The Mueller Family Journey- Home and Haiti

Where Have I Been?

2010-09-26T22:40:00.008-04:00

Its been so long since I posted I cant believe it. I guess its because not much has gone on lately. The rest of the summer flew by and the kids have started school. Jeremy is doing awesome in 6th grade. Nick is doing alright. Some ups and downs and he really doesnt like school much. My work has been super busy! And the carwash is still doing good business.

I havent been doing much for Haiti since I got back from my last trip in April. I am not working as the Medical Coordinator or on the board for Nehemiah Vision Ministries anymore. I feel sort of lost right now when it comes to Haiti. I love it so much but I have no plans or direction at the moment. I dont know when I might even go back or with what group or where I would go. Its been 6 months since I was there and have gone ever October for the last 3 years. Im really missing it right now. I hope to see everyone I know in Chambrun again someday.

We do have something new going on though! I started volunteering for a cat rescue here in Westfield. From The Heart its called. Its run by a woman that started it herself several years ago. We have a Petsmart down the road. They work with her and she adopts her cats out of their store. She also has a shelter with about 100 cats in it not far from my house. I go once a week to Petsmart and clean the cages and love on the cats. Its sooooo fun.

So of course we have 2 new kittens! They are so cute and have been a lot of fun around the house. Nothing like a kitten to raise your spirits. So here are Sunshine and Shadow.

South Haven MI Vacation

2010-07-07T22:42:00.005-04:00

Harbor at sunset

Beautiful sunsets every night from our private beach front

Nick ha a lot of fun climbing the dunes

Waves were great, just like being at the ocean

Playing on the beach at sunset

Saugatuck Ferry, we had a fun day visiting there

Top of a dune on our favorite part of the trip, the dune buggy ride

We had a great time playing in the sand

1800's ship we took a 2hr ride out on in to Lake MI. It was wavy and cold that day. Jeremy and I got a little sea sick. The sails were amazing when they were out. It is the biggest boat on the lake

We really liked walking out on the pier to the lighthouse

We had a really fun time in South Haven. It is just like being at the ocean without the drive. It was much colder too though. We loved swimming, relaxing, mom got to shop some too. We will definately go back again sometime.

Flowing Well Park

2010-06-07T21:22:00.004-04:00

We spent a few hours at the Flowing Well Park in Carmel. The kids love climbing and playing in the creek. We saw several animals, threw rocks, splashed and had a great time. The highlight was the small water snake!

The kids are having a great summer break so far. We are excited to be leaving on a vacation soon to South Haven MI!

Steph

Indianapolis Childrens Museum

2010-05-03T14:43:00.002-04:00

Tom took the boys to the Childrens Museum one day when I was a work a few weeks ago. They love it there!

On the road in Haiti

2010-05-03T14:34:00.001-04:00

On our last day of clinic we went to a church in a different direction than we usually travel to do our clinic. I love to see more of Haiti. It was interesting to drive on different roads and see different things.

Images from Chambrun

2010-05-03T14:32:00.001-04:00

After church we walked around the town of Chambrun. I love this day and seeing everyone.

Flamanda

2010-05-03T14:28:00.002-04:00

I was able to see Flamanda and my friends in Chambrun on Sunday at church. Flamanda looks good except her head is exactly the same size as when I returned her the end of December. It is not getting any bigger but it should be shrinking. I left her info with the people from GAIN that are helping NVM in Haiti. They are supposed to be checking to see if we can get her a shunt in Haiti. Since the earthquake there are a few more options in Haiti for treatment if they are still there. I have not heard back from them yet.
I was sad to see this. We knew that there was a chance her ETV drainage hole would not stay open and I would guess it has closed off. Im praying she can get treated there. If not we will begin working on finding someone to put in a shunt here.

2010-05-03T14:21:00.003-04:00

Girls washing dishes in very dirty water.

A lot of people like to just sit around and watch clinic. We had several young boys this day.

Adorable and all cheeks!

This was a different IDP camp that had less than ideal location to do a clinic in. It was so hot that day but we made it work. This camp didnt have any regular tents. They were still living in sticks and tarps, sheets and lots of garbage. Probably one of the worse ones we saw. I would say almost every girl age 15 to 40 got treated for STD's that day. It was sad.

Getting ready to set up another tent

2010-05-03T14:18:00.002-04:00

I begged these girls to let me take their photo. I love watching them do hair. It is a big part of their culture!

I love the faces of the elderly in Haiti. Such a hard life and to reach this age is amazing.

Seriously, can you get any cuter than this??

Look! No translator!

2010-05-03T14:16:00.001-04:00

I was able to almost independently translate in the pharmacy! My Creole is getting better.

Haiti photos

2010-05-03T14:03:00.002-04:00

This woman went through the clinic. At the end she started praising god and waving her hands in the air. I wasnt sure why she was so excited. Everyone took note of her as she was pretty verbal. She proceeded to tell the translators that this was her first time to ever in her life be treated by a medical team! Can you believe that. She had 8 children all in her home. She was late 80's. Unbelievable! She was quite a character. It was a great day.

Some Haitian cuties!

Tent cities

This was the first day clinic in an IDP camp.

Been home for a while

2010-05-03T12:13:00.002-04:00

Sorry I havent posted about my trip yet. I had a good trip. We worked in IDP camps every day instead of Chambrun. I missed being in Chambrun but there is such a huge need in the camps and we had great days every day. We had a very small team this time but were still able to treat about 500 people that week. The team was mostly from East Point Christian Church and they were sooo nice. They adopted us right away and we all worked together. The men worked in Chambrun every day on concrete mostly and the women all went to the clinics.
Thanks for all your prayers and support. I most likely wont return to Haiti with NVM for a while. I dont know what Hands That Heal has in store for the immediate future. We have several children to work on but the process for medical visas is even more difficult than before.
Our family is doing great. Since I am not working every weekend anymore we have been able to go back to regular worship on top of our small group. Nick does great in the special class for him. We are so thankful for it and Jer has been joining us in the regular service and seems to enjoy it.
Steph

Heading to Haiti this AM. Prayers Appreciated. Feeling some anxiety but ready to serve.

2010-04-06T06:28:00.000-04:00

Sendy

2010-03-29T17:27:00.002-04:00

For anyone new, Sendy is a little girl at His Home for Children in Haiti. She has Hydrocephaly. She made it to the U.S. just prior to the earthquake and is in OH now. I met her on my first trip to Haiti in Sept of 07. We attempted to host her in our home for her initial treatment but it did not happen. She got the treatment in OH and returned to Haiti until recently she needed her shunt removed and made it back to OH right before the earthquake.

I have kept up on her since I met her. Praying for her and hoping we might adopt her. I felt God was giving us the opportunity to do this but it never happened. She never had a family come forward to adopt her so I always felt that there was a chance that it could still maybe happen.

A family has come forward to adopt her now. It was very difficult. I had to let go of the idea that it would ever happen. I have talked to the mom and emailed with them several times. Sendy will be blessed to be in their family. She just sent me these photos of her. Sendy does not need to have a new shunt put in which is great. It was very sad for me at first but I feel at peace now. I would love a daughter so much. Only God knows if that will ever happen. I know that I am to continue to work in Haiti and that will be harder if we adopt a child.

Sendy will cross my mind still often and I pray for her as I put closure on this.

Steph

Life keeps rolling along!

2010-03-12T12:29:00.002-05:00

There is so much going on but nothing post worthy it seems. Daily life, chores, homework, dinner and work fill up time. The kids are doing fine. Last weekend was my last weekend of working every weekend. I will be working 2 days a week and every third weekend now. A regular hospital schedule. I can take off work whenever I want to! It will be so much more flexible but a lot less money. We are looking forward to getting back to going to church on a regular basis. We still have biblestudy every week but miss regular church.

Hands That Heal is expecting a lot of patients this year after the earthquake. We did 6 last year and have been approached by the orphanage we partner with to do 50!! We are trying to figure out what we are going to need to accomplish this. I did get the letter a few days ago from Methodist Hospital to do a little boy at the Nehemiah Childrens home that I have been wanting to help for 2 years. He has severely deformed legs and is going to have them fixed. This will change his life forever. He is the sweetest boy!

NVM has been extremely busy with medical teams going nonstop to run the clinic and mobil clinic. Many patients are being helped. I will be returning April 6th for a week. I have been very busy coordinating supplies and medicines for the teams.

Thats all for now!
Steph

I think I might be in the wrong "field" sometimes?

2010-02-27T16:09:00.003-05:00

I really needed this devotional the other day when it came over my phone. I was just thinking about the stress and how difficult something in my life has been lately and here it was. With Jesus things should be light if we are where he wants us to be. Not a burden. Not that things are going to be easy all the time I understand that. Maybe Im not in the right yolk at all and trying to do it on my own? Maybe Im in the wrong "field", there are so many I see in front of me sometimes. Praying that God shows me where Im supposed to be and/or the burden or stress will lighten, or to make me rely on Him to help me more and I am not doing things on my own. So confusing sometimes! Anyways here it is (maybe someone else needs to hear it today)

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Has life worn you out? Tired of trying to get it all done? Tired of trying to please God, feed your family, help a friend, and take care of the million little demanding details that life can be full of? Go to Jesus! He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you and learn from Him.
Yokes are usually for a tandem pair of oxen. Younger oxen would often plow with the older experienced ones. Imagine yoking up with Jesus. Talk about experience! He went through it all without sin. He can teach you how to plow through life. Yoked to Him, you will learn from Him. He is gentle and humble in heart. No better qualities could you find in a teacher. He won't get on your case because you didn't get it right the first time. He gently instructs and directs. Learning from Him is a place of rest for your soul. That means your thoughts, emotions, and impending decisions can all rest in His perfect instruction.
Yoked together with Jesus you will see that God has it all under control. He teaches us to trust in the Father and act at His leading. When we do that, everything comes out best in the long run. We can trust in His wonderful knowledge about all things and His power to do anything. That makes the yoke feel light and the load we pull easy. He plowed this path before us and broke up the soil we could never have pulled the plow through. Now we pull the plow through the furrow that He already plowed for us. Just stay in the yoke with Him. Don't go trying to plow another field in another yoke. You'll find that without Him, you can do nothing. The yoke will be unbearably heavy and the burden unmovable. Which yoke are you under? Which burden are you pulling?

Steph

Still Smiling

2010-02-16T11:51:00.002-05:00

This week has been very uneventful for me. I have slipped back into work, laundry, dinner, dishes, homework and tv. Though sleeping has been difficult and memories are always there. I try to remember their smiles. The Haitian people are still smiling! It amazes me still. They live in extreme poverty even if you have a job you still dont have much. We are so spoiled here and I dont want to forget that. Thankfully I get a wake up call every time I go. There is much work to be done. More than ever before.

Hands That Heal did 6 medical kids last year. We are gearing up for possibly trying to do 50 this year. The needs will be huge. The medical visa process is currently on hold. Nobody comming out. We do not know how long this will last.

NVM has teams ongoing through May. I will be busy ordering meds and supplies for some of the teams. I welcome the work. It gives me things to do to help from here.

Tomorrow night I am going to a meeting at St.Vincent's Hospital where I work. It will be all doctors and medical personell. I will be sharing about NVM and what we saw in the 2 weeks that I was there as well as our upcomming trip needs. St.Vincent has sent 2 teams already and they will be sharing as well. I hope it is a good time of networking for supplies and volunteers.

Praying for my friends in Haiti,

Steph

More Photos

2010-02-09T21:52:00.007-05:00

Ponpdlo is one of my favorite people in Haiti. His wife is having a baby next month. They are sleeping on the ground with too many cracks in their house. He is excited for me to see his baby when I return.

Many signs around for help, or "we need food".

The helicopter that took our patients to the hospital near the airport.

Haitian boy watching the airplanes from an IDP camp.

Vending on the road.

What amazed me too was the normal activites that continued. People have to live and go on in the midst of chaos. God's Spirit was quite evident to our team the entire time. It was difficult to logistically place, feed and sleep the amount of people we had there but we did it and it all worked. Not that we didnt have moments of frustrations by any means but we did faithfully turn to God to make decision and keep Him first even before the medical care. We prayed with many many people in the clinic. We are praying that through the medical care that seeds were sewn that God can continue to water and the fruit of all our service will be evident in Heaven someday. HE continues to be our main focus.

Other Random Things from the Trip

2010-02-09T21:15:00.009-05:00

We saw military planes galore.

Boy with Lymphedema caused from parasites in the lymph system.

Waiting on the road.

Man walking his donkey.

Pastor Pierre's brother Joab. He was sitting alone with a far away look for a while. I wondered what he was thinking.

Cutie in the clinic. He wasnt too sure about this blond lady!

Grafitti wall we pass every day.

Tim RN taking out stitches in the clinic.

Our last morning we went to Chambrun for about an hour or so to tell everyone goodbye and get the next team going in the clinic. These boys were juggling rocks. It was a great day. We had sung worship songs prior to going out there with the translators and all prayed together as a group. I cried of course:) It is always bittersweet leaving. I love it there so much. Two weeks was a long time to be gone and I missed my boys (which I enclude Tom in when I say that). I had gotten sick right before we left too so I was ready, or as ready as I ever am. One of our translators Junior is an amazing guy. He was the one that had consoled me in front of the Presidential Palace and said to be strong. He walked us as far as he could at the airport and I said to him when we were all hugging him goodbye for him to listen to his own words and be strong now. He said "I can tell a part of you is Haitian, it is evident in you". I truly feel that when I am there. Everyone in Chambrun knows me know. Others on our trip said they would be standing with Haitians and when I would come into sight they would all start saying "Stephanie, Stephanie!" Even most I dont recognize anymore seem to know me. It is quite and honor and I am humbled that God has allowed me to be in such a position. They know I am there to help them and that makes me so happy.

Tom and the boys did amazing while I was gone. Im so proud of them. Tom has been extremly supportive. We prayed for our families back home everynight in out group prayers. I couldnt do this without my family and I thank God for them.

I plan to go back in April.

Steph

Cutest Little Man

2010-02-09T21:06:00.003-05:00

This little guy also had no food for 8 days. He was suffering from malnutrition but in the form of Marismus. He was skin and bones literally. He sucked down the pedialyte like a little bird too. He was very lucky to be flown to a hospital for treatment as well. The difficult part is that we have had no word about any of out patients that we sent out. He was so alert and looked just like a little man. He had a very bad case of pneumonia too. I pray he is doing well.

Flamanda

2010-02-09T21:03:00.002-05:00

Flamanda is doing very well with her mom back in Chambrun. Her head has only gone down a tiny bit from when I saw her a month ago but she seemed still better. She smiled at her mom and let me hold her 2 Sunday's in a row at church the entire service with out crying. Her mom came to see me most every day while I was there. I'm thrilled at her progress!

People of the IDP Camp

2010-02-09T14:34:00.010-05:00

Images from the first IDP camp I went too. We did a food distribution that day too. The little guy in the last pic was so cute. He walked around all afternoon with his little bag of rice. They were grateful to say the least for the medical care and the rice. We got to tour this camp and walk through the tents. People were cooking, sitting and talking, kids were playing. The one little guy had a kite he had made from a plastic bag. Most of the kids make their toys from garbage. The string was even made from the bag. They were very gracious to let us walk around in their misery. It was slightly uncomfortable to see. Imagine someone touring your home on your worst day ever. They delighted in us playing with their kids and taking photos of them. The kids of course loved it.

I saw in the middle of the camp as we were walking a woman bathing her husband. I had never seen this practice before. She had a lg bucket of soapy water just out in the open. He had on just a pair of sm shorts. She was washing him. There is NO privacy there at all. They didnt have much before, now there is none.

Everyone has lost a family member there. We talked to one family that had 5 children die in their house. The mother sat in a daze with a baby on her lap and her husband next to her. They said their kids were "good, strong children" and now they are gone. They were praying for God to provide them a house and a school for the kids left to be able to go to. It was so so sad. We prayed with them.

Not something any of us will forget.

Steph

Mobile Clinic

2010-02-09T14:25:00.005-05:00

It was quite interesting running a clinic out of our little bus. We had a full pharmacy in the back, 2 providers in the bus and several outside seeing patients. Inside the bus we put on a cast, worked on old wounds and saw the sicker of the patients. It actually worked quite well. The people were so happy to have help come to them. We passed by every day the first camp that had been visited. Many would wave and cheer when they saw our little blue bus drive by each day.

Steph

We Called Her Bethany

2010-02-09T14:13:00.003-05:00

This was the first really sick patient we had in Chambrun the first day. We couldnt understand her grandmother's pronunciation of her name but it was close to Bethany so that was what we called her. Her grandmother brought her to us posing as her mother. Her mom acutally was outside under a tree waiting. She was 16 and scared to death. They had no food since the earthquake and Bethany had nothing to eat for 8 days. Her body was swelling with malnutrition called Kwashikor. Her skin was splitting and sloughing off her body. She was somewhat alert. We washed her wounds and dressed them. We fed her pedialyte from a syringe which she sucked down like a little bird. She clamped down on the syringe with her teeth because she didnt want us to take it away from her to refil it. Being the first day of clinic we had not been connected yet to the helicopter service. We had to send them home with money for Tap Tap and pedialyte. The next day we had the helicopter in place. We sent people to find them because she had not shown up at the clinic like she was supposed to. They came back to report she had died.

While we were waiting for them another very sick baby came in. She went in Bethany's place on the helicopter and was able to make it to a hospital.

In our efforts to save her another was able to be saved. God works in amazing ways.

Steph

Jerica our Piti Piti Baby

2010-02-09T14:06:00.002-05:00

This is Jerica. She was the tiny premature baby on our last trip that we sent to Children of the Promise for help. She returned to Chambrun after a month with the beginnings of Hydrocephaly. She is so pretty. I think she may be blind too. She eats well now but her head is growing very fast. I do not know if we will attempt a medical visa for her. The process for medical visas is on hold right now anyways. Living where she does would not support a shunt and she is too small right now for the ETV procedure. I hate not doing anything for her right now. Her fontanell is very tense and her eyes are sundowning already. Her head will grow to massive proportions like Flamandas did. Her mom saught me out right away. She was saved and attends church at NVM after we helped Jerica. My last day I was there she came again and someone ran after me as I was leaving saying a woman with a tiny baby wanted me. I figured it was her. I was thrilled that she was the last baby I saw that day. I gave her some more formula and a hug. That was all I could do. It is hard to leave sometimes.
Steph

So Many Stories

2010-02-09T13:59:00.003-05:00

JEAN

I am going to start with Jean because I have had several people ask about him. Jean is one of Pastor Pierres workers that I see every time I am in Haiti. He is like a haitian brother to me. He has Epilepsy. Through Hands That Heal we were able to get him a CT scan and medicine that is not available in Haiti. Since he has been on the medicine for approx 3 months he has been seizure free! He is soooo happy. I talked to him about it this trip. He had the biggest smile, it was great. Jean is very quiet and reserved. I had to beg him to smile for this picture. He showed me a picture of his 1 yr old daughter and introduced me to his sister last week. It is amazing what a simple pill can do for someone to change their whole life. He lived with terrible seizures for 25 yrs and now can function and not be afraid to be alone.

What a blessing to be a part of that for me. God is so good!

Steph

Tent Cities or IDP Camps

2010-02-08T21:29:00.005-05:00

Growing daily.

Rubble

2010-02-08T21:16:00.007-05:00

The amt of rubble is amazing. The closer you get into town the worse it gets. I did not take my camera with me downtown. We stood infront of the Presidential Palace and I cried for the first time on the trip. I had been there so many times before and many Haitians were standing around. Our translators were with us and I just thought of how they must feel. One of them gave me a hug and said "You need to stay strong" which I though was ironic. He was consoling me. The jail, the tax building, the Justice dept, the cathedral, and the Palace are all in a 3 block radius and all destroyed. It is undescribable what it looks like, smells like and feels like. In the middle of all this is a tent city and people going about business. Some sifting through rubble, some sitting on their rubble. I watched a man jump into a dumpster and sift through it getting all the clothing out and he put it in a pile. He tried on a shirt that was way to big for him so he took it off and left the pile neatly seperated from the garbage for the next person to go through. How heartwreching.

How they will ever dispose of all the rubble is big issue. There is not enough room in the city for all the displaced people so they will begin to move them to outer places around the city like the new place going in near Chambrun.

Earthquake Haiti Trip

2010-02-08T20:52:00.004-05:00

This trip ran the range of emotions for sure. It was happy and sad, scary and joyous, gutwrenching and aweinspiring all at the same time. We got there 10 days after the earthquake so the majority of bad injuries were already taken care of initially or the people died. We worked outside of PAP in Chambrun which is on the NE side and the epicenter was on the other side of PAP. Our clinic was extremely busy though. Everyone was effected by the earthquake even if it wasnt a physical injury. No food, water, shelter, anxiety, lack of sleep, aftershocks continued the first week I was there which made the Haitian people even more fearful. Most even if their homes were still standing would not go into them and slept in their yards under sheet tents.

Those that lost their homes are called Internally Displaced People or IDP. Many IDP camps are growing and growing. People making tents from sticks, trash, sheets or anything they can find. They find open flat areas and start building. Other join and pretty soon it is a large tent camp. Unfortunately the areas are not meant for living. No wells, or latrines available.

In the 2 weeks I was gone the camps grew and grew. We took our bus as a mobil clinic to some of the camps and administered meds there. It was an experience to see them first hand. One we got to walk through. The people are desperate and scared which made the clinics more dangerous and not as secure. Late into the day the people knew we could not see everyone and they would begin to push, shove and cut line which caused fights. Thankfully we had no major incidents at the IDP camps or in Chambrun which had the same thing going on every day.

We saw some injuries from the quake but not many. Luckly we had access to a helicopter service that could fly our most critical patients to a hospital. We flew around 7 or so patients out. Several very malnourished babies that had not had food for as long as 8 days. A broken arm that needed surgery and woman that had a miscarriage during the quake that had been bleeding for a long time. Otherwise we saw the same respiratory, GI, skin infections, colds and fevers. Many hungry people and dehydrated needed help. We started a handful of IV's and gave out tons of antibiotics, tylenol, antiacids and vitamins. All together we saw in 2 weeks 5,300 patients between Chambrun and the IDP camps.

Most of our translators have no place to live either and are sleeping in their yards or on the street. The university was completely collapsed with hundreds dead. In 45 seconds their lively hood, homes, some family members and all belongings were completely gone. Thier spirit remains intact somehow. The Haitian people are so strong! Their faith that God has a purpose for them and the will to continue on is amazing. We saw life continuing on as usual in many areas. People selling, buying, walking, smiling and living.

The gratitude is unbelievable that they share with us. They are truly thankful for anything even as small as a hug or a baggie of tylenol. It gives them the hope they need to continue going on.

We found out last week that 50,000 IDP's are going to be relocated across the street basically from our compound! God has definately placed us where He wants us to be able to minister to them. NVM has been financially blessed since this has happend and I am so happy to announce that we are going to begin construction very soon on our hospital. God has been very faithful to provide what we need. GAIN (Global Aid Network) has been partnering with NVM to help get aid and supplies as well. It has been a great blessing.

We are praying that through this tragedy that God will shine into the darkness of Haiti and real, permanent change will begin to be seen!

I was blessed beyond anything I can imagine to be able to serve with the people I did and witness the Haitian people surviving!

Thank you to all who prayed and supported me to do this. Tom and the boys did great while I was away. What a blessing!

Steph

Finally a plan

2010-01-21T13:38:00.002-05:00

We are heading to the airport at 5am tomorrow morning. Flying into the Dominican Republic and renting a van to drive to PAP. Life has been more busy in the last week than I have ever had in my life. It is stressful, crazy and a lot of pressure. I am finally at a good point now. Packed supplies for team, myself, coordinated most everything I need to. I purchased hack saws and Vodka for doing amputations. Vodka for sterilizing instruments and maybe for the patient. They will be awake for the procedures. No narcotics available. It is going to be civil war style medicine. It sounds crazy and barbaric but if your limb has gangreen set in or is completely crushed what else is there to do. The amt of Haitians missing limbs will be staggering.
Im nervous, relieved to have a plan though.
Please pray and then pray some more. We should get into SantoDomingo tomorrow night and to PAP by Sat night.
I am staying for 14 days. I have not been away this long ever. Pray for the boys and Tom while Im gone too.
Steph

Latest updates

2010-01-17T10:04:00.003-05:00

We are working very hard on finalizing plans to get to Haiti Wed. The immediate prayer requests are for flights and anitbiotics. I am getting into FAME an organization in Indy on Monday. They are willing to share supplies with us. Which is a great praise. I hope they have lots of antibiotics to share. God seems to be lining everything up. We have 2 doctors 2-3 nurses and 3 others comming to help coordinate for us. The clinic is sitting empty and is urgently needed.
Pastor is working currently with GAIN out of Canada for relief supplies and food to reach people that need it.
We will have security for our clinic which is a blessing as it will be crazy Im sure. Pray for all those already there working, it is exhausting mentally and physically.
Well keep you updated.
Prayin,
Steph

Nelson Jean Felix

2010-01-15T22:41:00.005-05:00

Some photos of my translator/friend and good friend of the Pierres from my first trip to Haiti. He truly loved God and I know is in heaven now. Your friends and family will miss you greatly.

More news from Haiti

2010-01-15T22:18:00.003-05:00

We have confirmed that all our students, teachers, and workers are safe. I told Tom I thought that would be a miracle so I am claiming one in the name of Jesus!
Pastor has assessed the situation and feels we need to get a medical team in as soon as possible. We are going to be contacting Missionary Flights International for flights. Pray we can get in with them. We would like to start traveling as soon as next week.
There are a lot of logistics with peoples schedules, meds, flights etc to coordinate but I know God can do it.
The bus can get through to Chambrun so we will be working out of our clinic there and having patients trucked to us there to be treated.
For me specifically I need to get off work and get my kids watched. We do not have a leave date yet, it might depend on the flights more than anything.
Please pray for favor with flights, everyones bosses and work to be understanding, and for our families that are willing to let us travel to help.

On a sad note the first translator I had on my very first trip to Haiti died. He was with me all week and we spent many hours talking about the U.S. and Haiti and getting to know each other. He worked for Campus Crusade and was a friend of the Pierre family. He will be very much missed.
Praying,
Steph

The Pierres

2010-01-15T14:35:00.002-05:00

The Pierre family has finally been reunited. The house as only a few small cracks. Pastor is going to be out assessing the situation and asks for prayer on how to move forward and best help. We are hoping he will get to Chambrun to update us on their status out there as well. We are all still praying for them and all of Pastor Pierres workers live in PAP at different locations. There are 4 men and 2 women. We hope they are all alright and have homes still.
If pastor feel that teams can begin to immediately come in pray God would open up the doors for that to happen. If you want to donate to NVM or to me going back you can send a check to
NVM
P.O. Box 48
Westfield IN 46074
In the comments write either for Earthquake or Stephanie Mueller trip

I am hoping to go for 2 weeks very soon but we do not have any idea how that is going to happen. God has opened many doors for me to order quickly medical supplies that we will need if we can get there quickly. Pray he keeps the aid flowing where it needs to go all over PAP.
Steph

What we are doing now

2010-01-14T13:11:00.002-05:00

We are so happy and blessed to say that Pastor Pierres family is ok. Now we move on and press ahead.
I am currently trying to find any resources I can for antibiotics, dressings supplies and wound care and paing managment.
We want to start coordinating small teams to get down there to help.
Getting there will be the difficult part.
As medical personnel working in offices and hosptials it is not always easy to get off work. I have many medical people including myself that are ready to go help we just need prayer to get off work and get down there.
I have been able to find supplies already which is a great praise. I was afraid I wouldnt find anything on short notice.
We are hoping Pastor will make it into PAP today on his flight. We are hearing many reports of planes not being able to get in.
Keep praying,
Steph

I Cried

2010-01-13T22:23:00.002-05:00

I finally cried a little while ago. I dont know why it took me so long. It didnt feel real maybe, I wanted to fully trust God to deliver everyone I know there, maybe if I cried I wouldnt be believing. I still believe God is bigger than all this. I still believe God can use this for good somehow. I know he is in control.

I cried because I dont know if so many people are alive or dead.
I cried for Diane, Charissa and Lemmie.
I cried for Pastor and Nathan for the torture they are going through not knowing and not being there.
I cried for my favorite NVM worker Ponpdlo and his pregnant wife. Are they alive, do they have a house left.
I cried for Jean who Tom and I sponsor for his medical care.
I cried for Claudine who is the child we love and sponsor, where is she now.
I cried for Judith my favorite teacher at the school.
I cried because it seems so unfair.
I cried because I feel helpless here.
I cried because we are so blessed, my kids are snug in bed sleeping.
I cried because I know even before this happened life was a struggle every day in Haiti now it will be 10 times worse. I didnt think it could be much worse than what they already live with now I know it can be.
I cried for everyone I know that is adopting from Haiti and their children are there. They are very worried about them and the next months.
I cried because the place I love, feel like is a second home and the people are my second family are suffering beyond what I can even imagine, emotionally and physically.
I cried for the exahusted workers doing their best with not enough equipment and help.
I cried because every time I close my eyes I see images of bodies on the sidewalk and rubble.
I cried because I had to get it out.

Now I continue praying.
Steph

Update

2010-01-13T18:46:00.002-05:00

I spoke with Pastor Pierre about an hour ago. He and Nathan are still in Miami. They are scheduled on a charter flight with Missionary Flights International in the am to PAP. We have still had no word on his family or anyone in Chambrun. He is trusting God that they are alright.
This all seems so sureal and unfair and very difficult to understand and put into words. I love Haiti and the people so much. To have this happen is uncomprehensible. The loss and devastation will be immesurable.
We have had no internet contact in the last several hours except with only a few missionaries and many photos of the destruction and many many bodies on the roadsides are hard to see.
I want to be there giving medical care. I hate sitting here doing nothing. I know prayer is the most important thing I can do but I am a "do'er". There is an organization I know that is trying to organize some nurses to go for disaster relief. I want to go so badly and utilize my skills to help but it seems so unatainable. Does God even want me to go now I dont know. This is all so hard to process.
I leave my plans in Gods hands with Him knowing I am willing to serve however He wants.
First we desperately want info on Pastors family.
Please continue to pray for info and that he gets there,
Steph

Update Haiti Earthquake

2010-01-13T08:44:00.002-05:00

Pastor Pierre is on his way to Miami hoping to get to PAP today. We have still had no contact with his wife and children in PAP.
The structure of the childrens home in Chambrun was not the greatest. We are very concerned about all of them. Our workers, teachers, students and really for a lot of us that work closely there it is like our second family.
The loss of life in PAP will tremendous. The not knowing is very difficult. Sitting and watching the news, praying and watching email hoping for word.
I pray the aid will flow quickly and not stop. Thinking about how many people are trapped and suffering. IF they are rescued where will they go for treatment?
Too many thing to process right now.
I will update as soon as we hear any news from the people we know and love there.
Praying,
Steph

Haiti Earthquake

2010-01-12T20:27:00.003-05:00

Haiti has suffered a 7.0 earthquake at 5pm this evening. We have been unable to communicate with Pastor Pierres family. They are in PAP and we have heard it is bad there. Nehemiah Vision Ministries works in Chambrun which is just outside PAP as well.
Pastor is in Trinidad with his oldest son for Campus Crusade. We hope to hear from them soon.

His Home for Children had a wall fall down at one of their complexes but all children are fine.

I have seen posts from 2 other ministries I follow and everyone is fine. Still havent heard from others.

Pray for minimal loss and that recovery can happen. I have heard the people are very out of sorts and scared which isnt good there.

Praying,
Steph

Sendy

2010-01-10T23:12:00.003-05:00

Sendy got her medical visa a few days ago. She will be comming to the U.S. on the 20th with someone visiting the orphanage. I do not know that we will even see her while she is here. She will be staying with the same family that had her the last time. Im sad that we wont see her or have her at all during her stay. I guess God's plans arent our plans sometimes.
Steph

Sendy

2010-01-05T17:01:00.002-05:00

These are two bells that Jeremy got from Santa. One this year and one last. They symbolize for him his extreme compassion. He loves the idea that Santa gave him something because of this. (This all started after watching the Polar Express last year).

I surprisingly have peace about not getting to bring Sendy back with me. God is in control. I have not heard since I have been back if she has gotten her visa yet. I pray she can be healed.

I dont understand why twice I thought I was going to have her and twice I didnt. I guess we don't always know the reasons God works the way he does.

Steph

Jerica

2010-01-05T16:47:00.003-05:00

I was able to visit with Jerica the tiny baby we had helped in the last clinic. She is developing Hydrocephalus now. Her fontanel is bulging and her eyes are starting to turn down. I dont think she can see. She does not track anything. She looks heathlier that she did when we were there last. She is eating better. I dont know that there is any hope for her. The last pic is inside their house. It is also a 10 x 10 mud hut. They have a bed, table and radio. That is her big brother naked and filthy. It is so sad. Her mother became a christian after we helped Jerica. She comes to church every Sunday. Pastor says she is very bright and seems to understand all the lessons very quickly and is an eager student. She is very on fire for God right now.

The family took Jerica to a Bush Doctor. This is not a voodoo doctor but they do strange things with herbs and other remedies. When I took Jericas hat off all of this strong smelling yellow powder came out. I noticed they had a string tied around the hat very tightly.

Pastor asked her father about it. He said the Bush Doctor said that it is not fluid in her head but air. If they put the mustard seed powder on it, it would drive the air out. Pastor asked him what he believed. The father said he was not sure but his mother in law believed and he didnt know what else to do.

What a sad desperate situation to be in. I wish we could help her but I dont know if it is the best for her right now to go back to Haiti after treatment here as bad as she is. Flamanda was much more stable. We just dont know if she would be a good candidate for a medical visa.

The mother asked pastors wife last week for cereal for the baby. She has not much to feed her.

So many difficult situations to deal with there.

Praying,

Stephanie

NVM Childrens Home

2010-01-05T16:38:00.010-05:00

I had brought the kids some magnetix toys. They were enthralled by them. It was so fun to watch and play with them.

Steph

Random Shots from Chambrun

2010-01-05T16:14:00.013-05:00

Every time I go there is a child half naked and filthy. This was the one this time.

Roosters running through the laundry.

She was so cute and not afraid of me at all!

I see this girl every time I go into the village. I dont think she goes to school.

Chief voodoo doc in Chambrun that gave his life to Jesus a few moths ago!

My favorite pic of the trip. I love the elderly in Haiti. Their faces have such character. I love how his beard and the hat and the dark skin on the light wall all look together.

Love the hat this little guy made.

Another little cutie.

Myrta watching her new cement house being built. A church raised and donated money for her to have a block house. Something she could never have imagined having in her entire life. What a blessing it will be for her and her daughters some day to have.

Everything built by hand in Haiti.

I love this pic too. Notice his hat! It is great, and NO SHOES. Pastor made him wear shoes to work the next day and he came with 2 left boots that were different but he wore them. This gentlemen was the man with the giant abcess comming out of his chin from infected teeth on my last trip. Pastor said he had not seen him since then and he showed up again when I was there to work on Myrtas house. He was totally healed. He might have died from infection if he had not come to the clinic a few months before.

After returning Flamanda home the rest of my trip was spent visiting in Chambrun with the community and the childrens home. While Myrtas house was being built there was a large gathering of people watching. The kids love to play and have their pictures taken.

This little girl was adorable. I always wonder at their large smiles amongst the poverty, hungry bellies, filth and pain.

Pray for NVM to continue to do good work in Jesus name there.

Steph

Flamanda's return home

2010-01-05T15:52:00.007-05:00

The 28th of Dec. I traveled to Haiti to return Flamanda to her mom. It was a very long day getting there. I had many bags and Flamanda in her stroller. I have to say that American Airlines was amazing. All the workers were extremely helpful. I have never traveled with a child before. It is challenging but everything went well. A stranger even offered me his dinner on the last leg of the flight which I gladly took since I had only managed to get a pack of crackers the whole day trying to feed and keep her happy in the airports.

I flew first class on that last leg down because when I booked my flight there was no other seat. It was amazing! I have never flown that way before. I couldnt believe how we were treated and the food and service. Definately spoiled!

Her mom was super surprised. She did not know I was comming. She only knew Flamanda was comming home that week. She as you can see she is covered with mud. She had a big bucket and had been gathering mud to patch their mud hut. What a life. I cannot imagine. It was dark by the time we arrived. I left her with a few supplies and returned the next day to give her everything else we had brought for Flamanda and her brother. They live in a 10ft x 10ft sq mud box. Everything we brought filled up half her house. There was a small bed and a table, that was it. When I arrived the next day she was doing laundry in basins by hand. Again I cannot imagine. She said Flamanda had a difficult time falling asleep that night, she just kept looking around in the dark. Im sure it will take her a while to readjust to being home.

We left her mom with lots of food and formula. We hope she transitions well to Haitian food.

Thanks for all the prayers for her. It was a great honor to be a part of her journey from beginning to end.

Steph

Christmas

2010-01-05T15:38:00.005-05:00

We had a busy but good Christmas. The kids got laptops for gifts this year from their grandparents. We are truly blessed more than we should be. Many other small gifts and games as well. We enjoyed getting to spend time with family. My 94 yr old grandpa was able to join us at my moms house too which indeed was a blessing. He passed away very peacefully the 28th of December when I was in Haiti. We were able to make the services in Ft.Wayne this weekend. He lived an exceptional life and will be missed.

Steph

Handprints

2010-01-02T22:55:00.003-05:00

Hello all, sorry I have not had time to update from Christmas or my recent Haiti trip. I will post soon. Life has been extremely crazy since christmas eve.
I really liked this. It was on my work web site. It is nice to work at a religious hospital. I try to ask God to show me where he wants me to leave my handprints and follow through.
Steph

By Chaplain Don Williams

In the frontier days many of the settlers built their prairie homes out of logs and used muddy clay to fill the cracks between them. The clay would harden and they would have a solid, air-tight wall for the winter, but each fall the pioneers had to repack the clay before winter. One fall a toddler pressed his little, chubby hand deep into the soft clay where his mother had just patched a gap between the logs. She picked up the child, carried him into the house, and cleaned his hands. She forgot to go back and redo the spot where the toddler had left his handprint. That winter the child became ill and died. The pioneer mother never redid the spot where her little boy had pressed his hand deeply into the clay. A number of years later when her eyesight was very poor, her husband saw her stooping down beside the cabin and gently rubbing her hands across the little handprint that their young son had left for them.
I am reminded of the number of times that Jesus left His handprint in the lives of others. He took the hand of a young girl who had died and said, “Young maiden arise,” and she came to life. He made clay out of dirt and saliva, rubbed it on the eyes of a blind man and gave him sight. He touched the leper and made him whole. He went to Calvary and allowed nails to be driven through His hands for you and me. He did that so that we could see, be whole, and have life now and forever more.
Each one of us leaves our handprints in the lives and hearts of more people than we will ever realize. The questions we must ask ourselves are: “What kind of ‘prints’ am I leaving in the hearts and souls of others? Will they stoop down and gently rub their hands across our print and remember it with love and affection? How do I want my handprints of life to look in the hardened clay of time?”
You determine what you do with your hands and what kind of prints you will leave. This New Year, use your hands like Jesus used His: to help others, to lift burdens, to heal, and to offer friendship and love. Let us lift, “Holy Hands to God.”

New pics of Sendy

2009-12-22T22:56:00.002-05:00

It breaks my heart to see her just sitting in her car seat all the time. She still has a huge smile though. I guess she doesnt know any other life.

The bottom pic with tears all over her face kills me. How can you not want to love her, hold her and give her all the medical care she deserves. Ill let you all know when I do when they get a visa.

Steph

New updates

2009-12-22T16:17:00.002-05:00

Well my and Flamandas tickets are booked! We travel back to Haiti the 28th of Dec. to reunite her with her mother. I have raised some funds for the trip but not all. I am so thrilled to be a part of her journey from beginning to end. God is truly amazing. The community is very excited about her return. To have someone travel to the U.S. and return is a very big deal there. I can wait to see her mom. I will take lots of pics.

I am still hoping to bring Sendy home with me. They are working on getting her visa now. Please pray that everything works out and I can transport her for surgery.

The kids will be staying with my mom and Tom will be home working. Pray for all of them as I am gone. I couldnt do it without them!
Steph

Who knew cats liked pizza??

2009-12-22T16:14:00.002-05:00

C.C. decided to open the lid with her head and try to help herself to the pizza last night!

Nick's Poetry

2009-12-22T16:03:00.003-05:00

This is Nick reading his Ode at Barnes and Noble. He did a great job. He was really nervous.
The kids had to pick a topic that they really felt strongly about or liked a lot and he picked....

Gas Stations! Yes I was surprised too but that is Nick for you.

Ode to the Gas Station

A gas station is fantastic. You can pay with cash or plastic.
A gas station is an oasis on the road.
A gas pump is a juice box for cars.
The car was thirsty when it reached the station.
The foodmart was happily feeding the people
A gas station is like a little city in town.
The cost of the gas is as expensive as gold.
Giant cars greedly guzzle gallons of gas.
Gas stations sell sodas, snacks and scrumptious snow cones.
The car glugged the gasoline and away it sped.
The cars vrooomed as they drove away.
Snacks are goodies that children cannot wait to devour.
The cash register chimed as it opened.
Gas stations keep us on the go. Even as far away as Tokyo.
by Nick Mueller

They had to include all sorts of different illiterations. It was a difficult project for Nick. Creativity is not an autistic trait! His dad was in tears as he read. Shockingly it wasnt me crying. Even his special ed teacher had a tear. He has grown so much. Just a few years ago he was comming out of the bathroom naked in preschool! I can believe he is in third grade already. He is so smart! He can remember anything he just has to see it once or hear it once and it is never gone. I wish I had half his memory power.
We love you Nick, you never cease to amaze us!

Flamanda/Sendy updates

2009-12-15T13:08:00.003-05:00

Flamanda is cleared to go home already! The hole in her brain is draining fluid and her head has gone from down by 4 cm. The doctor feels confident that the hole will stay open. We are a little nervous about her returning so soon but the doctor has released her and we have to send her back now. Her mom will be thrilled to get her so we are happy that she will be reunited with her quickly. We are trying to work out how to get her back to Haiti and her mother. Hands That Heal is very low on money right now and does not have the entire amt available to pay for a ticket for me to take her back. I am willing to pay for half of my ticket to go but we still need more. In Chambrun where I work with NVM and where Flamanda is from is having a revival the week I would love to return to take her back (the last week of Dec.). It is the 1 year anniversary of the opening of our church. They are having many festivities and a wedding that week. The first one ever. It is not often that people get married because they simply dont have the money to do it in Haiti.
I might also be able to bring Sendy back with me then too. The surgeon in OH that put in her first shunt is willing to do surgery again. They are working on the hospital to agree as well. I would love to be able to do that for them and spend a day with her. I always felt we were supposed to adopt her but we have never been persuaded to take that step I guess. If the hospital agrees that would give them enough time to get the visa by the time I would leave.
So many things up in the air right now. I wish God would just show us the future and His plans! I might not get to go at all and I am trying to prepare myself for that too. I guess if I am supposed to go God will work it out. I hate stupid money!! So much could be accomplished with more money. We are desperate to raise 12,000 with NVM now too to be able to get our next shipment of food to feed the 320 kids we have for the next year. We are almost out of food. I would be happy with a few hundred to get Flamanda back and Sendy here right now though. Starving and suffering kids is just not something I am willing to accept. Pray for Tom and Jer and Nick as they do a great job dealing with my craziness! Though Jeremy has definately inherited my compassion:)

Pray that God would bless Hands That Heal and NVM financially so we can continue Gods work and that Sendy can get here to have her surgery. They told me she is talking more and loves to play with Barbies! She is worth saving! Pray that Flamanda can be reunited with her mother and that I dont go crazy worring how this is all going to work out! I still wonder why God has choosen me to be there intercessor and put all this in my life!
I guess I'll just keep praying but honestly I wouldnt want it any other way!
Steph

Sendy

2009-12-14T11:04:00.003-05:00

Sendy had her shunt taken out a few weeks ago due to infection. She remains at His Home for Children orphanage. They went to the clinic that the doctors from Miami come to do every few months in PAP and Sendy had the ETV procedure done where an artificial hole is put in instead of a shunt. The hole did not stay open long. She is in desperate need of a new shunt. Her inscision site is leaking spinal fluid now. Her fontanel is closed so the fluid will cause extreme pressure and head pain and further brain damage to her if she does not get a new shunt put in. The team from Miami took her last CT scan with them so the orphanage does not have one now to send us to even get to a doctor in the states to see if we can get her here. She had her first shunt put in at a hospital in OH. She has her passport and is a good candatiate for getting here on a visa. She has weakness on her lt side but does sit up, feed herself, sing her ABC's and could have a good quality of life. Sendy was the first child I fell in love with my first day ever in Haiti. I hate the thought of her suffering and it is so unfair that she cannot have proper treatment. At this point I dont know how to help her. I am hoping the orphanage can get her scans from the doctors in Miami or a new scan so we can try to find a doctor very quickly to help her here.

Please pray for this situation.

Steph

Update on Jeri

2009-12-14T11:00:00.003-05:00

Here are some new photos of Jerica. Due to her hydrocephaly Children of the Promise felt that if her parents werent willing to have her adopted out they should take her back at this point. They do not feel she is a good candidate for a medical visa. Pastor Pierre flew her back to Chambrun to her parents. I have not heard how she is doing with them. They could not bear the thought of not having her no matter what the outcome. I pray she is eating well and not suffering at all.

Christmas Kitty

2009-12-07T20:26:00.002-05:00

Ever since we put up our tree C.C. our cat has taken up residence under it! The kids just love to put up the tree and look at it.

With snow on the ground here in Westfield this morning it sure was looking like Christmas is comming.

Family Pics

2009-12-04T18:22:00.014-05:00

We had our family pics taken after 2 years of not doing it and they turned out great! I could have posted a lot more they were all so good. I cant wait to see how my Christmas card turns out, I am picking it up tonight.

Our good friend is an awesome photographer! Check out J. Sherrick Photography she does awesome work.

Thanks Jen!

Flamanda/Jerica/Jean

2009-12-04T12:57:00.002-05:00

Flamanda continues to improve. Her host mother reports she is eating as well as she did before surgery now. She still has the feeding tube in for extra nutrition. She has an appointment next week with the surgeon. We are anxious to see what he thinks at that time.

Jerica continues to decline. Pastor Pierre talked with the father yesterday and he could not bear the thought of her with another family. They do not wish to give her up for adoption and the facility where she is at does not feel she is a candidate for a medical visa unless she could stay in the U.S. and be adopted. Pastor is flying to Cap Haitien to get her and bring her back to the family. I would think she will not make it long there since she is not taking any food by mouth. It is so sad to think if we could have been there when she was born or had a clinic running in Chambrun that her life could have turned out totally differently. NVM needs $2,500.00/month to operate a clinic there. The building is almost completed we just need the monthly funding to get it running.

Jean has started his seizure medications this week. He had a really bad seizure right before starting the medicine. He is very hopeful as are we that we can get him seizure free with medications. What a blessing to him to have this opportunity to get the medicine he so desperately needs.

Blessings,
Steph

Flamanda

2009-11-29T16:52:00.002-05:00

Flamanda was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. She is doing well. She is eating babyfood well but they left the feeding tube in with formula going in for extra nutrition. She has a doctor appointment with the surgeon in 2 weeks. They will decide then if she still needs the feeding tube in depending on how well she is getting fluids in. The surgeon was happy with how her head was looking. It should continue to slowly drain fluid. She can close her eyes all the way now which she couldnt do before as her eyes are not bulging out as much. The surgeon was impressed at how she tracked objects and how alert she was.
Continue to pray for healing and that the drainage hole stays open.
Thanks,
Steph

Flamanda/Jerica

2009-11-25T10:15:00.003-05:00

Flamanda had her surgery yesterday and everything went great. Her head is draining well. It is starting to shrink down and she was able to close her eyes all the way when she was sleeping. She is not eating well most likely due to sore throat. They will keep her until Fri or Saturday. The host mom and one of her older children have a hospital apartment across the street from the hospital to stay at until she goes home. They are sad to be away from their family at Thanksgiving but doing great. She said the nurses are spoiling Flamanda.
Our biggest prayer request is that the drainage hole stays open. If it closes they will have to put in a shunt and it will make it much more difficult to maintain that in Haiti for her mother.

I also received a new update on Jerica. The fluid is builiding in her head which is not good. She is not eating on her own. They are trying to get ahold of her parents to see if they want her back as they do not feel there is much chance for her now. I am very sad to hear this news.
Pray for wisdom in her case and for all involved to make the right decisions for her.

Thanks,
Steph

Jerica

2009-11-19T12:24:00.005-05:00

I received a new update on our piti piti baby. I think she looks so good in this picture!

From the orphanage,
Jeri is actually doing pretty well, considering everything she has been through. She's keeping almost all of her formula down and when I weighed her today she was 4 lbs. 1 oz (up from 3 lbs. 4.8 oz last Tuesday). She's still not interested in sucking very much at all, so almost all of it is going in her tube. But she's having regular wet and dirty diapers, so that's a blessing. Her temperature is up to within the normal range, so she doesn't need to be under a light 24/7. She's not crying yet, but is making more noises that are closer to cries. She's also moving around much more. She is on both Lasix and Acetazolamide to help with the swelling in her brain. She has definitely improved over the past week, though is still in a critical stage. I attached pictures from when I changed her tube yesterday.

Steph

Georgey

2009-11-17T11:01:00.000-05:00

Hands That Heal has a new patient comming tomorrow night from Haiti. His name is Georgey. He is 11 years old and we have been told he is a very pleasant child. He will be seeing a urologist in Indy and having genetic counseling done. Georgey was born with ambiguous genetalia. His care will be life altering for him and will require a very dedicated family with a lot of sensitivity to his emotional needs as we are not yet sure what all will be required to fix his specific needs until he arrives and testing can be done. Rebekah and her family will be keeping Georgey for a few weeks until we can find a longer term family for him. More information will be available as he arrives. If you are in the northern Indiana or Indy area and are interested in hosting him or know someone that might be, or would like more information on him please contact either Rebekah or Stephanie. Rebekah is also in need of clothing for Georgey. We are guessing he is a size 8-10 slim. Shoes and underwear are also a need. If you are in or near Ft.Wayne and can help with this please contact Rebekah.Prayer for Rebekah's family and for Georgey's transition would be very appreciated. His case will be very delicate and we do not have a lot of details yet.
Thanks,
Steph

Birthday Boy

2009-11-16T18:47:00.001-05:00

My baby turned 10 on Saturday! Unbelievable that my youngest child is in double digits now. We had cake and a few presents. Family party to come later. He was so excited!!
We love you Nick~

Perseverance

2009-11-13T12:10:00.002-05:00

Nick got an award at school last week for Perseverance! Every week they give out awards to students based on the lifeskill they are working on for that week. If perseverance doesnt sum up Nick and school I dont know what does. He has had a rough couple of weeks but had been doing better than he ever has before. School will be filled with many ups and downs for Nick and us. Ive heard change of seasons is rough for autistic people and if you know Nick you know he hates clothing! Long pants and socks make him uncomfortable unfortunately.

We are so happy with his teacher and helpers this year. They do a great job helping him. We are very blessed to live where we do.

Way to go Nick!!!! We love you.

Steph

Flamanda

2009-11-11T10:56:00.003-05:00

Flamanda is doing very well. We found out today that she is having her surgery on the 23rd at 1:30. The doctor has her MRI and says everything is a go for surgery. She is eatting a ton and generally doing very well. They expect her to be in the hospital for a few days if all goes well.
Steph

Jerica

2009-11-11T10:53:00.002-05:00

I got a new update on Jerica. They have taken her out of the hospital and back to Children of the Promise. She is only taking small amts of formula through her NG tube, not crying, and is very cold. Her lab work is all normal and her Hgb is up to 10 from 6 when she got to the hospital. She is HIV negative. They are working with her the best they can. It is up to God now. They have not given up hope on her.
Steph

Not Good News on Jerica

2009-11-09T18:43:00.002-05:00

I received a new update today. It sounds like as soon as she turned a good corner she has turned back the other way. She is now apparently not eating again, not crying and is very cold. They are thinking about just taking her back to Children of the Promise and continuing care there instead of the hospital and hoping for the best. They are wanting info to contact the parents if she passes. It doesnt sound good. I want to say something positive about what her life has been so far but I just dont feel it comming to me. What I really feel is that if I had been there earlier or we had care there weekly she would actually have had a chance.
I have been having some withdrawl as I usually do when I return it has just hit me later than usual this time. I think, what are we doing here in the U.S.? Watching TV, going out to eat, mundane daily life things. Going to work to have just enough money to pay the bills. Homework, videogames, cartoons, and computer fill my kids lives. Is this what God wants us to be doing? I think of so much that we could accomplish in Haiti, lives saved and improved, people being brought to Christ. Children that we could help to not suffer and die and starve to death.
I try to do as much as I can here but it is very limited. Then I think would I really be able to sacrifice my lifestyle and comfort here. Could I sacrifice it for my kids until they are 18. I am selfish and lazy here most of the time. I want so badly to be there helping, doing more. I want to be able to look at God and say I did everything in my power to save them and tell them about you. I love my family here so much. People think when I say I want to be there it is because I dont want to be with them here. It isnt that at all. I guess I just cant explain it.
All I can do is pray.
I hope that Jerica will live but maybe that isnt what God wants. I guess I am just feeling frustrated, helpless and useless here right now.
Steph

New info on Jerica

2009-11-06T13:12:00.002-05:00

I received an update on Jerica today. She is doing much better! She is taking food by mouth now and just getting supplement by the tube. She is more alert and will be going back to Children of the Promise hopefully this weekend. It sounds like she has definately turned the corner! Praise God.

Steph

Update on Sendy

2009-11-03T16:50:00.004-05:00

I received these pics of Sendy yesterday and an update that she is responding well to the antibiotics. She had apparently had a stroke prior to getting her shunt. She does not use her lt. arm and hand much and is very weak in her lt. leg. They think she will never walk unassisted. She is able to feed herself now. They are hoping that the team from Miami can replace her shunt in a few weeks when they come. If not there is a doctor they use that can place a shunt in Haiti now.

New info on Jerica

2009-10-29T14:48:00.002-04:00

I was able to receive an update on our tiny baby. She started swelling a couple days ago. Her fontanelle was getting full. They took her for an ultrasound of her brain and have found the ventricles to be dialated. She will have some brain damage due to this. They have begun to give her some medications to help with the excess fluid. The pediatrician there is giving her a 50/50 shot at surviving at this point. She is a fighter and we can pray for God's will to be done and healing for her. Her life has already brought salvation and touched many. Quite an impact for a tiny being. God does not make mistakes!
Steph

Jean

2009-10-29T13:56:00.002-04:00

Jean is one of the workers for Nehemiah Vision Ministries in Haiti. He has been with Pastor Pierre for a while now. I first learned about Jeans seizure disorder last year. It has taken a long time but I am happy to report that I have found a super nice Neurologist to help me treat him. We were able to get a CT scan when I was there last week and the doctor has recommended a medication for him. I have ordered it and will get it to Haiti as soon as I can. Jean's family is very poor and the money he makes goes to support them. Having a chance to be seizure free will be an amazing blessing for him. I am so happy God has shown me the resources to help him. He is a very quiet sweet person.
We havent gotten the results of the CT yet but are hoping it doesnt show anything major wrong and he can only be treated by medications.
Steph

Flamanda's Appointment

2009-10-29T13:43:00.002-04:00

Flamanda had her first doctor appointment today. The doctor says from the CT done in Haiti he does not think she has much of a temporal lobe. They are going to be getting an MRI on the 5th. She had her pre-op lab work done and is doing great with her family. She is eating well and loves rocking with Papa Terry in the rocking chair. I think she is getting spoiled! They are doing a great job and their kids are loving having her with them. They say she seems very aware of what is going on around her.
The doctor is going to do the procedure where a hole is drilled in the brain first to drain fluid. If in 2 days that isnt working he will place a shunt. If it seems to be working and draining fluid they will send her home to be watched for a while to make sure it continues to work. This also is dependent on what the MRI shows but that is the current plan for her.
What a blessing for her to be able to receive this care.
God is good!
Stephanie

Sendy

2009-10-29T09:40:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine was in Haiti recently and is adopting from His Home where Sendy is. She took this pick of her and watched her doing her therapy. Standing, feeding herself and all smiles now!
I havent gotten another update on her about her next surgery.
Just praying for her,
Steph

Update on Jerica

2009-10-26T20:36:00.002-04:00

We got an update on our piti piti baby today. She was admitted to the hospital the day after arriving at Children of the Promise. They gave her blood and IV antibiotics and are continuing the NG tube feedings. She is perking up they say!
What a praise that her mom accepted Christ and she is doing better!
God is good,
Steph

Amazing news from Chambrun

2009-10-26T20:31:00.002-04:00

A letter from Pastor Pierre,

In the gospel of John12:32 Jesus said something that has caught my attention from the first time I read it: 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." NIV
You may remember last week, we helped little Jerica born at 7 months and weighs 3 1/2 lbs to find a place that can save her life. As a result of our ministry to her, her mother have decided to give her life to Christ. She came to church yesterday to ask us to lead her into the prayer of salvation.
I then, started thinking why such a sudden move? It hit me later that helping her baby must have lifted Christ who in turn have drawn her to him.
Natacha is now a believer and pledge to keep coming to our church. Please pray for her growth and now for her partner who is not yet married to her to come to Christ.
Sometimes we pray and fast for love ones to come to the Lord, but may have forgotten to keep lifting Christ up who can and will draw every one to Him.
Peter said in 2 Peter 3:8-9
8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Please friends would you continue to pray and help us to keep lifting Jesus up in Chambrun and in all Haiti as He faithfully draw men and women to him?

What an awesome thing to happen from us just showing compassion and love and help to a child!
Pray for even more stories like this,
Steph

Photos of Sendy

2009-10-26T20:29:00.001-04:00

These were taken today when she got home from the hospital.

Update on Sendy

2009-10-26T16:39:00.003-04:00

I got another email from the orphanage about Sendy. She is doing better and is going to be released from the hospital today! She needs her shunt replaced soon. That is the next prayer request as well as financial means to do it.
Steph

Sendy

2009-10-25T19:35:00.002-04:00

Sendy was the little baby with Hydrocephaly that I met on my first day ever in Haiti Sept. 11, 2007. Her mother had brought her to His Home For Children Orphanage and has given her up for adoption. For quiet a long time I searched for care for her before I even knew what I was doing with Hands That Heal. We had been told that the neurosurgeon in Indy would do her case and Tom and I were going to keep her for 6 months. I thought it was a done deal, we would most likely fall in love with her and adopt her possibly. Well as often happens that was not Gods plan. The surgery fell through and we did not get her. Later she went to Ohio and had a shunt placed. She returned to Haiti and still does not have an adoptive family. She had been doing very well until this week. I received word that she was ill and then got an email from Hal Nunguester that runs the orphange as follows:

Hi Stephanie, Sendy was doing well, then, about 3 weeks ago she started running a fever. She responded well to rocephin, but as soon as we took her off she started the fever again. She also started leaking puss out of her belly button. One day, after several days of rocephin she just leaked yellowish spinal fluid out of her belly button and Chris immediately took her to the neuro doc. He did some xrays and deternined that the tube to her shunt was infected. On Wednesday the removed the shunt and tube. She started vomiting that night and had continued to have vomiting problems since the surgery. The doc initially thought that it was a reaction to the anesthetic (sp?) but now they are not sure. She is to remain in the hospital over the weekend and they hope to release her on Monday. She will need shunt replacement in about 3 weeks when the infection is all cleared up. We have a team coming in from Children's Medical in Miami and hopefully they will do the shunt surgery. If not, the neuro doc said he could do it for $2,000, but he does not have the shunt or tubing in country and would need to procure that also. The current charges are $500 plus we are accumulating around $15 per day for private nursing coverage, which is required. Medications and all included we are looking at around $1,000 right now and probably around $3,000 in three weeks unless the Miami team does the surgery and then we only need to pay the private nursing for about 5 days plus medications which shouldn't be over $500 total. She is a pretty sick little girl right now and really needs all of your prayers. Blessings!!!Hal Nungester Port Au Prince, Haiti

I still dont know why things happened the way they did in her case. I pray for her and think of her often, especially when we had Shnaider and Sabrina living with us. I still have a closet full of clothes for her too. I know God's plan is always right but I cant help think we missed the boat on her and what God was asking us to do. Many people were praying that we would adopt her.
Since I have been back from this trip my mind has been swimming with all the issues related to Claudine and Sendy and the countless children starving and suffering there, unable to get help they need.
If anyone feels lead to donate to Sendys care you can go to www.hishomeforchildren.com

Praying,
Steph

Please Pray

2009-10-22T11:59:00.003-04:00

Please pray for this community, these children, and Nehemiah Vision Ministries. I pray and know God will be faithful to transform more of the children there like the little girl in the first photo, to a child like the smiling face in the second photo. Pray we are financially able to meet our needs and that God shows us how to do that.

Pray for me too, it is very difficult at times for me to be away from there. One of the workers said it perfectly to me this time. He had asked me about Tom and the boys and said he could tell I loved them very much as I showed them some photos of Jeremy and Nick they had never seen them before but had met Tom on the last trip. He said he thought I had 2 families. One here and one there. It is truly how I feel. I would love to go and serve more than twice a year but with finances and work and the kids in school it would be difficult. God knows I am willing and if He wants it to happen it will. Tom has been great and supportive. The boys did fine while I was gone. They didnt even cry when I came home. I think they are used to it now. God has truly blessed me to have everything I have in my life here and what I get to do there.

Thanks,

Steph

Pics of the beautiful children!

2009-10-22T11:40:00.008-04:00

Photos of the clinic

2009-10-22T11:30:00.010-04:00

Note the giant abcess on the top picture comming out of the right side of the mans chin. He was our last patient and boy was it a doosey!! They pulled 3 teeth that were totally infected, drained the mass and we started an IV and gave him antibiotics. More antibiotics and pain meds for home too. He was very ill and didnt even realize it. He thought it was a boil! He had been working there all week and never came in until the last minute. Good thing he did or he would most likely have died from overwhelming sepsis.

The clinc went great and we accomplished a lot in the name of Jesus!

Break my heart wide open

2009-10-22T11:13:00.003-04:00

Every time I am in Haiti I see a child like her in the village. Filthy, covered in snot and crying, wandering around. She is so small with no parents in sight. I wonder which house is hers. Another small child seems to be dragging her around, I assume they are siblings. I do have hope that when she turns 3 that her parents will send her to our school and she can become another smiling face like the ones we see there. But for now this is her life, her misery, the hand she is dealt to live. I want to bath her and hold and console her but I can't this day.

Random photos from the trip

2009-10-22T11:05:00.007-04:00

Claudine

2009-10-22T10:57:00.002-04:00

Claudine is the girl that Tom and I have sponsored for 2 years. Her life has been such a struggle. Her mother didnt want her and she went to her God Mother. She left her after a while with another mother of a student at the school where she lived with their uncle. The uncle was very meant to Claudine and threw her out on the street every night with all her belongings. This went on for a while then we were able to move them out of that house into another house on their own. Some unfortunate things happend then (long story) and she was sent to live with another family. I found out on this trip that this family though they are getting financial assistance to care for Claudine have not had much food. Claudine has had to go days and almost a week with only her one meal of rice at school. She is very dear to Pastor Pierre and his wife too. Pastor is working on the current problems with this family as they do watch her closely. Her best friend is a bad influence on her. Claudine is very sweet and backward. She is very intelligent but has never had any family or structure to help her along. It kills me to know how she is currently doing. So I cried again in Haiti. I pray for her and just wonder how many families and bad situations you can go through before you totally shut down. It is amazing that she is still a very sweet and sensitive girl.

Piti Piti Baby

2009-10-22T10:47:00.005-04:00

This is Jerica. Everyone called her our piti piti (small small in Creole) baby. Her mom brought her to the clinic not really knowing how sick she was. She was born we think about 7 months along and weighed at 2 months old now 4 lbs with a towel around her. She did not suck at all and barely moved. She was awake but just stared. The first day we were unable to take her to any clinics for help which I sobbed about of course. The second day she made it back to clinic and I put a feeding tube in her and began to give her some pedialyte and sent some home with mom as the local places we were hoping to take her were full. She made it throught the next night and mom brought her first thing in the morning so I spent the day every hour going in and giving her more pedialyte about a tsp at a time. Her little stomach could only handle very small amounts at a time. We sent her back home again and made several phone calls that night and were able to find a place on the other side of Haiti to take her in. We rounded up $160.00 for a plane ticket to get her over there and were blessed to have a nurse that Pastor Pierre knows fly her there for us. She was admitted to a hospital and the nannies from the organization will stay with her there too to help take care of her. We pray that she will get stronger and be able to start eating and put on some weight so she can eventually return to her family. She made a huge impact on everyone on the team and the translators too. She is truly a fighter to have still made it that long.

Steph

Photos of Flamanda

2009-10-22T10:40:00.003-04:00

Flamanda and her mom after getting the visa

In her car seat on her way to MI

With her new host mom and one brother from Haiti also. Most all their children are from Haiti.

Back home again

2009-10-22T10:06:00.002-04:00

Well we made it home without any problems at all. Flamanda was a great traveler and I was so blessed to have a great team with me to help carry her. Her head is very very heavy and my arms are killing me. She only cried a little on each plane. She is missing her mom and breastfeeding very much. She does take a bottle and we have found out loves baby food! Yesterday I was so tired. I drove her 4 hours up to Michigan and she decided that our saftey laws and car seats really stink. She literally cried and screamed the entire way. It was a very long drive but we made it and met up with her host family. They are very experienced and have had several children like her before. I felt so comfortable leaving her with them. They have many older children that can help too. She has her doctor appointment next wedneday for all her pre op stuff and hopefully her MRI also that day. Please continue to pray for her to adjust and her mom to adjust in Haiti to not having her there. It was very obvious how much she loves her and was emotional and hard but happy to take her from her at the airport.
We are very happy to have the Swarthout family taking care of her. They will be updating us often. She called me this morning and said Flamanda slept in her crib all night and is chowing down on baby food and drinking a little better from her bottle. What a praise and blessing.

I was happy to get home and to my own bed and my boys and Tom but very sad to leave Haiti as usual. There were so many very sick people this time and I am so blessed to be able to use my talents to help them. This was my 5th trip and my Creole is getting so much better. I was able to talk quite a bit with the workers and teachers. Several of them are like my second family now as well as Pastor Pierres family. I will start to post pictures today and some special stories.
Thanks for all your prayers!
Steph

Sunday in Chambrun

2009-10-18T20:45:00.002-04:00

Today we went to church in Chambrun with the people of the community. This is one of my favorite things to do here but it also means the trip is almost over. The clinic was a great success and we helped many very ill people. We were able to send our little 4 lb baby to a clinic to stay until she is ready to come back home. It all worked out beautifully. We had an extremely sick man with a giant abcess comming out of his neck. The dentist pulled his abcessed tooth and we started an IV and gave him some antibiotics through it and then the dentist drained the abcess. It was extremely painful for the man and to watch but he would have probably died if he hadnt been there. Tomorrow a member of the team that has been here for 3 weeks and is staying on for a while longer to teach some english has volunteered to go to the embassy with one of pastors drivers to get the papers for the visa. She wanted me to be able to go to the beach with the team and went last week with the last team here. She is so sweet. Pray there is no problems. I have already paid for it and have a ticket for it to be picked up. Should be no issues. I saw Flamanda at church today. I held her for about 20 minutes and she did fine with me until she heard her moms voice. Then she started crying. Im excited to bring her back to start the next leg of her journey but sad to leave here. I miss the boys and Tom and am pretty tired. Pray the airplane ride goes smoothly with Flamanda! Well update as soon as I can.

Steph

We Have A VISA!!!!!!!

2009-10-16T20:43:00.003-04:00

We were back at the Embassy this morning and got the visa! It went really smoothly. We pick it up on Monday. Flamanda looked really good! She was alert active, breastfeeding. She cried when I held her and when I gave her back to mom she was happy again. She definately sees well and knows her momma. It will be a hard transition and probably a long day comming home on Tuesday. I am so relieved though that she looks well and we got it.

Also today we found a place to take the 4 lb baby we have been working on in the clinic for the last several days. She is 2 months old and so frail. We are praying she makes it through the night tonight and we will get her there tomorrow. SO GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! It has been a great day!

First day at clinic

2009-10-14T22:33:00.002-04:00

Well today was very very busy with the dental and medical clinics. The patients have been very sick this time. Many really sick babies. We have a premature baby that is 2 months old and weighs only 4 lbs. How she is still alive I dont know. We are going to be trying to find a clinic to taker tomorrow. We found some pediatric feeding tubes and will feed her if she tolerates it until we can get her somewhere. We had to just send her home with her mom tonight not knowing if she will make it until we find her help.

Also we were unable to get Flamandas doctor letter. We are still keeping her appointment tomorrow to see what they say. We are praying for a miracle.

It was a very emotional day seeing so much need and knowing I can do so little or at least it feels that way. I know we are helping many and all of this is in Gods mighty hands.

Pray for us, the team is great and we are getting along wonderfully.

Steph

In Miami heading to Haiti. Flamanda has an appointment for visa thurs am. Need several papers done by then. Pray all falls in line.

2009-10-13T13:28:00.001-04:00

Heading out tomorrow

2009-10-12T10:06:00.002-04:00

I am heading out at 4am tomorrow for the airport. Nervous about this trip. Jeremy has been running a fever since Saturday and Nick woke up coughing this morning a lot.
We do have a host family for Flamand!! We need prayer that all her paperwork comes in line and that we get the visa appointment and the visa in hand by Tuesday.
This trip is all medical people going and I know we will see and help many patients. Pray I can relax and enjoy the time there that God has given me again to help.
Thanks,
Steph

Rapidly Approaching

2009-10-08T09:02:00.002-04:00

Well I leave for Haiti on Tuesday but I am more worried about my return date this time than getting there. I am praying to bring Flamanda home with me for treatment in Detroit. That date is the 20th and rapidly approaching. We do not have a host family for her as of yet. If we dont get one very soon in the next few days we wont have time to do the paperwork for the visa.
I got a report from the team that is there now and a photo. Her head is getting bigger and bigger. She is not very responsive. She is still breastfeeding and looks weight wise to be pretty healthy.
I feel total responsibility for this child. I trust in God and his timing but when every day she gets sicker and has more brain damage it is hard. I am praying all the time for God to show us his plan and bring us the family.
If anyone that reads this knows of a family in or near Detroit that might be interested in hosting her let me know.
Praying,
Stephanie

Update on Flamanda

2009-10-01T10:01:00.002-04:00

We are so thrilled that we have found a doctor and hospital in Michigan to treat Flamanda! It took some time, patience and prayer for sure. We are in the process of paperwork now and still will need her to be approved in Haiti for her visa. If all goes according to plan I will be bringing her back with me on the 20th.
Steph

Haiti Here I Come

2009-09-22T22:15:00.002-04:00

These are the kids of the Nehemiah Childrens home. They are so cute! I cannot wait to go back and visit with them again and see how they have grown. My favorite part of all the work I do for Haiti is the hands on with the people. Seeing it real, first hand is so rewarding for me. I am so thankful for my nursing skills that I can utilize when I am there to make a difference for the people of Chambrun. Once again Tom is staying home so I can fulfill what I think God is calling me to do and I am so thankful for him doing that.

I still need $600.00 to pay for the rest of my trip. If anyone feels lead to donate you can mail me a check made out to Nehemiah Vision Ministries and put my name in the comments.

16640 Wanatah Trail

Westfield, IN 46074

I am not sending out a letter to everyone this time as I know the economy is bad right now. Most of all your prayers for saftey and for the lives of the people there to be changed by the love of Christ are needed. I will be leaving Oct 13-20th.

Thanks,

Stephanie

Shnaider

2009-09-22T22:09:00.004-04:00

What a difference a year makes! We had Shnaider with us last July/August. I cant believe it has been that long ago. His family says he is doing fabulous. He just checked in with Dr. Young and got a glowing report. His speech is really taking off and they report he is pure joy and all boy! We are so happy to hear how he has grown and is doing so well.

Steph

God's Promise

2009-09-10T15:10:00.000-04:00

Daily Verse

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4)

Thank you God for never leaving us!!

Daily Devotional from Today

2009-09-08T16:23:00.002-04:00

This was my daily devotional for today. I thought it was just right for Flamanda and myself.

God show me how to do your work. I am your servant. Teach me to do your will. My heart is dismayed. Show me the way I should go.
For Flamanda and her mother, rescue me and save my life. I put my trust in you and consider what your hands have done. Answer me quickly, my spirit fails.

We both put our trust in you and believe in your unfailing love.

We still have not found care yet for Flamanda but are actively looking. God loves her more than her mother and we can even comprehend. His will and timing are perfect.
Steph

Psalm 110:4-10

4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago; '
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Flamanda

2009-09-07T00:05:00.002-04:00

The top picture was in April when I first met Flamanda. I had met her mother on a previous trip to Haiti. She brought her to the clinic where I was in Chambrun to be seen. We knew she had hydrocephalus at that time. After some consideration Pastor Pierre felt that he should help this family as I had offered to try to find someplace for her to have surgery through Hands That Heal. The mother has been bringing Flamanda to church faithfully praying for her to get better and for us to find someplace to help her. I felt that the surgeon in Indy would do her case. Sabrina came along at that time and we were desperate to find help for her as well. He accepted Sabrina which we were so thankful for but now cannot accept Flamanda or another charity case until next year. I just found this out a few weeks ago. Since then we have forwarded her information on to many surgeons and I have been calling hospitals. I have not been successful yet in finding anything for her.

Pastor sent me this new picture tonight. I have been so upset since seeing it. I knew she was getting worse but this is the first new photo I have seen since her passport pic in June. I cannot believe how huge her head is getting so quickly and it will only continue to grow. I feel very sad, confused, frustrated and helpless. I know her mother and pastor are counting on me to help her and I am failing her. I cannot imagine being her mother in Haiti. They live in a very poor area. They have no way to help her. How helpless she must feel. How can what I feel even compare to that.

I know we wont be able to help every child we come across with Hands That Heal and God's ways and timing are perfect but it is so difficult. Why couldnt I have just scooped her up and brough her here in April? Why does she have to suffer like so many other children in Haiti? Why cant I find help for her? I will continue to make calls to doctors and hospitals in hopes that her life can be saved. I know God is asking this of me. I dont know why he has put the burden of these children on me. It is so hard. Flamanda has a normal size brain and could have such a good outcome if we can find help for her soon.

I am praying that God will show us his mighty power and that he is bigger than all of us. I will be in Haiti Oct 13th for a week. I am praying that I can bring her back with me. I know that nothing is impossible with God. We would need to find a hospital and surgeon in the next week or so for us to have enough time to get the necessary paperwork together for this to happen.

Please pray with me for a miracle for her.

Steph

Kweku

2009-09-02T00:01:00.003-04:00

This is Kweku. He is in an orphanage in Ghana. He sufferes from severe Cranial Stenosis (bones in his skull are fused at birth causing his head and eye orbits to not form properly). Hands That Heal has been contacted about possibly helping him. We have never worked outside of Haiti but have decided that we will try to help him. We are in the process of finding out what the U.S. Embassy in Ghana requires for a medical passport and making connections there for him. We already have a doctor wanting to help him! They are in the process of getting approval from the hospital. God seems to be laying out this for us. He needs a forever family as well.
We are unsure of what the costs will be and our funds are limited. We are praying that God will help us through everything with his case. He is apparently a sweet boy and desperately wants his eyes fixed. His treatment will entail 3 seperate surgeries.
Please pray that we get all the information and charity care we need to help him have a chance at a normal life and for Hands That Heal as we go through a new process that we have never done before.
Thanks,
Steph

Grace, Faith and Hope

2009-08-30T04:50:00.003-04:00

This post is from Angel Missions Haiti blog site. They work in Haiti and here to bring children to the U.S. like we do with Hands That Heal. They do a lot more kids than we do and have been doing it for a long time. I keep up on many missionaries blogs in Haiti daily. I see posts daily about children starving. DAILY. I wish I could do more all the time. It is so difficult for me to watch innocent children die and starve.
I cannot imagine having triplets in Haiti with no food or medical care to offer them. Pray that they have a chance to survive. Ask yourself what you can do. There are so many ways to help. That is what God asks of us daily. There is need everywhere you look, here and in Haiti. What you give to the least of these you give to God. I normally dont say things like this to others but what can we do to help those in need?? I challenge you to pray and ask God what He would have you do.
Stephanie

However While we were in the Village Sammy is from the doctor said he wanted to show me a set of triplets that had been born on July 6 (my Jonathans birthday). We went to the home. A one room place with 7 children. The mom was sick and can not take care of them. We tried to find formula but none anywhere to be found. The parents showed me 3 empty formula cans that someone had given them. They said they had been out of formula for 8 days. They had been giving them sugar water. They begged me to take them and make them well like baby Sammy. So Momma V is now in Port de Paix with 3 infants at yet another missions who have taken us all in for the next two days until I can get these three to port au prince with me.
We have given them the names of Faith Hope and Grace (as we can not say the names we were told)
Faith and Hope weigh in at 2 pounds. Grace is 3 pounds. At the present time they third feeding no vomiting (Praise God) they are coming alert. Hope and Grace have bad coughs and had a fever which has now broken on both. We started with an eye dropper earlier today and now all 3 have a suck reflex which is wonderful.
The Mission we are at is called Lashbrook family ministries. They are helping me feed them every two hours. We will do this around the clock all night.
Please pray that all 3 girls make it through the night, God gives us the wisdom and visa's for these 3. All of the orphanages I know are over filled and can not take them in. They are going to require a lot of care to make it.