Friday, November 21, 2008

Calling All Doctors

Hi there!
A couple days ago a nanny told me that one of the kids complains about his eyes hurting all the time. She said it as if it was no big deal. I asked the little guy, Marcyves, about it and that's when I noticed his tongue is spotted with white blisters/sores. I tried looking inside his mouth and didn't see any sores except on the tongue, however, I didn't get a great look. I also laid him down and tried to copy the stomach press that I know doctors do. The little 4 year old was nearly moved to tears. I don't know, I'm no doctor, but I would venture to say he has some kind of worm. Here are a few pictures. I hope they turn out ok. If you have any advice or can send any medicine that would be awesome. If you have any questions or would like me to look into other symptoms please contact me at kelise04@yahoo.com.
**I removed the pictures today**

Friday, November 7, 2008

We Need Prayer

Over the past few weeks I have learned a lot about myself and those around me. So often I am quick to judge, but have been placed in a position where that does not benefit anyone. There is always more than one side to a story. I am guilty of so much and am incredibly grateful that God is a God of mercy and forgiveness. God is slowly transforming my heart to genuinely care deeply for His people. I have realized how we are all human and have flaws, but God still loves us the same and can still use us to do His will. This seems to be a simple fact, but to actually know it and believe it and to feel that love for His children is a completely different story.

HCRM has been facing some trials lately, however, I know we can rejoice in these problems for we they will help us develop endurance, strength of character, and confidence in our hope of salvation. Just to give an update, as a result of the problems, the children that do not have adoptions are slowly leaving and going back to their biological families (if they have relatives to care for them). So far, four children have gone home. I know that Jesus can take care of them, but it breaks my heart to know that they will be hungry and live a life of suffering outside of the shelter of HCRM. At this point I am very limited at what I can do as I am only a volunteer who does solely what I am permitted. I can do nothing, but request prayer for the kids, the nannies, and especially the managers of the orphanage Pastor & Missou. I trust that God hears all and sees all, He is El-Roi, and He will take care of His people and work everything out for His glory. He is capable of changing hearts and minds and bringing a once divided people together yet again. Please pray for resolution and peace at HCRM. We need the prayers of the righteous.

There has been a recent tragedy in Haiti. Perhaps you have heard already, but a local school has collapsed just down the road from HCRM. Nearly a hundred people died and more were seriously injured. Search and rescue efforts are called to stop soon and will be promptly followed by demolition of the site as the stench of the decaying bodies under the rubble is spreading. Many families have lost several loved ones and it is a time of grief here in Petion-ville. Please keep these families and the survivors in your prayers as you remember HCRM.












Friday, October 24, 2008

Sickness at HCRM

Hi all. Sorry for the delay. For the past four or five days I've been fighting an infection. I have not sought medical attention yet hoping that my body will do it's job and battle off whatever is bothering me. I fear I will infect the children, which would be dreadful. HCRM is already struggling to buy necessities like food (although we received word from a US ministry that wants to donate...details later) and I'm sure providing medical care for the kids would be an equally troublesome feat. I think I've just convinced myself to go to the doctor!

However, this entry is to specifically request the aid of medical volunteers and aid. Everyday some child has diarrhea, vomitting, (the Peptobismal list) some kind of parasite, or some unidentifiable skin problem. Many children have problems that go unmentioned simply because they know aid is unlikely. A health care worker would be useful for these problems and also would be used to teach everyone about prevention and natural remedies. I think many of the problems are preventable (ie cavities, skin infections, etc) but we, myself included, do not know all the ways we can be preventing them. Please, please, if you have the time and are interested e-mail me or if you know someone who might be interested tell them about the blog or give them my contact info.

Thanks in advance.

Trusting in God,
Kasinda

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Waiting Children

Our goal at HCRM is to provide adoptions for as many children as possible. We try our best to keep sibling groups together. Here are a few of the children that do not have adoptive families. I hope to have them all posted by Monday and later do profiles on them. They really are fabulous kids! Enjoy the photos and ask questions.


Pierre-Richard



Markendy


Jerryson







Pierre-Richard, Markendy, Jerryson
















Jean-Cadet (Jebeni)

Cleavert



Abed




















Mardochee

Davidson



Mardochee and Davidson



Pascale


Mikerlange (Christelle)


Germanie


Eliane


Jamesson

Katiana


Marcyves


Donald


Roberto

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Volunteering




Hey! Are you interested in volunteering at HCRM? We are always looking for volunteers and have a variety of opportunities that will fit the interests and availability of EVERYONE.

General Help

We are in need of people who are willing to work caring for our children and doing special projects. We need hard-working people who can function well individually and in group projects. Come with a willing and creative spirit. There is much to be done from living repairs to website updates to plain old loving the kids!

Nurses and Doctors

We are in need of skilled nurses and doctors who would volunteer their time and skills and who might also be able to bring various needed medicines. You will have a rewarding experience while meeting the many medical needs in the clinics you visit as well as supplying the needs of our own children.

School Teachers

We need school teachers who are willing to donate their time to helping us develop the minds of these precious children. Giving them skills they can take with them to their new home or out in the work force here in Haiti. We would like for the volunteer teachers to commit to at least 6 months, but are willing to accommodate your schedules.

If you are interested e-mail me at kelise04@yahoo.com OR visit our website at http://www.haitichildrensrescuemission.org/html/volunteers.html.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Back to School-



Today the kids began their second week of school and I am praising God because two more children, Sterline (left) and Fedeline (right) were able to go today! That makes a total of 14, far from our goal of sending all of them, but we've got to start somewhere right?!
The reason so few students are attending school is a lack of materials. They need uniforms, school books, black shoes, socks, book bags, notebooks, pens/pencils, folders, and lunch money. Pretty typical school supplies that quickly add up when being purchased for 50 children. My request from anyone that is able and willing is to put together a small package of school supplies. It can be as simple as a small sack with notebooks, socks, and pencils. If that is not an option consider donating or sponsoring a child. Whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated. You can send all checks and materials to:
Lynx Air International
P.O. Box 407139
Fort Lauderdale FL 33340-7139



These expenses are for the students, but HCRM also has expenses to run the school which include continuing construction, providing food for lunch, and staffing the school. If you can't afford to send materials there is one thing you can always do and that is pray. There is no distance in prayer and the prayers of the righteous availeth much.

Meet the six

October started off with a bang! IBESR (the equivalent of department of family and children's services) gave HCRM 6 new children. At the IBESR meeting children were distributed amongst orphanages in attendance. Many of these children were from flood victim families while others were victims of the poverty that is so pervasive in this nation. I want you all to meet the new girls.
1. Nadia is an quiet and well-mannered 10 year old that loves positive attention. Her parents like so many in Haiti work as vendors in Petit Goave.


2. Midrene is 10 years old. Her father is deceased and her mother works as a vendor. She came here with her older sister


3. Mirlange. She is 11 years old. She and her sister are both healthy and have put on weight since their arrival at HCRM.


4. Sylvanie (Lalane) is polite, kind, and shy 11 year old. Both of her parents are living working as vendors in Jacmel. She has clearly gained weight since she's been here, but the scale recently broke so we don't know actual numbers.


5. Berline (Chachou) is a very energetic and entertaining 12 year old. Her father is deceased and her mother works as a vendor in Port-au-Prince.


6.PierreLyne is a fiesty 9 year old that loves photos. Her parents work as vendors in Les Cayes.

I did not say this previously, but HCRM has a website (http://www.haitichildrensrescuemission.org/). It is not updated and I do not have access to the html coding to update information. So I am using this blog to keep you informed. Feel free to check out the website. There are many photos but know that some of those children are no longer at the orphanage.

September

September was a very busy month. It started with a series of tropical storms that have done great devastation to select areas in Haiti. I arrived at HCMR to find family members of Missou Nicolas (HCRM facilitator and Pastor's wife) living at the orphanage because the flooding of their home in Les Cayes was too high to stay their safely. By the grace of God HCRM and Pastor Jean Fritz's school and church in Carrefour were not severely damaged, and were suitable to be a refuge for them. The only damage I noticed was at the mission site(orphanage) the one banana tree we had was ripped up by the roots.
Shortly after the storms passed Pastor informed me that he was in the local paper. There is an occasional language barrier between the two of us, but knowing the good he is doing in the community I assumed the report was positive. On the contrary, in a meeting facilitated by the Minister of Culture several biological parents of children adopted through HCRM accused Pastor of human trafficking. The accusations continued to spread through the Internet and radio making this a widely talked about issue in the Port-Au-Prince area. Not long after the story was published we had a surprise visit by human rights investigators and reporters and it was a good thing. They grilled Pastor on his practices and policies. He was able to present them with all the necessary paper work and the truth came to light. The reporters said they would write a follow-up story that is yet to happen, but the truth is out there and circulating.
It is so true that when you try to do the work of the Lord others will attack you and try to tear your work down. The Lord said there will be trials and test, but he knows our capabilities and will never abandon us or put more on us than we can bear.
We had two groups of visitors this month.
First, Bob and Sally Heier of Heier Ministry visited. This is one of many trips to Haiti with their ministry that often travels in teams. They have been devoted to Haiti for 14 years. This trip they stayed for 3 days and were able to bless HCRM with food and their joyful presence. Also while they were here they sent an e-mail to Love-a-Child to try to receive aid (food and medicine) for HCRM. We have yet to hear from back from Love-a-Child, but hope is not lost. Bob's older brother is sick and recently had surgery so please keep him in your prayers.
The second group Roro, Girard and Jenny (I did not get their full names as they were here for about 30 minutes) contributed cases upon cases of Tylenol. Their ministry (forgive me for not knowing the name) is thriving with schools, churches, and clinics all over Haiti. They also have a troop that travels the world sharing the gospel through song.

Get It Started


Hello all. This is my first blog and for now I want to keep it as simple as possible. Making this page look appealing is something I will work on that in the future, for now let me tell you about the purpose of this blog.
I've been working here at Haiti Children's Rescue Mission, an orphanage in Petionville Haiti, for a little over a month. It has been my intention to find a way to keep parents, sponsors, future volunteers and others interested in HCRM updated on what's going on here. The orphanage has many needs that are not being met in the areas of health, education, clothing, construction etc. The list really does go on. Since I have been here for a month I obviously have some catching up to do, however, if you have any immediate questions, concerns, or comments about HCRM then this or my e-mail (kelise04@yahoo.com) is the place to reach me. I hope this helps bridge the communication gap. In Christ, Kasinda Cargill