Nothing is MORE Frustrating!

I apologize to everyone. Nothing is more frustrating to set up a blog only to find out the link won't work on my iPhone! I tried it from the US before I left, and it worked. But from Haiti, NO GO! I have all of my pictures up on Facebook, and am trying to get the other pictures from the other members of the team. Stay tuned!

And We're Off!

Today is the day! We are leaving for Nashville tonight and then fly out at 4:30 in the morning. We have 14 large suitcases packed to check, 7 carry-ons, and whatever else we can carry with us - supposed to be a laptop or a purse. Hmmmm...think I will have a really big purse? We have so much to take! We are so excited and glad to share this experience with you! Pray for us and we will pray for you! God bless each of you!

A GREAT IDEA - CHANGE HAITI

I saw on TV today where Pepsi Co. is funding projects. They are calling it the Refresh Project. I just read about it and it matches an idea I have. Two of the things that bother me about kids today are that they want instant gratification and everything given to them without any investment of time, work or study, and that we are raising kids who don't quite understand the idea of paying-it-forward and being of service to others. I have this idea whereby kids can impact kids, and it is called Change Haiti. Kids can raise money through collecting change, or do a specific drive such as socks, shoes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and hair ribbons. Other things will apply of course, as it develops. The kids would set a goal, and when it is attained, they would be rewarded with a gift card, t-shirt that says "I Helped Change Haiti," or some other thing. It would be totally kid-driven with an advisory board, and contests for a logo and slogans. This could impact kids by helping them to help others, and empowering them with the ability and knowledge to affect change. This program could be from the very youngest to twenties. Also schools, churches, community centers - wherever kids congregate - could be included. I am excited and want to know your ideas. Please post!

Going through Stuff and Packing - AND Praise!

Glenda and Tom are on their way over to help me with this task of going through our boxes and prioritizing what we need to take. I am overwhelmed!! On another note, one of their church members has agreed to fund our medications. Thank you Lord!

PROBLEM: We are OVERWEIGHT

We were going to have our supplies shipped to Haiti. However, we found out that the cost would be $300 per box! Goodness! Our person who was going to fly it down there fell through. So now we are faced with going back through all the boxes and sorting out what is absolutely necessary. We hope to alleviate this problem when we return in July by sending a sea container ahead of us. But that does not help this trip. Praying for a solution, or at least praying that the airlines will have favor on us and not charge us. They didn't charge us the first trip. Lord, please have them find favor on us!

Paul Can't Sleep

Forgot to mention that Paul has never been out of the country! He is so nervous/excited that he got up at 2AM last night. I hope that is not going to be a re-curring event!

Four Days and Counting

Hi Everyone! Paul and I are four days from our trip to Haiti. We are so excited! We are going to Hinche, Haiti. Dr. Tom Logsdon, Glenda Logsdon, Eric (her son), David (a friend of the Logsdons) and Abby (another friend of the Logsdons) will be accompanying us. We are going to work with a hospital there, with Paul doing the anesthesia, and Tom doing general surgery. Eric is an XRay Tech and he will either be at the hospital or at the mobile clinics with Glenda, Abby and myself. David will be helping with construction as that is his specialty.

The folks that we are joining there are from a Baptist church. Of course, Baptist in Haiti is more like evangelical Christian here. I love going to their worship services! Jeremy Mercier was my interpreter during my first trip with Medical Missionaries. His Father is a well-known and very respected minister there, and has started several churches there. He also has a school and an orphanage. We were blessed with their building us a mission house to stay in! Oh, my! I am humbled by their generosity. They have worked very hard to prepare a place for us which will be comfortable. Jeremy's Mother and sister will cook for us while we are there, and we have interpreters for each of us. Jeremy has a huge heart.

As we go along, I will post to the blog news of our trip and pictures. I hope that each of you will keep us in your prayers. We know this is God's will, and we are so excited to be of service to the Haitian people. Be sure to write us on the blog and share the link with all you friends. We welcome news from home! Much love to each of you! Tina