Hi everyone,

We finally have a date for Terry’s stem cell transplant. She has more testing to be done before then to make sure everything else is in good shape, and then for us be in place by the end of February.

She will have another line placed in her left chest the morning of March 2, chemo later that day after recovery, chemo the 3rd and then transplant the morning of the 4th. This chemo is not the same as they have been giving her though; this one kills all her cells before putting new stem cells back in. It also causes her hair to fall out, so in getting ready, she had it cut very short. (Not as short as mine, but close.)

Because she had such a bad time with it before, they are going to admit her March 8th, when all blood counts usually bottom out, and keep her until at least the 18th, or when the levels start going back up.

But even then, she can’t have visitors, flowers, be around dust (I need to get to work!) and she won’t be able to do anything at all.

We know you pray about this, and we know your prayers work because things could be so much worse. If any would like to keep up with how things are progressing, and you have email, send us a note.

We appreciate all your cards and prayers for Terry and the help and prayers you offer for our friends in Haiti. We love you guys.

School finally started in Haiti, although all the kids haven’t returned yet. I guess if I were a parent there, I might keep my kids home a little longer too. There is also the worry some have moved, since Haiti is such a transient country, and some go live with other family who may be a little better off than they are. Because it is so late in the school year, they may not come back at all.

We also decided to match the gift of a pig, by buying one to go with it and plan on making it a school project. We think it will be a good lesson in helping others for the kids. Next month we will go into more detail on how we are going to do that and who gets the first offspring.

There is still no solution to the political problems there, so the peace they enjoy now, may not last for long. A large part of the country still wants the president to resign and he says he isn’t going anywhere so it isn’t over.

Update: Carnival celebrations have been cancelled, following street violence and firefights between police and the army outside the national palace. The protests are over police pay and working conditions. The government cancelled Carnival in Port-au-Prince “to avoid a bloodbath.” Protesters had burned dozens of Carnival floats and stands, saying they did not believe the country should be celebrating during a crisis.

Hi everyone,

Recently we had some people and a church donate money to buy a pig to give to a person in Haiti. We mentioned doing this in the past and it’s a very good way to help someone; then they can pass one of their pigs on to someone else. However, we do have some rules doing this. First, they must promise to give the first-born female to someone they or we know. Then, that person must promise to do the same and so on. They also must be able to do the things needed to raise animals and have a place to do it.

One of the best examples of this, is Ophelia (yes, Ophelia was the name of a character in Hamlet). Ophelia is a woman in her 80’s, living in Haiti with no family and too old to work. Saying “too old to work” and “living in Haiti” really don’t go together since just living there is hard work, but Olivia has made the best of it. She sets up her cooking tools by a road and sells food she cooks there to people coming and going from a market in Caberet, a larger town near all our villages. It didn’t make her rich, but it does give her an income that pays her rent along with food to eat and buy the things she needs to live.

The one we bought, which is pictured with Beaubrun, is still young so we know it doesn’t have any “pig issues!”

Last month we mentioned the women and girls who are expecting or have a baby fathered by one of the UN troops that were there. Beaubrun and his wife are seeking out those who may live within the area or villages where one of the schools or churches are. If possible, we are planning to do what we can to help them get on their feet. If nothing else, we can get them in church and the church community help them. It may surprise you, but they do the same kind of things there that we do here. At the very least, if they are still expecting, we can get the Mother on pre-natal vitamins; if they already have a child, we can get him or her in the nutrition program. Whichever it is, it will be better than turning our heads the other way and doing nothing.

Thank you to those who provided the funds to buy the pig and to everyone for everything you do to help our friends in Haiti.