Overflow: Day in PdP- Outreach Homevisits

On Tuesday we headed to PdP for the day to do homevisits. PdP is about an hour from the mission. We have around 25+ families that live in PdP and come 1x a week for 2 hours of group therapy! We also have 20+ children on the waiting list for the For Jonathan Sake (FJS) Program that are from PdP.

Before leaving I made Peanut Butter sandwiches for everyone for a snack because I knew we would be eating a late lunch. The 4 students, Presidue, Carlos and I headed out around 9:30. We got on a tap-tap heading into St. Louis which turned out to be good because it meant we all got a seat although added 30+ minutes to our trip. By the time we went through town…turned around and headed back out of town we had 22 people in the tap-tap!!! I felt like we were playing Tetrus as we tried to fit everyone in plus their stuff…you know the chickens, bags, etc. lol. For those of you who don’t know what a tap-tap is…it is a pick-up truck that they put plywood around the top edges of the bed of the truck to make small bench like seating. So during the ride to PdP I was thinking about my devotion that morning on …… I was also listening to worship music and praying for the outreach visits that would happen in just a few minutes.

Outreach homevisits are one of my favorite parts of my week. I love getting enter into each of the children’s home. Meet their siblings, friends, neighbors…see them in their natural environment…provide therapy in their natural environments & educate the families more…provide encouragement…share scripture and pray with them…Just a time to love on that child 1:1 with no other purpose for being there…no distractions…It gives that child worth (that we would come to their home…come that far…It brings encouragement to the families…

Since there were 7 of us we split into 2 groups. Group 1 went to visited 4 families and was introduced to a new little girl that needs our assistant seeking medical attention. Group 2 went to visit 5 families.

I was with Group 1. We started out our day visiting Prisca. It was so wonderful to see her! Prisca has not been able to come to outreach for about 10 months now. She was diagnosed with TB of the liver and has been completing treatments. It was so wonderful to see her looking healthy. She was so surprised to see us (especially me!) She got the biggest smile. Of course I scooped her up to start loving on her! We spent almost an hour at her house. Her mom was not around but we completed a therapy session. We were able to use equipment she has been given for her home program including her braces and PVC pipe stander. She loved playing with the IPAD while working ;-) I mean who doesn’t love the IPAD. Her hand braces were broken and so we were able to bring them back to the mission and I will fix them and send them back to PdP to her. So glad we got to check in with her. We passed her house later in the day and she was still rocking it out standing and we were able to stop and educate mom quickly on making sure Prisca spends some time everyday standing.

We then headed to visit Dodorah’s mom. Dodorah passed away suddenly and unexpectantly while I was in the states a few months ago. My heart has been aching for this mom…When we arrived at her house she was at church. Her 2 boys went and got her. She was so excited to see us. She did not know I was back and country so was extra surprised. I gave her a great big hug! I was not prepared to share scripture but was asked to. I flipped to Revelation 21 and read it. This is a passage I have been holding onto the last few months. While I was stateside 4 of the children I work with and love went to be with the Lord. Revelation 21 is the passage that talks about A New Heaven and A New Earth. My favorite verse is 4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.” So thankful the Holy spirit gave me the words to share…I did not make it through sharing my heart with her without crying and vice versa BUT I do believe we both left encouraged. I made sure to let her know that she will always be apart of our outreach family. She gave me a BIG HUG and asked that when we are doing home visits in PdP if we could keep stopping by!

We then headed to Estelle’s House. Estelle and I have a special Bond. My first week back in Haiti she came to outreach…when she saw me she gave me the biggest smile and said “AUTUMN” in her quite squeaky voice. She is one of the hardest working kids I know (closely tied with Steven! She has made so much progress in the year she has been apart of outreach. Even since I left she has gained so much head control, can weight bear through feet and has gained so much trunk control. Needless to say when we showed up at her house she was beyond EXCITED! We talked for a few minutes and then went to work playing with the IPAD working on reaching/FM control and head control. Her mother was also at church but returned shortly after we arrived. Estelle was a rockstar and worked on standing while playing with the IPAD and did GREAT! as well as worked on walking. Unfortunately while I was at their house I got a stomach ache and really needed to use the bathroom (had the Haitian Sensation…). I hate asking to use the bathroom at outreach homes because many don’t have bathrooms and sometimes it is embarrassing to them. Well her mom was more that willing to take me. She quickly went to work washing a bucket clean and took me to a room with a door (her bedroom) and then demonstrated how to sit on a bucket (in case I didn’t know ;-)…I have not problem peeing in a bucket or the side of the rode anymore but having the Haitian Sensation in a bucket that I was then going to leave for someone else to clean up… EMBARRASSING! BUT I had no choice. I tried to get her to let me dump it somewhere and clean for her but she would hear nothing of it!

While at Estelle’s House her mom brought a neighbor and friend’s daughter Mildred for me to see. She had a big lump on her forehead/head. Apparently she fell and hit her head when she was 6. At first their was no bump but about a year later after she fell is when they first saw the lump. Each year since the lump keeps growing causing increased pain and loss of vision in her eye. We were able to take her information to look into where we could send them to get the help they need. Unfortunately my first thought was to come see the doctors with the next surgery team at the mission but apparently she has already been to the mission. Please keep this family in your prayers especially the little girl who is in constant pain.

After leaving Estelle’s House we went to Nerland’s house. When we arrived Nerlande was sitting on the steps with some of her friends. She got the biggest smile when she saw us! They moved to a new house back in January. Their new room has concrete floors and an outhouse which is an improvement but Nerlande’s mom reports that it is far from Nerlande’s school and they have to pay transportation both ways. Last year we helped Nerlande’s mom start up a business I asked how it was going. She said it was going really well. She actually started a second business and has 13 other people in it with her! She said she changes what she sells all the time and it depends on what is available at the docs and what came in on the boat to purchase and sell. During our time there Yvon worked with Nerlande massaging and stretching her legs, working on standing while playing with the IPAD. Nerlande’s friends watched the entire time :-) At the end of our time we had a time of prayer together. When asked if they had any specific prayer requests. Nerlande’s mom asked us to pray for Nerlande and her as they have been being persecuted ALOT for Nerlande not being able to walk and walking differently. My heart broke hearing this…I mean I know it happens all the time in Haiti but hearing her mom say it and hearing that is is not just mom but Nerlande and people at school as well. We had a great time of prayer together! When it was time to leave Nerlande started crying :-(

We then headed to the restaurant to meet up with Group 2 for a late lunch. Everyone got a chicken dinner. I am always amazed by how much food they give! No worries I did not eat I brought a nutella sandwich for myself ;-) We had a good time of fellowship while we ate.

During lunch I learned that Group 2 went to visit the following homes. Unfortunately I was not there so I can't give as many details but I know that it was a time of encouragement and loving on the families!!

Judeline