7 days & blessings...

Wow. A week from now and I'll be on my way to Haiti. Actually I think that at this time exactly I will be flying to the Dominican Republic, meeting up with the rest of the team there, and then continuing on for another 6 hours by bus to Port au Prince. I actually don't have the travel details yet but think that this is the plan. I have been to the D.R. before but under very different circumstances; with the ship years ago for an outreach. I was a child in school at the time.

7 days to go. Lots to do. Right now my bed is covered with things to pack for the trip. Some clothes, stethoscope, gauze, bandages, analgesics, flashlight, camera, sleeping bag, etc. Yes, I need to pack.

God has been very good. I have been blessed by friends with contributions towards my trip. Also a lady in my church stopped by today with some excellent wound care supplies. I looked a few things I was unfamiliar with online and realized how valuable these supplies are. One of the types of dressings I received is probably worth about 120 Euros! Thank you. And I found out today that a friend of mine - a doctor from the UK - will be on my team on the 8th for 2 weeks. And my good friend Luzanne who worked with me in Sierra Leone for 6 months is hopefully coming out on the 15th for a few weeks. What a reunion that will be. It will be great to have some people I know on the team- if not for some emotional support!

Let the packing continue...

My charity: water campaign...

I received a statement today from my church here in Holland, which is where Dutch people could send money to for my water project. I have added the amounts received in January to my campaign and am excited to tell you that the goal has been reached and exceeded.

$5325 donated. 266 people served.

This means that 266 will have a better life because they will have access to water. Children will be able to go to school. Women will be able to spend more time tending to other important matters. 266 lives will be changed. And many of these lives will be saved. Water is life.

Thank you for giving! The campaign is still officially open for 22 days but I may be closing it earlier, seeing as we now have raised the money for our well!

Did you know that in the last 3 weeks (the time the earthquake hit Haiti) that world-wide 94,500 children have died due to water-borne diseases. Deaths that could have so easily been prevented. As you can see, the need for clean water all around the world is huge.

Many thanks to those who donated towards my campaign. I could not have done this without you! I will keep you informed once I know where the well will be built, etc.

Desperate Haiti, desperate world...

Many issues. Desperate needs. Food. Water. Shelter. Medical Care. Homes. There is no easy solution. The rains are coming in a few months. What will be done about the shortage of tents? The world turned to Haiti instantly and started providing care. How long will it last? Who will provide follow-up surgical care a few months from now? The government says they are doing all they can. How much is true and how much is talk?

One issue now is child trafficking. Not a surprise as this was already a problem in Haiti. And with so many people dead or displaced it is on the rise. Children left to fend for themselves on the streets. Of course they will be eager if someone, anyone, offers help. Unfortunately, they are an easy target. Opinions vary greatly regarding international adoption. Individuals, organizations and governments do not see eye to eye. There is no easy solution.

And all the while I also know that so much help is being poured into the country. People are doing what they can. And even though I too will go to help, I realize there is also need elsewhere. All over the world there are desperate situations. I have seen it in Sierra Leone where so many treatments/procedures are not available. I think of the toll that malaria takes every single year. 4,500 children dying everyday due to water-borne disease. Girls and women being trafficked in Asia. Wars leading to displacement for so many in Africa. Haiti needs us. The world needs us. Do your part. Support. Give. Go. Pray. Raise awareness. Be a voice. Try to make a difference, anyway you can.

Here is an excerpt from a CNN article on the child trafficking situation and need for shelter. Click here to read more. “Haiti is trying to locate displaced children and register them so they can either be reunited with other family members or put up for adoption, Bellerive said. But, he said, illegal child trafficking is "one of the biggest problems that we have." Many groups appear to be legitimate, "but a lot of organizations -- they come and they say there were children on the streets. They're going to bring them to the [United] States," he said. Bellerive said he's trying to work with embassies in Port-au-Prince to protect Haiti's children from traffickers.” [photo taken from this article, Jonathan Torgovnik, reportage for CNN]

Niece's thoughts about Haiti...

My three year old niece has reached the phase of asking many questions. It's usually why, why, why but today she asked me a different question.

While her and her sister were up in my room looking at some of my Africa pictures they started mentioning Haiti. They have seen some footage on the earthquake and my sister has told them that many people have lost their houses and that people died. I am not sure how much of it they really understand but they definitely remembered some of it.

While looking at pictures of me in the clinic in Sierra Leone. My niece said: "That's you helping children in Africa. Now you are going to Haiti to help children." I agreed with her, saying that I would be in Haiti for a few weeks. And that's when the question came. My niece looked at me and said: "Are you going to die too?" I was taken aback a bit and moved by the question, hearing the seriousness with which she asked it. I answered her with an answer I hoped is true and said "no, the earthquake is over, I will be back in a few weeks".

Later in the afternoon my niece brought up Haiti again. She asked another question: "Why can't you bring the children here to help them?" My response was that I thought they would miss their parents (not mentioning of course that many had lost parents). She then said: "Well, if there are children that lost their house, maybe you can bring them back so that they can live here." And she then went on explaining that she would make a bed for them on the floor in her bedroom. The compassion of a three year old.

Immunizations...

An important part of preparation for going to the developing world is to make sure immunizations are up to date. A few of mine weren't. So, today I received my tetanus shot. Fortunately a doctor & friend was able to order it for me fairly quickly and this morning after the church service he was able to administer the immunization as well. Monday morning I'm off to another doctor's office for one more shot. Yes, I have to run around a bit for these shots, but in the end I'll get them.

I consider myself fortunate.

For thousands of people in the world, immunizations are not available or accessible. Many children still lack their childhood immunizations - making them at risk for diseases like polio, tetanus, measles, pertussis, hepatitis, etc. Diseases that can have a huge impact on a child's life and even lead to death. In Sierra Leone I have seen the polio victims, crawling on the ground or begging downtown in their wheelchairs. I have seen children suffering from tetanus, a horrible disease which can so easily be prevented.

These are the less fortunate.

What we so often take for granted, are things that others can only dream of. This void of immunizations in many places is causing unnecessary disabilities and death. Of course, it's not only about availability and access. It is also about education and mothers/fathers understanding the importance of the immunizations, the cold chain, overcoming the fears of side effects, parents prioritizing their child's health, and frowning on the healthcare workers that illegally charge families for free immunizations. It is complicated. But it is not impossible.

As I am preparing for Haiti I hear that tetanus and measles are on the rise. This is not a surprise when the wounds are high-risk for tetanus. And as malnutrition increases, children are more and more susceptible to diseases such as measles. We hear a lot about the surgical/trauma needs which, I agree, are huge. But what about the primary health care structure? What happened to the clinics that were providing immunizations? What happened to the vitamin A distribution? Where can all of the children with malnutrition go for their nutritional supplements? The entire system is run down. And apparently, even before the earthquake only half of the children were properly immunized in Haiti. The need now is greater than ever.

I wish I could bring thousands of immunizations with me. But of course it's not so easy for small organizations to bring in thousands of immunizations because they need to be refrigerated. There is a 'cold chain' needed. However, fortunately I hear that UNICEF is bringing in immunizations and will start up a campaign to immunize children against diptheria, tetanus and measles. I hope they reach many children. I also hope that the children will be given food supplies. And that other preventive measures will be implemented across the board: mosquito nets, vitamin A supplementation, hygiene advice, sanitary facilities. The list is long. And it is a huge task. But without these measures, the burden of disease will be even greater, taking a toll on the many children in Haiti.

Does anyone have a couple of pots of non-expired vitamin A capsules they want to donate to the cause?

Conditions rough...

The latest information I received about my Haiti trip started as follows:

"Conditions are still very rough. You will be sleeping in tents in a noisy location near the Port a Prince airport (bring earplugs). Days are long and the temperatures have been in the 90’s. The working conditions are typical of a disaster situation and not ideal. Please be prepared for this... Our motto in these situations is always Be Flexible and remember you are there to serve."

Wow. Wondering what it will be like. Rough. Tents. Noise. Hectic airport. Heat. No electricity. Possibly no access to running water. Busy clinic. Long days. Ruins everywhere. Uncertain communication possibilities. Patients we cannot help. Full referral centers. Definitely not the easiest of circumstances. But yes, definitely many opportunities to serve. And in the midst of it all there will be glimmers of hope. Patients we can help. Children smiling. Adults thanking. Experiencing the resilience of the Haitian people. Seeing God move.

I am trying to prepare myself...

Ruins in town...

About 10 days ago I was walking in Middelburg and noticed a building in ruins. I thought it was a bit odd. All I saw was a huge mass of bricks. However, the buildings to the right and left were still standing. This was simply one building that was being torn down to be re-built again. But it looked like a huge pile of rubble when I passed. Immediately my thoughts went to Haiti. A city now in ruins. As I stood looking at this building, I was trying to imagine what Middelburg would look like if ALL the buildings were in ruins. I couldn't picture it. And then the thought that along with all of the ruins, so many lives would be lost and so many more would be injured. I wanted to stop thinking.

Yesterday I biked by the same area and noticed that now the lot was totally empty. No more ruins. No more rubble. Cleaned up. Just like that. Ready for the building to be re-built. It made me wonder what will happen in Haiti. How on earth will all of those ruins get cleared out? How will they get rid of all of the rubble? How long will it take? When can someone (who?) start re-building? So many questions. Too many to be asking right now. For the people of Haiti, these must be questions they ask everyday. What will happen to our nation? How will I find a new home? Where will my children go to school? Where will I find my next meal?

Pray for the people of Haiti.

Haiti prep...

Now that my trip to Haiti has been confirmed there are many things to do.

My flight from Brussels to Dallas was booked today.

I arranged housing in Texas.

Vaccinations arrived at our GP's office and are in the fridge waiting to be injected.

I found my Mefloquine (Lariam) tablets and will take the first one on Sunday.

My hiking back pack has taken up residence in my bedroom.

I received a 'what to bring list' from YWAM this evening.

I'm having someone track down some scrubs for me (I gave mine away in Sierra Leone).

And I've made multiple 'to do' lists already today.

Lots to do.

And all the while wondering what it will really be like in Haiti.

Knowing that my first visuals in Haiti will be so much worse than what I've seen on TV.

Seeing that the suffering goes far beyond what is being covered in the news.

Yet being confident that God is there, in the midst of it all.

For the Haitians, for our team, for me.

Lord, prepare my heart.