Category: News (Page 39 of 100)

School isn’t off to the start we hoped for in Haiti. The continuing political problems have prevented it from starting on time. Those over the schools thought there is no sense in the kids trying to get to school with the problems going on around them and then trying to get back home too. Fortunately, all the storms that have formed have by-passed Haiti and we haven’t had that worry.

One of the concerns we face each day is the older folks who live near the schools. In Haiti, if you are a woman, elderly and have no family, you’ve got problems. Each day several elderly ladies come to eat with the kids because this is their only meal too. Since there is no social security system in Haiti, they also have no access to health care, except through mission clinics. I have seen them turned away from some of those if they can’t pay something. During my first trip to Haiti in 1994, that was one of the things that stuck in my mind – older folks and kids turned away because they had no money.

We provide figures about the nutrition programs at each place, but those numbers don’t include the elderly who eat, or the kids who aren’t in school who come to eat, or to clinic. They aren’t turned away and they have never had to pay.

These pictures show some of those who eat daily; they are also provided any medication they need, which is almost always blood pressure meds.

Some, such as the woman I am sitting with, are given a sow, some are given chickens, and we have purchased a goat for some. Following the lead of the Heifer Project, each person who gets an animal must pass one along to another woman who will do the same for someone else. It doesn’t cost that much and in a very short time, they can provide for themselves.

Terry has surgery to have a catheter placed in her chest October 10th. Chemo will begin after that, and hopefully a stem cell transplant before Christmas. She has a rough road ahead and needs your prayers.

We appreciate all you do for us and for our friends in Haiti. All of you are always in our daily prayers and we are very thankful for each of you.

Hi everyone,

If we can believe the Ministry of Education in Haiti, school will begin on time — the first Monday in September. The Ministry of Education has inspectors who go to each registered school to make sure it is what we say it is, issue permits to operate for the coming school year, enroll the kids and then we’re ready. If a school isn’t registered (all of ours are), children can attend but once they finish the 6th grade, they can’t go on with their education.

A schoolteacher from St. Charles donated almost 50 pounds of supplies recently, and you just can’t put a price on donations like that. Not only does it save the ministry a lot of money, she knows exactly what to buy and how it will be used. Obviously, we appreciate all donations and help with the schools and nutrition programs.

The enrollment so far, for four schools, is up to 600 kids, pre-school through 6th grade; that is about all we can do, financially or room-wise. With prices the way they are now it would be very costly to build or try to expand. The largest school in terms of space will probably add another 50 kids.

Terry’s tests on August 8 were not what we had prayed for. The tests that monitor the cancer were up by more than expected, which means all the others were down more than expected. They have scheduled bone scans to see if tumors have formed on any bones, and will schedule surgery to put the chest catheter back in. She can’t take the pill or injection form of chemo, so they are going to administer it through the catheter.

Once that is finished, they will try another stem cell transplant. When they harvested them the first time, they took enough for a second transplant, so she doesn’t have to go through that again, but the second is the last one they will do. There is no third transplant.

To say the least, she is having a hard time deciding whether to go through with the transplant or not. If she does, there isn’t a third and there are no other options. If she doesn’t, the cancer could get out of hand — or may stay where it is. So, we want you to pray for God’s will in this, but also pray for her in making this decision.

When I mentioned her birthday last month, I had not thought of birthday cards. But boy, did she get a lot! Thank all of you for taking the time to do that. It meant a lot to her.

It has been a very quiet hurricane season here and in Haiti and we can pray that continues; for them and us.

Thank you for all you do for our friends in Haiti and for your prayers for Terry. Your thoughts and cards sure make her feel better.