School Time!

Six little boys joined Rosa, Claudine and Johnny in going to the International Missions Outreach school in our neighborhood. They adore school! They love their uniforms and fancy new shoes. And lunchboxes. And backpacks! Their school costs $25 SD per month and every child already has a sponsor. God is so good to these little guys.

It took several tries to get pictures of the kids. Have you ever tried to herd cats? It's much easier than getting kids to stop for pictures!

IMO is a Christian school where the kids will learn the Bible and all about God as they learn to read and write. All of the staff are Haitian. The kids are taught in Haitian Kreyol and in French. They will learn English later. Imagine, they'll be tri-lingual in elementary school! I have to admit that they are really, really smart.

Thank you, Katie Benner!

Katie Benner graduated from college in 2010 and came to live and work at FHLIR from September until March, 2011. Before she came, I barely remembered her from a visit to the orphanage a couple of years earlier. I wondered what it would be like to have her, a virtual stranger, living in the bedroom next to mine. We were going from strangers to housemates in a foreign country.

Wasn't a problem! Katie belonged with us from the day she got off the plane! The kids adore her as she adores them. She added so much joy to our home. Art projects and games and movies and popcorn and crafts and so much attention. Our kids, as all orphanage kids everywhere, are starved for all of these things. Katie brought them in abundance and wrapped everything in love.

She brought her mom, then her dad, her friends and her pastor and his wife to visit us, too, and enlarged our circle of friends.

It was time for Katie to leave in March. We all were sad to see her leave. We will never forget her. But, Katie, we wish you the best in the rest of your life. We sure hope it includes lots of living in Haiti and visits to FHLIR! We love you!

[I haven't written about Katie leaving before because I wasn't ready to face it yet, she is missed so much. Other young ladies have come before and each one has a special place in our hearts forever: Natasha Rae Taylor Jovin and Casey Nichols were fulltime assistants like Katie. Keziah Furth and Dannae Pasculli lived with us and were part of the household. We hope to have other young people come stay from time to time to further enrich the kids' lives.]

"Another Miracle!" -or- "He Can Walk!!!!!"

LOOK! Youvendgy is walking, all by himself! He was 3 years old in February, and now he can walk. Thank you, Father God!

Youvendgy came to us in August and went straight into the hospital. [see August post] He was treated for anemia, sickle cell crisis, tuberculosis and malnutrition. When he was younger both legs were broken, at different times I think. His legs and buttocks were SO weak! He scooted on his bottom, couldn't walk or even stand alone.

What a difference a few months of love and good nutrition can make. So maybe it's not an instant miracle of the "Get up and walk" type, but it's miraculous just the same. Where would this little guy be if Laura Lynn "Lala" Nichols hadn't found him and tried to help. She didn't even give up when his mother threatened to kill him. Lala found an official who had the authority and the heart to give Lala temporary custody so she could find help for Youvendgy.

And what brought Lala to Haiti and to the village of Jubilee in Gonaives? God. And who started, funds and runs Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue? God. HE took time from running the universe to intervene in Youvendgy's life. Just because HE loves him. Just like HE loves you, and me, and everyone else.

Praise God and glory hallelujah!

Michilove Noel - My HERO!

Mich was grinning as we left the dentist's office yesterday, February 2nd, after his 5th visit. Why? "He didn't pull any teeth!" I'm not surprised: at his last 3 visits over the last 3 weeks, 6 teeth have been pulled. Some were broken off and not easy to remove. It was very hard on Mich.

Mich has lived with us since shortly after the earthquake last January. His mother is very poor. When we first saw Mich in 2007 he was extremely malnourished. His bones and teeth were affected.

The only time he cried in fear since coming here was the night before his first major tests at school in December. Once I assured him that we don't beat children for bad grades he was fine. Heartbreaking that a child would expect abuse for less than perfect performance but that is not uncommon in Haiti!

Speaking of school, Mich is in first grade at a Christian school nearby. In this country where less than half of all children go to school, ever, that is amazing. More amazing is how seriously he takes his schooling. We often see him working on his lessons with the nannies.

Despite all the hard knocks Mich has faced in his life he faces every difficulty with a courage that blows me away. How many 14 yr old boys would go to the dentist knowing that several teeth were going to be pulled without a word of complaint! I think I would whine at the very least.

Mich's courage blows me away but God's care for him is even more awesome. The great Lord God of the universe saw this little boy in Haiti and had me leave a good job and home to come to Haiti to help him. Praise the Lord!

Dr. Mondestin explains to Mich what is going to happen and why.

Mich gets his teeth cleaned for the first time in his life at his first dentist's

visit on Jan 6, 2011.

Dr. Mondestin is also trained in orthodontics

Mich's teeth were damaged by malnutrition. Here is a copy of his dental treatment plan.

Despite everything, Mich has a smile that proclaims his joy in life

Mich's ribcage was dangerously narrow

Mich had 21 badly healed broken bones

Mich July 2007, 10 yrs old

Leila Paul Dec 2005 - Jan 2011

"We have a 5 yr old girl who has been in the hospital for 2 months" said Mdm Phadael, the social worker at the HIV clinic where our children are treated. "Would you take her home with you when she is released?" I was hesitant. We take babies and small children. Older children have different needs. Brenda and I agreed to see her. We walked into the hospital room and fell in love. Yes, we agreed to take her.

Leila and her mom came home with us on November 17th along with 15 prescription medicines to treat AIDS, tuberculosis and a heart problem. Leila's mom signed her over to us without any visible emotion. Leila showed no emotion when her mom left. Sad, we thought.

We grew to love Leila with her silky hair, gentle ways and elfin smile. We noticed she had trouble walking due to pain in her legs and pelvis and back. The doctor commented that she had been really sick. In December she started having stomach pain, so much so that the doctor prescribed a medicine containing phenobarbital. It didn't help much. After another couple of weeks she started having fever every day. We took her to the clinic several times. The doctor came to our house. Tests were run, antibiotics prescribed. Her appetite failed.

On Sunday, January the 9th, she wouldn't even take fluids. The doctor came to the house and sent us to the emergency room. While waiting to be admitted, she died in the nanny's arms. I couldn't believe it when they called me with the news. The doctors were also surprised. The week after her death we learned that Leila's white blood count was only 830. A low normal count is around 4000. Her immune system had failed.

Leila lives with her heavenly Father now. She is free of all pain and sickness. She knows HIS love in a way we back on earth cannot comprehend. I miss her - we all do - but I wouldn't bring her back for anything. Thank you, LORD, for allowing this precious child to be in our lives and for the opportunity to give her unconditional love in her final days on earth.