Tuesday June 25th

Today was another great day in Jacmel. Three of us nurses got to go to the CCH Clinic and work with the doctors and nursing staff there. We split up two followed two different doctors during their clinic visits and the other nurse in our group took vitals and weights. We interacted and helped these patients in the clinic all morning. It was a great experience! The rest of our group went to another orphanage in town and helped brighten each child's day with hugs, kindness, and open hearts. All of us had a positive day and we are so thankful for this opportunity to serve and every opportunity in our lives!

Nursing group LTR

Auvoir for now

The time in Haiti always passes quickly with a slow Haitian pace. Rick, Barb and Doug will be leaving late this afternoon. We feel pleased with all the things accomplished in one week and quietly wonder if more could have been done. So American in our thinking. The gift of not being able to be here longer is that we empower our Haitian partners. This  relationship and shared trust makes the values of LOVE Takes Root organization to work with projects that are self sustainable attainable.
As we leave and arrive in Haiti, the first and last thing we do is hug and kiss each sweaty, sweet child. The spirits and potential of each child is felt. You see future fathers and mothers. Future teachers, nurses, farmers, business owners and leaders.  As I stand dripping and filled with love, in my mind runs the words; Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, they are yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.  As Jesus taught us Love our God, and Love one another. I reflect that everyone who has worked to make this project a reality has loved these children. It does not matter if you assisted with the LTR web site, organizing a fundraising event, wrote thank yous, ordered tee shirts, donated pencils, sponsored a child, donated money, traveled to assist- you have loved.  Our hearts are filled with gratitude our bodies are tired and hot and are spirits are overflowing with joy.
We will hit Miami and the pace will increase dramatically and quickly. We will take out our phones and the cortisol will increase.  There is work to be done and funds to be raised to finish the vision.
God Bless you today!

HOT ENOUGH!

Not sure I can find words to describe the heat we have experienced today. It actually started last night with the single fan on the wall on and off, waking in the morning already covered in sweat. Then a very extended car ride from Jacmel to PAP with sitting traffic and no air movement.  For a long time.  We stopped for some fruit for the children at market and then went to the Orphanage.  The orphanage was like sitting in an oven. The children were very quiet, dripping and hot. Barb held Indiana for a treat and she fell asleep. It was like holding a hot box in a sauna. Doug was wilting but more heat was to come. Rick, Barb and Doug with Frantz went to visit Mr Baptiste and his wife Nicole. Mr Baptiste is the gentleman we purchased the land from. The ride through PAP was bumper to bumper for 80 mins with a very small vehicle, high temperatures and no breeze.  BUT the visit was such a joy. We sat and visited, showing them the land progress in Jacmel.  Learning about their family and touring the beautiful gardens that Nicole works in daily.  She will be splitting some plants for the orphanage in Jacmel! Frantz and Rick talked about the possibility of buying the back piece of land that was removed from the original purchase for raising food. It was a good discussion and Frantz did a wonderful job talking and expressing himself! More discussions to follow.
During the car ride to PAP we had a good discussion with Frantz reviewing the time table of the building project. We also talked about the Bastien Family doing all the painting for the inside buildings at the orphanage. They will be excited to do this, it will save money for project and really give them ownership. Frantz did say he had his homework done for Tennie before she left! We will go to orphanage tomorrow morning and also have a meeting with Frantz.
The nurses were off to the beach today! I am sure we will get some good blogs from their adventures. We are much cooler now with the sun down and a soft wind blowing. Not to mention we each have a gin and tonic.  No one has needed a bathroom yet but hopefully sometime during the next 20 hours.
Being in the orphanage today was hard because the conditions were even worse with the heat. I sat silently praying that  September will be here faster. Felt like a seven year old waiting for Christmas!
May everyone have a wonderful rest and God Bless You All!
Grateful,  Barb

Friday in Jacmel

Jacmel day 3

This morning all six of us nurses, Barb, and Rick to the Notre Dame nursing school. This was about a mile walk from Isaiah house. Once there we met the senior nursing students that had three semester of classroom and clinicals then their final year is studying for their boards. Barb and Rick taught the class about the pediatric assessment and gave a great presentation. We met Dimitric who was a management student that was a excellent interpreter. Next we took a tour of the grounds and sat through a meeting between the school and love takes root. After the nursing school we walked back for a great lunch at the at the Isaiah house. We then relaxed for about an hour then Rick, Barb, Tony, and Elisee went on a hike up the mountain to Papas house! To start the journey we jumped on moto bikes for a two mile drive.....crazy experience! Then started the hike. It was about a two hour hike along a beautiful river up into the jungles across the streams mountains! We had to stop once on the trip up cause I was dying...( out of shape last two months nursing school took a toll). From there we climbed on we had another twenty minutes or so to Papas house. Once there we gave a hat that my bible school decorated and other goods to James ( a orphanage who takes care of papa) sweet sweet little boy who loved all the items. He was in need of them! We also gave two more hats to two little boy and girl on our way. We took many pictures! Then after visiting we ventured down the mountain. They have every tropical fruit tree/ plant you can think of. Once we made it down greeting all the wonderful happy community members. We jumped on moto bikes and made it back to Isaiah house just in time for supper. It was a awesome experience that I will never forget!!  

 

God is great and we are so blessed!! 

Briana RN!! 

Friday in Jacmel

What a productive and wonderful day we all had in Jacmel. We started early this morning walking to the school of Nursing in Jacmel.  It is called Notre Dame. It is right by our building site. We met with Father Saveur. He will be assigned to the school full time while St Michelle Church is repaired from the earth quake. Rick and Barb gave a lecture to the nursing students about Nursing Assessment of the Child.  The Iowa Lake Nurses also introduced themselves and will be presenting lectures through the week, next week. Our whole group had a  meeting with the nursing Dean, Assistant Dean, Vice President and Father Saveur we reviewed how we can work together to assist in the educaiton of nurses and relationship with LOVE Takes Root Medcial/Dental Clinic. It was a very successful meeting with a lot of discussion.
In the afternoon we split into groups. Tony, Breanna, Rick and Barb hiked into the moutains to visit Papa and James. It was a strenuous hike but everyone did very well. We enjoyed our time learning about all the foods to eat in the mountains and enjoying time sitting in the silence.
Doug spent the day in Caye Jacmel learing more about the Luke Society there, as Rick and Barb sit at dinner we have not seen him yet. I am sure he has had an amazing day and will have many stories for me to blog!
The students are all set for their week in Jacmel. They will be working at the building site, teaching nursing students and assisting in the CCH primary care clinic. Rick and Barb feel like they have given a good orientation to the nurses. And wish we could stay longer!
Oh good news here is Doug, He did have an amazing day.  God Is GOOD. We are blessed!
Grateful,  Barb

Beautiful Day in Jacmel

Rick,Barb and Doug woke up to no power and no water in our hotel. It makes you so happy when you have cold water! Rick walked Barb to where the nurses are staying and then Rick and Doug walked to hospital. Rick to do some surgery and Doug to meet Dentist. The nurses with Barb went to vista an orphanage that was recently built by the same builder. We also brought stuffed animals for each child. Thank you Alana for carrying them to Haiti and thank you mom2moms for the donation.  The nurses then toured the work sites.  Already rafters were up and the foundations were staked for additional building! Next week the nurses will assist the Haitians working side by side when the nurses are not giving lectures to nursing students or assisting with primary care clinic. Rick and Doug met us attune work site and we all took a tap tap ride to the beach. The breeze was refreshing and so was the cola. When we returned we did practice walks around Jacmel so everyone could know the landmarks when they get lost! Rick, Barb and Doug had a wonderful dinner, a visit with Dr Oda and some time to reflect!  Good news before bed the water came on and we loved the cold showers!
Grateful, Barb

Nurses Are in Jacmel it is HOT!

All the nurses who are recent graduates and board certified, from Iowa Lakes Community College have arrived in Jacmel. They took a walking tour of Jacmel and visited St Michelle Hosptial. Rick was doing surgery all day and most of the evening. Tony is a nurse that speaks french fleuently which is a real plus. The nurses are easy going and slowing down the pace to meet life in Haiti.Randy and Tennie left for PAP. Not before walking many, many miles to greet the nurses. They were returning to review planning meeting and assignments that had been requested for greater understanding the schedule and jobs within the current orphanage. They also had a visit to the orphanage to say Auvoir.
Rick, Barb and Doug were able to eat dinner with Elisse and Michele. We found Rick's pizza spot and it was so good. We were so hungry. The nurses played street soccer, Brianna too.  The night air was hot. Our hotel without water, but sleep was a thankful rest.

What day of the week it is?

Losing track of time and days. We started early this morning going through the market to investigate what we can purchase locally and how much things would cost. We looked at stove tops, school uniforms, shoes, pots, pans and dishes.  The market is FULL of people going in every direction and quite amazing. It is hot with strong smells making our Grocery stores looking amazing very modern convenience.
We then in the afternoon went to the beach. We swam, cooled off and did have some grilled lobster. Sounds like something out of a resort pamphlet! We all thought this was like a spa day- first we had the sauna experience and sweat any toxins then we had a long salt bath!
Later in the afternoon we met with Dave and Darilus the couple who lives here and is the contractor of the building. We went over details at the building site. From heights of hanging sinks to shower heads. Then ended the evening at a Haitian restaurant in the mountains.
We heard from Frantz that the Iowa Lake Nurses have arrived in PAP and we will meet them tomorrow in Jacmel.
Grateful,  Barb

WOW!

Rick, Barb, Randy, Tennie and Doug went to Jacmel early Monday morning. We did stop for a short hike along the way.  When we arrived in Jacmel we went to the orphanage building site and WOW! The fence is up, the foundations are poured,  the well is in, and the metal studs are up in the first dorm!  After being in the small space in PAP we all just stood there with visions of children running outside in our heads.  We reviewed all plans in detail.  We then went across Jacmel an to see the orphanage that was also built by Calvary International Development Ministries.  It is great to see a complete project.  I told everyone it was just like a cooking show where they take out the baked dish after they have just mixed it. We then went on a walking tour of Jacmel and to dinner at a small resturante in town. It was a day filled with emotion, joy mostly.  The night was hot and did not cool off but our bodies and minds were tired.
Grateful,  Barb

Fathers for Many

Greetings!  Rick, Randy and Doug got to experience Father's Day with many children on their laps! It was a very productive and tiring day. Randy, Doug and Barb walked early to the orphanage.  All the staff then left for the off site seminar/business planning session. Doug and Randy set up a dental office in the back of the orphanage and did exams on each child.  Along with the exam was some time to spend with each child and they received a Tie Day shirt done by Katie Gibson and group from Sioux Rapids. It was easy to identify who had not been examined yet! Barb held down the front area with reading many picture books, teaching addition and singing. We then handed out the pencil cases with  2 markers, thank you to Kathy Anderson and notebooks to everyone. Many of the pencil cases were microphone shape and we had a "show".  Later in the day we also gave gift bags to the children from St Joe's in Milford. The children all lined up in two's to share a bag of goodies.  It was exciting for sure. The orphanage was above 100 degrees and after 8 hours we were ready to get back to the hotel.
Rick and Tennie came by Tap Tap to the orphanage after a very successful meeting and we all walked home via Rick's short cut.  It goes right through the back neighborhoods of Carrefour.  Rick greets everyone we see, for the rest of us it feels like the old Sesame Street game, which one of these things just doesn't belong. As we arrived back at our hotel everyone was tired and hot ready for some food.  The Seminar/ business planning meeting was an excellent experience for everyone who attended.  It was very interactive for everyone. As we sit at dinner and reflect on our day we are filled with joy and gratitude for all the work everyone has done to assist LOVE Takes Root and the difference it has made.
Blessings!  Barb

We Are Here!

Today Rick and Barb Wilkerson, Randy and Tennie Binzer and Doug Van Hofwegen arrived in PAP Haiti.  We went from the airport straight to the orphanage to see the children.  They were in the process of eating and quickly ate to spend some time with us.  The present site continues to be less than desirable,  but the new building project is in their dreams. And soon to be reality. Thank you to all the work so many have done with this project thus far!  Being with these wonderful spirits makes us recognize again their talents and gifts.  The potential they possess for the future of Haiti.
For all the past visitors with LTR, Robinson and the door less van picked us up at the airport.  Driving PAP is a horn blowing experience!  The improvements with the airport and clean up of tent cities warms your heart and shows progress.
The Auberg continues to be a paradise moment in the day. And fans too!
Tomorrow will be an early day. Rick and Tennie are having a seminar and planning meeting with all of the orphanage staff off site.  While Barb, Doug, and Randy are taking care of the orphanage. I am sure we are going to have a lot of stories tomorrow night.
We are ready for bed after a 17 hour day!
God Bless and Grateful,  Barb

Learning how to add pictures

Well as  you can see my lesson did not work.  But exciting pictures will be sent to SEEDS.  If you would like to receive SEEDS just contact us at www.lovetakesroot.org and we will send you a monthly update of LTR current project.
Busy week for LTR  Cupcakes and Wine  Style Show at Wild Rose Inn Okoboji
Thursday June 13th at 7:00 pm Tickets $25 all proceeds to building project.
LTR Board trip to Haiti leaves on Friday!
If anyone knows how to add pictures to this blog please teach me!
Grateful,  Barb