Prayers needed for Real Hope For Haiti

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Last Day. Long Day.

Today was our last day in Cazale and we made the most of it.

ICU breakfast and baths for babies.

Meds counting, re-packaging, dosing instructions.

Vist to RHFH tuberculosis home.

Walk to and visit Cazale’s local market.

More ICU time.

Visit and tour the RHFH Cholera center.

All the while thinking about and sharing our love for the amazing people of Haiti.

It both breaks my heart and fills it up each and every time.

I am so thankful for everyone’s support that makes these trips possible.

This is a blessing I never could have imagined coming into my life.

When you just get out of the way, do your part and keep your heart open,….God will bring it all together.

Homeward bound 6:00 (central time) in the morning

In His Grace always,

Holly

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Look, Ma!

This one took some doing. All these pictures meant a slow transfer — via Facebook since email has long since given up the ghost — and a busy Sunday meant that the guest poster was running ragged. But today is the day. Here’s Holly’s latest post.  — Joey

I came all the way to Haiti to:

Love on sweet babies

Love on amazingly resilient kids

Love God. Love what God loves.

Paint a gate (if you are keeping count, this is #2)

Learn more about Haitian culture

Love God. Love what God loves.

Visit sweet Christina and her foster mom, Rosilita

Marvel at the miracle of healing and grace even in the hard places

Love God. Love what God loves.

Meet amazing people Mallory Martin (teacher for the Bector kids and Brianna Garrett)

Spend an amazing week w/ sisters (& friends) in Christ with a heart for our Haitian brothers and sisters

Love God. Love what God loves.

Amen

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Fantastic Friday Observations

Holly’s latest message just came in from Haiti. The article arrives first with numbers for picture place-holders. Then, I get the pictures — most of the time. 🙂 If a caption doesn’t make sense, a photo looks out of place, or one seems to be missing, we have the less-than-stellar internet access in Haiti to thank. But God is good, and Holly is doing God’s work. Here’s her latest report.  — Joey

 

¤ It’s daylight at 5:45 am in Cazale – I know this to be true because I was wide awake at that time (shocking but true……a morning person, I am not).

¤ Mountains are even more beautiful as the sun rises behind them.

¤ Listening to someone talk about their life’s passion, love and respect for the people they serve and God’s love, provision and miracles experienced every day is just amazing. BLESSED!

¤Haitian toddlers throw hissy fits too!

¤When 5 white ladies start painting the gate into the clinic in Cazale………a crowd forms. We almost had to call in crowd control. Seriously.

Just like at home……I’m never in the pictures because I’m the one taking them!

(especially when at least one white women is slightly off center & its not even me this time!) Notice the quality of the awesome selfie.

¤And evidently, it takes 5 white ladies to paint a gate.

¤Unlike my job, having a sensitive sense of smell is NOT a bonus here. I don’t believe you want or need details. Clue: 20 babies. One room. No windows. One box fan.

¤Mac Young can and will do the Charleston at the drop of a hat.

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A Tour of the Clinic

Holly sent her second post a few minutes ago. The connections are horrible in Haiti. The text and the photos came separately, and I’m not sure all of them made the trip to the States. We’ll edit and correct any out of order or missing photos when the connections are working better.    –  Joey

It’s been a busy day here. I guess I should say, it’s been a busy day for us. The exceptional staff here is always busy…..there are always patients to care for, babies to be changed, bathed, fed……..paperwork and records to be updated……lessons to be taught.

This is the third trip for Tena and I have been to RHFH. Since Susan, Denice and Mak are newbies, they got the grand tour of the clinic today.

The ICU is where the children needing the most care stay. Presently there are 20 children here receiving care around the clock. The ages range from 6 wks to about 10 yrs old. Even though this is not an overnight facility, they also have ages beds for adults needing extra care or ICU.

Next is the area patients first come when they enter the clinic gate. In groups if 50, patients come here, receive their first assessment. During the time they spend waiting their turn, there is some type of educational presentation usually health related, and they also are given a small devotional to take with them.

All records are hand written. Each patient has a chart that is kept indefinitely. Since the clinic began here in Cazale 1998, they have seen 127,000 patients. They see patients 3 days a week and average 250 patients daily.

Nurse/examination room.

A lot of focus and energy is given to prenatal care and education.

Medicine storage room

Pharmacy area.

All medications are divided into dosages ahead of time and stored in bins. This makes it quick and easy for the nurses to give out the amount needed w/ out having to stop and package the dosage for each patient.

After lunch we became pharmacy assistants!!!! Counting and packing meds.

Now it’s your turn. Since I have travelled to Haiti several times now, i loose track of what i have blogged. I am afraid I may not actually be telling you things you would like to know.

So, if you have a question, let me know. Post it as a comment to the blog and I’ll do my best to answer (IF technology is still being my friend).

The need is great.

Heart wrenching.

Seemingly unsurmountable.

The world is broken.

God is bigger.

Blessing abound.

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First Photos

Our team:
Susan McAnelly – St. Paul UMC, Bridge City, TX
Denice Alexander – Wesley UMC, Nederland TX
Makayla Young – Wesley UMC, Nederland TX
Tena McGaughey – Northside UMC, Jackson TN
Me – Covenant UMC, Cordova TN

In His Grace,
Holly

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All Sweat and All Smiles

Holly’s First email arrived about ten minutes ago. Here’s her first entry from Haiti.

Let’s get the first question out of the way……..is it hot?

Yes.

Second question………is it humid?

Yes.

Do you have hot water for showers?

No.

Here’s one you may not have thought of………does that matter or bother you?

Not. One. Tiny. Bit.

There is a peace and comfort in knowing that you are right where you should be. The place God sent you to be. The place where service and love and obedience all come together.

Sure, a little less humidity (ok a lot less) would be pretty outstanding. Having an air conditioned room to sleep in…..amazing. Hot shower……..or a warm shower (who wants hot when you are already hot )……lovely.

You sweat ALOT here……there is no glistening or perspiring. It’s an all out, bucket brigade……… It doesn’t matter what you are or are not doing…..you are going to sweat. Sleeping. Walking. Bathing. Eating. Sitting. Standing. In the shade or not.

But it doesn’t matter. I am at one of the places God wants me to be.

Everyone should take the time to listen to your heart. Listen to where its leading you. Make yourself available to hear what God has to say and go where you are called to go.

It may not be Haiti…..heck……you and I know it probably won’t be Haiti. It may literally be across the street at a neighbor’s home or business.

But I know, with my whole heart it will be somewhere just right for you. A place that God wants you to be. A place you are drawn to.

It may be hot. You may get dirty. Pleasant smells may not surround you. You might even have your heart broken.

There will be peace. There will be comfort. The place where service and love and obedience all come together.

And. You. Will. Smile.

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