Haiti Here I Come

I am headed out in the morning for Haiti. There is a team that has been there for the past week from Visiting Orphans (the same org I'm traveling with). They've welcomed tons of new kids and shared some amazing stories!

* One little girl who arrived by flight to the orphanage from PAP in a full body cast with all the care instructions and removal instructions written on the cast! And the words: God loves you.

* One little one boy with a broken femur, also in a full body cast, but upon Xraying him our team saw that his broken bone was never set!

* One of the team members was hit by a speeding motorcycle and survived with just a few scrapes & bruises!

I won't be online while I'm out there. But will return with plenty of good stories for yall. I collected 100 pounds worth of medical supplies and clothes to take down for the kids. A big thanks to everyone who donated just from watching my Facebook posts. I'm not taking a camera-- no room-- so if someone else gets pictures I'll post those too.

PRAYERS for the kids would be appreciated! I'm sure they are still in shock, scared, out of sorts, possibly in pain (if recovering from injuries), and (if newly orphaned) sad. They are transitioning to a new city, a new living space, new friends, new authority figures, new... new... new. So, keep praying for their sweet little hearts to adjust well and to feel the comfort of our GREAT COMFORTER, Jesus Christ.

Team in Haiti Before Me

Just wanted to let any of you know-- those who are following my trip to Haiti next week-- that the Executive Director for Visiting Orphans already got down to Haiti. She is posting some great updates on her blog. Today she posted a short video of one of the rescued orphans who'd had her leg amputated. And the girl is smiling, knowing she's being cared for.

If you want to Friend Request her on Facebook, her status' are impactful too. Find Amanda Clark Lawrence.

My Haiti Response

Well friends, through a strange (and only God-orchestrated) chain of events, I am headed to Haiti on Feb 1st for a week to help resettle orphaned children from Port-au-Prince to a different (existing) orphanage in another part of the country. I know very little about what the story is, except that there was an orphanage in PAP that collapsed during the earthquake and they are moving those children. But additionally, the orphanage director is going around to PAP hospitals and seeing if there are any children who lost their families that need to also find a new home.

I am traveling with Visiting Orphans. I am friends with their Executive Director Amanda (her blog here) and we literally reconnected like last week for the first time in years (God has plans, people!). A lot of people on the team are medically trained, and then there's people like me who's sole job is to just love on those kids, with the love that CHRIST has for them.

I received a "NEEDS LIST" over email today for medical supplies I can bring down (see below). But I also think if I could bring down some NEW underwear (ages 3-16) and some arts/crafts supplies that would help. If you live in Austin and want to deliver any of these things to me before Sunday, email me or comment for my new address. But if you would rather just donate money for supplies to be purchased, you can do that at the Visiting Orphans website (just denote Haiti).

Medical Supplies Needed

- IV Tubing also needed

- Antibiotics (as much as possible)

- Antibiotic Ointment

- Children's Motrin

- Children's Tylenol

- Triaminic Syrup for Cold and Cough

- Automatic Blood Pressure pumps with cuffs for Children and Adults

- Stethoscopes

- Audi-Scopes with disposable covers

- Eye Drops for Conjunctivitis

- Keflex

- Ringworm Medicine

- Scabies Treatment/Ointment

- Anti-fungal cream

- sutur kits

- Epi Pens

- Benadryl

- Disposable Bed Pads

- Disposable Needle Container for used needles

- AccuCheck to check blood sugar levels

- 4 x 4 dressings

- dressings and bandages

- Gauze - sterile, pre-medicated, non-stick

- Medical Tape (basic)

- Butterflies Bandaids

- bandaids

- petroleum dressing

- digital thermometers (10)

- Plastic Gloves (All sizes and Both Sterile and Unsterile)

- IV Tape

- IV Butterflies

- 4-8 IV Stands

- Pediatric Growth Charts

- Pediatric Hospital Gowns

- One Full Pediatric Exam Room Set Up