August 15 news

Good morning from Haiti! What a couple of weeks we have had. Youvendji went in the hospital on July 22nd. We had to go immediately to the Haitian Red Cross to get blood for him. Denika from Bercy went in on August 6th. We had to go get blood for her, too. We had to get more blood for her this past week. Last Sunday, Wilmerson was taken to the emergency room and admitted with probable meningitis.


Haiti's blood bank is depleted. Each time we waited hours to get blood for the children. If children weren't a priority, we probably wouldn't have gotten blood at all. The Red Cross waited for someone to come in and donate blood, or the bloodmobile to bring it in, then they processed it and handed it out to the lucky ones who were waiting.


Youvendji, 2 ½, is from Gonaives. He is malnourished and might have tuberculosis. He definitely has sickle cell anemia. The hospital didn't wait for confirmation of the TB but started treating him immediately. When I visited a couple of days ago, the nurse proudly told me his weight is up to 8.2 kg, about 18 lbs.! We are hoping he can come home this week. He is unable to stand but he can move his legs. We need a physical therapist to teach us how to help him get strong.

Austin from Bercy brought Denika, 1 yr old, to us on July 31. She, too, is malnourished and might have tuberculosis. Denika will stay in the hospital for a while. We are giving her mother money for food and help with laundry, etc., while she stays with her daughter.

Wilmerson responded to antibiotics right away. He came home today! He seems stronger now than at any time since coming to us in January. Praise God!

We got our new truck on August 5th (the Haitians say it isn't a truck, it's a pickup). The dealership was so happy to be able to finally deliver it, they greeted me with a huge arrangement of fragrant, beautiful flowers and everyone came outside to watch! Thank you, Father, for your blessings.

The truck went right to work the next day, making three trips to the hospital and one to downtown Port au Prince to get blood. I have not driven a stick shift in more than 40 years and driving up and down steep hills in stop and creep bumper-car traffic was an experience. I hope the Lord laughed as much as Laura Lynn and I did. HE is good and the day ended with no accidents and every errand completed.

Four of our children are registered for school at the International Missions Outreach (http://www.imohaiti.org/) just down the street from us. Michelor, Rosa, Claudine and Johnny will start school in October. Thirteen year old Mich has never been to school before: he will be in first grade. Rosa and Claudine will be in pre-k 4 and Johnny in pre-k3. I can't wait to get their uniforms so we can get pictures!

Thank you for the many donations of formula, clothes, etc. and your financial contributions. We had to rent vehicles in July, pay extra staff for hospital care, and pay school registration fees. It takes a lot to do a good job of caring for so many and we deeply appreciate your help.

God bless you!

Dorothy Pearce
Faith-Hope-Love Infant Rescue

Youvendji

Denika

Wilmerson

Miracle of provision

Yes, God is in the miracle business. See our new truck? The dealership, Atlantis Motors, was so happy to give me the truck after weeks of waiting, they also gave a huge arrangement of flowers. Practically everyone came into the garage to witness the delivery of the truck to me. I thank God for providing for us.

We got the truck on Thursday afternoon. Friday, the next day, I made three trips to St. Damien's Hospital (Petit Frere et Souer), admitted one baby, and drove to General Hospital to get blood for the baby. I can drive automatic transmission; the truck is standard. I think the Lord must have laughed and laughed as I struggled with Haiti traffic and hills and driving after dark in the rain with cars coming toward me in my lane.

He laughs gently, though, and every challenge had a successful resolution. His angels kept the truck from rolling into the cars behind us, the baby got her blood, Laura Lynn and I had a nice meal at the restaurant near the hospital, and we got home safely. We laughed ourselves silly, too.

Spirit, our new 2010 Tata Xenon pickup truck

Miracles - The Lazyboy

We are going thru a time of frustration. Our Isuzu was given to a Haitian mechanic to fix an electrical problem. He tore the engine out and has left it in pieces. He won't finish it. We have no vehicle.

We purchased, more than a month ago for cash, a brand new Tata Xenon pickup truck: double cab, 4WD, diesel, with air conditioning! Haiti customs held it prisoner for a few weeks. Now Haitian registration/tags are holding it up. We still have no vehicle although we own 2.

One baby is in the hospital: two more should be inpatient. But we have no vehicle.

See why I'm frustrated?

Well, my favorite chair, the Lazyboy rocker/recliner pictured below, reminds me that God knows all things and controls all things and works in HIS own good time.

The chair was shipped in a van to Haiti in 2004. The van arrived during the ouster of former president Aristide. The country was in turmoil; anarchy reigned. The ports were looted and everything movable was stolen. The van disappeared.

We caught up with the van a year later, on the southern peninsula of Haiti. When I traveled down to see it and try to get it back, I was floored to see that even though everything had been stolen from inside the van - including the bench seats, battery and fuel pump - the Lazyboy was still there. Though it took a while longer to get the van back, the police allowed me to remove the chair that day.

The chair, practically a throne to me, reminds me daily of God's power. And that HE works in HIS own time, not mine, not anybody's.

The chair is my reminder that God is greater even than wild mobs of looters and HE is not fazed by time frames that are unacceptable to me.

SO, thanks to one of the best lessons I have ever learned, taught by a Lazyboy rocker/recliner, our no-vehicle problem has been handed to The One Who Can Handle The Impossible.

Thank you, Lord, for putting me back in my rocker. With it you gave me the FAITH to not give up HOPE but to rest in your LOVE with the certainty that you will do what is best when it is best.

THE MIRACLE CHAIR

a powerful lesson

by Dorothy Pearce

Founder of Faith-Hope-Love Infant Rescue

I'm BACK!!!

Families are wonderful. I enjoyed every minute of the 3 months I spent in the USA with my family. My grandson's heart surgery was successful and we all thank you for your prayers. Now I am thrilled to be back in Haiti with my other family.

The children look great. Josue is crawling and standing: he's nice and fat, glowing with good health! You can't see him now and believe that he almost died from malnutrition and anemia in December. Emmannuella is moving more than ever before. She has been here for a year and has made amazing progress. Praise God for HIS presence and mercy!

Naphtalie, Naphtalia and Emmanuella all got chicken pox after I got back. I sure hope this is the end of the epidemic. They have recovered well. Thank you, Lord!

Mis Audette has been a great addition to our staff. She is a nurse but consented to also teach the children. She is a strong Christian lady who teaches with love. The children, staff and I all adore her. The children are learning about Jesus, French and manners! We need a sponsor to pay her salary of $200 US per month. Please pray about this need.

Katie Benner will come in September to help us for 3 months with the school situation and direct children's activities. Please pray for her as she prepares to come.

Youvendgy, 2 1/2, came from Gonaives. He has sickle cell anemia, malnutrition and pneumonia. Or maybe it's tuberculosis: they're still testing. His hemoglobin was 4 grams and he has had 2 transfusions: It is up to 8 now. He is in Ti Frere hospital (a miracle in itself since they don't take children for orphanages). Please pray for his healing.

The social worker at our HIV clinic asked if we can take more children with HIV. Parents who are sick with the disease and living in tents aren't capable of giving medicines on a regular basis. They can't give the kids the nutrition they need, either. Pray for wisdom in choosing which children to accept and provision of resources to care for them.

Four of our ladies were able to attend a women's conference led by Eileen Murphy last week. It was a treat for them. Crusades for Christ sent ladies to care for the children so they could go. That is how the LORD launched our year of ministry to our ladies. Thank you, Father! They had a good time and learned a lot!

The NEW TRUCK is washed and prepped and ready to be ours as soon as the Haitian government completes the registration and issues the tags. Maybe tomorrow? You'll hear me cheering when we actually take possession!

A German medical group came over Saturday and gave the kids vaccinations. What a relief! Praise God for their help! Good job, PAPA GOD! We give thanks!

The work here is hard and it is sweltering hot, but we can feel the peace of the Lord always sheltering and lifting us. It is most apparent in the children's progress but also can be seen in our ladies as they begin to believe that they can make a difference in the world. So can you! Search for God in your life, put HIM first, above everything else, and the rest will follow.

God bless you all!

Great news! Mothers' Day! Visits! TRUCK!

May 31, 2010

Wilmerson's PCR test is negative -- that means he does not have the HIV virus! He was 4 months old when his aunt brought him to us after his mother was killed in the earthquake. His screening test for HIV (which only tests for antibodies) was positive but the PCR proves that the antibodies in his blood came from his mother, not his own immune system. PRAISE GOD for this fantastic news! (Wish I had an updated photo of him. He looks much better now!)

Mother's Day in Haiti was this past Sunday. Kez made a party for the nannies and kids with Watermelon!! Thanks for the pictures, Kez! It looks like everyone had a great time. Those wonderful ladies need to know how treasured they are for the great work they do with the kids! Thanks, Lord, for our beautiful Haitian staff and for Kez giving her time to honor them.

Jessica will begin tomorrow to watch over our house for the month of June. Thanks, Jessica! Please send lots of pictures and stories.

A new car. Truck, rather. That has sounded almost impossible to me for a very long time but faithful partners have been working hard to raise the money. Frank King is in Haiti now, doing the shopping. If all goes as planned, we will have a BRAND NEW Tata Xenon dual cab, 4WD, diesel pickup truck by the end of June. I'm still hesitant to celebrate - after all, anything can happen in Haiti - but it really looks like this will happen. THANK YOU, LORD! and Frank! and our many many friends who have been working so hard!

(We're making progress on the generator, too. I hope we can report success in the next update. Generators and vehicles are both scarce in Haiti now.)

Children in the USA reacted with amazing compassion to the earthquake in Haiti. Wanting to help, the Child's Play Preschool at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, where my niece Nicol Mickler teaches, collected socks for our children. 1200 pairs!!!! Young American children are learning that they can make a difference. The LORD is SO proud of them! So am I.

FUN! I have seen THREE of my Haitian kids while in the US! Isna and her family visited me in Maryland. Poutchino and Christelle went to the zoo with Nancy and me. They are beautiful! radiant! glowing! My heart sings praises to the Lord when I see what HE has done for these children!

Mother's Day was a day of mourning for hundreds, maybe thousands, in Haiti. We all need to remember that the needs there are bigger than ever. Our mission will be growing and expanding to help as many as we can. Please pray that we will honor God and bring eternal change as well as improving circumstances, and that everyone around us will see God, not us. We would love to have you partner with us.

Dyana and baby

Kez and Johnny

Claudine and Rosa

Chacha (Richardson) serves watermelon

Guerdline

Eva, our cook, enjoys a rest on Mothers' Day

SOCKS!

Isna - first day of school!!

Poutchino and Christelle at the Jacksonville Zoo

May 20, 2010

I am still in the United States. My new grandson, Cree, was born in April with a heart defect and a genetic syndrome known as 22q13 deletion or as Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. His heart can be repaired but we won't know until he's older how the syndrome will affect him. For now he is stable. This has been a tough time for my family and I am very glad that I was here when he was born. When Cree has heart surgery I will take care of my 2 year old grandson, Cole, a very active little rascal. Thank you all for your prayers!

The Haitian government has asked large NGOs to scale back on free food donations. More children than ever before will starve. Our ministry must grow to try to save these lives. Our focus will be on taking into our home malnourished infants and children - and their mothers when appropriate - until their families are back in their own homes and working. Please pray that everything we do will demonstrate God's love and draw people to HIM!

Jesula and Claudia, two of our wonderful Haitian nannies, have worked at FHLIR for 4 years now. They are very good but have resisted taking leadership roles. Now that I'm not there they don't have a choice. They have plenty of resources: a pediatrician available 24/7, a nurse 6 days a week, Kez drops in from time to time, mission groups have visited, they have a driver and car, and so on. These wonderful Christian ladies can discover and develop their leadership abilities. What a boon they will be to Haiti! Thank God for the chance to help HIS Haitian people learn to lead!

Isna and her new family met me in Rockville, Maryland, a few weeks ago at the White Flint mall. Isna has bonded to her family. Though I got hugs and kisses and lots of attention, Isna went to her mother or father when she wanted comfort and affection and played with her sister and brother. It was pure JOY to see Isna settled in their wonderful family!

I am proud of my Haitian family for handling everything on their own. Thanks to Beaver Brooks, Kez Furth, Wayne Dollarhide, and Jim & Kim Dewar for visiting our house and helping. Thanks to Andy Leslie who will take a group in the next couple of week and to Frank King who will work on getting the generator bought and installed. Many thanks to Jessica Footz who will stay with the children for the month of June. And to Abby McCullough who will spend the first two weeks of June helping Jessica. This is a beautiful instance of the body of Christ working together. When one can't be there, others will.

Poutchino is blossoming in Jacksonville! He has a new shunt and his multiple infections have been treated. Nancy keeps him busy with occupational therapy and physical therapy and soon will add speech therapy. His response is heartwarming. He makes many more sounds than ever before, participates in his care, is more interactive and interested in the world around him. We are praying that someone will fall in love and give him a permanent home in the US.

Praise God for all his blessings! It is good to be his child and share his love with others. Thank you for working with me in this ministry.

Poutchino with Christelle Brickell in Jacksonville. For more photos, look at Nancy's album on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1006755217#!/album.php?aid=2052450&id=1006755217

Isna on her first day of school: real school!

Tatiana, Isna, Jabin and Natalie Hollinshead (l-r) riding the train at White Flint Mall in Rockville, Maryland, May 2 2010.

My new grandson, Cree, born April 16, 2010. He will have open heart surgery soon.

My 2 year old grandson, Cole, and me. I will care for Cole while his new litle brother has heart surgery.

March in Haiti

I am writing from sunny Florida, resting and recharging at my home. Soon I'll head for Maryland to help my son's family when their new baby is born. Another grandchild! God is good!

Jessica is in Haiti now being me and Esther will come soon. The kids, staff and visiting moms and babies are in good hands. Thank you, Lord, for always providing what's needed, especially these wonderful women at this time.

Poutchino left Haiti on a medical visa! His shunt was removed on March 16th and has since been replaced. Four bacteria were cultured from his spinal fluid! I don't think he would have survived in Haiti. Thank God for Angel Missions getting the visa and Nancy Brickell for taking him home with her. Thanks also for Wolfson Children's Hospital, Dr. Philipp Aldana and his partners, and the many other doctors who have aided Poutchino. There is no doubt that they saved his life. I am deeply grateful.

Less than 3 months after what has been called the worst natural disaster of modern times we are pretty much back to normal. We've grown, of course. I finished the latest census just before leaving Haiti: 29 children (including Poutchino) officially under my care plus two infants and 3 mothers in tents in the yard and three nannies with their 5 children now living with us. It's a zoo! a really fun one!

We now have 6 children with HIV. Wilmerson, about 4 months old was orphaned in the quake. His aunt said she wants him back when he can eat table foods. Routine bloodwork revealed his HIV status. We enrolled him in the same HIV program as our other children. Since he is so young there is a chance he does not have the virus, only antibodies from his mother. Pray that he is disease free!

Just before I left, St. Damien's Hospital asked me to take a 2 1/2 year old boy with HIV. He was living in a tent city with his father. Wilson is the first child ever brought to us with a supply of clothes and personal items (including toothbrush, toothpaste and toilet paper!) It was hard for his dad to let him go but at my house families are allowed to visit as often as they like. (I would love for them to come every day!)

Wilson should have started AIDS meds months ago but they must be given every day without fail. If several doses are skipped, the drugs lose their effectiveness. Then new meds have to be given. Since the available medicines are limited the hospital won't start therapy until they feel confident that the caregiver will be faithful.

After the earthquake we were blessed with more supplies than I could have imagined! I wish I could name all the donors but I'm afraid I would forget someone so I'll give all the credit where it really belongs, to the Lord. The real church is made up of all followers of Jesus regardless of church affiliation. Our love for God extends to each other and to non-believers. When one of us is in trouble the others all rush in to help. It is a joy and a privilege to be a member of the real church of the one true God.

Dianne Groves and June Gardner spent several days in Haiti organizing the supplies we received. I could never have done it. Thank you, Dianne and June!!!


March photo album

Nancy and Christelle Brickell pull Poutchino in a wagon at Wolfson's. Nancy brought Christelle in when I was orphanage director in Bercy. She and Klay adopted Christelle a couple of years ago. Nancy also found Poutchino out in Bercy. She knew him before I did, arranged for his first shunt surgery, and is still involved in his life. Nancy has been a blessing to Haiti and its children. Poutchino couldn't be in better hands.

Poutchino with Christelle Brickell at the Jacksonville Zoo the day he arrived in Jacksonville, before going to the hospital. As a former docent at this zoo, I am thrilled that he was able to experience it.

11 kids, 10 infants and Emmanuella who is estimated to be 4 yrs old, live in the infant room. We could only fit 9 beds in the room. Ronald sleeps in a laundry basket. The twin girls, Naphtalie and Naphtalia, are so small they can sleep in the same bed. If anything goes wrong in my day a trip to the infant room makes everything better. You just can't help but grin.

Of our 29 plus children, most live downstairs. They love to have their photo taken! These were made on March 22 2010.

Chrislove is about 16 months old. She and Bobo were found at another orphanage after the quake. Both were severely malnourished and sick. After being treated at Heartline Clinic they came to us for further care since we specialize in malnourished infants. Chrislove has gained enough strength that she can stand up and is trying to walk while holding on to something.

Reubens and his mother also live in a tent in our yard. At 5 months old Reubens still weighs less than 7 lbs. We tried to help her learn how to breastfeed but she can't seem to sit still long enough. Fearing permanent damage due to inadequate nutrition, I gave up and started giving him bottles. This mother, Manuchka, loves her son and won't leave without him. They will stay with us until we have his weight in the normal range and he can thrive on foods she can give him.

Three tents are still up in our back yard. Arbolina, the mother of baby Ronald, lives there.
We moved Ronald into the baby room inside the house. Arbolina is mentally challenged. We don't quite know what to do with her but at least she and her baby are safe with us. We hope to find her family in the next few months. That could be hard because she doesn't know her last name or her age and because families often are glad to be rid of handicapped members. Pray for her.

Baby Nathaniel and his mother are staying in a tent, too. Nathaniel continues to have chest sounds that concern the doctor and he breathes too fast. It looks like his heart is on the right side of his chest. While that isn't always a problem, it looks like it might be for Nathaniel. We are getting more tests done.


Isna is with her new family, one of the many blessings that resulted from the earthquake. Here she plays games with her dad Jeremy, sister Tatiana and brother Jabin. Thanks to technology we get to talk on Skype. Her mom makes sure we get plenty of photos. I am VERY happy for this family.

Back Home Part 2 - Photos

We now have 4 tents in our yard. They house approximately 40 people. Here are some scenes from our daily life in the yard. Although our house is intact and has been inspected and deemed safe, the adults are terrified to sleep inside. We are preparing them to move inside this coming week, before the rains start.

Tree says (virtually) "Hold me! Make my photo!"

Daily life in our yard

More daily life.

Herode wants to be noticed (and he is!)

Nursery tent. Arbolina, our mentally challenged mom, is learning a lot about child care, hygeine, life.

Jesula came with her mom & two sisters. Baby sister Esther is malnourished. The whole family needs nurturing.

Nursery tent

3 of the 4 tents in our yard, all full

Woode, the son of our nanny Rosie. Woode's father was killed and their home destroyed in the quake. Rosie had just started working for us on January 1st. Now she and her children, Woode and Alexandrine, are living with us.

Back Home- part 1

I got back to Haiti yesterday morning. It was scary coming back. I was afraid I would be overwhelmed by sad emotions but that didn't happen --- I am HOME!!! It is wonderful to be back!

We went straight from the airport to Agape Flights where we picked up a car full of packages. We met a team from Christian Light Foundation for lunch, then they came to visit the kids. Then a team from Somebody Cares America/International came by. With them were Kids Against Hunger and Victim Relief Ministries. Nancy and I felt so honored: we walked with spiritual giants all day long.

Doug Stringer, Founder and President of Somebody Cares America/International, thoroughly enjoyed telling Nancy and I that one of their donors has sent $10,000 to CLF designated for a generator. We couldn't decide to laugh or cry so we did both, rejoicing with all our hearts. YAY GOD!!!

A group from Much Ministries and Christian Light Foundation is coming over today. It's like extending our fantastic church service this morning: we get to walk with spiritual giants all over again.

Keep praying for Poutchino. We might have a doctor and hospital lined up for him in Florida. If they agree, he can go home with Nancy on a medical visa. He needs to go soon. I know the pattern of his fevers. He is having them everyday, they are getting higher, soon he will start having seizures. He needs to be in the States when this happens.

Medical care here is still pretty scarce. Yesterday Karen B. took a woman in labor to a tent hospital from Florida at the airport. They were unable to help. Karen then took her to Hopital La Paix, a branch of Haiti's General Hospital. They accepted her, then called Karen 30 minutes later to say they had no water and Karen should come get her. The lady was already dilated 3 cm and her previous delivery had been an emergency c-section! [End of story: the lady delivered at General Hospital. Mom and baby are fine.]

Pray for Haiti. We at Faith-Hope-Love and all those who have come under our protection are well cared for but the country has much to face before things start getting better.

Feb 17 2010

I am in Miami, retreating at my brother's house to try and regain a sense of equilibrium before returning to Haiti in the next few days. Nancy Brickell is watching over the children for me. Thank you, Nancy! Thank you, God! for wonderful friends.

Nurse Kelly went to the site of St. Vincent's, a hospital/orphanage for handicapped kids, largely destroyed in the quake. Someone on the street offered to show her where the feet of crushed children were visible. How can you react to an offer like that except to feel that you have stepped into Alice In Wonderland and fallen down the rabbit hole?

Then it happened to me at One Stop. Nancy and I were grieving at the ruins of my favorite grocery store when the building owner came up. I asked him how many people had died when the building collapsed. He, almost proudly, said "two", "do you want to see them?" [In case you find that hard to believe, yes, he meant that the dead bodies were still visible under the rubble and he thought we would want to look at them.] That was Tuesday. I left Haiti on Wednesday. One trip too many down the rabbit hole.

Relief workers come and go. Expatriates can get out for a break. A few Haitians can leave but most have no respite. Everything is dirty. Minutes after a bath you can once again feel grit on your face. Everyone is coughing from the dirt in the air. Please pray for God's peace, comfort and help for the Haitian people.

A mother brought a child to my door for help a couple of weeks ago. The little girl had a fever, cough and a fine rash all over her body: measles, I think. Her vaccination card said she had been vaccinated for measles. So much for vaccinations. Still, we have applied to Unicef to come vaccinate all of our children. I had ordered vaccines in December but they never came. Nancy sent word that Unicef came to the house with supplies since I left Haiti. Yay for Unicef!!!

Nancy arranged for our nanny Claudia to get a skin graft on her foot. It would never have healed without one: the wound was to large and deep. We took in a mom and baby the night before I left. Nancy's husband told me another mom and baby came in after I left. Then Nancy wrote that another baby and nanny came, too. We are very grateful for the tents, food and supplies donated by so many wonderful people and organizations---these donations help us to help others.

Word is out that Haiti president Rene Preval gave his life to Jesus this past Friday. Pray that it is true, that he will be filled with the Holy Spirit and listen to God's plan for Haiti, and that all government and political leaders and spiritual leader will follow suit. Does that sound impossible? Remember that we serve a God who can do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20

I can't remember or didn't get the names of all the groups who came to us immediately after the quake to bring food and supplies, prayer and love, and any kind of help we could possibly need. Some of those who stand out are

• Mission Support International http://www.msihaiti.com;/
• Karen Bultje - Haiti Coram Deo http://haiticoramdeo.blogspot.com/
• Much Ministries http://muchministries.org/haiti/
• Christian Light Foundation, Inc. http://www.christianlightfoundation.com/
• New Hope Haiti Mission http://nhhm.wordpress.com/
• Operation Blessing http://www.ob.org/disasterrelief/
• Pennies for Orphans http://www.penniesfororphans.org/index.html

Others came later but were just as indispensable

• King's Kids Worldwide http://kings-kids.ca/
• Love A Child http://www.loveachild.com/
• Keziah Furth http://myhaitiankids.blogspot.com/ and Cmdr Strong
• Agape Flights http://www.agapeflights.com/
• MFI http://www.missionaryflights.org/
• Omaha Rapid Response http://omaharapidresponse.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html
• Somebody Cares America http://www.somebodycares.org/pages.asp?pageid=94682

I hesitate to name these groups because I know there were others who also helped. I thank God for each and every one of them and beg forgiveness for not listing everyone.

I will return to Haiti Saturday morning Feb 20 greatly strengthened by this chance to mourn and rest, and ready to go back to work.

February 1 2010

Today is payday and, thanks to so many of you who have given cash gifts, we can give our workers their pay plus extra money. All of them lost their homes in the quake and were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. It is a pleasure to watch them rejoice as the Lord takes care of them. Thank you!!!

One of our nannies, Marie, has a 10 yr old son who was living with someone else. The house where he was living was destroyed and she couldn't find any news of him. Some of the neighbors think he is surely dead. Not knowing is so hard for her! Pray for definite news of him. Even if he died, she can start grieving for him when she knows for sure.

Marie's other daughter lives in a tent city in the Delmas 31-33 area. I went there with her and found a very well organized camp. They already had appointed a committee of leaders who had a list of residents. There are 99 families, a total of 512 people. With the help of Much Ministries out of Georgia (the Brooks family and others) we will take food and medicine to them today.

Our staff are still afraid to stay inside the house and I cannot promise them that we won't have another quake or strong aftershock. Pray that someone will bring tents quickly to set up for our infants, all of whom are living outside with everyone else. They need protection from flies and mosquitoes.

Dr. Kelly Crowdis, a veterinarian who lives and works in Haiti, was shuttling patients between the stadium and the Israeli field hospital. She saw that Arbolina did not know how to care for her infant. Arbolina does not know her last name or where she lived before the quake. She only remembers that her house crashed and she got the baby out. Kelly brought her to us with little Ronald. She isn't sure whether Ronald was 1 day old when she got her, or 2 months old, or 4 months old. We think 1 month is about right.

People have said that I am brave. Ha! Right now I feel many things but brave is not included. Life is what it is, you know? Something happens, you are there, you do what you have to do. Without God I would not be able to do anything, the shock would be too great. I have never seen injuries like these and to see them in such huge numbers is just - well, indescribable. Such sadness! Such horror. Every time I see a crashed building I feel sick because now I know the pain it caused. The people who are brave are those who are voluntarily putting themselves at risk to help us. And so many others who cannot come are sacrificing to send help. Praise God for wonderful people!

We thank God for giving us enough for ourselves and enough to share. He has opened the heavens and is pouring out blessings. It is a privilege to watch Him work so up close and personal, something that isn't often so clear in the United States. HE, the Lord God almighty, the one true God, is not a religion: HE is the living God, very active in our personal lives if we allow Him to be.

Claudia, our nanny, is helped to the car by nannies Kattelyne and Margareth.
Claudia was living in her yard sheltered by tarps and sheets.

Dr. Kelly Crowdis brought Arbolina, a little lost lady, to us.

Our laundry area. Laundry is done by hand every day for about 35 people including about 12 infants and children in diapers.

The part of our yard where everyone lives and sleeps.

Wilmerson's mother was killed in the quake. His aunt brought him to stay with us for a while.

Earthquake photos and more news

This will be short. It is dark and I must turn off the inverter.

Good news. We had heard that Nerland, a precious little girl who lived with us her first year of life, had been killed in a falling building. Today we learned she is still alive! Oh, thank God!

Claudia needed a ride to the hospital today to get her dressing changed. I drove her to Hopital La Paix and watched the procedure. Ouch! The top of her foot was stripped of skin - it looked like very angry hamburger meat. They cleaned it without any anesthetic: she didn't even get tylenol. She was in agony. There is a long, deep gash running up her shin. By the time it was treated it was too late to sew it. She will have some awful scars. However, she is very glad to be alive. Dayana and the new baby are both fine, no injuries. Praise God they got out of the house!

Bebe saw Dr. Karen today. Her knee isn't broken, just badly bruised and swollen. She is feeling much better. In case you didn't know, she was thrown from a truck when the earthquake hit.

I think I can post a link to my Facebook photos. Please forgive me if it doesn't work and let me know how to fix it. Here is the link to the album Earthquake Haiti 2010. Click here.

January 22 2010 newsletter

Praise God! We found diesel fuel, kerosene, propane and gasoline! The water truck brought 3000 gallons of water to fill our cistern! God is SO good! He promised to provide and He is still doing it. Natasha is taking Marie shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables today.

[Wednesday] A big tremor this morning made me jump out of bed and scurry outside. My big wardrobe shook. I wasn't surprised to learn it was a 6.1 quake though 35 miles outside of Port au Prince and deeper than the first one. The nannies said to me "See, it isn't finished. We cannot sleep inside yet." I don't know how to make them understand what is happening, that it is unpredictable.

We are still feeling aftershocks and Haitian people are still panicking. At the HIV clinic yesterday an aftershock sent people screaming for the stairs. The doctors stopped them before they could harm each other in their rush. Our children and staff are still sleeping outside but our staff are getting braver. They watch Natasha and I look around then go right back to work during an aftershock, then they do the same. I heard Jesula tell another nanny not to worry, God will take us when He's ready and we'll be in heaven. Until then we're okay here.

Good news from the HIV clinic: Johnny's blood test showed his CD4 count very high, a really good thing. We thank God for this precious child.

People ask what we need. At first, thinking only of us for the next few days, I hadn't listed very much stuff. Then we ran out of toilet paper. That's enough to bring you back to reality. For the moment we have what we need. Over the next few weeks we will need everything. We are still finding out what is available on the streets.

We are able to change some money at the gas station. Before the earthquake we got over $8 Haitian for each $1 USD. Now it's only $7 Haitian per $1 USD. Prices have doubled. Christian Light Foundation and Much Ministries brought cash to us so we can buy what we need. We can't thank God enough for providing for us and others here in Haiti.

Violence has not come to our neighborhood: we have only heard about it. In our old neighborhood the citizens formed watch-committees. They beheaded 2 thieves. No mercy is shown for wickedness. What I see the most of is people helping other people.

A family came and said the mother of a 3 month old baby was killed, would we take the baby. We said yes, bring it to us. That was several days ago and they still haven'tcome back. I pray the baby is getting milk made with clean water.

I have been sick - bronchitis, I think. Thank God for azithromycin! Natasha is getting a cold. The kids are starting to cough and run fevers and get stuffy too. Our pediatrician has been helping with relief but will come soon to check our children.

Small groups of civilians are getting in, many thru the Dominican Republic. They have been great help to us and other people in neighborhoods. We have received milk, sardines, tomato paste, diapers, antibiotics, toilet paper, wipes, infant formula, ready to eat meals, cases of Kids Against Hunger meals, and Pop Tarts. Despite great difficulties, God's people have found a way to help others.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your love and prayers. We can only take one day at a time. It is much easier to do with your support. Much love from all of us.

Dorothy Pearce

We are still okay

The aftershock this morning was a little scary but it didn't last long and nothing was damaged. Thank you LORD! We pray for those who were closer to the quake. Surely there was additional damage and loss of life.

Yesterday we found propane, diesel fuel and kerosene. Our water truck is coming today to refill the cistern. Our mechanic Dyno comes by every day to be sure we're okay and see if we need anything. He is coming to start the generator today so we can pump water upstairs and make more drinking water.

Yesterday we took lots of photos while out looking for supplies. I am working to upload some. Most will be on Facebook (easier upload). Just ask to be my friend.

Everyone except me and sometimes Natasha is sleeping outside. Haitians are terrified of going inside buildings, especially sleeping inside. Everyone feels more secure when they are all together. I can't leave the comfort of my bed. It feels wonderful.

Quisqueya Chapel has a medical clinic with doctors and also is doing food distribution. Our nanny Rosie came with her two children yesterday to stay here. Her daughter was injured in the quake, cuts on her foot. The foot is swollen so Natasha took them to the church for care. They aren't back yet (no problem, not gone long enough.)

Richardson, Claudine, Johnny and Emmanuella are all on azithromycin for fever and cough. I just finished a course of it for what I think was bronchitis and am feeling much better. Violent coughing spells leave me weak for a while but only happen a couple of times a day now. Poutchino still has no signs of meningitis --- his fever stopped by itself. Praise God for that too!

I have money but no place to change it into Haitian. PRAY AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF FEAR HERE. IT IS CRIPPLING RECOVERY! We need troops from any country to leave their compounds and guard banks, stores, Western Union offices, etc. so people can resume life.

Blessings! Dorothy

We survived the earthquake

We survived the earthquake, all of us. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!

Amanda, Natasha and I were just arriving at Sacred Heart Hospital (CDTI) near what we think was the strongest area of the quake. Jesula, our nanny who had been with Poutchino at the hospital, was collapsing on the ground outside, in shock. Natasha ran inside for Poutchino. We parked the car. A man carried Jesula to the car. She was frozen with fear.

Hospital patients were brought outside, injured people came in thru the gate. All hospital personnel worked thru the night and next day with barely a break. Amanda and I took turns holding a flashlight for a surgeon stitching wounds and gradually learned how to do more. Natasha had to stay in the car holding Poutchino.

Some people were beyond help: the doctors gave them medicines for pain and treated those they could help. I counted about 40 people who died during the 24 hours we were there, all ages. Security manned the gate, only letting in the injured people that the doctor felt they could help.

Generators lit the parking lot. It seemed like a scene from hell with all the moans and screams and cries for help and the ground covered with injured people and blood. People panicked at every aftershock. Burns were the worst injuries but thankfully few.

Communications were cut off -- no one could find out about the rest of their loved ones. We had to try hard not to imagine the terribles thing that might have happened to our children and staff. Rumors trickled in about the buildings that had crashed. A rumor started that a tsunami was coming and we had to leave.

Heroes were everywhere. Groups of people sang and prayed and praised God for sparing so many. Doctors and nurses barely stopped to rest thru the night and well into the next day. Pain pills and shots were given freely. Every injured person got a shot of ampicillin. I gave shots, too. The hospital emptied its shelves, giving everything they had to help people. The strong carried the weak. Everyone comforted everyone else. People walked around praying for others. Two people scoured the streets for anything that could be used as splints. I am still amazed and glad that I had donated blood just that morning! We saw God working in us and all around us.

We finally were able to leave the hospital Wednesday afternoon, bring Poutchino with us. Collapsed buildings, wrecked and crushed cars, blood and bodies were everywhere. Coming home was such a blessing! No one was injured, the house was intact! Hallelujah! sweet relief!

Praise God we had just received new supplies of antibiotics. We gave most of them plus a lot of gauze and tape, tylenol and ibuprofen, needles, and IV sypplies to a clinic set up in our neighborhood. We had a little bit left over to give to Healing Hands this morning, and sent home some gauze and soap with a nanny for her injured grandmother.

Poutchino definitely had meningitis but there was no more infection by the time the CSF was tested. Considering the chaos at the hospital we brought him home with us. His abdominal pain is completely gone. He can eat again. I give him 1 gram of ceftriaxone every 12 hours hoping to keep the meningitis from returning. Infection could be hiding in his shunt. An operation to remove the shunt would be difficult to get now.

For those of you who know our staff, Claudia's leg is broken and her house destroyed. Jesula and her family are safe but their house was destroyed and they are staying here. Leonne's home was destroyed and she is staying here. Eva's house was destroyed but she has another place to stay. Suzette's house was destroyed: she can't come to work. Rosemanie is fine. Bébé was thrown from a truck during the earthquake and was injured but is doing okay. She was on her way to work the overnight shift. The other ladies who were here took care of everything. They worked very very hard. Our staff is fantastic!

Both of our usual grocery stores, Caribbean and One Stop, were destroyed. We haven't heard what happened to the people inside. Those were the only places we could cash checks. Gas stations arent open yet. We heard that Sherrie Fausey's building partially collapsed and one child was killed. Sherrie and Julie are fine. Karen Bultje and her kids are fine. Nikki, who went to live with Roberta, was killed by a falling wall. Roberta and all other children are okay. Pastor CJ came by this morning to see if we were okay. He said Pastor Leny and his family are okay. Pastor Genada called. They were in Port au Prince during the quake and a block fell on his daughter's leg. They had to go all the way back to Gonaives to get help for her. Karen Bultje is still being an angel of mercy for as long as her diesel fuel holds out: she brought us several cases of pop tarts so we have breakfast for a while. Dottie was temporarily trapped in her house but is okay now. Nickson and Ivens and their families are okay. Deedee, the Boyers and the Olssons are okay. Barb Lataillade's foot was nearly amputated. The U.S. military got her out to Jacksonville, Florida for care. Our pediatrician called to check on us.

Phones are starting to work again but not yet normally. Helicopters are flying overhead all the time, and small planes. The U.S. military is running the airport now. Civilian flights are all canceled. UN police are in charge of security. Not much is seen of Haitian police, I don't know why. I expect, hope, that relief supplies will come in soon. Our biggest concerns at the moment are cooking fuel and water.

We all are fighting shock, trying not to be overwhelmed with grief and horror. I am trying to plan without being overwhelmed with worry. PRAYER AND PRAISES REALLY WORK TO KEEP SPIRIT UP! Remembering what God has already done in protecting and providing for us reassures me that He will continue to provide for our needs. I am so thank Natasha and Amanda were with me at the hospital and that Natasha can stay here for a while to help.

I have heard that maybe 100,000 people died. I can believe it based on what I have seen. I heard that the earthquake was 7.3 on the Richter scale. We need news from outside but please keep emails strictly to news. We have to use our precious supplies of gasoline to get online. Since we have no place to cash checks I have to work with Christian Light Foundation to find a way to get money to us.

Please pray for all of us in Haiti and for all those sending and bringing help.

p.s. Keziah just came by. She's fine too

January 6 2010

21 children from 3 months to 11 years had a wonderful Christmas morning thanks to our many friends. Christmas Day started with the story of Jesus. The children sang happy birthday to Him! Then everyone opened their gifts. It was chaos, total fun! Happy birthday, Jesus!

We turned in early on the 31st and barely heard the fireworks. But we celebrated New Years Day with a traditional meal of Haitian soup jiramou. (Everyone spells that differently: it is pumpkin soup, one of my favorite Haitian meals.)

Moving day is coming soon! The mayor personally came to the house to say part of the house must be removed soon for road widening. The owner called and confirmed that we need to move as soon as possible. I found a new house, just down the street, but need immediately $10,500 for a year's rent payable in advance. It seems impossible but all things are possible with God! Please pray with us for this need to be met so we can move in February.

Poutchino walking is our biggest miracle of the year. Many people have contributed to his improvement over the past 4 years. Nancy Brickell, Kathy Brooks; the neurosurgeons from Miami; Healing Hands; Karen Bultje; Michael Hamm; Natasha Rae Taylor; Casey Nichols; Keziah Furth; Karen McCarthy; the U.S. Navy; Kings Kids; all of our financial supporters; and many, many others who have loved on him and prayed for him and encouraged him. Thank you all!

This is how the body of Christ works: it takes everyone working together, each doing their own part, for the whole church to do what the Lord plans for us.

[1/8/10: Today is Poutchino's 7th birthday. He went into the hospital last night with a severe infection, maybe his shunt, maybe appendicitis. He seemed better this morning but is still in critical condition. We do not have the funds to pay the hospital and surgery. Can you help us?]

Surprise (for me, at least)! Lovensky's latest blood test showed his immune system is in great shape! He won't need AIDS medicines for a while. Praise God!

Another surprise! I think the car's overheating problem is finally fixed with a new water pump. It did really well today. Thank you, Lord, for a great Haitian mechanic! Dyno, though a great mechanic, has not yet decided to become a follower of Jesus. Please pray for him. He is a wonderful young man!

Josue is our 8 month old, now 7 pound, miracle. He really should have had a blood transfusion but it wasn't possible. Despite his severe malnutrition and infections and anemia, he is getting better. How cute to see him smiling and "talking" today.

4 yr old Sonson came in before Christmas. We wanted to build him up for surgery on his clubbed feet. He cannot walk. When our pediatrician did the intake exam he said Sonson's scoliosis is compressing his heart and lungs so he needs surgery for that first. Thank God for our pediatrician! Karen is working on a passport and medical visa.

Blessings!

Dorothy Pearce

Jesus is the reason for Christmas. The children sang happy birthday to Him!

Poutchino can walk! Our Christmas miracle!

The Hollinsheads, their friends and Laurel Ridge Church sent gifts!

Josue Joseph, Christmas 2009

Leika and her father - mutual admiration

Sonson came just before Christmas. He had tons of fun!

Gerdeline and Emmanuella Christmas morning

"And now, these three remain: faith, hope, and love.

But the greatest of these is LOVE."

I Corinthians 13:13