CHINA :: ORPHAN UPDATE - Gong Li

We received word from the manufacturer in China that Gong Li's walker has shipped! She should receive the package on Tuesday. We look forward to sharing her progress as she learns to use the walker and gains more independence.

Travelers log - Day 1 in Haiti - Port au Prince

All photos shown were taken while driving through Port au Prince. Sorry for the image quality but it was a very bumpy ride! We had hoped to show some of the tent communities that were everywhere but couldn't seem to get a good shot. We will try again during the week.

Travelers log - Day 1 in Haiti

Port au Prince airport.

Loading the luggage and the passengers.

Baggage claim.

Immigration.

Well, we made it to Haiti! We were humbled to find out that we are part of the first mission team to work at Mountain Top Ministries since the earthquake. It's been a long day for the 24 volunteers sharing the guest house at MTM. We originated from Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and even a few folks from Canada. Some got up as early as 2:00am! Included in our team are medical residents, nurses, physician assistants, an architect, child advocates, and a communications person (yes, that would be me).

While traveling via bus from the terminal to immigration, we were able to see the military camps that are set up right next to the runway. Tall fences with razor wire surround anything of value, including these camps. There were Hummers and many helicopters on the ground and in the air. We saw a HUGE airplane which opened up the entire tail end to expose full-size shipping containers of supplies being loaded and unloaded.

Immigration was a simple stop at a wooden "booth" right before entering the baggage claim area. Willem and his crew met us there and moved us swiftly through baggage claim (which was a pile of suitcases in a warehouse), customs, and out to 2 low sided trucks and a jeep-type-vehicle. The luggage got stacked in the trucks, the team piled into the trucks (some in the cabs and some precariously perched on top of the luggage) and off we went.

The roads in Port au Prince... how should we describe them? The majority of surface area has deteriorated and crumbled causing gigantic potholes everywhere. Our truck actually got stuck in a huge pothole. Thankfully, our driver was very capable and got us out! We were very concerned about the fate of those who were riding on top of the luggage. It may be the bumpiest ride any of us has ever taken!

And driving in Haiti? Suffice it to say that there is only one rule of the road: try to survive. There are no traffic lights or signs. You can drive on whatever side of the road you want, pass when and wherever you want. The roads are filled with dilapidated buses, trucks, cars, mopeds, pigs, goats, chickens, dogs and pedestrians. It is truly survival of the fittest.

They gave us a quick tour of Port au Prince before we left for MTM. The devastation is indescribable. Photos do not even come close to doing it justice. Collapsed government buildings / businesses / homes / hospitals / hotels / universities / schools; piles of rubble as tall as small buildings; piles of trash littering the streets; stacks of old tires; overturned vehicles that have been stripped of every possible usable part; padlocked buildings everywhere; huge make-shift tent communities wherever there was enough space.

And then there are the beautiful people: street vendors trying to make a living, people working and shopping at street-side markets, people walking with giant containers on their heads, Haitians staring at us as we looked at them. Some of the people were lively and talkative while others appeared to be in a daze. Very young children roamed the street, running around, darting in and out of traffic. Some waved and called to us while others hid their faces from our gazes.

Needless to say it took quite some time to get from the airport to MTM, but we all made it safely. Thankfully, the all-terrain wheelchair made the trip well. We assembled it onsite and the MTM staff is very excited about giving them out. There is such a great need for this type of wheelchair here. The terrain is very challenging and there are so many new amputees that need help. We look forward to serving in this area.

Following grace, which was led by Willem's eldest son, Stephen, we shared a great Haitian/American meal of cornmeal with a layer of ground beef and black bean gravy. (I asked for the recipe, but since the cooks just "cook", I think I'll have to try to duplicate it on my own. Hoping to volunteer in the kitchen this week.)

Willem and Beth shared information about staying at MTM including water conservation, limited electricity, the daily schedule, safety, sleeping in the mosquito netting and the rules about leaving MTM's property.

Well, many folks got up very early this morning and we are trying to wind down now, so we will close for tonight. Look for more posts with additional photos.

Full Suitcases!

Well, the team's suitcases are packed, passports and itinerary have been checked and double-checked, and we are attempting to unwind before tomorrow's travels.

Personally, my bags are filled to the brim with donations from Columbus Montessori and InVentiv Communications. As we stated a few posts ago, the children of Columbus Montessori decided that they wanted to support the work of The Red Thread Promise in Haiti. In addition to the $150 they raised from a pizza fundraiser (which the middle schoolers organized and ran themselves), they also managed to work hand-in-hand with InVentiv Communications to collect the following:

1 envelope full of hand made cards to be given Haitian children

1 tube of toothpaste

1 digital thermometer

2 hand-made hats

4 packages baby wipes

5 hand-made blankets

5 toothbrushes

6 baby bottles

8 packages ramen noodles

20 jars of baby food

28 prepared canned foods

230 Fiber One bars

333 oz of powdered formula

949 disposable toddler training pants

AND

3,690 children's chewable vitamins!!!

After packing my bags and weighing them to ensure that they don't go over the 50 lb. limit, then taking out a few things, re-packing and re-weighing the bags, I have packed as many supplies as I can carry on this particular trip. Thank you Columbus Montessori and InVentiv Communications!

As the media's focus shifts from Haiti to other countries in need, we will still be working in Haiti, helping Haitians rebuild their own lives, their communities and their country. There is much work to do. Tomorrow, we will get a glimpse of the scope of that work and share it with you as we make our way to Haiti for the first time since the earthquake. Please check back on our blog daily as we share our experiences with you.

CHINA :: ORPHAN PROFILE - Gong Li

In the midst of the Haitian crisis, The Red Thread Promise has not forgotten about those in need from other countries.

We'd like to introduce you to Gong Li, a beautiful little girl from Zhengzhou, currently living at Swallow's Nest. Sadly, she has never been able to walk unaided due to a birth defect on her left leg. Both of her thighs are shorter and disproportionate to her 4 year old body. However, her left leg is the most affected: she has no lower thigh, knee or calf.

Although she is growing, the proportions of her body remain the same. She is able to crawl and often supports herself by putting her weight on her knee and left foot since those fall at about the same length. She has a slight, but noticeable curvature of her back from awkwardly crawling, not standing, and not getting a chance at good posture. Gong Li is able to get around the children's home by crawling, however she must be pushed in a stroller when going outdoors.

Thankfully, we have been able to help Gong Li mobilize herself by providing a walker specifically sized for her. It has adjustable legs so it can grow with her while determinations are made as to whether or not she may be a candidate for corrective surgery or a prosthesis.

Amazingly enough, the company that makes our all-terrain wheelchairs also makes walkers and crutches and their factory is located in China. What a blessing! We are so happy to be able to give her this simple thing that will change her life.

TRTP in the news - TV INTERVIEW

Haiti volunteers Erin, Wade and Kathy were interviewed by Evan Anderson at WVUE Fox 8 TV. The interview airs tonight at 5:00pm (CST). You can also read the story at Fox8LIVE.

"The biggest challenge is going to be determining what are the short and long term needs. We're not going there just to help them rebuild, just to deliver food, just to hand out to them. We want to work with the Haitians, teach them to rebuild" said Haitian Missionary, Kathy Albergate. Read more.

TRTP in the news - PRESS RELEASE

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in New Orleans issued the following press release regarding their Haiti: New Orleans Will Stand By You outreach campaign on 3/2/10.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

The Rev. Dr. Scott P. Albergate, Rector

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

504.488.3749

salbergate@stpauls-lakeview.org

Kathy Korge Albergate, President

The Red Thread Promise

817.320.6522

kathy@redthreadpromise.org

Lisa Davis, Director of Institutional Advancement

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

504.488.3749

ldavis@stpauls-lakeview.org

ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE RED THREAD PROMISE

SEND HOPE TO HAITI

Organizations prepare to send their first Haiti relief team to the devastated area.

NEW ORLEANS - (March 1, 2010) Immediately following the devastating earthquakes in Haiti, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and The Red Thread Promise (TRTP) joined together in support of the people of Haiti by establishing the “Haiti: New Orleans Will Stand By You” outreach campaign. In the weeks following, organizers have been working hard to assemble a group to travel to the region to assist in their relief efforts. Through connections locally and nationally, a Haiti relief team has been formed and the group will make their first trip to the devastated area departing, Saturday, March 6th from New Orleans National Airport at 6:00 am arriving in Port-au-Prince at noon.

The Haiti relief team is a dedicated group of volunteer professionals with a passion for helping the people in the region and offering hope to those in the area who desperately need it. The group will be working with two Haitian organizations, Mountain Top Ministries (MTM), located in the town of Gramothe. MTM is an organization serving three mountain top communities providing a school, medical clinic, and church to the approximately 1,500 children. Since the devastation, MTM is also serving countless earthquake victims and Rivers of Hope orphanage, also located in Gramothe, which provides a home and care for 15 Haitian orphans.

The seven member team offers a wide-range of experience and expertise all sharing in the unified goal of helping Haitians with their recovery in both the short and long term. The team’s focus for this trip and future trips will be on helping to support the community’s medical, rebuilding, and educational needs. The group is also raising funds to support the disabled by providing All Terrain Wheelchairs to the handicapped. Team Leader, Kathy Korge Albergate, president of The Red Thread Promise (an organization dedicated to providing medical care to orphans across the world) has made several trips to Haiti before the earthquake working with the above mentioned organizations and brings years of experience working with orphans and children in foreign countries. On this trip, Albergate will serve as the group’s mentor and guide in the region while working with the Haitians to access their rebuilding needs and supplies. She will also spend time teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to kindergarten and 1st graders at the MTM school.

Joining Albergate are:

• Erin Hardin, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church member and The Red Thread Promise, board member. Hardin is a child advocate and will be working with Rivers of Hope orphanage to organize food donations, medical supplies, and long term care for the residing orphans.
• Tom Landry II, Interior Architect, will work with Mountain Top Ministries consulting on their needs for an extension of their medical clinic to include a surgical building. Landry will be on a fact finding mission taking extensive notes, photographs, and interviews. This will equip him with the knowledge and understanding needed to begin the design work and fundraising for the facility.
• Wade Shields, Physician Assistant, serves on the medical team and will be assisting the thousands of Haitians in need of medical care at Mountain Top Ministries clinic. He brings his experience of similar mission trips taken to Nicaragua.
• Three New Orleans medical residents bring much enthusiasm and talents to the table. They will be working five very full days at Mountain Top Ministries seeing patients as needed.

Through Albergate’s Haitian connections her team will have immediate access to the Haitians and a direct link to helping those whose needs are so high. The entire team is excited and devoted to making an impact in Haiti and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to share their talents and expertise with the people in the region. When the group returns from their first Haiti mission, they will work together to evaluate, access, and plan the future steps to continuing their service and commitment to the people of Haiti. Funds are being raised to help support the “Haiti: New Orleans Will Stand By You” campaign and can be made by visiting www.redthreadpromise.org. There is a PayPal button on the website as well as TRTP's mailing address. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. You can also send checks payable to The Red Thread Promise and mailed to:

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

c/o St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

6249 Canal Boulevard

New Orleans, LA 70124

100% of all financial donations earmarked Haiti Relief will go directly to provide earthquake relief.