DO NOT STICK MY FINGER!

Superman and Susan in Haiti

 Check out Superman (John Mutin) and Susan ready to start the clinic at St Vincent's.  I named John Superman because he is everywhere all the time and can do anything in Haiti.  Find power connections where there are none.  Obtain clean water for the team all day long.  Find sick kids for me to see when we think we have seen all the kids already.  And tear up if a sick kid smiles at him. 

This sign greeted us today when we arrived.
As usual, we set up clinic on the outside stage, which is sheltered from the sun, mercifully.  Maureen checked in kids, Jan did their vital signs, and John taught Alricka to check hemoglobins on kids.  This means sticking their finger, which surprisingly makes only a few of them cry.  The last little girl clung to Edie Street through the entire process.  No, she did not want to be weighed.  No, she did not want her temperature taken.  And especially NO DO NOT STICK MY FINGER WITH THAT THING.  By the time Edie brought her into the library, where Dr Judy and I did our exams, the girl cried if anyone looked at her.  I did my best pediatrician tricks, playing with the stethoscope and the light to look in her ears, letting her touch it (NO THANK YOU.  SCREAM) and pretending to look in Edie's ears first.  She was not fooled.  To everyone's surprise, however, after sitting in Edie's lap for 20 minutes while I struggled to listen to her heart and lungs, she stopped crying.  Edie said it made her day to feel the child relax into her arms.  AND I finally got to listen to her lungs, which were clear.  Hooray!

Dr Judy examines a patient. Notice Dieumene helping the girl open her mouth.                   With her foot

On a serious note, Dr Judy saw a kid who we think has a serious heart condition.  He was sick last time Dr Judy was here a year ago, and is even sicker now.  Dr Judy has a connection here with St Damien's hospital, and she performed a miracle by getting the child an appointment TOMORROW with a cardiologist.   So Hannah and I will be taking the child to St Damien's for an evaluation.  Please pray that this child gets the care he needs, which will likely require surgery. Judy and I agree that if we get this one child taken care of, it will make the entire trip worth it.

A Passage through customs, then airconditioning

All arrived safely in Port au Prince airport, all bags collected, and Pere Fan Fan was there to greet us.  He had a police escort for us!  We went through customs, with inspection of about half of our bags.I think after so many bags the inspectors get tired of looking at rolls of paper towels, boxes of antacids, and personal clothing mixed in with all the vitamins!  The only casualty was one bottle of vitamins whose seal was broken.  Everything else got through and we were on our way.  I must say it was one of the most peaceful and uncomplicated entries into Port au Prince that we have had in recent trips.  

We are staying at a new guest house, Trinity Lodge.  Sienna and I have our own room, complete with AIRCONDITIONING and a fan.    It is blissfully cool tonight, and we had a quick meal of spaghetti shortly after our arrival, along with a bottle of our favorite Haitian beer, Prestige.  Janet O Flynn greeted us when we arrived, a nice surprise!  She is an occupational therapist who is working with the new PT/OT school in Leogane.  She came up to meet our team therapist Ruth Mulvany and her sister in law Zara Harris.  When I left them downstairs they were happily talking therapist shop talk, thinking about the work they will do tomorrow at St Vincent's.  There is a physical therapy clinic that runs daily; Ruth and Zara hope to spend the week there.  

Susan, Ruth and Zara on the bus

I have the student's records loaded into a database, thanks to a CBU nurse alum, Connie Noe.  I have been checking it tonight to see the names of students I particularly want to see tomorrow. Students with heart conditions, severe anemia, and so forth.  It is a big step forward to have medical records to guide us this trip.  Even with spotty wifi and the program kicking me out periodically, it is an improvement.

Looking forward to driving through the gates of St Vincents tomorrow, seeing all my friends and getting to work.  Thanks to all for prayers to get us safely here. 

Susan Nelson

Haiti team on their way

With the usual early AM flight out of Memphis, our medical team is now waiting in the Atlanta airport for our flight to  Port au Prince.  All the last minute texts and emails of the last week:  DO I NEED A PRESCRIPTION FOR CIPRO?  HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO TAKE?  DOES THE GUEST HOUSE HAVE LAUNDRY SERVICES?  have all been asked and answered.  Mostly my answers consisted of "I dont know" or "Dont worry about it, if you dont have something in your suitcase, another team member will have it".

My personal last minute Haiti jitters are about things like, "Will the physical therapist be able to meet Dr Beauvoir at the clinic?  Will all the medical supplies we ordered in Haiti be there when we arrive?  Will Pere Fan Fan meet us at the airport and help us through customs?  Will the french books I sent down with Pere Fan Fan be there at the school?

All the questions, anxieties, and hopes are now like the wind.  We can't control it, and we need to just let it be.  So many dedicated people travelling with me, hoping to share some of the love they have been given in their lives with the children we will spend a week with.

Please pray for us to be open to change, to last minute needs we didnt anticipate, to forbear one another in our shortcomings.  God has brought us all here and will bless our work in the limited time we have.

Thank you to all who support us at home and make it possible for us to go on these trips, especially those of us who go again and again.   A dedicated donor handed me $100 bucks last night after an evening church service, telling me "Do whatever you need to with this money".  He knows that I will find something that needs doing, and I take his love for the children with me, along with all the rest of you.

Susan Nelson

HAITI BENEFIT FEB 19 A SMASHING SUCCESS

Over 180 people attended this sold out event!  People from 9 different episcopal parishes in Memphis were there to enjoy the fun and support this great cause.  Holy Apostles, Calvary, Grace St Luke's, St Mary's Cathedral, Emmanuel Church, St Philips, Holy Communion Church, St Andrews, and St Johns.  Bishop Johnson attended and bought a beautiful painting that used to adorn the home of Joe and Marjorie Fitzpatrick.  The couple loved Haiti and collected many paintings, sculptures and unique items during their many trips to Haiti.  Special thanks to the family for the generous donation of cherished artwork to further the mission of St Vincent's Center for Handicapped children.  Mimi Fitzpatrick Baker and  Carol Fitzpatrick Winstead were present at the benefit to see the magnificent results of their donation.  Also Mark L Fitzpatrick and Joe R Fitzpatrick Jr agreed to donate their parents' treasured items.

For photos, see #spring2016benefit
Also in attendance were Pere Frantz Cole, priest in charge of St Vincent's.  He spoke passionately about the children at the school and the impact our ministry has made in their lives over the years.  Rev David Boyd, immediate past Director of Development for the National Episcopal Church, and Vundla Sikhumbuzo, Director of Operations for Diocese of Haiti, were also honored guests.

Dr Jennifer Holbourn was an amazing and shameless auctioneer, and together with the proceeds from the silent auction as well as ticket sales, we raised $12,115.  That's a lot of vitamins!

Truly, it costs about $2000 for each medical team to purchase medical supplies for our week long trips.  The volunteers always pay their own way, so all funds will go directly to support the children.

Thank you to the planning team:  Claire Valine (our musician), Mimi and Tim Baker, Drew Woodruff (the heart and soul of our St Vincent's ministry), John Mutin ( set up all the tables singlehandedly) , Edie Street (in charge of the "young" helpers and runners at the event),Hilarie Dahlhauser (tickets, advance marketing),  Jenn Holbourn, Ruthie Lentz (got the wine donated! and ran the sales tables ), Adrian Holbourn (business manager, goodness knows we needed one of those!).

The event exceeded our wildest expectations.  Thank you to all who came and supported us and made it possible.


 Susan Nelson

Tickets are available here

Do you have a heart for Haiti?
Join The Diocese of West Tennessee for a unique opportunity to show your love to children with disabilities at St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince. Hosted by Bishop Don Johnson and West Tennessee Haiti Partnership (WTHP), enjoy an evening of music, Haitian food and a live auction all in support of this exceptional community of children who are blind, deaf, and have other various disabilities.

Meet Father Frantz Cole, Priest in Charge at St. Vincent’s, and hear first-hand about the children who will directly benefit from your generous gifts. Hear from Dr. Susan Nelson (St. Mary's) and Medical Director of WTHP, as she shares about the essential medical care being provided during bi-annual mission trips. Finally, hear from Rev. Drew Woodruff (St. Mary's), Spiritual Leader of WTHP, about the impact we are making on these children’s lives and how we are, in turn, blessed by them. Learn how you can be a part of these life-changing ministries.

100% of the proceeds will go directly to the programs of WTHP, bringing medical teams, medicine, food, potable water and other essentials to St. Vincent’s. Visit facebook.com/loveofhaiti for details about the artwork, speakers, and additional ways to support the ministry.

For The Love of Haiti 
A benefit for St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children

February 19, 2015 — 5:30 - 8:00pm
Church of the Holy Communion, Cheney Hall
4645 Walnut Grove Rd., Memphis

5:30 - 6:00 Live music & wine reception
6:00 - 7:00 Traditional Haitian meal and guest speakers
7:00 - 8:00 Live auction featuring original Haitian art and pieces created by the children

LIMITED TICKETS ON SALE NOW: $30.00 / person • $50 per couple • $250 / table of 8
RESERVE YOUR SEATS: http://wthpfundraiser.brownpapertickets.com/

UNABLE TO JOIN US? Make a donation at http://wtnhaitipartnership.org/donate/
ONLINE ART SALE THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY: Facebook: For the Love of Haiti
QUESTIONS? wtnhaitipartnership@gmail.com

FACEBOOK: For the Love of Haiti
WEB: wtnhaitipartnership.com

Save the Date

Purchase tickets here

SAVE THE DATE

The West Tennessee Haiti Partnership and Bishop Don Johnson announce an upcoming Diocesan-wide event being planned for the evening of Friday, February 19 at Church of the Holy Communion (4645 Walnut Grove Road) in Cheney Hall.  We will be hosting Father Frantz Cole with St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children, our partner in our Companion Diocesan relationship with Haiti.  Father Cole will share wonderful stories and photos of the school and children we serve along with Dr. Susan Nelson and the Rev. Drew Woodruff who lead our exciting mission trips. This evening will begin at 5:30 PM with a wine reception, dinner will follow from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Our special Haitian meal will cost $30.00 per person or $50 per couple. A table for 8 guests may be purchased for $250.There will be a live auction with plenty of Haiti artwork and souvenirs plus information for getting involved in this important ministry.  You may RSVP either to wtnhaitipartnership@gmail.com or 820-4438 and direct any questions to Ruthie Lentz (rlentz@comcast.net or 278-5361), Liaison to the WTHP. Tickets are available online at http://wthpfundraiser.brownpapertickets.com/