Short Update

Becca and I came to Jacmel yesterday to visit our friends the Pye's(kenbefem.org). We both really love Jacmel! We especially love the hotel we get to stay at when we come here. It has hot water! This time we got a room that has 2 queen beds! Today we got to spend the WHOLE day at the beach. Amazing.

As you probably know today was the 2nd anniversary of the earthquake that happened in Haiti. In Jacmel they had a giant walk,

We got $500 donated to Yveline for her nursing school! Praise the LORD! We need $500 more!

~Amy

Help

Our friend Yveline has been attending nursing school for the past year. Last year we set it up that Extollo would pay for her education in exchange for her taking care of Charlie. There was a miscommunication in how much her school would cost and now Extollo is now unable to pay for the last two years of her education. Extollo is trying to raise money right now to build a trade school and have limited funds. But they're not giving up on Yveline and neither are we. Yveline was informed yesterday that there was no more money. We talked with her and she was devastated. One year of education isn't going to get her anywhere. Amy and I have been thinking a lot about how hard it is for kids to age out of orphanages. Where are they supposed to go? How will they make money? Where will they live? There is no one to teach them what to do. Yveline worked hard to finish high school which only a very small percentage of Haitians do because the exams are really difficult. She's a hard worker and that's why we knew she would put a nursing education to use. This is her opportunity to make something of her life.

So what can you do to help??

We (and Extollo) still want to help Yveline and we hope you do too. If we can raise $1,000 it will allow her to go to school for another year. This is her only hope for continuing her education.

In the United States, education means a better job and more money. In Haiti, it means life.

If you're interested in donating you can go to the Extollo website (https://www.extollointernational.org/donate/donation-form), fill out the form and click on "general fund." You also need to email christie@extollointernational.org with your name, donation amount and a note that it's for Yveline.

-Becca

Becca's New Blog

Sorry we never really finished here...

Today.....thats right TODAY Becca is going to be moving to Haiti for at least 9 months. You can follow what she is doing at http://beccasnewadventureinhaiti.blogspot.com/

Please be praying for her! As someone who has spent a very significant amount of time with Becca in very close quarters I know she will do amazing. She already has picked up a ton of Creole, she knows a ton about the culture and what to expect, and she really loves Haiti!

Day 25: Mesi

We need to say a BIG THANK YOU to those who have given money to Extollo. There is no way we could get the meds the girls need without your help. MESI JEZI! THANK YOU JESUS! We are waiting for the wire to go through then we will get to work getting the meds and tests done before we leave. Please be praying for the girls and their health. Most of the girls have infections & malnutrition but some have more serious problems. The doctor is concerned that one may have Sickle Cell Anemia, and that another may have the beginning signs of arthritus. We will also be taking a small girl to go get an xray on her hip as she has an abcess that is a concern because it is so close to her bone. We want you to know that we are spending the money on Doctors visits very wisely. When possible we always go to Medicines Sans Frontieres(Doctors Without Borders) which gives free care and free medicine. In the case of the girls exams MSF doesnt do anything like that. They will only do something if you know you have a problem. The girls checkups were general exams to see if their were problems...which there were! Understandably the girls are very shy about their "lady health" so few admit to having anything going wrong with them. Thats why the group setting with a class and then everyone getting an exam was so good for them. No one had to come out and say I have something wrong because everyone got checked.

Later today we have an appointment to visit our Doctor friend at the clinic we frequent to see about prices and see if she can help us in any way. Tomorrow we will either send our friend to go find medicine in PAP or we will go to PAP ourselves. Busy days right before leaving. I would much rather sit and hold cute kids, but this is helping them more than me holding them. Anpil travay pou nou! Lots of work for us! We will tell you more as more happens.

Amy

Day 24: We have no money

Today we (I mean I) got up early and went to the clinic at the boys orphanage to meet the doctor for the girls "lady health." 22 girls had appointments so it was a big day. I was in the room for all of the appointments because the doctor didn't bring his female nurse with him. Most of the girls have infections and malnourishment. He gave us a TON of prescriptions and papers for tests that need to be done for almost all the girls which will probably cost us more than we have. We told him we may not have enough to pay for all of them and he is going to give us two tests for free since they are in his specialty and he can do them for us. He also told us about a place in Port-Au-Prince where we can buy some of the medications in bulk which will help with the price. Even with all his help I don't think we are going to have enough to cover it all since we already spent $300 on the class and consultations. If you feel like you want to help you can email or call Rodrigo at tabletennisfool@gmail.com/925-961-7142 or you can call Extollo (extollointernational.org) We are also a little stressed about time because we are leaving Haiti on the 3rd and don't have much time to get everything done.

Thanks for reading!

Oh and Amy didn't wake up early with me not because she was being lazy but because she wasn't feeilng good. Haha

-Becca

Day 23: Girls get a class!

Today the coolest thing happened. We had a meeting at 7 a.m. to meet with a gynocologist to talk about him coming to talk with our girls. He said he could come if we waited for an hour. He talked with them today and it was awesome!! Sunday, all the older girls will be getting exams. Praise the Lord.
amybecca

Day 22: Dokte Dokte

As all our posts and all our days start out we woke up today. We had to get up early to get the workers started on planting the trees. We had Tou Tou, Emmanuel, Enel, and Mackinson working. Coi-Cou made the decisions with us about where the trees should go. It was good to see him leading the boys. An even better part was when Becca and I were pasing things off for measurements and they wanted a measuring tape. Not just a regualr measuring tape but a long rope like one. This boys have learned so much and it seems the are putting their skills to use! We left them to work and headed to the doctor.

Renette, Chirbyne, Chabine(newer girl, Wichmie, Charley, Becca, and I went to the Doctor today. As we previously mentioned that doctor has been so helpful to us in the past year. Its so crazy to me that everytime Charley and I go to that Doctor its like he really remembers me. I feel very connected to him when we go there. He always reaches for me, and when he cries he doesnt want anyone else to hold him. The doctor said today, "He knows you" Those are big words for me. I struggle with my attatchment to Charley. I have seen the negative effects of me growing too close to him. When I came in September I spent all day everyday holding him. Then when I would give him to someone else he would scream and cry for me. Part of me was happy that he was so attatched to me, but the other half felt aweful for forming that attatchment only to rip it away. I try to love him and hold him but not too much so that it becomes hard for him. It is VERY hard for me. When I am home I sometimes find myself asking God why he has put Charley in my life, why He has given me so much love for that baby when I cannot bring him home and care for him, I don't know the answer is but I trust God knows what he is doing. Anyway we had a good visit at the doctor. Charley got an antibiotic for his eye and some fluid in his ear. Chirbyne and Wichmie have worms, and Chabine has an abcess near her hip that the doctor is concerned about. The doctor is also helping us figure the Gynocologist situation. We will be meeting with the gyno tomorrow at 7am! No sleeps for me. One intersting thing that happened was the surprised and happy looks on peoples faces when they saw us carrying kids through the streetes to the doctor. I think that most "white people" who come here have cars. Sadly we do not. Its good for our legs, good for getting to know the community, and keeping in touch with reality to ride tap taps and walk rather than be closed off in an a/c car. Don't get me wrong though I love cars with a/c!

I need to mention that I have the worst sunburn EVER on my head right now. I can't even touch it. Last night when it rained it felt like needles were stabbing my head. OW!

After the doctor we wet to find a Haitian Flag, get some food, then head back to the orphanage. We couldn't find the flag, the food wasn;t ready.....but we did find some mirrors for the girls! Happy surprise for us. We then headed back to the orphanage. When we got back we saw that the trees were planted amd they looked great! We payed the guys for their work then headed out again. We went with Mackenson and Junior(brothers that live in the village next door) to go see Juniors dads farming area. We went because Becca wanted to go buy Coconuts today and junior said no we can go see my father. It was so INCREDIBLE! We walked down a road to where his dad was. A guy climbed way up a tree and knocked down a ton of coconuts. The used a machete and opened one for each of us. We drank the coconut water, and then they cut them in half so we could eat the coconut "meat". Yum Yum Yum! They also cut up 4 coconuts to go! yay. After that we were very full. But we weren't done. His dad wanted to give us Sugar Cane also. We got that "to go" as we were very full. it was so nice to recieve these free gift. Not that we should be getting all kinds of gift or anything but when it happens it is sooooo nice. After we got that stuff we went to go back to Leogane. On the tap tap was our friend that we buy drinks from a lot. She had a BIG basket with a lot of salt. I commented on how much salt she had. Awhile later she nudged me to pass me a salt. I said oh thank you but no, She kept nudging so I took it. Then she gave me another for Becca. Its like a BIG ol salt container like you buy at the grocery store to refill your shaker. I was so touched. I cant wait to bring it home and think of her when I use it. Oh no...now I'm getting sad again about leaving Erg. So we went to town got some food.Of course we hit up Miglise! We forced her to take a picture with us today. She actually totally loves us and was resistent but happy to pose for a photo. She is one hard working lady. After we ate we walked down the street to go see about the flag. Earlier in the morning I had walked down the same street and my gauge(earing) had fallen out of my ear. I was really sad because I lost a different one the other day. So I told Junior, Mackenson, and Becca to keep their eyes open for my gauge. I asked 3 people if they had seen it and showed them my other one. That last girl I asked said no. Then a couple minutes later said she thought she had. She started looking around and spotted it on the street! I was overjoyed! YAY!! Sadly the flag was not a success. So we will see about it tomorrow. We did passby a guy wearing a digicell shirt and we have plans to get one for each of us tomorrow!

While we were walking back to the edge of town to catch a tap tap a moto drove by and i thought I heard my name. So I turned around. I told the guy I dont know you. Turns out I did. Hello Pooshon. haha. Its funny because he seemed shy and quiet. Maybe he is sad that Becca doesnt love him. Earlier when we walked into town Becca held on to Mackensons arm when we passed Pooshons families place so it would look like she was taken. Poor Pooshon.

So we headed back to Leogane on the tap tap. The tap tap where some lady was staring at my ears angrily the whole time and where becca got ripped off. The tap tap costs 20gds for both of us to ride. That is equal to $0.50. Today they gave her back the wrong change and when she told them this they told her she didnt understand Creole and drove away. Mackenson was very upset and gave Becca 5gds. Now we are at the Internet Cafe where we spend our time talking to you.

Our time here is coming to an end and it is very sad. I want a picture of everything and everyone. There have been so many wonderful things that happened this trip. Progress above and beyond ecpectation. Friends bonded tighter, new friendships growing, and people loving each other. I know it may sound cheesy but it is so true. Its hard to judge the progress of relationships from an outside perspective....but to see and feel that growth is life changing. The love I feel here is so great my heart my explode. For real :)

Mwen renemn ou Ayiti. ANPIL

Amy