1/28/12
1/27/12
The lamp...
Hello all, or shall I say bon swa (good afternoon)?
Well, we've been here over two weeks now and have been enjoying our stay for the most part. I think we both have gone through a bout of travellors'...uh, well never mind. Anyway we're feeling good physically and also about being here.
Sara and I (well, mostly Sara, but I do help) have been helping to take care of the smallest little guy you've ever seen. Kenn-di came here about the same time we did. He's way too young and little to even be born yet, but regardless what I think he's here.
When he arrived he weighed in at a whopping 3.5 pounds! He's so small he hardly seems real but he's thriving quite nicely. Last I knew he was up to over 4 1/2 pounds. Still not a big boy but when you gain over a quarter of your total body weight you know progress is being made, at least for an infant.
He's a feisty little guy; sleeps most of the day and not much of the night. We try to keep him up but you know infants: when they want to sleep, they sleep and when they don't, good luck and hope for a nap the next day!
We've been taking lessons in Kreyol (that's how it's really spelled, well here anyway) from Darla (and Bill)-missionaries who live next door on the Manna International property. She is so gracious and patient as we stumble, well I stumble through the lesson time, but it is helping. I'm actually beginning to recognize a word here and there when the guys in the shop are talking.
I've been busy adding shelves in Chante's kitchen, swapping out old toilets for new (not sure why but toilets seems to be my lot in life these days! Also doing a lot of other maintenance things-the list just keeps getting longer. That's a good thing.
Oh, and did I mention the lamp?
Sara made the comment the other day that it would be nice to have a table lamp for her night stand. Well, being the handy guy that I claim to be, I decided she should have that lamp, so I made one! (See attached picture) It doesn't look like much but I think it's pretty innovative considering the shortage of available resources, no small feat. (well, actually it is kinda small, but works just the same!)
About a foot of 4" pvc, some wood, a wall light switch and some lamp cord and voila! A lamp!
On the not so bright side:
We were reminded how serious this business of caring for children in an impoverished nation is as we lost one a couple of days ago. She came to us underfed and malnurished to the point of no recovery, and despite the more than valiant efforts of the long-term staff, the short-term volunteers and the hospital staff in Milot, she just couldn't recover.
To watch Nick carefully and somberly carry her down from his apartment in the small casket that had just been hand-made in the COTP shop that morning is a sobering and humbling thing to watch.
Goes a long way in helping one understand how heroic these young people are that give their lives in this land of Ayiti, literally bearing and dealing with life and death decisions on a daily basis.
To Nick, Nikki, Sheila, Chante, Mateja and Adam: I am so proud of each of you. You truly are my heroes!
But on a more positive note...the flip side is watching as an adoptive parent comes to spend time with his soon to be son. Now thats's what it's all about!
Well, I fear I may be rambling so I'll stop for now. Thanks for hanging with us.
Blessings to you all and until we meet again, bon swa.
J
Well, we've been here over two weeks now and have been enjoying our stay for the most part. I think we both have gone through a bout of travellors'...uh, well never mind. Anyway we're feeling good physically and also about being here.
Sara and I (well, mostly Sara, but I do help) have been helping to take care of the smallest little guy you've ever seen. Kenn-di came here about the same time we did. He's way too young and little to even be born yet, but regardless what I think he's here.
When he arrived he weighed in at a whopping 3.5 pounds! He's so small he hardly seems real but he's thriving quite nicely. Last I knew he was up to over 4 1/2 pounds. Still not a big boy but when you gain over a quarter of your total body weight you know progress is being made, at least for an infant.
He's a feisty little guy; sleeps most of the day and not much of the night. We try to keep him up but you know infants: when they want to sleep, they sleep and when they don't, good luck and hope for a nap the next day!
We've been taking lessons in Kreyol (that's how it's really spelled, well here anyway) from Darla (and Bill)-missionaries who live next door on the Manna International property. She is so gracious and patient as we stumble, well I stumble through the lesson time, but it is helping. I'm actually beginning to recognize a word here and there when the guys in the shop are talking.
I've been busy adding shelves in Chante's kitchen, swapping out old toilets for new (not sure why but toilets seems to be my lot in life these days! Also doing a lot of other maintenance things-the list just keeps getting longer. That's a good thing.
Oh, and did I mention the lamp?
About a foot of 4" pvc, some wood, a wall light switch and some lamp cord and voila! A lamp!
On the not so bright side:
We were reminded how serious this business of caring for children in an impoverished nation is as we lost one a couple of days ago. She came to us underfed and malnurished to the point of no recovery, and despite the more than valiant efforts of the long-term staff, the short-term volunteers and the hospital staff in Milot, she just couldn't recover.
To watch Nick carefully and somberly carry her down from his apartment in the small casket that had just been hand-made in the COTP shop that morning is a sobering and humbling thing to watch.
Goes a long way in helping one understand how heroic these young people are that give their lives in this land of Ayiti, literally bearing and dealing with life and death decisions on a daily basis.
To Nick, Nikki, Sheila, Chante, Mateja and Adam: I am so proud of each of you. You truly are my heroes!
But on a more positive note...the flip side is watching as an adoptive parent comes to spend time with his soon to be son. Now thats's what it's all about!
Well, I fear I may be rambling so I'll stop for now. Thanks for hanging with us.
Blessings to you all and until we meet again, bon swa.
J
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)