Thankful...

I talked to a friend briefly about journaling this afternoon and realized that at times it is sporadic at best. However, I do have this blog, which I definitely rely on for my stories. I do enjoy going back and reading some of my stories from the past. It brings back so many memories. Maybe someday I will have to publish some of it. Anyway, I spent about 15 minutes re-reading some of my previous blog posts and have to say that I am so thankful for so many amazing experiences. The good, the bad, the sad, the happy. All of these experiences have made me into the person I am today.

I read about the difficulty of treating patients on an outpatient basis when really they should have been admitted had that been possible. Or the gladness of being able to refer a critically ill patient and hearing that they survived. The craziness of trying to get back to the team house compound after an 11 hour work day. The long hours of travel from Sierra Leone to Holland when in reality it was only a 6 hour flight. Sorrow when a patient dies due to a condition that could have been treated in a different country. The humor of a live chicken being given as a gift and needing to remain under the desk in the clinic for the rest of the day. The anger that boils up when hearing a child died at the local hospital in front of the registration desk because the family did not come up with enough money to pay the unofficial hospital fees. The feeling of arriving home in Sierra Leone after being away for 5 weeks of holiday. The excitement of traveling to Kenya and Thailand for medical courses. The beauty of visiting amazing beaches. The simplicity of living. The confrontations with myself when working in a team setting.

So many experiences. So many moments of stretching and growth. And all though there were many situations I would have rather skipped at the time they occurred, I know I had to go through them for a reason. And I pray that as I continue this journey with God, He will continue to stretch me, mold me, make me. I have a long way to go but I want to become a better person. And I trust He knows best. "He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it."

Stop ignoring...

As I'm getting ready to go to sleep tonight I find myself thinking about children. The children I meet here are busy all day/night either playing with their toys, watching television, going to school, eating snacks, riding their bikes and sleeping in warm beds. This is quite the contrast to children I have met elsewhere. (And I know that even in Holland there are children who are lacking some of the necessities in life).

My mind drifts to Haiti, where children I know are sleeping in tents, with few toys and little food and water. Children who only dream of going to school. I think about some of my patients in Sierra Leone, sleeping in shacks, having to walk a couple of miles to fetch their water, with no access to healthcare. I think of Joshua who is at a children's home right now but lacks a parent's love and affection.

I am reminded that Jesus called all the children to Himself. When they were being pushed aside by the disciples, it was Jesus who wanted to draw the children close to His heart. To sit with them. Speak to them. Listen to them. We are to be like Jesus. He calls us to reach out to the orphans and widows. This is what I am called to do. I want to be there for these children. Help them in times of need.

I was looking back at some previous posts and found a post I had written two years ago called TEARS OF A CHILD. A post written about an experience I had in Sierra Leone in which I ignored a crying child, to only later be confronted by this and fortunately see the child again. How often do we ignore the needs of children? Granted, we cannot meet all of their needs but we can try to help. Whether this be children in the developing world, or children in the house next door in the West. Ignorance is not the answer. Doing something is better than nothing at all. Children deserve a chance. They deserve to be heard. They deserve recognition. They are our future. Let's embrace children as Jesus did.

"The kindness one does for a child may not change the world but it will change the world for that one child."

World Water Day 2010...

As you drink water from your tap today, think of the millions of people who do not have access to safe water. Find a way to help them. And be thankful for the amazing gift of water. Most people are not as fortunate as we are. See how charity: water is responding to the water crisis.

Favorite pictures & moving on...

Above are my favorite pictures from my time in Haiti. And my favorite memories are also with the children I met in the post-op ward. I have tried to reflect and process my trip through the stories I have posted on my blog. Sharing events that took place, special moments, daily activities, frustrations, prayer requests. Of course there are many more stories to tell and I hope to be able to share those in the future (as well as share stories with family and friends in person). But right now it is time for me to move on, at least for now, as I prepare to go to Switzerland for a week of relief orientation with Medair. The time has come to focus on something new and pour my heart and energy into something else. This does not mean I will forget about Haiti. Never. The memories will remain with me. And each of these children has a place in my heart. I will continue to pray for them and for their country. And hopefully I can do more for them in the future. I will continue to seek God for direction for my future, wherever that may be. It is in His hands, just like each of these children (and those not pictured) are. These children are entrusted to His care. His shelter. His love. His comfort. His healing touch.

Aerial shots & camp site...

A few of my team mates were able to go to Leogane by helicopter and they took some photos in the air. Pictured are a large tent city, the palace, and the New Life Children's home- which includes our campground and the post-op ward.

The property is on the top half of the picture, with the colored tents in the middle of it. Near some trees is where my dark blue Coleman tent was (closest to the bottom of picture) see zoomed in below. And to the left of the property (near the main gate) was the post-op ward (seen below zoomed in) which was situated in the church building. The bigger white tents near a large tree are the 6 post-op patient tents (that were set up after the after shock on the 22nd of February).

The city...

The pictures give you enough of an impression of what downtown Port-au-Prince is like. Many of you have seen the footage. It is nothing new. Being there though was different. Driving through the streets with devastation on both sides. Some streets definitely hit harder than others. Some neighborhoods seemed almost untouched, and others were almost non-existent. The mural on the wall was a reminder of the devastation and the cry for help. The mural shows the map of Haiti, cracked by the earth quake, crying out for help and the need for prayer and God. Don't forget Haiti. Continue to pray on her behalf. (Last two photos taken by Jen Bullock - my photos of the same objects did not turn out as good.)

Children praying...

Sunday February 27 -

Best moment of the day was Bible study for the children, led by Amanda, one of the nurses on our team. She taught on the friends lowering their friend down to Jesus through the roof of a house for healing. Afterwards she encouraged the children to pray for each other. A few of the children did not understand what she was saying, a number of them did. It was precious to see Founa and Carlandia with their hands stretched out to the other one's broken leg, praying. And I could not hold back the tears when I saw 12 year old Mistil with his leg amputated, reach over to 3 year old Shakira, put his hand on her shoulder and pray for her with her leg amputation. Precious moments. God is moving.

Literacy class...

Two of the 9 year old girls in the post-op ward had never been to school before. They did not know how to write their names. So, I took it upon myself to teach them. I love teaching children/adults how to write their names. I feel like if there is one thing people should learn to write, it is their name. One of the things I noticed when working at the Fistula Hospital in Sierra Leone was that the women were much happier when they could sign papers using their name, rather than their fingerprint.

Both Founa and Marie were very excited. On a Sunday and Monday afternoon I sat down on Founa's cot and started showing her the letters to her name. She was hesitant at first, unsure of how to even hold the pen but soon enough she was very eager to continue. It is always interesting teaching someone to write for the first time. It seems so easy, but in their minds, it's not. The logic of making each letter the same size, just does not come naturally in the beginning. And even tracing letters seemed like a very difficult task. But with lots of patience and repetition, she got it down. She was so proud of herself. Unfortunately Founa's mom died years ago and her father died in the recent earth quake. Her cousin is looking after her for now, but is uncertain if he will be able to continue. Let's pray for a home for her and the opportunity to go to school!

Marie loved the idea of learning to write. Having broken her left arm, she was fortunate to be right-handed. So, on a Wednesday afternoon we sat down and started writing. She was also hesitant to start. When I first asked her if she wanted to learn how to write her name, she said no. When I asked her why not, she said because she has never gone to school and thought she couldn't learn. I explained to her that I could teach her right then and there how to write her name. She wanted that. She caught on very quickly it was amazing. Tracing letters, copying them down, and finally putting them together to write her name. She was so proud of herself. Later she was coloring a picture and then came to find me because she had written her name on it! A few days later she pulled me over to the blackboard where she had been writing her name. I found out from one of my team mates that they had loaned her a coloring book, but seeing later that she wrote her name all over it, decided to give the book to her. Smart girl!

What a privilege to be able to help these children in so many different ways!