What Covid -19 has taught us

       I wish I was one of those people who love to blog, there are always so many things that happen that should be shared. But I did want to take the time to write about our Covid journey.  Just like everyone else, we have been affected by Covid. I don't want to downplay the uncertainty, concern and yes, fear that Covid has brought us. Because it has brought those thoughts to us. I very much dislike some of the conversations that I have had to have with the boys at the Miriam Center as they were and continue to be concerned about the virus. I feel like we always try to protect them from bad things that happen in the world. But that was not an option with Covid. So we keep reminding them that God is in control and always has a plan.

    But there have been some amazing things about our lock in. Our lock in made us change around some things in our daily schedule and routine. As this confused some of the kids, it gave others a chance to step up and shine, and they did. Our mornings would start off with the more fragile kids getting therapy with the therapy staff and the moms. The older kids would start their day off with stretching and yoga. The boys started off strong, leading the others in yoga and stretching. Since they started strong and doing such a good job, we did not watch them everyday as days were just busy ( they still had a staff member with them). But then a switch happened and the boys stopped doing stretching and yoga for themselves, but went over and started stretching and massage for kids who can not do stretching or yoga by themselves but need help. We were sitting talking one night and I asked the boys what changed, they said it was not good that they just make themselves stronger, they needed to help the others. Did not know if this would just be a phase, but they kept it up throughout all of our lock in.

    Had a sweet and surprising moment the other day. We had suckers for a treat in the evening and the older boys again stepped up. Some of the kids that would need help with their suckers they stood or sat beside them and held it for them so that everyone could have one. When I saw what they were doing, I sat with Emma, as she does love suckers, but you have to hold it for her and it can take her a long time to finish it. Joseph came by me and pushed me out of the way, so he could hold it for her. Sure enough, he sat there and held it for her until she was finished.    

    Obviously, I am not happy that Covid has come, but I am happy with what it has and is teaching us. I love seeing the boys realize that they are not really kids anymore and they are thinking about what kind of men they want to be. They had been asking about how they could help and now they don't ask, they look around and see who might need a little help and they help. They are learning how to not just live in the same area, but how to live and work together.  In the midst of craziness, it has been a blessing and kind of grounding to watch these boys and the men they are turning into. If you are reading this, please pray for us at the Miriam Center, that the boys would continue to learn how to love and serve our Savior.

Myson

There are some kids that you meet quickly, and after a short amount of time, unless you see a picture or are reminded of them, you don't really think about them again. It is hard, in Haiti you see so many kids and they are all so precious, but sadly they just don't stick in your memory. But there are others, this is a story about one of those.
We were already in Port au Prince, plans had been made and surgeries scheduled. We had 5 kids with us who needed surgery for hydrocephalus and they were going to get it. Like everything medical, we were in a hurry up and wait situation. While we were waiting for the kids to get surgery, I got a phone call. A little baby had come to the Center that morning, he had hydrocephalus and was only 7 days old. His name was Myson. We knew if this little one would have a chance, he needed to get to Port au Prince immediately for surgery. His head was so big already, it was a last chance effort. Presen Dieu bought bus tickets for them and told me to expect them the next day.
When they got there the next day, it was not what I expected. We were sitting in a hallway in the hospital when two young men came over with a baby. The guys were exhausted from being on the bus all night. I took the baby and we waited for the doctor to give an evaluation. When the doctor was ready we went back. The doctor explained to the baby's dad that the hydrocephalus was too severe and that surgery was not going to be an option.
Obviously dad was devastated and shared the news with the baby's godfather. We decided to get food for everyone and make a plan for tomorrow. They handed Myson to me and they said they needed to leave for awhile. We were back sitting in the hallway with some of the people that came with us for surgery. When the dad came back, he sat across from me with one of the other dads on the trip. The other dad, his kid was supposed to have surgery later that day. But this other dad who was old enough to be Mysons dad's dad decided to talk to Mysons dad. He sat there and just talked words of hope and encouragement into this man, whose world had just been shattered. Even though there were tears the next couple of days, Mysons dad was ready to take him home.
We went and visited them the next couple Saturdays. The family lives in Chansolm, which is over an hour away from the center. Myson made it almost a month, before he passed away. The impact this sweet baby had on his family will last for eternity. His little life sweetly pointed his family to his Creator, and there is no greater gift he could have given them.

The Day After Thanksgiving

I woke up the day after thanksgiving this year, not knowing what to expect, not knowing what to feel. But having the distinct memory of last year, on this day sitting with my dad for the last time, and knowing that even though his body was finally at peace, I did not know what to do without him. This year, I woke up and my emotions were everywhere, but before I even got out of bed, someone was passing the walkway below my house singing a song. The chorus of the song repeats, I am a child of God. We had so many fun things planned for the day and I wanted to enjoy them all with my Haiti family, just needed reminded that I am a child of God, I have a heavenly Father who loves me deeply. The whole day was a gift, I handed out the morning medicine to the kids and it was just fun. It was my Friday to have an activity for the Haitian staff at morning devotions. We sat around and talked about what we are all thankful for and praised God for what He had done this last year for us. From there.......Well, we kind of make up our thanksgiving traditions since it is not a Haitian holiday. So we went and played with our turkeys and then sent them to the kitchen. In the classroom, the kids made thank you cards for the staff and their parents. We also had an outreach activity for the families in the community. So just a crazy busy day, which of course ended with a family meal of everyone at the center. Haitian style, so it was in the dark, by flashlight. But I love that the kids and the staff know that thanksgiving is our thank you day and we take the time to appreciate each other. I could not be more thankful this year, God has been so good to me and on the days that are just crazy hard and I miss my dad so much, God takes the time to remind me, that I am His, and that is all I need.

Challenged and Inspired

There are days that you meet people that just challenge and inspire you to grow. I met one of these people last week. The surgery team was here last week, I got called in to help with a consult. They wanted a patient to get a ct scan. Since there is not a ct machine in our area, they asked if I could coordinate and get this for him. I had a contact call around and find a working ct machine in Port au Prince and we sent the patient on the bus to go to Port at Prince for his scan.
When he got to Port au Prince, the place that we sent him to for a scan, their machine was down. So they ended up going all over Port au Prince until they found a working ct scan. They got the scan and the patient then took a 10 hour bus ride back to our town.
The patient got back late that night, so we made him a bed and the doctor said he would look at the scan and talk to him in the morning. That morning, I went with the doctor to talk to this patient. One of my friends was his niece and she was with him. The doctor kindly and gently explained to the man that he had cancer and it was very advanced, too advanced for surgery. His niece, who was beside me started to cry and I looked at the man and he was not sad. The doctor asked if he understood what he had told him and the man said yes. But why would I be sad, God is with me. He thanked the doctor for finally giving him an answer, he had been having pain so long and he did not know what it was, so he was happy for an answer. He went on to say, that God is with me, God can do what He wants, that he had no reason to be sad, when he knew that God has a plan for him and wont leave him.
He took his niece and would not let her cry anymore, because God has a plan and will take care of them. It was just one of those moments, that I felt blessed to witness. But more than that, it has challenged my heart, and inspired me about what I think about God. The faith of his man has challenged me to dig deeper into the Word and get to know my God better, so that when bad news comes, the first thing that comes to my mind is that God is good and has a plan for me.

More than a medical team

My first year in Haiti I met the seizure team. Their goal was to bring seizure care to the kids at the Miriam Center. We did not know what this would look like or how it would all come together. But they made a medical record and evaluated each child. They knew that God had called them to the Miriam Center to do this, so everything would come together and work out.

It has been 7 years since they first started working with the Miriam Center. In more ways than they know, we have seen God work through their program. For the Miriam Center, it is amazing for the staff and the nurses to know that the children have a group advocating for them in this way. It is also amazing for the families in the outreach program to have this resource, which is sadly scarce in Haiti.

We have seen God work in amazing ways through this program, because the seizure team does more than just medical. Although medical is their primary goal, there is so much more that they do. When a patient comes for a consultation, it is not just about seizures. They check in on the family and see how everyone is doing. They listen and are genuinely glad to how the child is progressing in development. They also listen and mourn with the parents, whose child is not progressing. God is in these small moments and His Spirit is at work. When the seizure team in not in Haiti, these families are always asking about them and praying for them, because they know the seizure team is also praying for them.

The last couple of years, the seizure team has even taken their work a step further. There are children in the outreach program that are not able to come for their evaluation. So if a child needs to be seen, they have been going to the child's home to visit them. Which is a huge deal for these families, not just because a medical person came to their house, but they also know that their houses are not easy to get to. These families know that it takes time and energy to get to their houses. 

The importance and value that they put on each child, on each family is what makes them more than just a medical team. They know it is not enough to just help the physical problems, but that we have a Savior that can heal the heart. The value they put on the individual is what makes the difference for the Kingdom. These families and children know that they are loved and prayed for. Although they are categorized as a medical team, we are so thankful that they are so much more. 

A Place to Belong

When we started the classroom at the Miriam Center, that first year we realized that it was going to be so much more to the students than just a place of learning and education. Although learning and education are important aspects of the classroom, these kids need so much more. First and most important we knew that they needed to know that they have a Savior that loves them and wants a relationship with them. Then education was a priority. But we also are continually searching for ways for the students to be able to express themselves and enjoy who God made them to be. The classroom is that safe place that is free from judgement and criticism, but it takes more for the students to make friends, have fun and just be kids.

For the last couple of years, when it was time to think about getting ready for the start of school, the teacher would ask about school uniforms. We would always give her the same answer, we don't have the money for it and it would just be too hard for the kids at the Miriam Center. But last semester, we were talking and it seemed like it was time to take the classroom to the next level and think about uniforms. We decided to do a tshirt fundraiser and start by having tshirts for the kids for Fun Friday. Almost as a practice to see if uniforms would be a possibility for the students. 

During the fundraiser, I was contacted by Stephanie Boyce. She was curious why we were not doing full uniforms for the students. She also said that she would be willing to do fundraising to get each student a school uniform. She had been planning on coming and bringing a group in November and thought she could have them by then. As an extra bonus gift to the Miriam Center, she made a logo for the shirts.

So on the first day of school after break in January, each student received a uniform. The students were so surprised and excited. It was such an amazing morning, it was so fun kind of measuring out the kids and going and getting them, their uniform. We had a couple students, who almost did not take theirs because they thought they would have to pay for it. But it was great to watch the other students, kind of talk the hesitant ones into it. The students let them know they have some friends that wanted them to have the uniforms and got them for them.

So it is May now, I have loved watching the students this semester. I had no idea the difference uniforms would make. The students walk in the front gate with a sense of pride. They know that this is their school and they don't have to explain it, because they have the uniform. They still come in and show everyone the logo. The students come into the classroom and are ready to learn. Some of the students walk home together and keep an eye on each other as they go. They know that they all have a place to belong and that they are a part of something. 

Little Wolphky

I have not blogged in such a long time, but have decided to reopen my blog. There have been so many amazing things that God has been doing, I have been missing the opportunity to share. When I look back at the last two years, there is one little one that stands out as someone who has taught me and I am continuing to learn from him and his family.
Little Wolphky was brought to the mission at just 2 days old. He was about 3 pounds, his mom brought him because she was looking for help for him. He was born with a double cleft palate and lip. We talked to his mom and told her about a surgery team that comes to Port au Prince and does this surgery. The team would not be down for a couple of months so we set her up to come in every 2 weeks for a weigh in, for her little guy to make sure he would be ready for surgery. Even though she lived 3 hours away, she agreed.
They were coming every 2 weeks, but little Wolphky was not gaining weight. At 3 months old, he still weighed the same as the first day we met. His mom said that he was eating fine and she just did not understand why he was so small. With the surgery team coming the next month, we decided to keep him at the Miriam Center for a week and see if we could figure out what the problem was. 
We took him to the doctor, and the doctor found out the he had worms, we started the treatment, and within a couple days of finishing treatment he started to gain weight. So in April we took him to Port au Prince for surgery, the doctors evaluated him, but said he was just too small for the surgery. He was 4 months old and only 5 and a half pounds.
We went back home and continued the weigh ins. But each time his mom brought him the staff at the Miriam Center would talk to his mom. They knew that she was not a believer and that her husband was not either. The staff at the Miriam Center would say it was a good thing that Wolphky needed to keep coming to the mission so that they could keep talking to her, and sharing Christ with her. They also found out that his dad would tell his mom to leave Wolphky at the mission or throw him off the truck on the way home. We were all grateful for the chance to spend time with Wolphy and let her know that God loved her and her son, and that her son was not a throw away.
The surgery team was coming back in October so we all wanted Wolphky to be ready. He was continuing to gain weight and was looking on track. In September, Wolphky's mom and dad brought him, for his weigh in. Dad had never been to the mission and was curious.
In October, Wolphky had surgery to repair his cleft lip, then the next April, when the team came back he had surgery to repair his cleft palate. Bigger than this little one getting surgery, Wolphky's parents are in church each Sunday, they love their little boy and are amazed at what God has done for them!!
Sometimes it is hard, when so many people bring their sick kids to the Miriam Center and they are looking for help. But, Wolphky is an amazing reminder that we do not know what God is doing, and we don't need to. God used this precious little boy to bring salvation to his family. If this little guy has done so much just as baby, I am looking forward to what happens next for Little Wolphky Gideon.