My, oh, my, how time flies. I wish I had magical powers to slow it down. Since the last blog I've done some construction work and helped out at the City Soleil health clinic.
We spent one day building the walls and windows of a house for a family currently living in a tent. When I get home I promise to upload photos from the before and after. It's incredible to see the hand of God in something as simple as giving a family a safe and solid roof over there head. I was moved by the following verse that day.
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. (Isaiah 58:12b NIV)
What a joy it is to join with the Lord's work in the lives of these Haitians! This is the kind of stuff that makes my heart sing!
The past three days Katy and I have been working with an awesome team from Raleigh, North Carolina at the newly built HOM medical clinic. We tagged along just hoping to observe how everything works and soon found ourselves plugged into some of the action. Most would say we had the least desirable job however I have enjoyed every minute of it. We were put in charge of doing all the urine analysis, blood sugar, and pregnancy testing. I now consider myself a professional urine analyzer seeing as how I've completed over 200 and the week is not over yet!
This week has been a struggle emotionally. To see people in such dire need of medical care is heart wrenching, especially knowing that some of the ailments could be prevented by basic health education and access to medications. On Tuesday, we sent 4 people straight to the hospital they were so unstable. Sadly, we still don't know how they are, but trust God with their lives.
One child we saw had hydrocephalus and his head was very enlarged. In America this can be fixed by running a shunt from the brain to the stomach to decrease the fluid build up around the brain. But in Haiti without the financial resources this child won't be helped, and even if finances weren't an issue finding a doctor who can perform the surgery would be difficult also.
The thing that really tugged on my heart strings would be telling the women they were pregnant. Tears were shed on both their part and mine. I can't imagine all the thoughts running through their heads about how they would care for the child, feed the child, and I'm sure millions more. With each new positive pregnancy test I pleaded with the Lord for joy, peace, and rest to reign the hearts of the mom and that she be free from anxiety about the upcoming birth of her child. I know God specifically orchestrated that woman to be the momma of the child in her womb and has great plans for the life of that precious baby.
On Tuesday the pediatrician as saw one little boy that was dehydrated. A nurse, his mother, and I tried to get fluids into his little body with a syringe one drop at a time. Only to have him throw it all up 30 minutes later. The pediatrician sent the mom home with fluids and instructed her to continue throughout that night to give him liquids and if he didn't get better to take him to the hospital the next morning. Praise be to God about 8:30 the next morning the mom and her little boy showed up at our clinic and he was doing much better and the mom came to tell the doctor and say thank you. It was neat to see some follow up because the majority of the week the the doctors see the patient give them anywhere from 3 to 6 medications and off they go.
About to go on an motorcycle adventure around Port Au Prince, so until next time.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Heavy Heart
Our first full day in Haiti was spent at the compound. This is abnormal seeing as how we usually are painting or doing heavy construction work. For the entire day Katy and I worked with some members on a team from New Jersey. They brought down almost 100 laptops and were installing software on each of them so that they have basic programs, tutorials on how to use them, and Rosetta Stone. The school lunchroom is where we set up shop and downloaded away! From about 10 to 1 chitter chatter filled the room. Kids were so curious about the computers, any chance they got they would sneak back and take a peep before they were scolded by their teacher. The day looked very different than most days in Haiti but it was neat to see a different side of making an impact. Education and especially English are very valuable in Haiti. We were giving them in a very small way hope and a future. This is what I live to be a part of, something greater than myself!
After dinner that night I walked down stairs to spend time with the Pierre's, a sweet family that lives below us at the compound. There are 2 girls about my age that I love spending time with, Yslande and Jean Darling. During clean up I took dishes downstairs and I know that the girls wash them. My desire is to live life with the Haitian people just as I would with my friends and those I care about at home. So off to washing Yslande and I went. Washing dishes in Haiti as you can imagine is VERY different but I loved it! While washing them I learned 4 Creole words (yes 4 was my max!) and she taught me a worship song! Such a moment of great joy because this was a small piece of what heaven will look like. all the saints praising God together no matter where they are from or what color their skin. Oh how I long for heaven!
Today we joined the team at construction sites. Roofing was the main objective; however, since we had extra hands the girls got to love on the children. Today I held a 1 month old that has increased tone throughout her entire body, a 6 month old that I will tell you more about in a moment, and 2 sweet little girls. One girl about 3 years old fell asleep in my arms. Precious. And I danced with quite a few more children. I spun them around in circles and told the, they are princesses because I wanted them to know that they are princesses of the Most High King!
Now back to the 6 month old. This was a little boy with just a dress on. Yep a boy in a dress. Itsall they had. While holding him I did learn a Haitian wives tale. If a little boy urinates on you it's good luck and if a little girl urinates on you it's bad luck. Well thankfully no one urinated on me and so apparently I have no luck and I'm quite okay with that:) Now for the reason I have a heavy heart. This sweet little boy's mom through translator asked if she could sell him to me. WHAT? I mean you hear of things like this happening but still I didn't believe this actually happens. The mom went on to explain that the child's father was no where to be found, her mother died in the earthquake, she doesn't have a job, she isn't educated, she's hungry and so is her child. Like I said earlier I've heard stories such as these but experience this in real life will permanently change me. The translator said that she is one of many in Haiti like this. And yes my heart is for Haiti, but I'd be crazy to think that it was just here, y'all its all over the world. People in such need and poverty that they can only feed their infants once a day simply because they aren't nourished enough to produce more breastmilk. Of course I told this mom I wouldn't buy her baby and that she should never sell him, but that I would pray and as God to provide for her and her son. I reminded her of the truth from God's word that says "ask and you shall receive whatever you need." I fully believe in this truth. Please join me in this prayer. For this particular mom and all the others in the world in her same position.
I'll leave you with this thought which I also gathered from the New Jersey team's devotion our first night.
How are you using your position of privilege to help others?
My first thought was the privilege of all the stuff we have. Then of course there is the privilege of simply being born in America. BUT our true privilges as believers is the salvation, and through that, the grace of God in our lives. So what about you? How are you using your privilges to help others? If you can't answer that question I challenge you to make a resolution as to how to answer it and see the impact it will make in your life!
After dinner that night I walked down stairs to spend time with the Pierre's, a sweet family that lives below us at the compound. There are 2 girls about my age that I love spending time with, Yslande and Jean Darling. During clean up I took dishes downstairs and I know that the girls wash them. My desire is to live life with the Haitian people just as I would with my friends and those I care about at home. So off to washing Yslande and I went. Washing dishes in Haiti as you can imagine is VERY different but I loved it! While washing them I learned 4 Creole words (yes 4 was my max!) and she taught me a worship song! Such a moment of great joy because this was a small piece of what heaven will look like. all the saints praising God together no matter where they are from or what color their skin. Oh how I long for heaven!
Today we joined the team at construction sites. Roofing was the main objective; however, since we had extra hands the girls got to love on the children. Today I held a 1 month old that has increased tone throughout her entire body, a 6 month old that I will tell you more about in a moment, and 2 sweet little girls. One girl about 3 years old fell asleep in my arms. Precious. And I danced with quite a few more children. I spun them around in circles and told the, they are princesses because I wanted them to know that they are princesses of the Most High King!
Now back to the 6 month old. This was a little boy with just a dress on. Yep a boy in a dress. Itsall they had. While holding him I did learn a Haitian wives tale. If a little boy urinates on you it's good luck and if a little girl urinates on you it's bad luck. Well thankfully no one urinated on me and so apparently I have no luck and I'm quite okay with that:) Now for the reason I have a heavy heart. This sweet little boy's mom through translator asked if she could sell him to me. WHAT? I mean you hear of things like this happening but still I didn't believe this actually happens. The mom went on to explain that the child's father was no where to be found, her mother died in the earthquake, she doesn't have a job, she isn't educated, she's hungry and so is her child. Like I said earlier I've heard stories such as these but experience this in real life will permanently change me. The translator said that she is one of many in Haiti like this. And yes my heart is for Haiti, but I'd be crazy to think that it was just here, y'all its all over the world. People in such need and poverty that they can only feed their infants once a day simply because they aren't nourished enough to produce more breastmilk. Of course I told this mom I wouldn't buy her baby and that she should never sell him, but that I would pray and as God to provide for her and her son. I reminded her of the truth from God's word that says "ask and you shall receive whatever you need." I fully believe in this truth. Please join me in this prayer. For this particular mom and all the others in the world in her same position.
I'll leave you with this thought which I also gathered from the New Jersey team's devotion our first night.
How are you using your position of privilege to help others?
My first thought was the privilege of all the stuff we have. Then of course there is the privilege of simply being born in America. BUT our true privilges as believers is the salvation, and through that, the grace of God in our lives. So what about you? How are you using your privilges to help others? If you can't answer that question I challenge you to make a resolution as to how to answer it and see the impact it will make in your life!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Happy Happy Joy Joy
Those words practically sum up me today. I'm beyond excited to be back on Haiti. I love this place! As the plane landed I was repeating to myself "I'm in Haiti! I'm in Haiti! I'm in Haiti!" (in my head of course). It has been far to long since I have been in this place that I love so much!
For some humor and to tell you how terrible I am at packing, I have a little story. To preface this story I must say that I've spent the past 6 days between 3 cities and living out of 6 bags. I was standing in airport security and thinking through what I brought. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, of all things in the world to forget on such a trip as this, I forgot both my Bible and journal. Major uh-oh! But praise God that He sent the Holy Spirit that lives within me and counsels me from day to day! I also have a feeling I will be very thankful for the scriptures I have hidden in my heart throughout my life during this trip! As for a journal, Haiti thankfully has paper and maybe I'll get lucky and find a spare Bible!
The last trip I made down was in October 2010, so in a year LOTS has changed. The airport actually has a decorated covering where you walk to meet the people picking you up. There are colorful signs that welcome you to Haiti. So far we've had different tap tap drivers. Part of one main road that we travel has actually been filled with bricks and the road is actually smooth (which is rarely in Haiti). The staff at HOM (Haiti Outreach Ministries) has changed. The compound we stay in has changed. The major change we have noticed is less tents lining the streets as you drive through town! Now dont get me wrong, tents still exist but in a smaller quantity! Praise God! But with all of these changes I see progress in this nation. So exciting to see people no longer living under cloth and canvas but rather brick that can shield then from the scorching heat and pouring rain.
One thing that hasn't changed is the people. They are beautiful! The children are precious! Clinging to you and asking for your name along with a balloon of some chocolate of course. As we arrived at the compound children surrounded us, speaking LOTS of Creole which might as well be jibberish to me. They touch our skin, they ask our names, and are excited to see us! So welcoming! We've also been able to see some of our friends both young and old women who live within the compound. One of the sweet ladies even gave us a little rice and beans which I was excited about. There is nothing in the world like Haitian rice and beans. They are soooooo good!
Katy and I are about to go meet with the medical director for HOM for the first time. We're super excited about how the Lord's going to show up on this trip and make His will and plans known to us! Please pray for our hearts and ears to be constantly open to all that He has to speak to us!
Blessings to y'all from Haiti!
For some humor and to tell you how terrible I am at packing, I have a little story. To preface this story I must say that I've spent the past 6 days between 3 cities and living out of 6 bags. I was standing in airport security and thinking through what I brought. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, of all things in the world to forget on such a trip as this, I forgot both my Bible and journal. Major uh-oh! But praise God that He sent the Holy Spirit that lives within me and counsels me from day to day! I also have a feeling I will be very thankful for the scriptures I have hidden in my heart throughout my life during this trip! As for a journal, Haiti thankfully has paper and maybe I'll get lucky and find a spare Bible!
The last trip I made down was in October 2010, so in a year LOTS has changed. The airport actually has a decorated covering where you walk to meet the people picking you up. There are colorful signs that welcome you to Haiti. So far we've had different tap tap drivers. Part of one main road that we travel has actually been filled with bricks and the road is actually smooth (which is rarely in Haiti). The staff at HOM (Haiti Outreach Ministries) has changed. The compound we stay in has changed. The major change we have noticed is less tents lining the streets as you drive through town! Now dont get me wrong, tents still exist but in a smaller quantity! Praise God! But with all of these changes I see progress in this nation. So exciting to see people no longer living under cloth and canvas but rather brick that can shield then from the scorching heat and pouring rain.
One thing that hasn't changed is the people. They are beautiful! The children are precious! Clinging to you and asking for your name along with a balloon of some chocolate of course. As we arrived at the compound children surrounded us, speaking LOTS of Creole which might as well be jibberish to me. They touch our skin, they ask our names, and are excited to see us! So welcoming! We've also been able to see some of our friends both young and old women who live within the compound. One of the sweet ladies even gave us a little rice and beans which I was excited about. There is nothing in the world like Haitian rice and beans. They are soooooo good!
Katy and I are about to go meet with the medical director for HOM for the first time. We're super excited about how the Lord's going to show up on this trip and make His will and plans known to us! Please pray for our hearts and ears to be constantly open to all that He has to speak to us!
Blessings to y'all from Haiti!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Family Vacay
Since I began college, my parents have taken my sister and I on a vacation each year at Christmas. My mom says she kidnaps us so that my parents can see us rather than us spending the break running around with friends. I must say she is quite clever and we sure don't complain!
This years destination was Treasure Cay on the Grand Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Yep, that's a lot of words. Needless to say, it was AWESOME. Treasure Cay was very secluded. Only a few restaurants, but in my opinion, the world's most BEAUTIFUL water.
The week was filled with long walks on the beach, major relaxation time, and LOTS of reading (particularly because it was cold two days). While I'm on the book subject. I have 2 MUST READS! The first being Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman and Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. Both of these incredible women are Nashville natives. I guess I was raised in a great place, although I'm still partial to Birmingham! If you were buying the books from me I would put a money-back guarantee on them, I'm just that confident you will love them! Check them out.
The last two days we had some Fun in the Sun! Out to the ocean we went. First we stopped for a little bit of fishing. We caught some Snapper, Yellow tail, and a Sucker fish. That night we ate our "catches of the day". DELISH! Pics are below but I must tell you about the dead gum sucker fish! I waited for at least 30 minutes to get him. He was about 2 feet below the surface and circled at the bait nibbling forever, BUT, nonetheless, I finally snagged him!
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Sucker Fish
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| Snapper |
The next day my dad, sister, and I went scuba diving. This is a hobby that we have all newly acquired within the last few years. Adrienne and I got certified in August, so it was fun to take our first official dives. During our two dives I was in awe of God's creation. To think about the intricate geometric shapes of every coral reef and the color of the fish just testifies to the fact that our God cares about the details! And if He cares about the details 60 feet below the sea, how much more does He care about the details of each of our lives.
My sweet family the last night at dinner
Next stop: Haiti!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Dreams really do come true!
A chapter has ended and only the Lord knows what's next! Honestly, that brings both fear and excitement to me. Fear because I'm naturally a control freak (praise God He's refining that part of me) and excitement because my prayers are being answered. My prayer being that He write the story of my life and that my one small life brings Him LOTS of glory!
A lot has changed in my life since the beginning on November. I completed my internship in Los Angeles, returned to the south (a place of comfort for me), studied and -praise the Lord- passed the hardest test of my life, spent a month in Birmingham (a place I like to call my home), graduated from graduate school, and then moved back to Nashville until I find a job.
These changes have been smooth, much to my surprise. If you asked my mother, I DON'T like change; BUT, the Lord has been so gracious to me through all of this.
Now that I've wandered off from the point of this post, so let's get back to the first sentence....a chapter ended. I will no longer have the role (yes, all my OT friends will like that use of the word) of being a student. As graduation approached, many people said congratulations, I'm or we're so proud of you. To tell you the truth I appreciated their kind words, but kind of laughed. You see, the way I looked at it, I was just glad to be done! I will be "proud" of myself when the Lord is glorified by my life in far greater ways than earning a Masters degree.
During my graduation ceremony, the Lord spoke so sweetly to me. He said Tori this is a DREAM COME TRUE. I sat there in awe and amazed. That was so true. As a reflected, I remembered the night I decided (at this point I didn't recognize this as a calling of the Lord on my life, but merely a career decision I myself made-praise Him again for changing my perspective!). In 10th grade, I sat in my best friends living room floor and was talking to her mom. I told Mrs. Babbi that I wanted to work with children with special needs (yes OT friends you are once again welcome for my proper usage of "person first" language- I think Linda would be proud!). Since she was a speech pathologist and had worked with them, I asked her what my options were. She told me speech pathologist, special education teacher, and occupational therapist. After some discussion (which I won't bore you with) I decided I wanted to be an occupational therapist!
From that moment on, I never changed my mind about what I wanted to "be". This makes me laugh because now as the Lord has dramatically changed me heart, I know that I will "be"/am much,much more than the profession I have chosen! Anywho, it amazes me that I have never changed my mind. I am a very indecisive person. I cant even decide what to wear to dinner with friends, much less a profession. But praise the Lord he is greater than my indecision!
Graduation was a sweet, sweet day. One chapter closed but the Lord reminded me that He has so faithfully carried me through the past 8 years and that He has even GREATER things in store for the next 8! I have great expectation and confidence in what He has before me. Now, I have the opportunity to as Psalm 27:14 says "Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage, wait for the Lord!" As I opened my bible to to find this verse, which has been on my heart for a while, next to it I had written provision for 2012. I'm not sure when this was written, but AMEN to the Lord so faithfully providing!
A lot has changed in my life since the beginning on November. I completed my internship in Los Angeles, returned to the south (a place of comfort for me), studied and -praise the Lord- passed the hardest test of my life, spent a month in Birmingham (a place I like to call my home), graduated from graduate school, and then moved back to Nashville until I find a job.
These changes have been smooth, much to my surprise. If you asked my mother, I DON'T like change; BUT, the Lord has been so gracious to me through all of this.
Now that I've wandered off from the point of this post, so let's get back to the first sentence....a chapter ended. I will no longer have the role (yes, all my OT friends will like that use of the word) of being a student. As graduation approached, many people said congratulations, I'm or we're so proud of you. To tell you the truth I appreciated their kind words, but kind of laughed. You see, the way I looked at it, I was just glad to be done! I will be "proud" of myself when the Lord is glorified by my life in far greater ways than earning a Masters degree.
During my graduation ceremony, the Lord spoke so sweetly to me. He said Tori this is a DREAM COME TRUE. I sat there in awe and amazed. That was so true. As a reflected, I remembered the night I decided (at this point I didn't recognize this as a calling of the Lord on my life, but merely a career decision I myself made-praise Him again for changing my perspective!). In 10th grade, I sat in my best friends living room floor and was talking to her mom. I told Mrs. Babbi that I wanted to work with children with special needs (yes OT friends you are once again welcome for my proper usage of "person first" language- I think Linda would be proud!). Since she was a speech pathologist and had worked with them, I asked her what my options were. She told me speech pathologist, special education teacher, and occupational therapist. After some discussion (which I won't bore you with) I decided I wanted to be an occupational therapist!
From that moment on, I never changed my mind about what I wanted to "be". This makes me laugh because now as the Lord has dramatically changed me heart, I know that I will "be"/am much,much more than the profession I have chosen! Anywho, it amazes me that I have never changed my mind. I am a very indecisive person. I cant even decide what to wear to dinner with friends, much less a profession. But praise the Lord he is greater than my indecision!
Graduation was a sweet, sweet day. One chapter closed but the Lord reminded me that He has so faithfully carried me through the past 8 years and that He has even GREATER things in store for the next 8! I have great expectation and confidence in what He has before me. Now, I have the opportunity to as Psalm 27:14 says "Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage, wait for the Lord!" As I opened my bible to to find this verse, which has been on my heart for a while, next to it I had written provision for 2012. I'm not sure when this was written, but AMEN to the Lord so faithfully providing!
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