Etsy Alert

One of my friends was browsing through Etsy.com, and saw a cowl that she loved, so she bought it. HOWEVER, she received a pattern to MAKE the cowl. The seller said that it's easy to make. This girl does not know how to even hold a crochet hook, or even know what the size hooks let alone know how to crochet! When I visited her and her family for Christmas, she showed me the pattern and asked if I can make it for her. I said yes. And I just finished it.

It's easy to make if you know what you're doing, but not for a novice. Well, what's below a novice??? So, when you browse through Etsy, make sure you're buying the made product or the pattern before buying!!!

My friend Gaby and her cowl

Walk-About in Haiti

7/18/11
Bon Swa! (Good day)

Today, Troy, took us around and oriented us to Heartline Ministries' houses that held their ministries. They have 3: Harbor House, Maternity Center, and the Sewing Center . And, he also took us to their new property they just purchased so they can move all of their ministries to one site, and not have to rent houses anymore.

The first one we went to was the
Sewing Center.
John and Beth used to have an orphanage they ran, and many mothers came to them with their babies because they couldn't afford to feed them or themselves. When they noticed the trend, they decided to find a way to give the women an income so they can keep their kids. They opened a Sewing Class, and taught the women how to sew. They can have 36 people in the class for a year (9 months), but they have 102 applicants right now. One class was created upon another need to make 3 classes available in one sewing center. When they found out that some were illiterate and couldn't take the entry test, they started a Literacy Class to bring their literacy skills up to take the tests. Then, they later saw that some still didn't have the skills to sew, so they started a Beading class. They sell these crafts at the gift shops at the center and in the guesthouse, and online called HaitianCreations.com. A couple in California decided to help Heartline by creating this website for them, and selling the purses there. Check it out!

*sorry if this next one is too gross for you guys*
We later went to the Maternity Center, where they taught Pre-natal classes, and breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has been thought as a bad practice among Haitians, and it would kill their babies than nourishing them. They would feed their babies water at birth, and then rice and beans at 4 months. It took a lot of work to teach the mothers that it was the best thing to give their babies. They have 2 healthy babies right now that are prime examples that breastmilk is best for their babies, and other women are sharing this news with other mothers. Hopefully, they'll see more healthy babies than malnourished. They also taught them how to care for themselves while pregnant so they can have a more healthy, uncomplicated birthing experience. It's been 2 years, and they've been seeing wonderful results. However, they wish they can do more for them.

Next door to the Maternity Center is Harbor House.
It's a house for pregnant teens, and teen moms that were thrown out of their families' homes when they were pregnant, because the family couldn't feed an extra person. So, they came to Harbor House for shelter, learn to be good parents, and learn how to provide for themselves and their child.

Lastly, they took us to their new property. They're hoping to move all of these ministries to one property, and no longer rent the houses. Troy also shared that they're hoping to start another ministry for the Haitian men. They can't touch the lives of every man in Haiti, but they can invest their time, and disciple 12 men and give them a job in their future bakery.

Please pray for their ministries:
* that they are able to do more for their pregnant patients, and can feed than more than once a week, and have a healthier pregnancy.

* for the teenage girls. The ministry can not only raise them to be great parents to their kids and provide for themselves, but also to disciple them and raise them to be Godly women.

* for their men's ministry. Teaching them to be responsible fathers, and godly men that can turn around and disciple other Haitian men.

Haiti can not change because non-profit organizations are coming to Haiti. Change needs to take place in the Haitians. To teach them the skills they never learned, and bring them out of their poverty. But, also to bring them out of their Relational Poverty with others, spiritual poverty with God, and Being Poverty with themselves. That may sound "weird" to you, but we read a book called "When Helping Hurts". It shares how STMs (Short Term Ministries) have done more damage than good by focusing on the material poverty (food, finances, and homes), but neglected on helping them heal their relationship with God, themselves, others, and with creation. How can they bring themselves out of material poverty, if they don't believe in themselves, in others, and especially in God. There's a saying the missionaries say: in Haiti there's 80% Catholics, 20% Protestants, and 100% Voodoo. Their relationship with Christ is distorted, and God wants to bring them back to Him.

And, we ended our day with more Nertz!! Awesome ending.

Nurse Leona in Haiti...

7/21/11

OH MY! Ok, next mission trip I lead, everyone is signing a contract that says they will do their utmost best to not get hurt! No wonder I was starting to get nervous and Mother Hen-y at the end! So far on this trip, my "patients" have had mysterious bug bites, hand laceration, splinter in a finger (didn't have to deal much with that), and a cut while shaving. And now, mod-severe heat exhaustion...had to start an IV, give 4L of IV fluids, lots of meds for nausea and pain, and giving a lot of Gatorade...on one person. He's now sleeping, IV is out, and we're heading to the airport in 6 hours. Best time to get sick, just as we're heading home.

Other than that, we went to Canaan, Haiti. It's one of the Tent Cities where some of the displaced Haitians live outside of PAP. Another ministry called AwakenHaiti is helping out Pastor Nathan that decided to move closer to his congregation that were displaced by the earthquake, and his congregation grew as he continued to minister to his members and the neighbors. Right now, AwakenHaiti's goal is to work along side the Haitians in the building process, not building it for them. Today, they're setting down the foundation for their new church. They've been meeting under a tent, which is already falling apart. The boys on our team came to Canaan to help with the foundation laying. They also asked the nurses (nurse and nursing student) on the team if we can come as well for the Medical Clinic they have there every 2 weeks.

During this trip, I've seen how sheltered I've been in the hospital, with the supplies I need at hand, and doctors that are a phone call away or even on the unit. This Clinic and the Cholera House do not have Doctors that are available. It's just the nurses doing the best they can to care for these patients. Some Doctors have come to visit and given advice and even taught them a few extra skills like suturing wounds and such so they can continue their care for the communities. I came to this Clinic definitely out of my comfort zone, but learned that a lot of the issues can be taken cared for with Health Education, and occasionally meds. They've learned to give meds when absolutely necessary, but its not the primary solution.

I learned a lot here about healthcare with limited resources, and also had to use that nursing judgement and LOTS of prayer when we returned to the Guesthouse. One of the guys worked so hard today that he had heat exhaustion. After I noticed that having him drinking fluids were not enough, and he was getting worse, I had to make a judgement call and start an IV. Thank God for the Maternity Center and their supplies. Now, like I said earlier, he's resting and feeling much better. Now that's cutting it close. In less than 6 hours, we're heading to the airport to go home, and I'd love all of us to get there HEALTHY! At least we're not sick from infections, just have silly self-inflicted injuries...

Thanks for your prayers. Putting the miscellaneous physical injuries aside, God has worked in us in many ways. Please read www.haititrip2011.wordpress.com when you have a chance. A few of us wrote our experiences on that blogsite, and pretty much mirrors everyone's thoughts on what we're returning with. God met us here, and did more in us, than we can ever do in Haiti.

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Day 2 in Haiti

7/17/11

It's Sunday, and the sun rose before 5am! Last night, when they said that we were having breakfast at 6:30, I thought that's pretty early for some of the late risers. Now that I see the sun rising before 5:30, I understand. I remember when I went to N Africa we didn't eat until 1am and went to bed at 3am. Here, they're early to bed, and early to rise.
Our view this morning

We went to Port Au Prince Fellowship this morning. It's the only English Speaking Church in the city, and pretty much all the missionaries and STM (short term missionaries) go there. We met a few of them, and also some Haitians that live close by come to worship with us, and practice their English. John McHoul, who's the Founder of Heartline Ministries (the ministry we're working with), is pastoring the church until their permanent pastor arrives inAugust.We sang a lot of songs we knew, but we also sang or listened to a Haiti Worship Song:

Lu-Waih, Lu-Waih = Praise, Praise.

If my niece, Liz, were with us, she'd be excited that they were playing Praise Songs with a saxaphone as well!

We later went to John and Beth McHoul's place for lunch and Fellowship with Heartline's staff and another Mission Team that's been in Haiti for a week now, but leaving on Tues.

Afterwards we worshipped and prayed together and then celebrated everyone's birthday for this month with some coconut cake and chocolate cake. I had a taste of both. :) Hey, its my birthday(soon).

The comical highlight for us was that Steve, our team leader, found some "Sudden Death" hot sauce, and decided to put it on his turkey to eat it "Texas-style", however the hot sauce was too much for him. He said, "I had to rest for 10 minutes after eating that." One of the guys tried Steve's turkey, and later it turned into a competition on who can withstand the heat. They're great Godly men, but they're still boys...we left for the guesthouse with 4 guys still feeling the burn in their mouths...

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Cholera House

7/20/11

Today, we went to visit Real Hope For Haiti. They've been around in Haiti for 17 years, and is in the mountain region, in the village Cazale, Haiti.

They've been around during multiple hurricanes, the earthquake, and now Cholera. They are open for clinical assistance, dressing treatment, and Rescue Center for Malnourished children, but lately it's been on what one of the

founders call "survival mode" since the Cholera Epidemic. They explained that when they started seeing Cholera patients they needed to separate them from the rest of the patients, and away from the water supply. A Haitian was building a house on top of a hill, and told RHFH that they could use their unfinished home, since they were not ready to move in yet. I don't think they were prepared for it to be this long. Haiti has never had to deal with Cholera before. They later found out that the water supply was already contaminated by...well, let's just use initials for identity protection ...UN. Guess the identity protection didn't work. They'll deny it anyways.

Anyways, half of our team stayed at the RHFH building and helped separate supplies, the other half went to the Cholera House to help out. It was a dirty job, but we did it wholeheartedly and for Christ. I went to the Cholera House with the 2nd half of the team, but no nursing duties for me there. I would've loved to help, but they had a system down to a science! This house has no running water, no electricity, full to more than capacity, and yet they've seen 3000 patients and only 6 deaths since the outbreak. These Haitian Nurses and volunteers are awesome and very resourceful. I've been in my sheltered hospital setting, and complained about not having certain supplies. NEVER AGAIN will I complain!

Before we left the house, we had our soles of our shoes cleaned with bleach, washed our hands with soap and water, and then sprayed from head to toe with a bleach mist.

Of course, after we got back to the Guest House, and I took a REALLY GOOD shower, one of our team members got a splinter in his finger, and then another cut herself (too silly of an accident to explain), and I had to care for the cut while someone else took care of the splinter.

The pictures below are for the RHFH clinic. No pics from the Cholera House.

The girls pulling apart Paper Towels for the Clinics and the Cholera House.

Roberta and Alice mixing Protein Packets to feed the malnourished kids.

Jenn and Tahlie at the Rescue Center

Roberta is holding Dada, 5 years old and 18lbs. Working hard on separating gloves

Just a tranquil site on our way back to the Guesthouse.

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Birthday Cleaning

7/19/11

I've made an executive decision: i'm 39, not 41. Since I already hit 40, and everyone say I never act or look my age, it's time to go back a year from now on. It's not time to go over-the-hill yet.

In celebration, Haiti-Style, our teamworked hard on a couple apartments for the teachers moving down to Haiti. It's a dirty job, but someone had to do it. We left with that apt looking beautiful. I'd be willing to live there myself!We got home hot, sweaty, and exhausted. And, HUNGRY. We have a Haitian dish called, Legume. (a beef and veggie stew). It tasted so good I had to stop, or be completely stuffed! We had our devotional, and at the end the team surprised me with chocolate cake. Thank you, Roberta for baking it in their Haitian oven! I was surprised I still had room for it.

Thanks TeamHaiti for a wonderful birthday, and thank you, and Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me with this amazing team!

TeamHaiti working hard

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Haiti bound!!

*I blogged and saved these posts until I got home to post them. Enjoy*

7/16/11

We are in Haiti! We got to the airport at 4:20a for a 6:10a flight, and it hasn't been bad at all. Even at the Haiti airport. You can still see the earthquake damage to the international terminal, with large cracks on the outside walls and shattered windows.

Haiti is the most impoverished country, and you can really see it. People are lining the streets to either sell something (for a high price), beg for food, or waiting for a Tap-Tap (Haiti's version of a Jeepney). Barry, the man that picked us up from the airport, shared that their Central market just recently re-opened after the earthquake, so there's not as many venders out on the street.

But, not everyone is too impoverished. We're staying at The Village, a gated community, that have doctors, politicians, and other ministries, and such. The dirt roads are a little smoother, but still have potholes in The Village, it's just the gates and large houses that really separate that poverty look.

Last night ended with perfection. We ate, had our quiet time, I had a COLD shower (no hot water), devotional with the team, and then NERTZ! I think we should end every night that way.



This is the ladies quarters.



This is my mosquito "tent".

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Location:Haiti

Lessons Not Just for Easter

I’ve been reading Jesus: 90 days with the One and Only since Aug 2010. I think the 90 days kind of stretched out to 300 days so far, and I just finished Day 73. I could say I’m taking my time absorbing all the lessons I’ve learned from it, but I’d be lying. I’ve not been consistent AT ALL, but still God waited patiently, and also prepared me for what He was going to lead me through beforehand. It just made my sporadic pace look purposeful. Purposeful on God’s end, not so much on mine...

This last lesson, I’ve read before over and over again, especially on Easter, yet He made it more personal through this book so I'll understand just how much He loved me, and understand how purposeful His death was to Him and for me. I just want to share a part of my journal about what I saw and wrote:

Lord, how did I not see this? I’ve read it many times and celebrated this on Easter that you died during Passover, when the Jews celebrate and remember their Salvation from Egypt. The Hebrews took a lamb, killed it, took some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and above the door to protect them from God as He came by killing all the firstborn. (Ex12:3,6-7,12,13) You were OUR lamb to save us from Eternal Death. Our Lamb died, and like the people that wiped blood on their doorpost to protect themselves from Death that breezed through Egypt, You washed us with Your blood to redeem us and protect us from eternal Death.

After going through this book (though slowly), I’ve seen You more personally, and You’ve shown me how much You know me, and love me enough to teach me, comfort me, and even reprimand me when I need it, and especially at the right moment. Thank you. Now, I have to read of your journey to your death, but seeing how purposeful You were, with your eye on me, saying ”this is for you. I’m dying in your place for you.” Oh, Jesus. I didn’t deserve it then, and I don’t deserve it now, but Your eye is still on me, and I can hear you saying, “I did it for you. I died in your place for you.”

Just imagining someone that loved you so much, and shared so much with you, died in your place of a death YOU deserved. He died for you to live. Can you look at your significant other and say they’d be willing to die that kind of death Jesus did for you, and you won’t feel pain yourself knowing that was supposed to be you? I can’t. And, this is something I need to remember not just during Easter, but every day. I am Alive because of Him.

Next Birthday Destination?...

A few weeks back, a friend of mine and I were talking about birthdays and how we celebrated them in the past, and then it dawned on me....ever since I left San Diego I never celebrated my birthday in the same place twice. I’ve celebrated my birthdays in different states, and recently in another country. Even over the Atlantic Ocean!! I left San Diego for Christ to be a Travel Nurse, and God blessed me by sending me to Seattle, St Louis, Austin, North Africa for my birthdays, and now????.....Haiti!!

I’m finally going to Haiti! I have been trying to go to Haiti for over a year now since the earthquake, and now when I least expected it, God finally opens the door to let me go! The crazy part is that I’m leading a group this time. Not 5 or 10, but 20 PEEPS are coming with me, and only one of them is a nurse (me). In San Diego, that wouldn’t have been me. I was happy following in a Mission Trip, not leading one. I don’t know what God has in stored for this Trip or this Team, but I am totally excited. A couple years back when I was getting ready for North Africa I’ve heard and learned about: “Don’t be flexible, be like liquid,” and “we’re going ‘sailing’, and see where the Spirit leads us.” This trip isn’t any different in that sense. Different people, different cultures, and different needs, but the same God is leading it, and the same God is working. Please pray for us as we get ready for this trip, and raise the money to go. If you’d like to help us out, you can email me your address, and I’ll send a support letter to you.

The best part of this trip for me, AND for my blog readers, is that I can share more about this Haiti trip than I was able to during my N Africa trips. Maybe you’ll actually see more posts from me than my usual annual posting saying “hey! I’m still alive.”

Got Pianos? We do!!

My friend Sandy and I went to Butler Park to enjoy Austin's Spring weather, and found a piano on top of a hill, with a message saying "Play Me, I'm yours." Later found out that a group called Art Alliance Austin took painted pianos and scattered them around Downtown Austin. So, we went on a hunt, and found these pianos so far. On our next day off we're going to look for the rest. For now, let's see if you canfind the ones we found, or better yet, let's see who can find them all first!!

We thought "..Only in Austin...", but I also found out that its not only in Austin, but worldwide. http://www.streetpianos.com/. Check to see if your city/country is on the list, and look for the pianos. I wanna see pics!!!