorphosis, and other forms of animal birth, having baby chicks in the house is perfect!

Farm Kids!

The kids were sick most of the 13 days Josh was gone to Haiti. We are all getting well now and enjoying having Josh back home. Here are a few fun moments from the last few weeks.

Juliana packed herself into her play kitchen--without removing any of the dishes. She spent quite a bit of time opening the door to say "Hello!" to me!

Peter was learning to copy patterns using various sized screws. Here he proudly shows his work!

Last night I looked out the window after dinner to see Nathan enjoying a farm boy activity!

Sunday in Haiti

We went to a Haitian church today. What a great experience. All the people were dressed in nice dresses, suites and ties. I felt underdressed. I don't know how they do it when many are still living in tents. Even the orphans that the church cares for were clean and dressed nicely. The people welcomed us so warmly. They had each of us give a greeting and then they had Mauro give the message (impromptu). He gave a great message on the Lord wanting to clean and repair (remove sin) from his house (our lives) just like the Haitians are cleaning and repairing their houses. Afterward they bought us a coke and took us to see the orphanage. They are sleeping on mats and cardboard in an army tent. The pastor said that before the quake, they were feeding 95 children and now they are feeding 275. The pastor and his wife then took us to their home which was preserved through the quake.

After we got back, we sorted medical supplies that teams have left here. There are about 20 suitcases full. Some of it was kind of sorted and some was not. We finished about 9pm and were exhausted. We couldn't have done it without the other teams pitching in and helping.

Josh

Update from Haiti

Here are a couple of updates from Josh in Haiti. The first was written by their team chaplain. The second was written by Josh.

Chaplain's Report 3/9/10
We had a blessed /tough day. Our team’s medical Dr. had health issues and could not arrive. Arrangements were made and we joined with a medical team out of Louisiana lead by Dr. Charles Rodgers along with two other medical doctors and two nurses. When we arrived the site discovered that there was another church expecting a team. We were now divided into two teams and Dr. Rodgers came w/us. We went back to the Florida House to get supplies and after a couple of hours were set up and ready to start. Had prayer and off we went. Ministered to 108 patients. As Dr. Rodgers worked w/his patients, my assignment was to organize the group to be seen by the doctor in an orderly manner.
My interpreter helped me to organize and we asked the people present there if they would give us ten minutes to share a few things w/them. They agreed, I disclosed my intention to share the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and that it was not a requirement of prerequisite to listen nor accept the message in order to be treated my the medical team. I proceeded with the plan of salvation. Gave an invitation and 22, with a show of hands, confessed Jesus as Personal Savior and Lord. I counseled with them and continued working in the order process.

Significant Victim/Relief Worker/Other Person Issues and Interventions Applied:
At 2:00PM a mother came in with a very hostile attitude complaining about her teenager been hurt by a stone thrown in the air by other kids and had his face lacerated. Obviously this was an emotionally distressed woman, about 32 years of age. I approached her and listened, validated and worked on bringing her distress to a manageable level. Now presented the gospel to her and complained about God. She was motherless since age 11, was struggling as a single mother and the “quake” made any hope an impossibility for her. I asked if she new the story of Mount Calvary, she knotted. Then asked her to imagine God the father watching what was happening around and during the event of the cross, “He’s child in the one suffering, can you imagine the pain. And Jesus was dying to save us from our guilt. God forgave us ‘cause of His love for us.
That woman’s eyes were opened, and stated: Oh now I understand. I asked would you be willing to forgive? She said: “I will try”. Then I insisted: “Jesus makes it possible if you allow Him in your life”. …She accepted the Lord with tears running down her cheeks. Praise the Lord! Our team lead 23 souls to the savior and provided help for their physical health.

Reoport from Josh 3/10/10
Our internet satellite is down so I am writing this ahead of time so I can send it right through.
We worked at the Miami University field hospital today, helping in our areas of expertise. One nurse worked in Neonatal (and young children) ICU and the other worked in the pediatric ward. Mauro our Chaplain worked as a Chaplain throughout. I worked in triage which is much like the clinic we ran yesterday. Most people who come for care are treated in the triage area and then released back home. Very few actually go into the hospital area. We needed a privacy area so I strung up a tarp like we do in fire dept medical units. We had a full day but I think our SBC medical teams do a little bit better job running clinics.
In the later afternoon I worked with the Tennessee SBC team who are running the hospital’s supply unit. They had probably 100 pallets worth of donated medical supplies that they have been sorting and organizing. What a job! Most of the pallets have not been gone through yet.
Nurse Cheryl was taking care of a 5 year old and the child showed tremendous improvement today. She found her a new outfit and the girl was very happy. Then the girl asked Cheryl if she could take her home. The girl had lost both parents in the quake. Needless to say Cheryl had tears in her eyes as she was coming back to the Baptist house.
In a slow time Mauro was asked to find some shoes for a little girl who was being discharged. He found some shoes that would work but did not look too great and then he found the perfect shoe but there was only one. When he asked the lady sorting shoes, she said that she had found the other one and had put it aside hoping to find the other one. He gave them to girl (who has been in the hospital since the quake). When the girl saw them she was overjoyed. However the family now has no were to go because there house is destroyed and they don’t even have a tent or bedding like was distributed to the other families.
As we were leaving, a family came in because there ill little girl had been brought in by some of our US soldiers. However, the girl was dying and the doctor said that she was going home (to heaven). The mother’s face lit up because she thought he said that the girl go home now because she was well. When the interpreter conveyed the true message, she broke down and wept. Mauro was able to comfort them and the soldier working with them who was very distraught also. Before they disconnected the ventilator, the parents asked Mauro to pray for the baby and the parents were comforted.
I wish we could come as a family and work with these people for a few months but I know we are not yet in the right time of our lives. The Lord has answered my prayer and given me a motivation to help these people out of love and not out of excitement.

Josh

Latest Recycling Project

I wanted a denim beanbag chair for the boys' room, but didn't want to spend the money to buy one. So I took an old beanbag chair that was falling apart, made a pattern from it, used the stuffing beans, and made my own. The denim was from some large jeans from the thrift shop. The lining for the chair was made out of an old sheet I had around. I really like the result!

Yes, the jeans were large. The boys had fun wearing one pair at the same time!

I added a pocket--just for fun! Maybe for hiding a book, toys--hopefully not snacks!

Childish Antics!

This morning I brought in a bucket of flour for something and hadn't put it back right away. (I buy unbleached flour in bulk and store it in buckets.) While I was busy working in the other room, Juliana decided to get into the flour. Below are the pictures of what I found. You can't help laughing at her!

Relif to Haiti

Josh leaves for Haiti Sunday, March 7. He will be traveling with California Southern Baptist Disaster Relif on a medical team. It is unknown at this time exactly what they will be doing once they arrive in Port Au Prince. The 5-member medical team may possibly set up a clinic, work in the over-crowded hospitals, or ????. Please pray for their safety as they travel and while they are there. Josh will return March 19.

Please also keep those of us back home in your prayers. Two weeks is a long time to have our husband and daddy gone. There is a possibility Josh will be able to email and send pictures home. If this works out, I will post them here for you all to enjoy. If not, I will put some up when he arrives back home.

The making of a baby cradle

At least a month ago, the children and I started a woodworking project. It was part of our character training curriculum. We were learning to plan a project from start to finish and take the steps to carry it out in an orderly way. Juliana needed a bed for her baby dolls. I found one online that I liked, but the pricetag was a little high. So I designed one myself. Just this week I finally put the final coat of paint on the cradle. The project took a while since I had to wait for help on things I didn't know how to do. Also, it is tricky to get paint dry when it is too smelly to be in the house but too cold to dry outdoors! I am very pleased with the final result.

Learning to measure twice--cut once.

Tracing the pattern I made. Learning to go slow and be precise.

A jigsaw is a great way to introduce children to powertools. I didn't quite trust Peter enough to take my hands off the saw while it was on. This is a staged picture with the saw off because he wanted a cool picture with the saw!


How we kept Juliana out of danger while we were operating the saw! She was thrilled with her box seat.

Nathan was very careful and trustworthy with the saw. He did pretty well learning to steer the saw while it was moving.

I learned how to use a band saw. I LOVE it. So easy to cut a smooth curve.

Some vigorous sanding!

All the parts sanded and ready for assembly. We used wood we already had around. All the supplies for the cradle were from previous projects. If you don't count the time involved, our cost was $0.00.

The finished cradle!
(Drying outdoors in the sunshine)

I want to stencil a pretty, feminine design on the ends, but I'm still looking for a cute stencil. I'll post pictures when I finish that part.