Friday, Sept 26, 2008

Ah! Mwen Chagren! Sara and Erica left today for Port au Paix, then tomorrow to home. They finally got the Haitian experience of riding in a taptap - it was a little difficult to see them as we waved goodbye amongst the two gigantic basins stuffed with live chickens, reems of plaintains and people. I hope they made it!

This week was an improvement from last but we still had some difficult days. Lovenie, the 7 year old with malnutrition who I NG fed the first day she came died on Wednesday. Her last night, oh how she suffered - whole body edema and pain. We all sat with her for a bit on Wednesday before her dad took her home where she later died. I sat with her trying to keep the little flies from crawling in her half open eyes - she was too gone to care. I whispered to her, she could go; go to Jesus because he just wanted to hold her. I don't think much of her family felt that way so it was almost a relief to hear when she finally passed away.

Then yesterday we had a 2 year old die also - malnutrition. It is getting pretty ridiculous. We already have a new admit of a 4 year old with kwashiokor malnutrition where Lovenie stayed. It's getting so ridiculous that together with Anne Marie, we are trying to start a new program that has been rolling around in her head for quite some time. Cinderella Program (Isaiah 61:3) - we will register kids we see who are at risk (mostly kids who's mothers have died - all but one of our hospitalized kids have lost their mom recently). We will weigh them, give them money for food and ask them to come back every couple weeks or month. I am so excited about this; finally trying to tackle the problem farther upstream.

But oh these past two weeks. I feel bad for Sara and Erica - the misery and emotions they went through here. We thought it was bad in Africa, but relly we had no idea. We all thought the Lord was going to do something big here with them and I think he did, but we have to wait to know just what that was.
Ah, but oh I'm going to miss my friends....a lot.