Nutritional Differences and Orphanage Visit

Today on our Haiti expedition, we toured the Arcahaie Market and Bercy Orphanage. The market was explained to us as "a flea market on steroids" and was an outdoor area covered by tarps, tents, and fabric. The crowded market area included goods, such as toiletries, clothing, charcoal, dried foods, and raw meat. The meat sold was unpackaged and left on tables that were exposed to heat, insects, animals, and customers.
We also saw various vegetables and spices like corn, carrots, eggplants, plantains, garlic, and ginger roots. These items were sold regardless of their quality. These foods posed a potential health problem to the buyers related to the unsanitary conditions. Overall, the market was a wonderful window allowing us to view the Haitian way of life. Next we visited the Bercy Orphanage which housed fifty-one children; in each room resides six to eight occupants. We gave the kids gifts and played with them.
Lifeline feeds these children and helps with clothing them. They attend school and their ages range from two months to twenty-one. Generally the children were healthy and happy. This particular orphanage would be considered one of the better Haitian orphanages; however, in the United States it might be categorized as unacceptable, or substandard.



-Nursing team

Nursing Team Blog 2

Our experiences with pediatric patients in the U.S. have been very limited in our nursing career. Pediatric patients in the U.S. are more hyper and not as cooperative verses the children in Haiti.
The pediatric patients we have encountered in Haiti have been extremely respectful and very
thankful for every service we provided, regardless how small. The children were very excited and rejoiced in songs and chants when we approached the school. The school even paid us for our services in food, which is a huge payment for their condition. The food consisted of an egg
sandwich with lettuce and ketchup with a spicy kick. Some common problems we encountered
were fungal infections, scabies, hypertension, and small wounds related to falls. The services
we provided included blood pressure screenings, pulse rates, respiratory assessment, and a
brief head-to-toe assessment. Each child and teacher received multivitamins and antiparasitics.
The experience was overwhelming but yet one of the most rewarding experiences that we may
ever have. While we were there we saw so much grief that some of the team members chose a
child to sponsor. For example, two different children, brothers, were chosen to be sponsored.
The brothers had lost both parents in the earthquake and have been living with the school
director.

Created by: Hannah Adkins, Steven Cornett, and Evan Bennett.

Nursing Team Blog 1

We arrived in Haiti Wednesday, instantly we realized things were going to be different than in
the USA. We soon found that communication was going to be one struggle we would have
to face. At home, we are used to picking up a land line or cell phone anytime we need to
talk to someone. Even when we are bored at home we can pick up our laptop and go to a
social networking site to chat without ever getting off the couch. That is definitely not the case
here in Haiti. First thing this morning there were Haitians on the porch of the mission house
seeking medical treatment. They had no way of getting in touch with anyone other than to
just come to us and ask for help the best they knew how. Of course the language barrier was
automatically an issue, but thanks to an interpreter we were able to efficiently deliver care.

Tabbetha Loan, Keshia Rowe, Jessica Drake

Team Trips

Today the North Carolina team left and a team of nurses from Kentucky came in. We're looking forward to doing clinics with the nurses this week and helping as many people as we can!

Coming to Haiti on a short term mission trip is a great way to be a part of something life-changing! Here at Lifeline you will be given the opportunity to see first hand the work that God is doing among the Haitian people. We'd love for you to join us for a week. While you're here you'll be able to touch the lives of so many of these hurting children. For more information on how you can come and be a part of a mission trip, email us at missionlifeline@bellsouth.net.

Caleb's Blog

Today was our last day in Haiti. Just the thought of having to leave tomorrow made us realize how much we have fallen in love with this place and the people here. We knew that the beach was going to be a blast but before we headed out we had to make one quick stop to Barbancourt to see the facilities.

However, God had a little more in store for us. As we walked through Barbancourt we began hearing music in the distance which turned out to be a worship service. None of us expected this surprised gathering but when we encountered it, we knew that it was something extraordinary. Everyone, Haitian and American joined together to sing and pray to our Lord Jesus Christ. This moment was such a blessing that only God knew was going to happen.

The original plan was to visit Barbancourt on Monday, but right before leaving Donald made the decision to do it before heading to the beach. I truly believe God meant for us to make this trip today because he knew what was going to happen today. We were so blessed to witness a Haitian revival where many were led to Christ, and where many prayers were lifted up in faith that God will provide for his people.

This past week has been a blessing to the local Haitians with our presence. However, looking back on this we feel that as a group we’ve been blessed even more by there willingness to make the best of all situations. Whether it’s hiking up a mountain that could range from one hour to two, or possibly receiving a single meal for the day, or even just being able to socialize with our team, in the end, we know that we are still brothers in Christ together.

Motorcycle Accident

A man walked in through the gate tonight and right away we knew something was wrong. I saw that his foot was bleeding very badly.

Immediately I took him to the clinic where two women from the North Carolina team were able to provide him with medical attention.

As I was just getting him set down, two more men came walking in with injuries and in need of help. There had been a head-on collision with two motorcycles.

Motorcycles are one of the main forms of transportation but are also one of the most dangerous. The roads here in our village aren’t smooth paved roads like they are in the States; they’re rocky, rough, and full of danger. We see many motorcycle accidents here at Lifeline. Praise the Lord these men were safe!

Lena's Blog

Another day in Haiti has come to a satisfying end. A Haitian church service is an experience never forgotten. Listening to Sunday school as you get ready for the service gets your day off to a great start. Haitians have a love for music that knows no bounds. Not understanding the songs can be a little disheartening but recognizing the music inspires you to sing along. Having a pastor from a group preach the sermon made me breathe a sigh of relief because I would be able to understand at least part of the service. Almost immediately after the service we went to the dam for my baptism.

Being baptized in Haiti will be a life long memory I can always look back on with great fondness. As we made our way to the river, the local congregation sang songs for us. What a wonderful experience this has become.

Going from such uplifting moments to depressing sights, our crew went on a ride through Port-au-Prince to see the destruction left by the earthquake. We were able to see the presidential palace and a few of the buildings that were turned into rubble. Between the highs and lows of our day, our hosts have kept us fed with great food. All in all I would say that we have received many blessings and made some great memories!

Jessica's blog

I was given the honor of writing the blog for today. I am a photographer and am able to express myself and my experiences through my photos. I realize now how hard it is to put your life experiences into words, especially those in Haiti. I came last year and loved every minute of it! However the week was definitely not long enough. By the time I had adjusted to the culture, started to make connections with the people and just beginning to work it was time to go home. Now being blessed to return this year I am more eager than ever to give all that I can in this short amount of time I am here. So far this week has been amazing. It is the most wonderful feeling when you smile as your eyes meet the eyes of a village person and the most joyous smile spreads across their face in return. It is during moments like that when I am astonished at how much you can connect with a person who you do not know without saying a word. Even though there is the language barrier separating you from most of the people you find all sorts of ways to communicate. Yesterday we got the opportunity to climb "Mathew's Mountain" to pass out love bundles to some school children.

I was really excited at first but because we got started late, the sun got hot fast and it wasn't long before I was drenched in sweat and ready to turn around. I have to say though it was so worth it once we reached the top and got to over look the stretch of land and sea that lay below us. The kids were so thrilled and thankful as we got to pass the love bundles out. You really see how much impact those small acts of love have on them.
Today I got to see the wonderful hands of the nurses that came with our group stitch up a small boy's head. He had fallen off a donkey and gashed his head to the skull. It is so awesome that these village people have quality medical facilities to go to.
God has truly blessed this mission and the people who are involved, everyone is ready to lend a hand and always wears a smile that reflects God's light in them. It is a place I find hard to leave behind. Before I left on my trip for this week I had many people ask why I would even want to go return to Haiti, that there was nothing there, especially after the earthquake. It's simple really, Haiti is with out a doubt a cursed land with hardly anything to offer someone like me but I don't return because I fell in love with the land, I return because I fell in love with the people. They are a people with extremely large hearts and are my family in Christ.

North Carolina Short Term Mission Trip

We've had a wonderful team from North Carolina here with us these past few days. They've been a great help to us!! They've done everything from giving someone stitches to playing soccer with the locals to fixing the swing set for the school children to handing out love bundles. It's always great to have short term mission teams working with us. To find more information about coming to Haiti on a short term mission trip, visit out website at childrenslifeline.com!

Machete Accident

Last night Lifeline worked as an ambulance once again. A man named Nono came to us with a machete cut. He had a towel wrapped around his hand and we weren’t able to see how bad the injury was. Once he removed the towel we knew immediately that he needed stitches. His thumb had been cut almost off.

Nono had been working outside with his machete when he tripped on something and fell. As he fell he sliced his thumb. We rushed him to one hospital where we were told they couldn’t do stitches. So then we had to go to another hospital.

By the time we got there he had lost a lot of blood and was in serious need of medical attention. The staff there took him in right away and began working on him. He received 9 stitches and also needed an IV. Praise the Lord they were able to save his thumb!

God's protection!

We have canals that run through our village here in La Digue. The canals are a part of everyday life. They use the canals to bathe in and wash their clothes; they drink the water and cook with the water.

At some places the water moves very quickly and can be very dangerous. After it rains the water rushes even more strongly.

On Sunday a woman shared about her baby. She told us that she had gone to Port-au-Prince and left her children at home with someone. One of her children, a small boy only one and a half years old was playing by the canal when he fell in! He was drug by the water down the canal a ways before someone was able to rescue him. Praise God he was safe. The boy survived with only a few scratches on his little body. When the woman shared in church she cried as she praised God for his faithfulness in sparing her sons life. She knows that life along the canal can sometimes be very dangerous so she was beyond grateful to be holding her son in her arms as she shared her testimony.

Jesse

Jesse is a sweet old man from our village that comes to Lifeline everyday to eat at the canteen and sometimes for medical attention. He moved down here from the mountains years ago and doesn’t have any family. The past week he has been very sick. He went to the clinic but he never got better. Yesterday we went to see him and he had a high fever and wasn’t doing well at all. Today when we went to visit him after church we found that he had only gotten worse and his body was shaking. We knew he had to be rushed to the hospital. On the way there, we weren’t sure if he was going to make it. Praise the Lord we made it to the hospital and he was able to be seen. They ran some tests and turns out he has typhoid fever. We’re so grateful that the doctors were able to diagnose him and can begin treatment. Please keep Jesse in your prayers!!

Child Sponsorship

50% of school age children in Haiti are not in school. It’s mostly due to the cost. Many families just do not have enough money to send their kids to school. Thankfully Lifeline has a child sponsorship program.

For only $20 a month you can sponsor a child and provide them with an education, food and help with medical care. Most of us spend more then that a month on Starbucks drinks! A few days ago Sue Miller was able to see the children she sponsors and bless them with a few gifts in person.

She was excited to see her girls and see where her money has been going. The girls were equally excited to meet the woman who makes it possible for them to receive their education!

What a great way to spend our money on something that has lasting effects. For more information on how you can make a difference in a child’s life, email missionlifeline@bellsouth.net.

Roseland

Her name is Roseland. She's sixteen years old and she weighs 50 pounds. She's severely malnourished.
She came to us for help and now Lifeline is partnering with her to help her save her life! Everyday she now comes to us for care and treatment. She's been like this for a really long time, but we're believing for her healing. We'll have continual updates on her condition. Please pray with us!!

Teachers Seminar

We all have memories of a favorite teacher from our younger school days. A common thread among teachers around the world is their interest in helping students achieve. Last week, two experienced educators (M. Skidmore & S. Miller) from Powell County, Kentucky, in collaboration with Patricia Curtis, director of Lifeline Mission, held a seminar for nearly 50 local teachers. Topics discussed throughout the week included the Haitian curriculum, lesson plan formats & lesson planning, challenges the local teachers are encountering and a very enlightening question/answer session. Perhaps one of the most effective outcomes was the universal bond between the teachers from the U.S. and the Haitian teachers that formed and developed throughout the week. Plans have been discussed for a future seminar.

“I have gained so much from this experience with the fellow teachers of Haiti. As educators, we share so much more in common than stands to differ. My goal is to expand and enrich our professional development and continue to build on it each year,” stated Melody Skidmore, a 12 year teacher from Bowen Elementary in Kentucky.“It has been a privilege during the past 2 weeks to meet and work with professional colleagues who share the same interests and goals as we do in the United States. However, I discovered that the teachers here face unique challenges….not only in the execution of their professional duties but also in their day to day existence. They lack basic services and materials that we take for granted. It has been an enlightening and inspiring experience and we look forward to coming back to follow up on the work that we began and hope more of our colleagues in the U.S. will be involved in this initiative,” comments Susan Miller, a veteran educator and current principal of Clay City Elementary in Kentucky.

Patricia Curtis, also a retired teacher, says, “Education is the most powerful tool that will help Haiti rise above being the most poverty stricken country in the Western Hemisphere and in knowing that, this teacher seminar was a new beginning in accomplishing that goal. I praise God for educators who will take their time, finances and talents in helping those less fortunate then themselves. The teachers left the seminar with high expectations and new ideas for the upcoming year.”

Banana Trees

Banana trees grow all over the place in Haiti and now they’re growing here at Lifeline! Some sweet person donated 96 trees to us. When they start blossoming we’ll be able to feed many children with the bananas. Each tree can grow up to 20 bananas per tier and there are anywhere from 3-20 tiers on each tree. Lifeline is excited to watch these trees grow and feed the children!

New Shoes

Shoes. It’s something we all have in America. Some of us more then others =). Shoes are a greatly desired commodity here in Haiti. Due to the rough terrain they wear out very quickly. Unfortunately it’s not very easy for the people here to just go to Payless and buy a pair of shoes when they need them. People come to us with their shoes falling apart, barely hanging on and ask for new shoes. We try our best to find shoes for them. Right now we’re blessed to have some women’s and kids shoes to give to those who are in need. This woman’s husband is one of our construction workers here at Lifeline. She walked out of here with a huge smile on her face. We were very happy to give her a pair of shoes!

The earthquake may have taken place way back in January, but the effects are still abiding today. So much emotional stress has caused some people here pain we can’t even begin to describe. Such is the case of a woman who came to visit us. She had made a long rough journey all the way from the mountains. The woman was only 40 but looked worn beyond her years.

During the earthquake her house collapsed killing her husband and two of her children. She is now widowed with five other children she’s trying to feed. She is so depressed and is grieving because she can’t take care of her children any longer and can no longer provide food for them on her own. She lives with her sister. She was in such a state of despair that she even mentioned giving her children away for them to receive better care. Lifeline was able to send her back with a sack of food and a love bundle. Pastor Ronni was able to spend some time praying with her as well before she had to make her long trek back up the mountain. This is woman is just one story out of many. Her situation seems hopeless. Think about it…here in Haiti there are no food stamps, no welfare, no social security, no anything. When we say people have nothing here that really means nothing. And yet, by most accounts, the local villagers are a proud and happy people! What a testimony to the grace of God! Please keep her and all the others affected by the catastrophic quake in your prayers.

Love Bundles

Sometimes the simplest of gifts are the ones that mean the most. Today Lifeline and our good friend Ilane Collins handed out 73 love bundles to school children. It’s such a blessing to be able to pass out the love bundles to these children. These children that have nothing compared to most of the world’s standards are so grateful to receive such a needed gift.
It’s like Christmas. It’s the gift of the year to them. Pray that God continues to give us things like these love bundles to bless these ever deserving children!

Miracle of Food!

I was standing on the porch when I heard an eruption of screams of excitement. When I looked to see what all the commotion was about I got excited too. One of our containers had arrived!! We were blessed with a container full of rice and beans!

What a miraculous gift that was. Rice and beans are two of our main food sources that we utilize to feed 3,500 children every day.

We are so thankful for the precious donor who sent the food. We praise God for their goodness and giving heart to help feed some of the very hungriest children in Haiti. There will be many happy children with full tummies!