Monday, January 25, 2010

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.

Friday, January 22, 2010

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

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

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

Friday, January 15, 2010

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

Saturday, January 9, 2010

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