A FIne Balance

You generally don't have to be out of the airport more than let's say five minutes tops to see something that will make you laugh out loud and remind you that Haiti is indeed is a whole different animal.
And right on schedule there was it was.
We sat, watched and waited.
Would the whole mess just fall off making what should be a fifteen minute ride from the air port last several hours?
Would the corned beef and cheese be thawing in my suitcase?
Was there a princess and a pea story some where in there?
No, just a great reminder that the Haitian people are yet again talented in ways no one can imagine.

Madisen's First Mission Trip (Alone)

Some of you know my family from our trips to Haiti, South Africa and India. In the past we have needed your blessings and support to make these trips, but I am not the blonde lady who sends you the God’s Plumbline newsletter. I am her daughter, Madisen. The brown haired one, if you would like to call me that. So I guess you are all wondering why I’m sending you this letter?

I am going to Costa Rica! So guess what? You are all invited but, not in a literal way.  In the way that you can pray for me and give me your support.  This trip will cost approximately $1350 and that is why I’m writing you this letter. I will be leaving on the 25^th of May for San Jose, Costa Rica and we will be returning on June 1^st.

            When I went to camp last summer, I felt like God was saying to me “ I want you to go to China and work with the handicapped children”. I feel that China is going to be in my future but this is my first mission trip by myself.  I will be traveling with my church, RiverStone and our youth group. We will be going to The Abraham Project’s children’s home.  Jonathan and Amy Griffith run The Abraham Project’s and we will be working in their intern program for young men and women. While we are there my group will be working on construction projects, teaching bible lessons and working within the children’s home.

            I feel like I am called to missions and this is my first step towards China. I am asking you to pray for and with me, as I get ready to leave. I am also asking you to send me support in the form of funds so I can go on the trip.  Please choose which form of support you would wish to send my way and fill out and mail the form that is with this letter back to my church in the enclosed envelope.

            Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers as I get ready and eventually leave for Costa Rica.  

- Madisen Grace

            

Help Needed - Maternity Center (Haiti)

I am always in awe of what happens at the birthing center.

This program runs like a well oiled machine because of the love and support of women helping women.

The Women's Program is in need of some supplies.

If you have or would like to donate any of these things please let me know and I will be happy to bring them on my next trip.  Below is a note from Beth McHoul in Haiti.

If you are going to be traveling to Haiti soon, and would be willing to pack extra stuff in your bags for us, please let us know. Heartline's Maternity Center is in need of the following supplies ASAP. Thanks in advance!

1. Pregnancy tests
2. Prenatal vitamins
3. Urine (UA) test strips (in bottles of 100 test strips)
4. New women's underwear: sizes 5, 6, 7, and 8
5. Extra large maxi pads (we especially need the extra-large size Depends-type pads that are approximately 6x10 inches)
6. Large maxi pads
7. New cloth diapers and new plastic diaper covers
8. Newborn size disposable diapers
9. New, basic (rubber/plastic) flip-flops (women's size 7-10), any colors
10. New toiletry supplies: small bottles of baby powder, large women's deodorant, large combs, medium size bottles of hand/bottle lotion
11. New washcloths and hand towels
12. Individual Gatorade packets and large canisters of Gatorade or Power-Ade powder
13. IV catheters: 18, 20, 22, and 24 gauge
14. 3M Durapore brand tape
15. New, durable metal or plastic water bottles (such as Nalgene)
16. New baby socks (size 0-6 months)

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you love, goodness and the knowledge of His grace to us!

The Lynch Family

Haiti - Birthing Center

There are so many things in Haiti that don't speak of goodness and joy.

Yet, in the middle of so many things that seem hard for us to understand there is one thing that still remains wonderful, bringing hope and life.

Part of the women's program is to care for the whole woman. 

We have cooking, literacy and business on one street and one block away there is the birthing center that speaks to the other part of a women - the mother.

This part is truly at the heart of helping women and children in the third world.

Bringing healthy life to a helpless child.

Creating a healthy pregnancy and a safe clean place for a child to takes it's first breath.

It is amazing what extra protein and iron can do to bring up the birth weight in a baby.

The mothers are allowed to labor with love and support around them.

Getting full medical care and monitoring before, during and after they have their baby.

After all my trips to Haiti I was finally able to be there for the birth of a baby (or two).

It has been a running joke that no babies have been born while I am in Haiti so the midwives will have a break for a few days.  But not this time - yay!

Hours are spent caring for these ladies and their babies to make sure everything is good.

They are given help with breast feeding as well. 

You would think that for women living in such poverty bottle feeding wouldn't even be a thought but it is a major issue that needs to be addressed with every birth.  

Dirty water, incorrect amounts of formula and unsanitary conditions for washing bottles are cause for great concern that can take the life of a baby with in days and yet it is a battle for many reasons.

In this high-tech, quick paced life we live in babies are still such a gift!

Haiti - Cooking Exams

The container of fabric was almost sorted, we would soon be finished.

The first phase of the sewing exams had been taken. 

Now it was time for the very first cooking exams and I was going to be there to participate.

These ladies started cooking classes in September and now it was time to see what they had learned.

They would be responsible to bring in dishes, clean them, clean their cooking area and make sure they knew all the ingredients and directions by memory. 

Aprons and chef hats all in place, every one was busy and working hard.

So worked with great confidence others not so much.

I was happy to see how neatly they worked.

Fresh coconut, peanuts, limes, and sweet potatoes.

Things began to smell really good.

Overall they progressed quickly.

As I walked through I took notes and tasted batters.

Before I knew it they had finished.

Now for the fun part - tasting everything.

I have to say, I think it was a great success.

A few minor adjustments needed to be made but all in all they did great!

Yet another phase of the women's program up and running and doing great!!

Haiti - 7000 lbs

After you have worked in Haiti you will hear yourself  and others saying - "This is Haiti (TIH)".

It isn't that you don't know that you are in Haiti it has more to do with how things work in Haiti.

For example: we shipped a container in February of 2010 and it finally got out of customs so we could unpack it in December of 2010.  

Why?  

There is a never ending battle in the saga of containers coming into Haiti. 

Most of the saga is because of what we will call "fees".

Hidden fee's, not so hidden fee's and just more...TIH type things.

When we left for India I said to Dan I promise you the fabric will finally be out of customs just about the time we finally get back from our trip after I have been waiting for it for months.  

Sure enough we got home on a Thursday and on Tuesday I got an email saying, yes, come the container was out.

Yet, with all of that I have to say, I love it when a plan finally falls into place and we can get tons of hard work done and work we did. 

Lots of us for a week. 

It took a lot of sorting, re-sorting, packing and un-packing but it is finally done.  We have fabric for sewing school, the sewing ladies who sew outside of the program and the ladies that sew inside of the program plus some.  

We should be set for several months.

The great thing about this fabric is that it is very different and will allow us to come up with some new and creative things we haven't been able to make in the past.