Today we drove into the mountains; a long, dusty and very bumpy (but beautifully rural) ride to a place called Real Hope for Haiti. We learned "real hope" is the kind of hope beyond just "fixing" people but that REAL hope comes only when ones life is changed in the power of Jesus.
Real Hope for Haiti is a medical clinic that was started 20 years ago by a husband and wife team, joined two years later by their two daughters, one of whom is a nurse. They've developed a nutrition program that rescues malnourished children in the community, quickly bringing many of them back to life. We were so impressed by this family's dedication, testimony, humility and their love for Haiti and what God has called them to do.
It was explained when new Haitian mom's first started coming to the maternal clinic, they didn't even name their babies until they were 3 months old because many babies didn't live that long, now all the babies are names right when they are born and the infant mortality has improved greatly. This was amazing to me as I have a grandbaby expected early June and that baby already has a name!
We were then ushered into another room with babies who moms' died giving them birth. They still have father's that love them but they are kept there until they can walk and eat on their own. They have nannies who care and love on them 24/7. We were able to play and hold these precious kids. They now have kids who are old enough to return and thank them for helping them live.
General Hospital, a free government run hospital in Port au Prince was our next stop where we planned to clean and change the diapers of sick and abandon babies. The hospital was a busy place but more with family members and doctors today than sick kids. We had expectations of doing more but God must of had different plans. Washed a few babies, painted a few mama's nails, tried our best through the language barrier to connect with these mamas waiting patiently for their babies to heal. It was hard. Really hard.
One of the girls on our team connected with a 17 year old girl that was the auntie of the 3 year old baby (maybe 15 lbs), there to watch while the mama was working. She was eager to talk to someone younger, using the translator to communicate with Maddie. She was so open and wanted to talk and it led Maddie to think that she would be receptive to talking about Jesus. Use this beautiful Haitian teen for your kingdom, Lord.
Kim and Coleen
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