Mickenson update

Today was actually Mickenson's birthday, he is 1yr old. his mom came to visit with a man she was paying to take photos of him. its so hard for me to grasp the idea of not being able to take care of your child, but then spending money to have someone take a picture of them. lately i have been really thinking about how so many things about Haiti are a catch 22. its so hard to explain, but its all around. i mean i guess in every culture and country it is filled with things that contradict. I catch myself saying things about Haiti and then realizing that at the same time the exact opposite is also true. its simple, but oh so complex. perhaps if my mind can put words an examples with this i will expand more one day when there is time. but for now you need an update on his health...

We went to the hospital on Friday for his check up and it looks as though he has made progress. However he is still not fully in a place that the doctor feels good about, so Monday we are going for a sonogram in his groin area. We also will be giving him a second cycle of the testosterone shots. therefore he has nine more to go. all in all he will get 18 shots...poor guy. When Chris came yesterday morning Mickenson was crying as soon as we laid him down and he saw her...he really doesn't like the shots, but then again who would like getting a shot every other day...

he will go back to see the doctor again on the 23rd of September. pray that he is better because if the shots don't work, we are probably going to have to start looking into surgery for the little guy. His mom visits a lot, which is good. i would have loved to share with her what was going on, but had no idea how to communicate that.

well thanks again for everything...i think Sarah Beth is enjoying her stay and seeing more of Haiti.

miss ya
lovex3
nrt

We Made It!

Our God is big, no question about it! There is no other way to explain our journey here. Our flight was the last one out of MIA on Wednesday, and it was canceled. We kept very positive and knew God would come though, and boy did he! We had great food, movie time, wonderful people, and free hotel room, from a gracious employee. We came down stairs at 3am to a HUGE line of people eager to get on the first flights out. Our plan for standby was ruined. But we got in line, which later turned into a run at the desk. We called the hotline for AA and they were able to get Tasha on the 6:50am flight (first one out of the day) and me on the 12:40 flight. What a blessing, to not just be on standby but confirmed. Many things happened which pointed to our BIG GOD being in complete control, down to the 2.5 hours I waited on my bag, to find it just before I gave up.

We've got a big day full of all sorts of tasks. I'm excited to be here, Haiti is AMAZING, if you've never been you should come. I know I'm going to learn so much, this is a very different part of Haiti for me. Well we just wanted to let you all know we made it.

-Sarah Beth

Mrs. Chris is amazing (she remembered mickenson and took wonderful care of poutchino) and everyone did a great job taking care of the kiddos! today will be mickenson's last shot and then we go off to the hospital to see if things are looking better.

thanks for all the encouragement and support. pray that the storms slow down as rain is good, but bad for the people that dont have sterdy housing. it is also horrible for the roads. anyway we better turn off the generator...its so good to be back. i missed everyone!

LOVE LOVE LOVE
tasha rae

airport miracles

PRAISE GOD, FOR HE IS SO GOOD! So many little miracles have happened since me and sarah beth got stuck in miami and now...the biggest one has been done, a prayer answered...WE ARE GETTING TO HAITI TODAY!!! i am leaving on the 6:50 flight and Sarah Beth is on one in the 10 o'clock hour (i cant remember the exact time). besides the Lord giving us high spirits, haiti phone chargers working with american cell phones, movies and electricity a stranger also paid for us to have a room in the airport hotel...now we are leaving on thursday instead of monday...if thats not the Lord's doing that i dont know what it is...



thanks again for all you prayers...THE LORD WE SERVE IS SO PERSONAL AND SO GOOD!!!!

BLESSINGS,

natasha & sarah beth :)

Miami International Airport: our new home

Well, we (myself and Sarah Beth) are in the Miami Airport. My trip was great but a little emotional. I am very thankful to everyone that helped me get home, it really was a blessing. I was even able to raise about $700 in love offerings from the amazing community of First Baptist Church of Stillwell. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

HOWEVER…I don’t know when we’ll get back to Haiti. We made it to Miami and then all flights out were canceled. It was quite stressful and my tummy is quite anxious because I’m so worried about all the kids and the nannies. I’ve gotten word that it’s been raining since Monday. Flooding becomes a problem with sort of rain. It also concerns me because many Haitians live in shacks and rain of this volume will wash away anything they did have. But, I’m also concerned because rain that bad makes transportation impossible for the nannies and then they don’t show up. So PLEASE PRAY for God to be present and keep everyone safe.

Despite all the things to worry about, we have been trying to make the best of our situation, and are VERY VERY VERY hopeful that we will get a flight out sooner via standby. We believe that our God is a big capable God and has this all in control. We also have a good laugh, at our God is present with us now, keeping our spirits joyful and reminding us that he cares about the smallest details, like a cell phone charger or a good meal!

So welcome to our list of things we find joy in while waiting in terminal D (not in order of importance):
1. Wifi
2. Haitian phone chargers that charge forgetful Sprint owners phones
3. Electricity to plug lap top and phones into
4. Movies (with subtitles because volume is out of the question)
5. Luggage carts, $3
6. Emails from loved ones
7. Nice strangers/Our new friend/neighbors
8. Dressing warmly for the flight (despite a present desire for socks)
9. Prompt, easy, safe flights TO Miami
10. Duffel bags that double as pillows, tables and barriers
11. List of things to occupy our time (and the many laughs associated with such a list)
12. People watching
13. Fellow way-ward travelers
14. Building to be in, so we’re sleeping on the curb
15. Free (ALWAYS CLEAN) Water
16. Public Restrooms
17. Friendly (& rare) American Airline Agents
18. Having a BIG and personal God
19. Prayer
20. Proximity of food (hopfully with vouchers)
21. Magazines (in store reading)


the list may continue as we may have until monday in this land of MIA!!!

in america...

Wow...i made it. i wont lie i am extremely nervous about the kiddos and what is going on in Haiti, but i keep telling myself God is in control and He wouldn't of made this trip possible if He didn't think i needed it or what He was doing. i mean He is a BIG God. He knows what is best and He is in control, not me.

so i'm adjusting well...its going alright. i have had quite a few aha kinda moments, like i get to take a hot shower, i can drink the water, flush the toilet oh and there is electricity. its good to be back, but i do already miss Haiti. i cant imagine how Dorothy must feel.

everyone seems very excited for me to be back...its a blessing to be in the flesh with people, laughing, loving and talking face to face. i really am blessed and feel so honored to be able to say that.

i am starting to pray about if God wants me to extend my ticket to make it a year, who knows i really am up for anything. i have a willing and excited heart to really do and go wherever the Lord directs. i know this is just a season and feel it is preparing me for something bigger. what an amazing life to be living out Gods dream that is also my dream...and yet not even really knowing exactly what that dream is. talk about adventurous!

well i wanted to let you all know i made it safe back to my sweet home town of Kansas city. I'm glad to be here, but i miss Haiti. ever wish you could be in more than one place at a time...i do.

keep those in Haiti in your prayers.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

DRESS UP!

Tonight we played dress up with the older kiddos. it was too much fun!!! costumes, smiling, laughing, taking pictures...good times. these kids are beyond precious. I know God has a plan for each one. I pray they become mighty in Him and make a difference in their counrty and the world when they grow up! anyway...i had to post some of the pictures. hope you enjoy!

love. t.rae

dorothys update August

Danny and Dianne Groves, Teri Kirby and Terry Lynn Stephens from South Carolina and Linda Tanner from Florida visited in July. They brought a table saw!!! and bunches of supplies. Before coming they shipped a ladder, ceiling fans, painting supplies, tools, screens and all kinds of other stuff. On top of all that, they worked SO hard! The first priority was safety for the children. Danny replaced almost all of the screens on the babies' windows, replaced the door at the top of the stairs, repaired the gasoline generator, and lots more. The ladies sorted and put away supplies and clothes, cuddled babies, did all of our mending!, painted the hall, and much more. We had a great pool party for the kids Sunday after church and celebrated several birthdays. Oh, what fun! We are VERY grateful to this wonderful group.

I am in Jacksonville preparing for knee surgery. Tasha is in charge in Haiti. Please pray for her. We just got word this week that our car is in worse shape than we thought: the steering box is about to fall apart. Thank God this was discovered before someone was hurt in an accident! I need to ship a steering box and several other parts to Haiti ASAP so Tasha will again have transportation.

Leaving home was hard. Five of the babies are learning to walk! Emily and Emanuel both take steps. Nerlande, JJ and Frantzo can stand alone and will walk any day now. They may have already done so since I left on August 4th. Wish I could be there to see them. They just beam with pride as we cheer them on!

Frantzo (born 3/17/06) spent most of 5 months in the hospital in 2006. I wasn't sure whether he would ever be able to walk or how much damage was done by meningitis and stroke. What a joy to see him beginning to progress normally though somewhat delayed.

JJ, almost 2, and Emily, just over 1, came in this past December and January respectively, both very malnourished, too weak to sit alone. They have improved tremendously!

Emanuel has lived with us since July 2007. He came in with his twin sister. He was only 6 lbs. and his sister, Emanuela, who had hydrocephalus, weighed only a little more. Emanuela died in December 2007 from an infection following shunt surgery.

Poutchino was on his second round of antibiotics for pneumonia when I left Haiti. Natasha just wrote that his fevers have started again and he had another seizure last night. The doctor recommended that he be hospitalized. He is 5 and 1/2 years old and as sweet as a child could be. He really needs an adoptive family in the U.S. who can and will provide him with the medical care he needs. Please pray for him!!!!!

Mackenson, who will be 2 in October, finally made it to just over 11 lbs. This is a major accomplishment. Eating is difficult for him and he can't breathe with a feeding tube. He needs to be fed small, enriched meals often. Our new nanny, Mireille (me-ray), has taken him under her wing and he is gaining weight. Thank God for this wonderful woman!

Gertie, 4 years old, went with her mother to their village for a couple of weeks visit before school starts. She will start to the Barefoot School in September. It is a Christian school in our neighborhood teaching American curriculum in English to poor children who would otherwise not be able to attend school. Natasha promised to send me pictures of her first day.

With a good Christian education; her ability to get along in a very poor village as well as with more educated city dwellers; and her innate desire to help everyone, Gertie has the potential to make a difference to Haiti's poor.

Izaola went home with her grandmother. This is the second time she has gone back home to live. We pray her grandmother will be able to care for her: she loves Izaola but is very poor. If not, we will take her in again when I return to Haiti.



Dorothy Pearce
Faith-Hope-Love Infant Rescue
http://dorothypearcehaiti.blogspot.com

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." I Cor. 13:13


Mailing address:
Dorothy Pearce
Agape Flights PAP 15297
100 Airport Ave
Venice, FL 34285

Tax deductible donations:
Christian Light Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 23881
Jacksonville FL 32241-3881
Memo: For D. Pearce, Haiti

Telephone: 011-509-3529-1962

Gertie's Back!!!

We had to call Karen yesterday and get her to help us fine Gertie and her mother. Dottie was doing assessment tests for the new children entering TLC school and Gertie still wasn't back yet...we were a little worried, but Karen found them and brought her back into Port. She had a really hard day yesterday as Mom left her and Dorothy isn't here. Its hard for a 4 yr old to understand that mom is leaving so she can go to school and have a better future. we fixed her milk chocolate, bread, grapes and a movie...plus some cuddles and she was all better!

We are ALL so happy to have her back as she truly is a gem and we know God has big plans for this little girl. keep her in your prayers.

LOVE LOVE LOVE
Tasha Rae :)

update on Mickenson & Poutchino

yesterday we took mickenson back to Dr. romeus and ran some other errands thanks to Ms. Dottie! The doctor said his ear was better and the fungus on his head. however he sent us to Dr. Brutus to look at the problems with his testicles not dropping. he this isn't fixed he could get cancer. he gave us a prescription for mickenson to get 9injections in 3 weeks and then he goes back on the 29Th. Chris is going to come over and do all of them. it will be good because she will then be popping in and out while me and Dorothy are both gone.


the medicine is ridiculously expensive and wasteful. Mickenson only needs 500mg and you can only get the medicine in 5,000mg or higher and once its mixed it goes bad if not all used in that setting. its very sad that all that goes to waste, especially in a country like Haiti. i talked to the son who owns the pharmacy by mega mart...and he is going to hopefully give us a 50% discount on the last one i buy...so it will be a small discount on each one over all.

Dr. Romeus also gave me a note for Poutchino to get into the pediatric hospital at fr. ricks (NPFS)...i forget the full name of it. anyway it doesn't look good...he thinks maybe TB or an infection in his shunt because he isn't getting better on the meds. he still has a cough and is having fevers again. pray we can figure out transportation their soon and that he gets well.

blessings for your day.
thank you
nrt

some bad news...

The car went up the mountain on Saturday to get the brake fixed and some other things done. it turns out that the Lord is extremely good (as if we didn't know) because the car is completely unsafe to be driving. i don't know all the details as they just wanted me to have Dorothy contact them about parts, but it doesn't look good.

we are going to be lucky if it gets done in a month. therefore i am without a vehicle and i wont lie i am a bit overwhelmed. i was suppose to take mickenson back to the doctor today to check on his ear infection and fungus on his head....cant do that. i need to run errands and don't exactly know how we are going to do it. plus we have therapy for poutchino on Wednesdays. then when my friend Sarah Beth comes to visit i was hoping to take her to the ravine, maybe Baptiste Haiti mission and most importantly poutchino is suppose to go back to the doctor that week.

oh goodness, i know a car is not a need for real, i mean i have shelter, food, love, water, but it does make things tremendously more workable. we could take tap taps but most people do not agree that that is a safe idea considering the kidnappings, but then again God kept us safe with the car why not trust Him with tap tap's?

i don't know...i know it will work itself out...it has to as life goes on and this house will need to be run either way, with or without a car. Dorothy has done it before and surely so can i.

keep us in your prayers,
Natasha

update on Poutchino

Poutchino had a seizure tonight and thanks be to God i was so calm and proactive...did everything i was suppose to and he is doing fine sleeping with lots of Valium in his little system.

pray for him as we don't go back to see the doctor for 3 weeks and he is starting to have fevers again. it looks like we might need to take him to see a neurologist, but its so hard to ever actually get one here. I don't know if it can wait until Dorothy gets home or if its something i will have to figure out.

however despite all that, his spirit is well. he is so much more full of life as the days go by. he is getting stronger. in fact with in the last few weeks he has started standing on his own, granted only for a few seconds or more, but that is an answered prayer. yesterday i was shouting praises to the roof tops because he took two steps without help. he is ridiculously wobbly, and i have to be right there to catch him when he goes down, but hes getting so much confident. he is gaining more weight from the extra snack i have been giving him in the afternoons. it is helping him tack on more calories. he is even being more aware of his surroundings, lately he wants to touch the dogs, before he never even paid any attention to their presence.

all in all, he has had so much improvement and i cannot thank you enough for the prayers send up to our Lord on his behalf. keep perservering in that as we long to get him healed from all these fevers and pneumonia.

thanks again.
LOVE
nrt

Honored

I wanted to send a BIG THANK YOU out to everyone who helped fund my trip to visit this month. i have no idea who all of you are, but i am amazed. i am in awe of Gods provision and the constant blessings of people and their hearts to support. it will be such a gift to go home to my community in Kansas City and be rejuventated for a my return to haiti. I pray that the Lord would bless you all for your generous donations and support. i truly cannot thank you enough. I pray the Lord shines His face upon you and you feel my gratitude for your help.

after my visit i will only have a little over a month left here in Haiti. that is hard to think about as i have fallen in love with so many of the kids here and developed community. plus in general i love helping and living so simply. however i feel confident that the Lord wants me to go to grad school and get my masters in Social Work so I need to get started on that process and i'm always excited for the next adventure God has for me. change is bittersweet, but i have much ahead of me and am blessed to believe it!

THANKS AGAIN!
LOVE
Natasha

jamson

So i wanted to tell you that things are going good. i mean they are hectic and at times hard, but overall i am doing well and not feeling overwhelmed. God's in control and I'm trying to remember that. i mean how i feel is probably how Dorothy feels a like...its sort of like playing memory...doing one thing and trying to remember it later. ms. Chris gave me that example in her life because she has 92 of her orphanage kids in process for adoption right now. she has a TON on her plate. i don't know how she does it. it helps me to see that my plate isn't really too bad. she is so willing to help me when i have questions about medicines for the kids despite everything on her plate. she is a blessing. pray for her as she has SO much going on right now.

oh and then the main point of this post. jamson one of our younger babies, i haven't talked about him in awhile has been having diarrhea for the last couple days. i am going to take a stool sample to med lab and hopefully figure out whats going on. pray that he is okay and its not something like when Nerlande was so sick with it and vomiting. we had to do a feeding tube because she got so sick. pray he gets better fast. hes on pedialyte right now...hoping that will help lots.

other than that i will be home in less than 2 weeks for a short visit. it will be great to be home. hopefully restful as well. its will be so good to see people face to face its been over 6 months now. thanks again for being blessings in my life.

may the Lord keep you and bless you.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
me

its official again!

Dorothy left this morning so its official again that i am the only one in charge. however this time its for 2 months or more so keep us faithfully in your prayers as the enemy is always attacking us, but i think more so when Dorothy is gone.

this is going to be a challenge for me, but i know the Lord has called me to do it. i will be drained at times, frustrated and of course stretched, but out of those things always comes a greater dependency on our Lord and strength so i am excited and willing to learn. however i do think i am a bit nervous as my stomach was a bit upset after i got home from the airport.

she is gone and we already have a very big day ahead of us. Poutchino has to go back for another chest x-ray to make sure all the meds are working and he is getting over his pneumonia and mickenson apparently had a ear infection that we didn't catch and we think his ear drum has busted...so we are taking them both to the hospital today.

pray that poutchino is better and that we can get what we need so mickenson will get better. keep all the children in your prayers. ask for extra angels as we will need them.

i think that's it for now. thanks again for everything!

camera blessing

by the way i have a camera now. PRAISE GOD! sarah merritt gave me one of hers while i was out in bercy. THANK YOU SARAH! it is seriously such a huge blessing. now i will have pictures and you will be able to see more things bc i have something to put on the blog! YEAH GOD!!!

just wanted to let you know because its another thing to Praise God for as He is sooo GOOD! our friend DeeDee would say 'i got a holy kiss' i love that! now i wont have to buy one and will have money for my trip to visit in August. i wanted to get a camera, but was worried how i would pay for gas and things. God always has a way of working things out when we least expect it!

thanks again sarah!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE
natasha

pics from trip to bercy

say cheese!! nannies and nadege with some of the babies!
on the way back from the market with yummy juice! (Sarah Merrit, Lexie, & Charlene)
the chairs we painted!!!
Vedline, Merloude, Dada and more...hyped up one afternoon...we took many videos that would make your heart smile, but this photo is just as good.

vacation in bercy

I took a trip out to bercy one last time before Dorothy left because i wont be able to do that while she is gone. it was great as always considering how much i love that place and all the people there. we did paint some really cute chairs for the kids, went up the mountain to terre noir to pray for people and hung out with the kids. it was a great 4 days. it was really hard for me to leave considering its been just a blessings to be in country and go back and visit. now it will be at least a year until i see them again and its hard to be okay with that thought. it was a hard week for the Merritt's, as a lot of changes are happening. keep them and the children in your prayers.

and then of course the time has come...Dorothy leaves early Monday morning. i am ready and not ready...as i know the Lord will be making me a mighty oak. it will be draining, challenging and more. however i know it is what the lord has directed me to do and i am excited to learn and of course be with these precious children longer!

pray for Dorothy- her travel, her surgery, her recovery, and her heart as being away from these children for 2 whole months or more will be hard for her.

pray for me- health (as i take care of others better when i am not sick), wisdom, patience, faith, goodness, really all the fruits of the spirit are great things that i need to live out daily. pray for the staff and kids here as it is also hard on them to have Dorothy away for long periods of time.

oh and of course you all should know that we are in a time of abundance. God has provided funds to really get us through the next few months without any problems. we can fix the car and more. its crazy how much it comes and goes. Praise the Lord we are doing well right now!!!

HE IS SO GOOD!

blessings
natasha :)