Thursday, January 7, 2010

DAY 4 IN HAITI


This morning, Willem woke Kathy to say that Rachoul would pick her up at 7:00 a.m. Dora, Diana, and Christopher (pictured above) were ill and had to be taken to the hospital.

At the hospital, Kathy and Rachoul checked on Xavier, who is doing very well-eating, sitting up-soon he'll come home, she thinks.

Kathy spent some time alone caring for Dora, Diana and Christopher while Rachoul and the nanny were busy with other things at the hospital. She sang to them, and although they could not understand the words, their big beautiful eyes watched her face intently.

Dora is matched with her forever family, while Christopher and Diana are waiting to be discovered by their families.

Five hours later they left the hospital (they'd had to wait for the doctor to arrive) with prescriptions for all three children. Thankfully no one had to be admitted. In Haiti, all care must be paid for up front for each trip to the doctor or hospital. With several sick children, funds are quickly depleted.

After a stop at the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions and a trip to a bakery for Haitian treats, they returned to the orphanage where the children could rest.

It was late in the day when Kathy returned to Mountain Top Ministries, and needless to say, ESL classes were cancelled. When children are sick, as mothers know, the best-laid plans are set aside.

Classes are scheduled for tomorrow with the kindergarten class, going over the words for objects in the classroom.

This is only the beginning of the English language program for these children. It's a task that will take several years for the children to become fluent, and thereby employable for good jobs in Haiti that will lift them out of the cycle of poverty.

It's rewarding work and TRTP is looking for volunteers to join in this effort for the 2010-11 school year. It's a week that you'll carry forever in your mind and heart. We also need continued funding for this year ($5400) and funding for next year.

Please let us know if this is something that touches your heart.


1 comment:

Amber Housey said...

Boy, i have to say, little Christopher has touched my heart. How is he doing? I think I read somewhere that he was going to Chicago for treatment. did that happen? All those sweet children at Rivers of Hope have touched my heart.