Ruthie's Haiti Reflections

HAITI REFLECTIONS

EPIPHANY 2012

Several years ago when I served as the head of the Outreach committee at Grace-St. Luke’s Church, I was always asked by church members and community leaders alike, “What is your church doing in the way of ‘hands-on’ ministry?”  Yes, we contributed lots of money and volunteer hours to outside projects like Habitat for Humanity, Bridges, The Church Health Center, MIFA, or soup kitchens organized at other midtown churches, to name a few.  At that time we did not have an ongoing, on-location signature project of our own, which the members of our parish yearned to create and participate in on a more regular basis.  I believe that people innately knew that to honor their calling as Christians, they had to have opportunities to “do ministry,” that is, to make Christ known to others in their surrounding community, not just in their immediate congregation.  For us it meant getting out of our “comfort zones” to extend ourselves to others in the practice of our faith and, in doing so, to understand what it means to be transformed by that very ministry.

This became the impetus for our bringing the More Than a Meal program to Grace-St. Luke’s in 2003.  Two short years later, Father Joe Porter introduced us to yet another program that would challenge us and our comfort zones even further.  I’ll never forget that first trip to Haiti in January 2005 when I learned to overcome my nagging fears and uncertainties of why I’d been called to go there in the midst of this beautiful country and these wonderful people, both overwhelmed with insurmountable problems. I found that putting ourselves aside for the betterment of others allows us to honor not only them but also ourselves, as we increase the positive flow of energy in the world with our efforts to bring hope and healing.  In essence, it is possible for only one person to make a global difference, and that difference can be all it takes to change the world for the better, like the parable of the starfish on the shore.

So much of what I’ve learned from the people of St. Paul’s in Montrouis or the children at St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince can also be said of what we’ve learned in working with the folks at the soup kitchen:

• Mission trips require dedication, determination, discipline, courage, perseverance, coordination, flexibility, and certainly leadership, and usually involve patience, humor, tolerance, frustration, forgiveness, understanding, and appreciation on the parts of both givers and receivers.
• We learn more about ourselves and our own faith in acting it out for other people.
• We learn to honor and respect people different from ourselves as we share our various stories with one another. While some fears may be erased through understanding, we learn to create and honor boundaries as well.
• We learn to appreciate our strengths and weaknesses while acknowledging our limitations – we are not there to solve every problem, so we focus on a few human needs that we can address, such as health, hunger, education, and clean water.
• As in any other new project, we have good days and bad days; we succeed at some things, and we make mistakes along the way, but we continue to try and do better and improve upon the results and benefits for all concerned.
• The more we get to know the people we serve, the more we realize that fundamentally we are more alike than different from one another, and that in fact, we are exactly the same in God’s eyes.
• The time we spend “doing this ministry” is God’s time, and there is no more important work that we are called to do than this, at this time and in this place.
• Every trip brings with it a new lesson, a new opportunity, a new reason to keep doing this ministry.  While it is always a mystery beforehand, it is inevitably revealed in the process and upon reflection, as we have become alert to its unfolding.
• The more we go to Haiti, the more committed we are to ministering well to the people we serve, as we know that we are all a part of the family of God.

So whenever someone asks, “Why do you go to Haiti?”  I’ll quote Matthew 16:25 and say, “We always get back more from the Haitians than we ever give - our money goes farther, the people are more appreciative, and they teach us to be better, if not more faithful, Christians as we watch them share with each other whatever we bring each trip.” Just as God made it clear to Abraham that “My blessings carry with them the responsibility to be a blessing,” so too are we all “blessed to be a blessing” and have a prime opportunity to respond to those blessings through this Haiti Partnership.


For more information on how to become a part of this important ministry, contact The West Tennessee Haiti Partnership, 5865 Ridgeway Center Pkwy., Suite 300, Memphis, TN  38120, or any of our steering committee members: The Rt. Rev. Don E. Johnson, Bishop + The Rev. Drew Woodruff, Coordinator + Dr. Susan Nelson, Healthcare + The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, Chaplain & Communications + Ruthie Lentz, Finance

Drew’s Advent Meditation

FROM
DEACON DREW WOODRUFF
UPDATE: THE MISSION TRIP TO HAITI
NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 5

Written on Sunday, December 4th in Haiti

We are preparing ourselves on Sunday both mentally and spiritually to return to the land of milk and honey after we have been in the desert again. We have seen the poorest of the poor in the world, how they live, how they survive-if they do at all, how they maintain their sanity in a country that is beyond broken and chaotic. What we as Americans have been given by the mere accident of our birth! We must be
generous with our blessings, our time, and our talents to further the cause of the poor at home and in Haiti.

I was mistaken when I said previously that the children of St. Vincent’s only own the
clothes on their backs. I was wrong. They cannot even call the clothes they wear their own, for they share those with their brothers and sisters. Their joys are in their hearts, not in their things. They do not open their computers and check Facebook pages or tweets when they arise in the mornings. They use communal showers with cold water, get dressed in discarded clothes that we send down when we are feeling generous. They lead what any of us would consider a very monotonous life. So many simple pleasures are theirs, which we as Americans would turn our backs on-no glitz or glamour here. A balloon held by Yolinde or Diana brings such joy these kids.

Yolinde, who is so physically challenged, that the mere effort of grasping the balloon gives her a sense of accomplishment and a big smile.

The coloring books that Missy Gandy provided brought many hours of joy to all the
children. Even the used pages of these books were made into paper airplanes and were
sailed into the humid air.

The time we spend there liberates us from the stuff we are so attached to. We give a fewdays of our lives to these beautiful children. This is the least we can do with our time, Dr. Susan Nelson’ talent and skill, and your treasure.

People ask me, “Why Haiti?” I feel I can speak for all those who have been down there. That we see life in the states just a little differently. That our hard hearts have been cracked open and we receive the love and gratitude and the Holy Spirit from thesegenerous and giving people.

Those of us who do not speak a word of Creole still receive thanks and gratitude througha hug or an embrace or simply a smile. We capture these in our hearts and bring them home with us. But unfortunately, we let these memories slip through our fingers much too soon under the pressure of our live back here. That is why we keep going back, some of us for as many as ten times. We try to recapture what they so generously give.

Dr. Nelson always schedules a trip during Advent so we are there during the celebration of the International Day for the Handicapped at St. Vincent’s. The Bishop of Haiti, The Rt Rev. Duracin, celebrates the Eucharist. Father Sadoni gives a report on the state of St. Vincent’s to the many dignitaries and special guests who attend. The children get meat and a soda that day. This is the only day in the year that they receive meat to eat. The children provide the entertainment. They get new clothes for the celebration but afterwards the jeans and dresses are returned to the closet until next year.

We cannot remain silent. We must bring you the story of St. Vincent’s and of Haiti. We cannot turn our backs on our children and wash our hands of them and the challenges they face every day of their lives.

The day-to-day survival of our children is assured, God willing. They will not starve to death or die sitting on a curb begging in the streets of Port au Prince neglected and abandoned.

Father Sadoni, the director, has seen to their care with your help and support. Dr. Nelson, after many medical missions, has gotten the children’s health stabilized and improved tothe pint that we can move our medical mission from emergency care to health maintenance. She and her team found very little anemia, no worms, no sign of cholera,and no scabies in our children.

The pharmacy tech, which you help us fund, is charged with the task of giving each child in the school a vitamin everyday, thanks to your generous donations. A simple vitamin has changed their lives for the better.

As Father Kesner Ajax said, “There is hope in Haiti.” How can this be, one might ask?
Surely, the challenges posed in the country as a whole would seem daunting. But we lookat a little piece of heaven on earth, St. Vincent’s, our cathedral for and of children, behind the walls where abandoned and physically challenged children are alive and well.

We are making a difference in their lives. Not wishful thinking, but a tangible, physical, measurable difference in many ways.

Join us in our mission to give these beautiful children an opportunity for a full,
productive life, that otherwise they would not have except for St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children. Yolinde, Samuel, Ferdnand, Frenel, Diana, Magarite, Vincent, Watson, August, Wishme, Berneka, and all the others thank you and send you their love, which is all they have to offer. This is really all we need to possess!

Randy's reflections on Nov trip to Haiti

Randy McCloy is a Gastroenterology physician in Memphis Tennessee. He also serves as a deacon at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. Here is his reflection written shortly after returning from our recent trip.

December 2011: Who Are We After Haiti

The week following Thanksgiving, my son, Kellar, a fourth-year medical student, and I joined parishioners Sherye Fairbanks and her daughter, Tess, and John Mutin on a mission trip to Haiti. The group was organized by Dr. Susan Nelson and other members of the WestTennessee Haiti Partnership, including Deacon Drew Woodruff and Ruthie Lentz. The visit was to St. Vincent School for Handicapped Children, and the purpose was to offer the children and staff members as much as we could medically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our group totaled 18 people, and included another physician, aged 89, who saw patients every day; a doctor of physical therapy, who was very helpful to so many kids with physical deformities; at least two priests and one other deacon, as well as volunteers whose sole motivation was to help out wherever needed. Most of us felt we entered the country as relative strangers, but left there as very good friends. Three plane rides and a long bus trip from the airport made for a long first day of travel, and some of us likely were outside of our comfort zone, but no one complained and all adjusted to living conditions far inferior to U.S. standards.Some facts about Haiti: it is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with 80% ofthe population living under the poverty line, and most Haitians living on under two dollars a day. There is an enormous gap between the few wealthy and the vast majority who are poor;1% of the population controls 50% of the country's wealth. Health-wise, 50% of children have received no vaccinations; only 40% of Haitians have any access to basic health care; the incidence of tuberculosis and malaria is very high, and thousands die each year from these potentially curable diseases; 75% of households do not have running water. I could go on, but you get the picture, and that is enough grief for one day. About St. Vincent school: it was founded in 1945 by Sister Joan Margaret, and prior to the earthquake of January 2010, there were over 350 students. That number has been reduced to a little over 200 now, and most are boarded at the school. Many are orphans, some having just been dropped off at the school entrance by a parent unable to care for their child, feeling that this method of abandonment was better than watching the baby starve to death. These orphaned children are adopted by the school and cared for there, and are given the name“Vincent” as their family name. In fact, while he was there two years ago, Ollie Rencher baptized such an infant. The children of St. Vincent have infirmities including blindness, but many more are deaf, and many were born with severe developmental abnormalities: some are dwarfed, or have only partially developed extremities, often with only stumps for arms or legs. Many are confined to wheelchairs, or must uses crutches and/or prosthetic limbs to get around. The blind children are frequently led around by their deaf or otherwise physically disabled peers. In spite of their deformities and their enormous disadvantage in life, the children appear happy and content with their lives, some seemingly unaware of the serious hand they have been dealt. When we arrived, the children all greeted us in the schoolcourtyard, grinning and waving to us, and wanting to “high-five” anyone near them. The deaf ones tried to impress us with their sign language abilities, or wanted to know what our individual “sign” was, so they'd know how to address us. Many were just be content to hug our legs or sit in our laps. Complete strangers to them, we were immediately welcomed and accepted, even loved...like God's love...unconditional. To look into the faces of these physically compromised but happy children is truly to see the image of Christ, and one cannot help but be overwhelmed by a multitude of emotions: sad and happy at the same time; frustrated at their plight in life, but eager to help them any way we can, for as long as we can. To have experienced the children of St. Vincent School is to have received a gift, a learning gift from God that calls us to look inward and be aware of what we have, and what values are necessary to sustain us. Seeing the innocence and joy in the eyes of these children cannot help but strengthen our own resolve to seek Christ in our own lives.
Who are we now, after visiting Haiti? Who am I, after seeing old women and children in ragged clothes, begging on the streets of Port-Au-Prince, because they are hungry?Or seeing young women walking around with baskets of fruit delicately balanced on their heads, hoping to sell enough to provide at least one meal a day for that day...and then start the survival process all over again the next day? Who am I after seeing the “tent cities”, which house a half million homeless persons, where the space in which they live has dirt floors, and may be the size of an American powder room? I personally am not the same person. I hope to be a person changed for the better, one who can love as these children love, can accept whatever changes God has in store for me, and to use them for growth and transformation. Who are you now, and who will you become when change occurs in your life?

Randy McCloy, December 12, 2011

Joan's experience at Re-Entry

Joan Phelps is  a priest from Connecticut and sent me this email shortly after our return to the U S:

I was a bit tired yesterday so wasn't too aware of anything. Today I saw my dental hygienist who I have gone to since '83, So she said some stupid thing about did I have a good time in Haiti. Don't Haitians party alot. I don't even know what she was talking about but my buttons were pushed. I went on this thing about our friends in Haiti and how hard they work, how joyous they are even when they are also trying to get out of the mire. I told her Haitians are a joyous people and can sing even when down but we have a wrong image of who they are if we label them as party animals..............Blah, Blah, Blah !!!!!!!! You had to be there. My poor friend said she reallyu did not mean any offense......I realized I was overreacting ..........and she was the one with the picks, and whatever tools she could use on me.


It is difficult to think Christmas. However, I came back very grateful that we were not exposed to flamboyant decorations and musac blaring every where we went. Maybe our adventures will lead me to a less materialistic time and peaceful reflection of the good that we can do out of our abundance.

God's wonderful peace be with you. Have a joyous time of Christmas and Epiphany. May good things be yours in the New Year!!!

JP+

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet though art, to have an no armed boy of about 4 years old come up to you and want up on your lap during the church service. Up he wiggles and moves like all boys do. But there are no handles with this one. I ever realized how much I counted on a child’s arms to steady them on your lap. There is, however, a smile and a set of eyes that can pierce and touch my soul.   During the service it was time for us to cross ourselves, so I did so for him wondering in my heart had he ever had this done for him before.  Since I didn’t know his name, I turned and prayed believing that the Holy Trinity must surely know this boy already or there would be no need to ever cross myself again? Like children everywhere he wanted down, so I put him down and off he ran to be with other kids. I thanked God for the touching moment completely satisfied that this small boy with no arms had touched me.  I few minutes go by then all of a sudden I feel someone kicking the back of my folding chair and he is back and wants back up on my lap.  So up he comes and the next thing I see is he is leaning over me and sticking his tongue out at Tess who is sitting beside me.  This kid has both of us laughing during mass.  Tess whispered that she had done it to him when we were giving him his physical. Then I realized just how trusting this child is of me since just the other day I stuck him on the earlobe to get a drop of blood to check his iron level.  He not only came back to me, but wanted to get attention from me - that was just such a heartfelt, loving moment that rarely happens. It was amazing how someone so bright and small, I don’t think he weighed more than 35 pounds, could have such an impact on me. I found out later that night, from his school medical records, that he is 8 years old.  But like most children in Haiti they are much smaller than they would be at that age in the USA.  This boy was so full of happiness, love and trust that I couldn’t help but feel that he was the definition of grace.  It was truly amazing to see him so full of love and hope and trust. His faith and God’s love have already touched this child of God; it is me that is the crippled one! May God someday give me this boy’s faith? Amazing grace how sweet though art? Who put his faith in me?     

sent in by John Mutin        

Re Entry

Yesterday was my first day to wake up in Memphis since our recent trip. I find myself thinking about putting my life back together. That sounds dramatic, but it really does feel like re -entry into another world. Tears come to my eyes at stupid things like turning on the faucet. Driving down the highway, I wonder, "where are all the people?" and notice road signs and traffic lights, things which are rare or non existent in Haiti. People actually drive on the right side of the road, rather than filling any available space (Bill Squire tells me the only traffic rule in Haiti is: If there is an open space, fill it!)

I wonder about my other team members, how are they coping with the shock. I can't stand to look at a television and see advertisements for all the things we must buy. The thought of Christmas shopping makes me nauseated.

Jennifer sent me a photo of Diana Vincent with a red foam clown nose and her beautiful smile. I shared her photo with my staff and some of my patients, trying to bridge the gap between the two worlds. Capturing the joy of her life and her learning to walk a few steps, when 2 years ago I thought she would never survive. My heart is full of those children and their smiles when I walk through the gates of the school. This was my best Christmas gift, to see the love of God in the people of Haiti.

john mutin's reflections

I have been asked to write to you about how things are going in Haiti.  In considering this task, I feel one of the biggest questions in my mind is - Are we making a difference?  The answer is definitely yes!  We have helped to improve the children’s lives thanks to your help.  They are showing a big improvement in their hematocrit (blood iron) levels although they are still not up to the equivalent of an American child’s level.  The multivitamins they are getting every week day are improving their general health along with the food and clean water. Their health was much improved; their weight is up slightly and all they are growing taller.  They are in a safe clean place where they are cared for and loved very much. It never ceases to astound me just how happy they are and the love they exhibit. In a place where one would expect self-pity, I see then striving to help their friends.

One of the biggest new events that came out of this trip is that there are some children that are currently in wheelchairs that could, with physical therapy and casting, be able to walk.  What an amazing gift this would be that could change a child’s life forever.  We need to develop a full time physical therapy department that can work with the foot clinic and give these children back there mobility.  Currently a child with a club foot is placed in a wheelchair to give them some mobility, but this weakens their leg muscles and contracts the tendons to the point where they will never walk again.  We can make a huge difference to these children if we can provide a properly trained staff to work with them on a regular basis. The children are coming from all over Haiti for the foot clinic, so this is chance to change their young lives.  It wouldn’t be that expensive and the impact we would have is nothing short of a Miracle.  With God’s blessings and your help, we can do this. 

reflections from Sonya about children's orthopedic clinic at St. Vincent's

The Club Foot Clinic

The central hallway that runs through the clinic building was lined with
mothers holding babies, soothing crying children, nursing infants,
shushing toddlers—all waiting for their turn at the club foot clinic.
Parents came from miles around with their children, displaying an array of
leg and foot abnormalities. The lucky ones were able to walk on their own
or with limited assistance. But the majority were non-ambulatory, relying
on a parent or relative to carry them.

It was on the first day of the clinic that Dr. Bheki Khumalo, a podiatrist from Memphis (originally from South Africa) performed his first outpatient surgery of the
week on the very first patient. In a small square room with light blue
walls and a cement floor stood a single table covered in a white sheet.
Surrounding that table was a talented medical team that would change the
course of this child's life forever.

She was an infant, no more than 1 year old—the sweetest little girl with
smiles for everyone and tiny laughs. With a simple set of surgical tools
and skilled hands, the tension was released on the child's Achilles
tendon, the foot carefully set in the proper position and finally casted.
When one leg was complete, they set to work on her other leg, casting it
as well before the appointment was over. All the while, she cried little
and we were amazed by her cheerful temperament. (Author's note: I cannot
imagine how incredibly hot and itchy her little legs must be in those
plaster casts in the Haitian sun. But what a small price to pay to have
the opportunity to walk someday. I had the honor of holding her after both
casts were applied while her mother went to the pharmacy—the highlight of
my day!)

Hour after hour, infants and toddlers came to have their feet and legs
examined. The team consisted of Dr. Bheki Khumalo, Nick Pesce (a physical therapist from
Memphis) and Michele (a Haitian physical therapist).
Together, the team discussed each case in detail, determining how to best
treat the child within the means of the clinic. X-rays were studied
through the light of a single small window on the only exterior wall.
Debates ensued, weighing the pros and cons of each treatment plan (i.e.
would putting a child in a brace for the right leg cause damage to the
left hip). Many casts were applied and many referrals to hospitals and
specialists were made. Each appointment was complex and lengthy,
exhausting work in the heat.

As Dr. Eric had predicted during our trip to St. Vincent's in February,
even though the clinic had few supplies, in the hands of properly trained
people, small miracles could be performed. And that's exactly what we
witnessed day-after-day in St. Vincent's clinic. Children who may not ever
have been treated were seen by a very talented group of physicians. Each
case was handled as if they were full paying clients in the United States.
Every effort was made to do the very most for each little person, to
provide the optimum care given the circumstances.

Imagine how much more can be done for these children when the permanent
clinic and surgical center are rebuilt on St. Vincent's demolished
property.

She has done what she could

There is a story in Mark's gospel (Chapter 14) about a woman who brings an expensive jar of perfume to the house of Simon the Leper, where Jesus is having dinner with his friends. The woman anoints Jesus with the perfume, an act which is later seen as anointing him for his burial. At the time, the disciples were upset, asking Jesus why he let this woman "waste" this expensive perfume when the money could have been used to feed the poor. Jesus responds "She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you will, you can do good to them; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could."

Dr. Mitzi Minor, a professor at Memphis Theological Seminary, taught a Sunday school lesson about this passage last week. She emphasized the fact that the woman understood the suffering Jesus was going through and knew what was going to happen to Him, even though none of His friends seemed to get the idea. She did something for Jesus that was an act of kindness and did not ask Him for anything in return, in contrast to the other people surrounding Him. The woman could not stop what was going to happen to Jesus; she could not prevent His suffering, she couldn't fix the problem with the Romans or with the Jewish high priests. But she offered comfort to Jesus and He was no longer alone.

This struck me as an insight into our mission work in Haiti, and for that matter anytime we offer comfort to someone who is suffering. We may not be able to fix the bigger problems, or to stop something terrible from happening. But we can give what we have; the love and support we can offer to another human being is sometimes all we have but it is our greatest gift. All God asks of us is to give the tiny gift we have, and He will bless it and make it into something wonderful.

Living Water

This past Sunday the gospel reading was about Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. He tells her He will give her living water (John 4:3-42)

I always wondered what that living water was exactly, or if Jesus was just using a metaphor. I thought maybe He meant something spiritual like the knowledge of eternal life. I confess I often thought the Samaritan woman must have left feeling empty handed, or at least puzzled by a confusing answer.

I realized during Andy's sermon (Andy Andrews is our priest at St. Mary's Cathedral in Memphis) that by speaking to her as a woman, as a Samaritan, Jesus gave her the gift of recognizing her value as a person.
The living water is the gift of being valued
Of being given your dignity
Recognizing you have the freedom to be loved
To hold your head up and thank God you're alive

The Samaritan woman walked away from that conversation with something that couldn't be taken away from her.

This is the gift God gives to the Haitian people, a gift we Americans don't always see at first. We see the devastating poverty most Haitians endure all of their lives, and we ask, How can they love God? Why arent they angry all the time? The Haitians know that God loves them even though the world ignores them most of the time. They have a treasure inside that can't be taken away.

Tim's experience in Haiti

I went to Haiti with no apprehension or fear, but just knew I was to go and really had no idea why. Then the finances worked out so that I could deal with my out of pocket expenses. When I got there I realized that I had a real experience ahead of me and that was just because of the ride from the airport to where we stayed.


Coming into Port au Prince the day before a national election also created enlightenment. Because of incidences in years past Haitians did not move around. Everything was closed and the streets were basically clear. Commercial vehicles could not move around but some did just because they needed the money. Monday brought a whole new dimension to the awareness of life in Haiti.

Traffic is horrendous and they have no apparent driving rules like lanes, direction, weaving in and out, horn honking, turning procedures, motorcycle weaving, or load restrictions, etc. Pedestrians cross and weave in and out of traffic and cross wherever they decide to cross the road. They do have a solution to overcome the chaos hand that is who can weld on the biggest, strongest bumper or knee pads etc for the driver of the motorcycle but not the two passengers. White knuckling it with 12 to 13 folks in a small pickup truck for two hours definitely gives you an idea of the stamina of who you're with and a clear view of the streets of Haiti.

Arriving at St. Vincents orphanage changed my entire outlook and emotions. What a welcome of love, smiling faces, souls just out there with no apparent feelings of disabilities about their bodies. Blind, no arms or no arms or legs, deaf, deaf with other disabilities. They knew nothing else to do but ignore the disabilities and learn to do whatever they wanted to. The young girl that interpreted for the pharmacy where I mostly worked had no hands but spoke beautiful English and wrote beautifully with her foot. She even signed to the deaf with her feet. Work with what you have with joy seems to be the answer at St. Vincents. Experience no shame and be proud of who you are. What a lesson for our team.
I can honestly say I received more love than I put out. No matter how I tried putting out more the person or the situation gave me back more love than I could give.
How can you leave such a place so devastated, so primitive, so chaotic, and experience the strong knowing that God is good?
When we landed at the Miami airport as an exhausted team. A wonderful group of souls themselves, I knew I needed to be alone to process all this. Not just the experience of the place but the experience of all the amazing souls in Haiti and on the team. At this moment arriving in Haiti I knew my God like I had never known him before. God does speak!

O Holy Night

I HESITATE TO WRITE ABOUT THIS. But something stronger than me pushes the words out. Music speaks to me, and as we drove to St. Vincents, I heard " O, Holy Night ' AND REALLY LISTENED TO THE WORDS. " Long lay the world in sin and error pining…" If ever the world was in sin and error pining, I was in the midst of it. A bleeding , suffering world, one full of destruction and pain, with no real end in sight. This was the real world..the world God sent himself into in the form of Jesus to save. This was no dress rehearsal..this was the real thing..here, now, close, heavy and so in need of love and redemption. This seems like a philosophical thought as I rode slowly down to the ones He came to save, to the chosen children, to our precious children of St. Vincents. But all the rest of the people. Those walking, almost running to find work or food or someone who cared. They too were the ones He came to save. And all this filled my head as this beautiful song came from the radio. Why now? Why think about this? In Haiti, of all places. I must be losing it. Yet, I felt more like I was really getting it than losing it. There, bouncing in and out of pot holes large enough to do serious damage. And so I let it fill me. " Le Redempteur". & "Voici, le Redempteur."Advent has never been more meaningful. May your Advent and His coming be real to you and those you love.
Sent in by Diane Reddoch

St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral - Memphis - Sermon by Rev. Drew Woodruff - Dec. 12, 2010, 8 AM service

Follow this link to a sermon by Drew Woodruff at St Marys Cathedral in Memphis on December 12, 2010 at 8 AM service. He preaches about Advent and being in Haiti.
http://www.stmarysmemphis.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=177&Itemid=198

Continuing Reflections from Our Team in Haiti--Last Full Day in Haiti (Continued)

Continued...
We also saw Michele Antoinise who visited with us for some time. She still works at the school's clinic which is now set up at the boys' foyer in a new temporary structure. Dr Ferdinand is now working 3 days per week since Dr Hilaire left after the earthquake. Michele and her fiancee are both fine.

JR took us to see the tent city where his family lives now. Words can't really describe it. Imagine walking down a narrow hallway in a small house made of tents and sheets, except that you keep walking to turn left then right then left again through the maze. Its hot enough to roast a chicken in there. Behind every flap of cloth sheeting is a family of 3 to 6 people. JR told me there is an architect and a police officer living in there. Total about 1000 people. We saw the "clinic" which is a small card table tucked into a corner under a tent flap. What must that be like to work in, I wonder. I think the UN sends in supplies, and I know they have power because I saw fans going inside the tents. Actually Amy noticed some concrete work UNDER the tents which makes it look like they are planning to be permanent, which is a sobering thought.
We left there in our melted condition and were happy to return to the boys' foyer to sit with JoJo in the shade. We left him with a good supply of paintings and promises to see him again in November.
Our return trip was another rough 2 hour ride for the folks in the back of the truck, and as soon as we arrived back at our campground everyone of us got into the ocean, except Lauren who took a nap and Drew who went to his favorite spot under the tree where Yolene, Auguste, Yolande and Diana hang out. Drew plays with Yolene; she pushes a toy truck off her chair and he exclaims and makes a big fuss and puts it back on her chair so she can grin at him and push the truck off the chair again
Several small children joined Allie in the ocean (kids from Montrouis) and they had great fun until Allie stepped on a sea urchin and had to let Amy dig the spines out of her foot.
After dinner another group from Memphis came; they are from Germantown Presbyterian church and have come to put in a well here and at Gonaive. They looked quite fresh without sunburn, mosquito bites or sweat soaked hair.
Lauren and I played clapping games and ring around the rosy with Frenel, Jean Marc, Rosana and some other Montrouis children. I said my goodbyes to Marie Carmelle and Madame Marc and promised to see them in November with Sienna.
Packing is much easier on the return trip and now I am typing away with everyone asleep. We must leave here at 5 am to catch our 8:55 plane to Miami. I am sad to leave but I feel so good about the children and how they have survived the terrible earthquake. I know now that they will be all right and will continue to grow and thrive. My adult friends in Haiti have suffered much but they are rebuilding their lives as Haiti has always done. JoJo will come to Sewanee in June or July to get his new prosthetics and Jean Robert will come with him, if all goes as planned. Its nice to be a part of their lives. I told JR yesterday: "Vi pa'm pi bon paske ou"
My life is better because of you
Susan

sent from Haiti by Dr. Susan Nelson

Continuing Reflections from Our Team in Haiti--Last Full Day in Haiti

Sunrise awoke us as usual, with the faint sounds of the ocean coming in the window. This morning another sweet sound woke us up; Jean Robert playing hymns on his violin. I actually got a recording of it. John, Drew and I sat and listened, on the concrete wall that sits at the top of the steps leading down to the rocky beach. We watched the fishermen putting out their nets and enjoyed the music.
After breakfast we all loaded into Pere Deravil's truck for the trip to Port au Prince. All 11 of us in a Toyota truck, including JR and Pere Sadoni, the driver. I fortunately got one of the 4 inside seats.
As we got closer to PAP the traffic got worse, the crowds got thicker and the smell and dust got worse. We saw several tent cities and many crumbled buildings although most of the rubble has been cleared from the streets. You do still see piles of concrete where a building used to be, or part of a wall standing at a crazy angle.
We went to Holy Trinity Cathedral and were shocked and saddened to see this beautiful work of art in ruins. Drew and I embraced each other and wept. Its all down except the wall with the mural of The Last Supper and the Baptism of Jesus. These are covered with wooden beams to support the wall and keep it from crumbling further. Pere Sadoni told us there is a historical society which is working to preserve the remaining murals. There are huge cracks in this wall so it will be extremely difficult I imagine. John told me his "eye" was gone; the eye on the mural that was behind the altar. His first trip to Haiti during the church service he remembered a lot of the French hymns his grandmother had taught him, and told me he thought she was looking down on him from behind the altar.
Later we saw St Vincent's school. The French army is there clearing the ruins with bulldozers. Margaret talked with the soldiers in French to explain who we were; I think she kept us out of trouble for taking pictures of their operation. They told her that when they find any bodies they stop and call someone about it. I forgot to ask Pere Sadoni what will happen to the 7 people buried there. Drew stood by the pile of rubble that was once part of the school, and committed their bodies to the earth. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, even at the grave we make our song, Alleluia"

Continued...
The griefs of the day came with joys too. We saw JoJo and Drew gave him a framed copy of Wendi Thomas' article about him with his picture in the Commercial Appeal. This actually made it to Haiti intact, glass and all. JoJo hasn't changed one bit, Drew says "he's as full of himself as ever" which is the wonderful truth. There was a teacher's meeting at the boys foyer, to prepare for starting school next week! All the kids now at Montrouis (17) will return to school as well as many students who are now with their families. There is active construction going on to build some new office and classroom space, funded by the Friends of St Vincent. We saw Lazar and I asked about his family; all are well. Pere Sadoni invited me to greet the teachers and I told them in creole: many people in America have been worried very much about them, that I was very glad to see all their faces and that Haiti has many friends in the US. Pere Sadoni congratulated me on my first speech in Creole.
We saw Elvie, who looks fine now but had a broken pelvis and was in the hospital for 3 weeks. We saw Adrian Kenson, one of the staff in a wheelchair, always friendly and smiling to greet us. We saw Dixie briefly and hugged her neck. Moliere greeted us also and said his family was safe. The woman now caring for baby Margaret brought her to us so Allie could see her. Allie had a bag of baby clothes for era; I think she changed her outfit every 20 minutes for a different photo. Margaret is growing and her skin is smooth and beautiful. She will have her shunt placed by a team coming from Jacksonville Florida to PAP in early May, then stay with this same woman for recovery before returning to St Vincent's.
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sent from Haiti by Dr. Susan Nelson

Continuing Reflections from Our Team in Haiti--Visiting St. Paul's, More Medical Challenges

Amy and Allie spent the morning at St Pauls school seeing the 3rd and 4th graders, about 45 patients. Margaret visited with some of the children and teachers and apparently taught them out of the creole/english medical dictionary while they were waiting to see the doctor.
When we returned from our boat trip we found Amy and Allie and Margaret in the pharmacy filling prescriptions from the morning. One man brought me an xray to look at. I had seen his child the day before and he is 1 year old but cannot walk. His legs appeared to be weak and could not bear his weight. I thought the child might have spina bifida and told the man he needed an xray. I expected that he would go to the hospital and see a specialist to get an xray. I never expected him to bring the xray back to me to read! Unfortunately the xray was very poor quality and did not show the spine, just a picture of the chest and abdomen. I tried to explain to the dad that I could not help his son, that he needed to take him to a neurologist in Port au Prince. He was trying really hard to help his son and I felt truly sorry for him. In the US I would have lots of options to evaluate the child, but here it is very difficult.
Later in the afternoon I spent time with Marie Carmel and the St Vincents kids. Kelvin and Lauren and Amy did face painting and I had the kids draw some pictures "for Sienna". I asked Frenel to sing Bienvenue a Ayiti for me and he did, in his sweet clear boy soprano.

Tonight it is sleeping time again; after my shower I remarked that there's nothing like feeling cool and clean so you can spray yourself with bug spray and climb under your mosquito net (some bugs do get under the net somehow).
Tomorrow we go to PAP to see St Vincents and JoJo and hopefully some of the other teachers who are meeting there tomorrow, like Pierre Guy and Judith Colas. More tearful reunions.

sent from Haiti by Dr. Susan Nelson

Continuing Reflections from Our Team in Haiti--Thursday and La Gonâve

Thursday started with getting up at the usual time-5:30 AM. The sun is bright by then and the rooster has been crowing since midnight. The Haitians have all been up by then anyway.
After breakfast we went on our boat adventure to La Gonâve, with Jean Robert. But first I must describe the ride to the ferry station in Pere Sadoni's new truck, with AIR CONDITIONING, and lovely music playing on the CD. Pere Sadoni told me about some of his plans for the school including several docs he is making arrangements with to work at St Vincents. Dr. Wilkins (orthopedic surgeon) plans to come to do surgeries again when the OR is rebuilt, so that sounds promising.
6 of us went with JR on the boat. Lauren asked "Where are the life jackets?" (Welcome to Haiti)
Drew thought he would not like the trip but he was transformed by the exhilarating ride across the bay, about 40 minutes. The wind was cool and the sea spray splashed our faces and made us laugh. We landed safely and quite happily at La Gonâve and after walking about 50 yards Debbie spotted a "bar and restaurant" where we went inside to have a limonade, served in the 16 oz glass bottle with a straw. 7 drinks for $5.
We walked up the only road thru town, a dusty paved road with little shade. There were some houses made of concrete block and some with skinny tree limbs propped up to hold a sort of mesh material. Motorcycles seemed to be the preferred mode of transport, with loud horns blaring to get us out of their way. A few goats and pigs were the subject of many photos, either because they were cute or more likely because that allowed us to stop in the only shade available. Drew and I agreed that these were the most interesting goats we had ever seen!
The terrain reminded me of Texas, with the rocky terrain and the scrub brush.
According to JR the temperature was 40 deg. C (about 104 F)
After a 20 minute walk we arrived at the episcopal school of St Francis of Assisi. We were surrounded by the 3rd graders at recess and Kelvin let them use his disposable camera, so he should have quite a collection of photos. They wanted to touch Lauren's hair, despite what the wind and sea had done to it.
We were invited to sit in a lovely house where the priest lives (he was out) and we shared the sandwiches made for us by "mom" (Madame Deravil) for our "field trip" before she went off to her job teaching at St Pauls school.
We refilled our water bottles and then toured the school. Many times to say "Nou kontan we ou" (we are happy to meet you) The school and church are beautiful. One concrete wall of the school is painted with marine animals like dolphins, whales even cephalopods. I thought my husband would appreciate that.
Back to the boat and homeward bound, we saw dolphins swimming in the bay! It made us all so happy to be alive and be in Haiti.
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sent from Haiti by Dr. Susan Nelson

Continuing Reflections from Our Team in Haiti--Baby Rhianna, Life in the Cabins

Debbie and Margaret toured the school and saw every classroom. Margaret speaks fluent french and apparently charmed all the students.

After lunch we walked back to the little house near our campground to see the 3 month old baby with the diarrhea. Her name is Rhianna. She looked more alert today although the mom had not made her the rice water we gave her the recipe for, and the baby was still having diarrhea. At least she had stopped giving her formula and was only giving breast milk. We talked with the baby's father who actually spoke english! He said he would help the mom make the rice water. Hopefully tomorrow we will see some improvement.
This afternoon we held a clinic for the seminarians and staff who cook for them, at the request of Pere Deravil. It was blazing hot in the room with no fan. John Mutin reminds me every 30 minutes to drink water, bless him. We had a child from St Paul's whom we had seen that morning with extra finger tags, come to our clinic so I could tie them off with suture. Problem was I could not find any suture. I must have forgotten to pack some. Fortunately the clinic we are using is a birthing center, with full surgical supplies including suture. One pack of ethilon (nylon) suture and we were in business. The 4 year old girl didn't like the lidocaine injections much, but when the anesthetic kicked in she sat and watched me tie off her finger tags. Not many kids in America would have been so calm, I expect.
One seminarian appeared quite professional and spoke excellent english. She had had back pain 2 weeks before which had resolved, but she just wanted a "checkup" Turns out her hemoglobin was 7.8. At least we brought plenty of vitamins!

Another delightful dip in the ocean made me forget how hot I was. Tonight I am in the "girls" cabin with everyone asleep at 9:00 except me typing away on my cell phone, which for some crazy reason can get wireless internet as long as the power is on. We only have power from 6 to 11 pm because that's when they turn on the generator. So the fan runs until 11 pm. Usually everyone wakes up then because the room gets much hotter. Amy even moved to the lower bunk because she said it was hotter in the top bunk. Everyone except me abandoned their mosquito nets after the first night, for the same reason. Anything that stops the slightest whiff of air has to go. We argued about whether keeping the overhead light on makes the room hotter. We take great care to position the rotating fan so everyone gets their due. This is quite a feat with 5 people in the room. I turned myself around so that my head was closer to the fan rather than my feet. I can't sleep with a pillow, my neck gets too hot. There was some debate about the vinyl mattress covers causing one to sweat more, but everyone decided they didn't want to be eaten by bed bugs. Except Debbie, who seems to be doing all right so far without a mattress cover. One must make these choices when it is 97 degrees outside! Actually the nights have been just a little cooler recently after a big rain Monday night. I can sleep without sweating and that's a definite plus.

Tomorrow we go on a ferry ride with Jean Robert, to the island of La Gonâve which is just across the bay from Montrouis. It will be a nice break after our hard work these last 3 days. Amy is staying here with Allie and Margaret. Amy says "if you've seen one island you've seen them all"; Allie feels like she already missed one day in Haiti so she and Amy will go back to the school to see more kids. Amy is braver now about seeing kids after seeing about 30 of them today! Margaret wants to go back to the school as well.

So now I am caught up on the blog with real time. I thank all of you reading this for your love and prayers and financial support to come here and work with these children. The St Vincents kids really are doing well and the St Pauls school has a fine priest in charge who really cares about the school. There are plenty of opportunities to come here and build or repair classrooms, to teach english to the older kids (a special request by Pere Deravil), to sing/draw/play with the children. Our St Vincents kids will be moving back to PAP very soon and will still need us to come see them and bring medical teams. Think about when you might be able to come and experience this wonderful place yourself (just be prepared for the heat)
Good night for now

sent from Haiti by Dr. Susan Nelson

Continuing Relfections from Our Team in Haiti--Moonlight on the Carribean

Tuesday night I swam in the ocean. There is a rocky beach and the sounds of the ocean are always in the background. The water is cool enough to melt all the heat and cares of the day away.
Afterwards we had a game of spades. John said he did not know how to play, which or course meant that he beat us all. Walking back to my cabin, I saw the full moon shining brightly on the water.

Wednesday we went back to St Paul's again to see the young kids, this time with their parents. As we pulled up to the school in Pere Deravil's truck, the red hibiscus flowers and purple morning glories were in full bloom. The little children with their school uniforms and matching hair bows were grinning and pointing at us. Drew and I agreed that we feel very privileged to get up in the morning and come to work in this place.
Today Lauren worked with me and Kelvin worked with Amy seeing patients. Amy became a pediatrician in short order, and actually saw the sickest children. One girl had a severe ear infection with swollen lymph nodes and possibly mastoiditis. Amy thought she should go to the hospital but we decided to treat her with the injectable antibiotics we have and check her again in the morning. Another child had ruptured ear drums from multiple ear infections. Every time I come to Haiti I feel like there are 1 or 2 lives we save. Today our patient with the mastoiditis was that patient. If she did not die from that infection she would surely be deaf in that ear. That's worth all the money and effort we spend to get ourselves here, I think. Also we saw a mother with a one month old baby who came in saying her baby slept a lot and did not eat well. Turns out the mother has mastitis. I examined the baby, Amy examined the mother and Allie worked with the mom to get the baby to latch on better and also helped the mom massage her milk ducts. Truly a team effort.
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sent from Haiti by Dr. Susan Nelson

Continuing Reflections from Our Team in Haiti--Team is Complete, Handling Medications

Tuesday at lunchtime, Allie and Margaret arrived safely amid hugs and claps on the back for surviving a difficult trip. Now our team was complete at 9. In the afternoon we all went to the pharmacy to help out since we were expecting about 40 folks to bring their prescriptions. Margaret mixed and labeled sulfur ointment. John counted tylenol and ibuprofen tablets into bags of #30 each. Debbie counted antacids and iron tablets into bags of #30. Lauren and Kelvin actually filled the prescriptions for each patient. I wrote labels in creole. My creole is getting better each day. I say that now I can speak like a 4 year old! We...have...medication...for...you. Please ...go...to pharmacy...
One interesting event in the day happened as we were walking back from the school to our campground. We walked through the countryside where many people live, including one of our interpreters. His cousin had a sick baby so we stopped to see her. She was 3 months old and we were told she had diarrhea and vomiting. In a tropical country one always worries about horrible diseases like typhoid, but this baby looked pretty good to me. No fever no rash, good weight. We gave the mother a recipe for rice water out of Amy's book "Where there is no Doctor" which basically is boiled rice water with a little salt and sugar added. Pedialyte where there is no Walmart. We told the mom we would check on her the next day.
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sent from Haiti by Dr. Susan Nelson