Nurse Nancy February 26, 2008

The past few days have been a little chaos, especially today, not necessarily in a bad way. Nevertheless, Dorothy has been sick and so she hasn’t been able to do much. Which is fine, but I still am not very confident with how things completely go or what to do when certain problems arise. For instance I don’t know the language like Dorothy and definitely haven’t see as much or necessarily know what to do when problems arise with the babies and toddlers. Therefore, I have to send a huge thank you to nurse Nancy. If you haven’t heard about her yet here it goes. I met nancy the same time I met Dorothy out in Bercy. She has been coming to Haiti since December of 2002. However, her stays have always been months at a time, for summers, etc. anyway about (I think) 3 yrs ago, a little baby girl came into her life, Christelle (who is 4 now). She came to start the adoption process and she thought it would be a few months. She is now going on her (I think) 9th month here. She has gone home 1 or 2 times and each was less than a week. Nancy likes to stay busy and being a nurse is such a help to so many. She does a ravine clinic each week for Sherry Fausey, which I have mention before because I joined her one day. She also is constantly helping Dorothy out. I see her probably everyday to every couple of days. From organizing, to checking kids, to driving around (which btw she is an amazing driver here…she’s trying to help me) she seriously does so much. Although I have been here for a good month now…I don’t think I could have done today without her. Here is a brief of the day: Dorothy was so sick and staying in bed. Then we didn’t have gasoline for the generator and needed to do laundry. Then Emmanuel also notified me that we only had 2 more things water. Then Claudine (one of the toddlers) had a bad skin reaction to something so we had to figure out what was going on there. JJ was still having a fever and Diarrhea, and finally Kervens came home not feeling well with a low-grade fever. All of this happened before 11am. This is not counting the fact that Emmanuel (he works from 7-3, a BIG help) had to leave and pick up one of his children from school that was sick. Plus the trip that we made in the afternoon to take Dorothy and JJ to get blood tests at med lab. If Nancy wasn’t here I really don’t know how we could have got everything done. When she leaves, this will probably be in a month (tentatively) it is going to be very bittersweet. But the day is done and we are all well an quiet, for the most part…minus the fan, and all dogs barking outside.

Good night (Bon nwit)
nrt

for carol dyke!

and anyone else who poutchino has made your heart melt...if you mentioned helping him out with his therapy in anyway i have one thing that would be great. :)

he needs new shoes. right now all he has are high top boats, but thay arent really supportive and they are slippery on tile floors, which is what we are on all the time pretty much. he could use some tennis shoes that are very supportive around his ankles and heels. high top kinds would be the best. he wears a 7 1/2.

a team from boston that is here with healing hands is coming to the house this wednesday to evaluate the kids. even some neighborhood kids that cant make it to healing hands. so if they hae any other suggestions that would help chino that we dont have i'll let you know.

thanks again for always wanting to help, the encouraging words and allowing this to be possible. love love love tash

The Widow

So today was a really busy day...did i mention that this week we have had two more young boys staying with us. they are 5 and 7 and go to the church we go to. their father a single father in haiti, who is educated and truly doing and amazing job. he is in fact being a interpretor at a conference for theologians that have come to give masters classes and in the process he will be able to recieve his. anyway long story short to say its been a bit more crazy than even normal. i think its been good for kev, but also at the same time really hard. hes usually the only older kid getting attention and disiple now its like have three sybling boys making chaos...but its wonderful to help their father out and overall its been draining, but still quite fun.

here is the best part of our week though...

Marie Carmelle, Jovani's mother, who Dorothy said could live with us temparyly for a week, well she is truly a wonderful woman and came the first week i was here. she is still here. she who was homeless, with a handicap child, a 10yr old child living with friends,an orphan herself, an to top it off we also think she may have HIV/AIDS (think this bc goes to doctor that only treats STDs/AIDS/TB, but says she doesnt)anyway she did the most beautiful selfless thing today. while me and Kev where in Dorothy's room she came in and so gracefully said, "Pardon....." and then proceeded to explain in creole that after her Doctor's appointment yesterday someone gave her money. that night she was reading her Bible in Malachi 3:6-12. The verses speak of robbing God by our tithes and offerings and returning to the Lord and He will bestow you many blessing. after reading this she, who is homeless with no money and a disabled child felt the Lord telling her that the money needed to go to these (timouns)children. Children who are weak, sick, that didnt have a mom with them here as Jovani does. therefore she was giving it all to Dorothy because the Lord told her to do so. it was kind of a bit caotic in the discussion because Dorothy know a lot (anpil) of creole, but not fluent and then me who knows very little and then Kev who wasnt really translating, but was. anyway Dorothy hugged her, then me, then kev said "this really is a beautiful day" and hugged her. we were all so overjoyed.

after she left dorothy stated..."She's the widow with the pennies, we've just met her." i want to cry thinking about the beauty in that moment. you come to serve and love people and be an expression of Jesus' Character in the way he lived and then you think...this woman Marie Carmelle...now she is a woman truly after God's own heart really giving her all to glorify the Lord. i am really speechless.

Frantzo

Today at healing hands was a bit frustrating because they always mess up Fantzo’s time that he goes in and then he gets fussing and ends up sleeping (he is literally like trying to wake up a rock) and the therapy isn’t even really worth the money that we pay and the time that we wait. Dorothy has decided that although therapy is good we can do about the same things here at home. Also I want to make sure to mention I was wrong Frantzo had a stroke that affected the left side not the right. So we really just need to work on his fine motor skills with his left hand, building muscle and stretching his left arm and leg. We will still be taking Poutchino and Jovani because the therapy is so beneficial for them and there are things they do with chino at least that I cannot do with him at home. A lot of the stuff I am not strong enough and also don’t have the right tools, but we do what we can and Kev usually helps me which I think his really good for him. Just a little update on Frantzo.

Growing Roots

Just wanted to give a little quick note to share Emily Marie’s progress…she is almost 10lbs now and her hair is starting to get darker. Me and Dorothy cant wait for all that blonde fuzz to be gone and for her to have a pretty head FULL of dark hair and dark roots! (for those of you who don’t know black babies are NOT suppose to have any other color than black hair, if they do it is often if not always a sign of malnutrition) So Yeah Emarie is gaining weight, growing healthy roots and as happy as can be! Mesi Jesu

<3 <3 <3

Cant forget….

Sometimes I realize I talk the most about Poutchino, Kervens and Emarie, but there are so many other kids here. I guess those are the ones I am working with the most. Between being emarie’s primary care giver, therapy with Chino, and working with Kev which seem to have become my main focus and role here, I’ve forgotten to share about the other tykes. Nevertheless, the others all have their stories too, with their beautiful smiles and personality. I wanted to let you know that Poutchino is not the only one that goes to Healing hands. The mother, Marie Carmel, who is staying here with her son Jovani also goes because Jovani can’t hold his head up. They aren’t sure exactly what it is, but he might have cerebral palsy. Healing hands is doing therapy with him to see if he progresses and then will determine what to do. I’m not sure of all the details. Then there is Francois who has had meningitis 3 times. In addition, he has had a stroke that has affected his right side. He goes to therapy for his arm, hand and leg that don’t quite work as well as his left and he doesn’t use them. If he doesn’t keep it stretched and work on using those muscles he could loose the mobility of them. So while you are praying for Poutchino also keep Jovani and Francois in your prayers too!

God Bless You (Bondye Beni Ou)

Prayer for walking February 20, 2008

Today was Therapy with Poutchino, we go to Healing Hands every Wednesday and Friday. If I haven’t mentioned before Healing hands is run by Canadian missionaries and they do surgeries, physical therapy and things of that sort. It is really a great place. They have a ton of educated and trained Haitian therapists. Canadians and people from all over come and train, do surgeries, therapy and all kinds of things. They make the prosthetics there too. There is a program for Hydrocephalus children and their therapy comes free with the program. Poutchino had his surgery almost 2 years ago and he is there miracle kid. Everyone knows him and is so proud to see him learning to walk on his own. However, Dorothy didn’t really have the resources or more or less capabilities to do the therapy before I came. Between her arthritis and the car not working it just didn’t get started right after his surgery. But Praise God the car works now and as of right now I don’t have arthritis so I can work with him the other days he doesn’t go and he is making so much progress. We work for 30min at a time, 1-3 times a day minus Healing Hands days. I am so fond of this little boy. He may have some holes in his brain literally and not walk too well or talk too well either, but he has character and a smile that really makes my heart joyful. I think we are really bonding. He will grab my shirt and lean his head on mine, and also lean forward and give me a sort of kiss. It truly melts my heart.

This Wednesday was hard on both of us! He is getting a lot stronger and his therapist is always adding a new exercise each time. This week Poutchino was so tired before we even started and then they strapped him in this thing making him stand up real straight, stretching all those muscles, its kind of hard to explain and I didn’t take a pic or neither do I know the actual term for the equipment he was using. Chino cried the whole time…and I had to hold my tears back watching. All this to say I am so grateful to be here helping make this possible. When I leave doing therapy everyday won’t be possible anymore and I am having a hard time with this concept. So my prayer is that he is walking by himself before I leave. If he has at least accomplished this he can maybe accomplish more. I fear if he doesn’t accomplish this he could get set back to where he was before I came. Please pray for his walking and his progress.

Thanks. You truly are a blessing.

PS on the phone…

The Haitian phone systems are not always so accurate with their connecting you to the right person so if you do call and it is someone else…DON’T think you have the wrong number. Just try a bit later. Also you do need to dial 011-509 then my number 900-1910.

Hope to hear from you soon. <3 <3 <3

Packages, etc. February 19, 2008

When you send me packages if you also feel led to include things to help with Dorothy’s ministry, please do! Things like baby formula (milk-based infamil is great), baby rice cereal (gerber is great), also Disposable (sizes always varying in need, but sets of up to 10lbs or sets of up to 12lbs work well) and cloth diapers are always helpful. What else…individual packets of Advil, triple anti-biotic cream, little kids and baby bath towels, potholders and dish towels. Dorothy would truly appreciate it and I would too.

Thanks again for being part of this journey in my life. It is so good to be here and be helping Dorothy. She keeps saying she doesn’t know what she’s going to do when I leave, so it seems it’s great for her to have the extra hand.

Thanks again. Hope you are all doing well. Blessings. T

Church

Today we took Richardson(cha-cha, 3yrs)and Guerdline(Guerdy, almost 4yrs)to church. They are the oldest at dorothy's well actually the ones that are potty trained! Poutchino is the oldest, but considering his disabilities is hard for us to get him to church. It was very fun though and they did a great job. i have been helping a woman named ruth with the childrens church and am enjoying it. today we painted it was fun! the children, especially Cha-Cha have a hard time with the concept of water, color, then paper...and one color at a time, but they lear right! :)

anyway hope all is well. t

We Can talk! February 16, 2008

Guess what friends….Voila!(my new phone ) who is in better shape than my razor back in the states was bought today at Megamart (sort of like a Sam’s)!!! I wanted to let you all know we can talk now. I am so excited! In fact, a little giddy about it. One because it seems everyone has a cell phone in Haiti these days, two I will have a calculator to do exchange rates with money here and three, the best part, get to talk to people from home!!! Since I have been driving, granted not very much, but I’m sure as time goes on…I will more and more Dorothy insisted. And her insisting truly will end up being a huge blessings. I’m so excited to hear voices of loved ones back home.

Here are the details…
It is cheaper for both of us, especially for you if you call me. The best thing, unless you have an amazing international calling plan, would be to get a calling card. My roommate Dannae told me that she has found www.pennytalk.com to be one of the cheapest places for an international calling card. My phone is a prepaid phone so it just goes by minutes and how much money I put on it. but you calling me doesn’t take away my minutes, only my outgoing calls. Okay I better go. I hope to get to catch up with many of you! The number is: 509.900.1090

<3 <3 <3
Natasha

confused?

if you are about the address dont be...i know it is an address is florida, but thats what is suppose to be. my mail is coming through a program called agape flights. it serves missionaries in many countries that the mailing system is not so good...so with this address they will make sure my mail gets to me :)

there have been a few kidnappings in my neighborhood lately so pray for that to stop. right now it seems they are targeting missionary children. dont worry thou...we are really wise about our comings and goings and the LORD is on our side. so...NO worries. anyway i need to get going. sorry i havent written much lately...between being sick and us having limited amount of generator time it makes it a bit hard to write long blogs, but know that i am doing well and getting better. i miss you all and hope life is treating you grand!
tash

YEAH i have an address!!

Everyone…great news I have my account number and can receive mail now! So go ahead send me stuff  the address is….

Natasha Rae Taylor
Agape Flights PAP 20900
100 Airport Ave
Venice, FL 34285

Yeah! I am so excited to finally get it! Now you letter writing people….bring it on 
Oh and if you wouldn’t mind…I forgot to bring stamps so if you wouldnt mind throwing that in, it would be great and helpful. But no pressure…I’ll find away even if you don’t.

love love love!

PS…prayer request I’m still not over my cold and I don’t know if the kids are giving it to me or vise versa…but there is something going around…so if you could pray for healing and health that would be great!

thanks

I wanted to let you all know that i really love the comments and thanks for encouraging words.

for those of you who have commented about my address and having things to send for me...i wish i could give you one, but i still dont have my account number...

be patient...it is coming. hopefully.

TASH

Ash Wednesday February 6, 2008

Dannae and I went to the Ash Wednesday service at church this evening and it was the second time I have been out passed dark. Dorothy says she doesn’t even really go out past dark in the states, let alone here. But don’t worry though, both times I have been in secure safe places…just in the car outside driving from place to place. In fact, I drove for my third time to the Ash Wednesday service and it was in the dark. It’s fun to be driving here because we all know I like to drive and thought I would miss it. Granted I have only driven close to the house and in the neighborhood. NO big main streets (like Delma- we live in the Delma 75 area). I have always seen Haiti driving like a dance. You have to know how to follow and lead and often times it consists of using horns and placing your car in the smoothest part of the floor…if you feel my metaphor. I know those who have been to Haiti will understand. I love it though. There are rules, but not really. This reminds me of Cheryl Merritts one Haiti joke that I love… “How may people can you fit in a tap tap? Just ONE more.” Anyway, carnival seems to be over, but as Pastor Karl said at the service that the whole season of lent is usually filled with rah-rah bands marching and professing that Christ is dead. I don’t know how this works are if those are the exact words that will be spoken during marches, but just keep Haiti in your prayers. May the love of Jesus be overflowing, as I know He is alive, fighting for Love and Justice here in Haiti and everywhere. If he wasn’t I know I wouldn’t be here, and so many other missionaries wouldn’t be here, but I am and so are they. Therefore, praise God there are people sharing the Love of Christ and fighting for justice!

Hope as you all go through this season of lent you will remember the sacrifices that our Lord took for us and hold to the truth that says…

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, NKJV)

LOVE YOU…MISS YOU…NATASHA

Update on Emarie February 5, 2008

I have a cold and it’s frustrating because I am here to help Dorothy with babies and I can’t really help because they are very susceptible to things because of malnourishment. Babies that have suffered from being malnourished, their immune systems just aren’t the same. I cannot really hold them and love them. In fact, Emarie went to the doctor today to find out the results of her CT scan and I could not go…sad day. However PAP gave us electricity for most of the day because of carnival I am guessing, so I was on the internet a lot and was also able to rest. They came back from the doctor and Emarie is perfectly fine. Her brain looks perfectly normal and healthy. PRAISE GOD!!! The only thing they could say was that her fontanel swelled because of the malnourishment. Dorothy had never see this reaction to malnourishment so I am learning new things with her. We have to start putting sugar and oil in her food to add more calories. Also, praise God because the swelling is already decreasing.

It was interesting…I got to see the scan of her brain and then Dorothy showed me the difference in her brain verses Poutchino’s (hydrocephalus) and Francios (he has had meningitis, and a stroke). There is so much difference. I wish I could show you all. Emarie’s brain matter, everything being even on both sides, where Poutchino and Francios is missing matter and is uneven…it’s hard to describe, but it was definitely a new experience. It’s heartbreaking too, to see the scans of Poutchino’s and Francios brain. It makes me feel even more blessed to be here working with both of them on therapy. Pray for them, praise God that Emarie is okay and pray that she will continue to be okay.

I told you she was a fighter with a strong spirit to live! :)

Blessings. Love love love. T.Rae

Attachment

So If you haven’t read my previous prayer request post you should. This one is more to express my feelings about it all.

Emarie's fontanel is bulging and I cannot express how much I was worried inside yesterday. it was an exhausting day, between being out during carnival downtown, to trying to get Emarie to sleep for a CT scan to be done, to the emotional strain...it was a long day. Emarie truly is going to be a strong woman one day if she makes it through all of this because it took an hour & a half working with valium & this syrup stuff (I don’t know what it was)to get her to sleep. she has such a fight in her and true spirit about her that is unique, strong and oh so beautiful. Dorothy is right I do really adore this little gift from our gracious Lord.

It is truly amazing the ministry that Dorothy is doing here and I am in awe that she has been doing it for 3 years now. She has lost five babies to death during the years and I am sure she has also had to turn away many. However, her faith in God and His plans, protection and love are so incredibly beautiful and inspiring. I am truly honored to be serving along side her, learning from her and with her. I feel that we are making a great team!

its funny to me that Courtney sent me a comment about attachment issues and how she hopes I was dealing with them...and then right after I read it we had to take 'my baby' to the hospital. It sort of opened my eyes. Not that I will not still be attached, but remembering that I am not in control, but God is. Emarie will always have a special place in my heart, but that if she doesn’t make it through and her life is short...I trust that the Lord knows why and that she received love. What an honor it utterly is to be part of giving her that love.

I do believe in God's healing power though, and I see Emarie and the fight that is in her to live and love...so I am not too worried. Keep praying for her though!

BLESSINGS,
tash

Prayer request

Dorothy sent this email to the Merrits and I wanted the rest of you to hear.

"Little Emily has been doing great. She has gained weight and her scalp is almost completely healed. She smiles and laughs and talks all the time. She has been staying upstairs all the time so we could watch her. Also, Tasha adores her. Yesterday we finally sent her down to the nannies.

Today she really scared us. Just before lunch the nanny brought her up and said there's something wrong with her head. Her fontanel was bulging. No fever, no irritability, no stiffness, kidneys and bowels normal, still eating normally, still talking and laughing, but a big lump on top of her head.

We took her to Sacred Heart hospital. It was a holiday today so there was only a skeleton staff bubut we liked the family physician who examined her. He ordered a CT scan. He didn't order new blood work since we had just had it done last week. The radiologist wasn't there so we don't have CT scan results yet. He sent her home with us. She slept in a laundry basket (we're out of beds) in my bedroom and just finally woke up about 30 minutes ago, very thirsty. She still seems normal but stilll has the bulge on her head."

Poutchino

I don’t know if I have posted about this or not, but I am helping Poutchino with his therapy everyday and then on Wednesday s and Fridays we go to this place called healing hands for the actual trained people to do more therapy with him. In case you didn’t read about him in other posts he is 5yrs old, weighs around 33lbs, has hydrocephalus, and cant walk without help, he also has developed epilepsy possibly because of the trauma to his brain, he also doesn’t say much (ex. AH-GAN…I think he is saying again). He is truly a sweet boy. I really enjoy working with him. It’s fun to see him get stronger, but of course its taking time and he gets tired. Its funny…you cant get him to do exercises for toys, but for food…he’s on it! In addition, Kev has been helping me when I am working with Poutchino, which has also been great.

I am falling in love with him too. I know you aren’t suppose to have favorites, but as of right now I am bonding the most with Poutchino, and of course ‘my girl’ Emarie!

Hope life is well and you all see the many blessings as ash Wednesday arrives and lent begins. May you see Jesus in new ways and grow tremendously whatever befalls. May He be your vision…(btw I have be thou my vision in my head, can ya tell!)

LOVE LOVE LOVE
tasha rae

Carnival

Carnival has been going on and it has been somewhat crazy with rah-rah bands and parades going on. Not that celebrating and having fun isn’t good, but the thing is from what I understand carnival has to do a lot with indulging before lent and voodoo. I really am not educated on it enough to give a history lesson or anything. In PAP it’s more of drunkenness, parties and a bit of chaos going on throughout the city. However in rural villages (providences), like Bercy, where I was the first 2 weeks it is more a holiday to celebrate voodoo, but I don’t know the specifics. The UN peacekeepers are out and Dorothy has informed me that we will not be going outside the gate unless we absolutely have so we stocked up on stuff, but I think the majority of things will be over this Tuesday.

I’m not too worried, but I firmly believe is spiritual warfare and I know Haiti is a strong place that battles such things. Be prayerful, as many people will be glorifying something that is not of God. I know the Lord has a hedge of protection around the children and Dorothy’s whole house that is built upon His love and ministry here so I am not worried. Our GOD is so powerful, faithful and just…but I just wanted you all to know what is going on right now and to keep Haiti and the people of Haiti in your prayers this week.

God Bless. Me