Category: News (Page 68 of 100)

Friends of Haiti,

Happy New Year everyone!

A brief medical update: Terry’s transplant had to be delayed because of the amount of pain she is having in her legs and feet. They felt it in her best interest to find the cause before proceeding. By the 31st of December she will have had a nerve conduction test on her legs, the 5th of January see an orthopedic doctor, the 8th a neurologist and then back to the cancer doctor the 13th and we are hoping by then we get the go ahead on the transplant.

During our first trip to Haiti, some 20 years ago, the country was in turmoil over the president being deposed by the Army. President Bill Clinton had just send 20,000 troops there to help restore order. Fast forward 20 years and the country is again in turmoil, but this time with the people wanting the president to resign. The protesting to date has been fairly peaceful. Promises of prosperity have not happened and the people of the country say they can’t wait for the next election in 2016.

Except for what ministries such as ours have provided over the past 20 years, there is very little difference, then to now. 20 years ago we said, Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, now, in an article written by Jacqueline Charles in the Miami Herald December 11 2014, 6.3 million Haitians out of 10 million are still unable to meet their basic food needs and another 2.5 million are even worse off because they live below the “extreme” poverty line.

There has been progress, it would be hard to deny that, especially in cell phone sales and expansion, but according to a U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization report in December, “almost 60 percent of the population live on $2 a day and the richest 20 percent of the households hold 64 percent of the total income in the country.” Much still remains to do.

However, we can only do what God allows and we feel with us all working together for the past 20 years, we have touched and provided for many. And just as the situation remains the same, 20 years later, so does our passion to help.

Thank you for all you do for our friends in Haiti.

Serving HIM together,

Steve and Terry

Friends of Haiti,

A brief  update on Terry: All the tests the first week in December on her heart, lungs and kidneys were normal, so by the time you get this or read it online, the process will have started. The goal is to harvest 9 million cells; it takes 3 million to transplant back, but they’ll harvest that many in the event this is needed again. Once that is complete, she begins the chemo to destroy her bone marrow; and then approximately 8 days later they transplant healthy cells back to rebuild the marrow. Without a doubt, Christmas will be spent in or very near the hospital, so as a family we aren’t planning one until she is finished and healthy enough to enjoy it.

Christmas 20 years ago, Steve made the first trip to Haiti. Of course, we had no idea or plans, but we are so thankful God has given us the work for Him there. And we are very thankful for all of you whom we have met over the past two decades — most before the earthquake, some during or right after it, and quite a few of you still later. But what really matters is that, no matter how long we have known each other, we have partnered together and made lives different for hundreds, if not thousands, since Christmas 1994.

We have no idea what the next 20 years hold for us, but we are as excited about entering the 21st year as we were the very first. We pray that you have been blessed by your giving and your help during 2014, and as you and your family reflect back on the year these blessings will be your Christmas present from those you helped in Haiti.

Thank you for your cards and things you have sent for Terry. Thank you for helping throughout the year. You have been a blessing to so many, including us.

Merry Christmas.

Serving HIM together,

Steve and Terry