Easy Cross

Members of Easy Cross seen in the cramped studio of a local radio station

We have several musical groups here.  The boys write their own songs and lyrics and perform for our guests as well as the public.  Easy Cross was invited to a radio station Saturday evening where they were interviewed and their music was played on air.  The show went very well-- excellent publicity for them and for Pwoje Espwa Sud.

Sanitary Station

This is the final photo of the Secondary School bathroom, I promise. It looked really good in the late afternoon light that I just had to photograph it. Now everything else around it looks shabby.

Treated sheets

Ann Alexander of First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC and one of the Den Mothers, Valerie Sesler, worked with their Girl Scout Troop in collecting and shipping the sheets. Michael Stephens of BuzzOff coated the sheets so they repel mosquitoes which carry malaria. A HUGE thank you for your part in helping us fight this ever-present threat to our children's health. Above are a few photos of the new sheets and their appreciative recipients. God bless FPC!

NIKE footgear

A couple of photos of the boys with their new footwear provided by NIKE.  Many of our boys have never had a new pair of shoes so you can imagine the elation!  Thanks very much to John Atkinson, Vice-President at NIKE, for making this possible.

 

He's back !!

TiTomas came back home yesterday.  As you see, he's always ready and proud to show off his stitches.  He has spent most of his time in bed which is to be expected.  It won't be long he'll be up to his old tactics.  Thank you for your prayers.

Help

I make an effort to keep this blog positive and uplifting.  My thinking is that folks want to get behind a winner, someone who gets thing done.  And we do on many levels thanks to a lot of help from a lot of different sources.  However, the global economic downturn has impacted us and we are struggling to provide the basics for the children.  There's much we would like to do but we have to feed the 650 children, clothe them, educate them and care for them medically.  These are the basics and we need help.  We're indebted to the many who donate to help us with the children. There's something else you can do to help us that does not cost a penny.  We need to build up our email list: send us the names and email addresses of like-minded folks so we can reach out to more people, ask friends and family to check out our website or this blog, talk about us in your church or club...  Help us save children from destitution.  Help us free the kids by giving them a chance at a future.  God will bless you for this.  Thank you very much.

Father Marc

Lucienne Dorvil

Good news!  Lucienne is now living at St Etienne's Home for the Aged.  Just so happens they had a vacancy for a female.  Coincidence?  For some maybe but not for me.  Gotta be the Holy Spirit. This is the only nursing home in all of southern Haiti.  It is always full and when I asked if there was space for Lucienne the answer was "not now".  Two days later there was an opening for a female.  Help for the Aged (a Canadian NGO) and St Mark's Parish in the Worcester Diocese make possible this home so we are in their debt.  Thank you for your prayers.

Edith Simon

This is Edith Simon.  She's 22 years old and a leper.  Yes, you heard me right-- she's a leper.  This is 2009 but leprosy still exists and causes much suffering.  Oh, she's been treated and doing all right now but this is after her two feet were removed, her nose redone (look closely at the photo) and her fingertips cut off.  Edith is young and vivacious but has no one to help her.  She wants to continue her secondary education.  Can you help?

Is there a doctor in the house?

Meet Doctor Clausel Bertrand Junior who has joined our medical team.  We anticipate losing Doctor Jacob as he needs to fulfill the state requirement of public service for a year.  Welcome, doc.  Good to have you with us.

Loyde and Jean-Gardy

 

Loyde and Jean-Gardy are starting to work on the beautification of their area.  Cleaning, weeding, planting flowers... Lady Bird Johnson would be proud.  

Daily chores

Kerly, in the gray shirt facing right, asked why we do this when more leaves are always falling.  I remember asking my father that about a hundred years ago.  Choupi and Joanel (not in the photo) do a great job of encouraging the kids to pick up trash every afternoon.

The Meadows

 

Hannah and Peter Meadow spent a week with us and departed for other parts of Haiti this morning.  While here, both worked on the Hospitality Program agenda and course schedule.  Thanks very much and Godspeed to you both.  That's little John sleeping on Peter.  

Clothing distribution

Matante sorting through the clothing

and giving them to the various housemothers

The clothing that came in with the New Jersey container was sorted into four categories: girls, boys, mens and ladies.  The children's clothing has already been distributed and it is now the ladies turn.