Weekend in Jarabacoa!

Brisas de Yaque Hotel in Jarabaoca

Hiking El Mogote en Jarabacoa

Happy Monday!  I hear there is a snow day back in Michigan, but I can't quite say I'm jealous... Here are some of the highlights from the past week (and please be patient as there is a girl behind me in this internet place wearing headphones and singing bachata at the top of her lungs with a terrible voice, I can't exactly think):

For those who can't make it through my lengthy emails, I will start with a thank you and a specific of how your support and donations are being put to good cause.  Auxilia, a worker from our kitchen at NPH, is a doll and hard worker but hardly gets by supporting her kids, her husband who has a disability (or possibly amputee?), and an older parent as well.  We were riding the bus together a week or two ago, and she told me about her husband who would love to be able to walk and work again, but until he can get a prothestic leg and arm, she has to be the one to support all of the family.  I asked about the prosthetic and she quickly pulled a prescription out of her purse detailing the piece needed.  It appeared to have been in her purse for a long time, but it cost $90 that she just didn't have, and through her attempts to save, she had to use every penny to put food on the table for her family.  So this week, I am happy to say that her husband will soon be walking again and learning to use his hand.  Tuesday when I handed her the money, she was so happy and hugged me tight, saying God will multiply this amount for you, God will really bless you, just wait and see... well He already has, but since each of you reading this email is a person who has made this possible, please know God will bless you greatly too... like Auxilia said, just wait and see. :)

Wednesday, Christopher filled his behavior graph and so we celebrated by taking a trip to the nearby batey.  Bateys are the very poor villages on the outskirts of the orphanage where you can buy a soda or bag of chips after a 30 minute walk through the countryside.  The people there live BASIC, no water, electricity, bathrooms, and these are usually the place where most of our kids come from.  Well for the first time, the kids in the batey were just coming out of school when we got there so there was a large crowd and I think it was a rare moment for Chris, as the kids pointed at the white girl, laughing and saying "Hello" in English and the other boy, dressed nicer than anyone else, walking with me hand in hand.  I think it was an awkward and unexpected confrontation with his past, but he squeezed my hand tighter, and was still all grins leaving with his pop, ice cream, cheetoes, and candy.  An ironic reminder of how good life is, even being an orphan.

My new student, Carlos Daniel is making great strides.  What I've found is that he's not special needs at all, just limited in his Spanish and education.  He didn't know his numbers or how to add a week ago, and by the end of this week, he was completing entire pages of math problems, and reading simple sentences.  An exciting everyday miracle.

Thursday, I finally was able to find patience with my oldest student Paola, who like I've said nicely in emails before, really needs a lot of prayer.  By Wednesday of this week I was so sick of her "teenageness" - neck swinging, storming out of class at any given moment, dropping f-bombs - I put a new behavior plan in place and was ready to crack the whip.  I prayed for God to give me patience and guidance with her, and what He gave me was something else.  A glimpse into Paola's world.  Thursday morning she came in and went straight into the bathroom.  I rolled my eyes following her, thinking "refusal to work this early, come on..." but found her sobbing and sobbing beyond control.  It's nothing, I'm fine, I'm fine she explained.  I hugged her and all her hurt streamed down her cheeks and soaked my blouse.  Finally all her terrible history poured out, between long sobs, much worse than anything I read in her file.  She told me the details of how her dad killed himself, how she was the first to find him, wrist slit, knife and a pool of blood by his side.  The rest of the story gets much worse after she goes to live with her mom.  I really don't mean to behave so bad Kristin, I love you and I'm sorry, she said.  I felt like a complete jackass for being so hard on her and frustrated with her.  I'm trying a new approach with her, trying to be PATIENT, and praying Paola will eventually leave her past behind and find her happy ending.

Well LOTS more visitors this week, from at least 5 or 6 countries, and 2 new roommates!  Mark, t-dye t-shirt clad hippie from Oregon who used to volunteer in NPH Honduras came to work in the sponsorship office, and my old roomie Kristina came back from New Zealand to be our new "home correspondent" - journalist of sorts.  I couldn't be happier to see her and gave her a mango from Jarabacoa as a welcome home present. (eating mangoes on hot August and September days was our favorite passtime and we even had a mango dictionary full of mango terms - like mangover - morning after too many mangoes :)

Anyways, that brings me to Jarabacoa - our "relaxing" weekend away.  Well, it started in La Vega, another town in the mountains halfway to Jarabacoa where we stayed with an American missionary couple at their house.  Didn't sleep much, or maybe at all, as there was a "Lady and the Tramp" dog convo going on ALL night in the neighborhood, and as soon as that let up, came the roosters and morning birds.  Next day, we got up and explored the mission field with this amazing couple.  They had been in the DR over 20 years, worked with the poorest of the poor and were connected to EVERYONE we met.  We went out to poor villages and sat in pavillions, not more than a slab of concrete and roof hut where kids studied.  It was incredible, and we were so inspired.  Hoping to go back in a few weeks to help with a building project - we'll see. :)

Then onto our final destination - Jarabacoa.  A breathtakingly beautiful mountain town where we stayed for the weekend to "relax".  Friday night we wandered around town and found colorful fruit and vegetable markets full of green, orange, yellow, red, and purple.  The fruit, like the air, was so fresh and delicious.  The surrounding farms all around the city were full of the same bright colors.  It was wonderful. 

Saturday we were up bright and early to see the country.  We decided on what the guidebook said was a "nice day hike", so I slipped on my reef sandals and grabbed some gatorade, thought this would be sufficient.  This is my disclaimer for anyone who deems me as a terribly awful wife for taking my husband on the adventure I am about to describe, just after getting him out of the hospital.  Our moto driver did warn us, we should pay him $25 each to guide us because it was "a very dangerous climb" but I figured that's what they all say trying to make a buck.  Well, the nice day hike was actually El Mogote, a large mountain outside the city full of rough unmarked trails, that were much more vertical than horizontal.  The first hour of the trip up was nice, we came across orange trees, rasberry bushes, and tomato plants, and even ran into what I think was a wild mongoose, Dave wanted to pet it until I told him I think I read how dangerous it was in our guidebook.  Flourescent colored insects, large slugs, and humming birds too.  After the first hour though, it was up, up, up, climbing with our hands on anything we could grab in the wet mud since it had rained all night.  Dave stopped and sawed apart large tree branches with his Leatherman to make us walking sticks, which were livesavers.  It took about 3 hours to get to the top, and I kept telling Dave we could turn back, but after watching a documentary on Mt. Everest the night before at our hotel, he just couldn't.   Well, the way back down was MUCH more difficult than the way up.  We didn't realize with it being an almost vertical climb up, and it being so wet, that there was no way going back down on two feet.  As much as we tried we fell so many times, we decided to slide down instead, using our tree branches as an oar of sorts.  Sometimes it got pretty fast, but mostly kept it slow, riding over big rocks.  The first hour consisted of fits of uncontrollable laughter, but the last couple hours, mostly just frustration.  And, as Dave predicted, it didn't take long for my pants to split open on a rock, then my underwear too and they were filled with dirt, my pants hanging wide open down to my thighs and my bare white butt exposed to the world.  Luckily we were the only ones crazy enough to try to climb El Mogote.  When we got to the bottom I was lucky enough to have grabbed that cardigan in the a.m. to wrap around my waist to cover myself as we hitched a ride back to town.  By the time we got back to our hotel it had been over 7 hours.  Not the relaxing experience we had planned, but definitely an amazing adventure.

Sunday morning, we took an early moto tour out through the country and out to see the Jimonea waterfalls, the ones from Jurassic Park.  Well, he took us to the wrong one, a much smaller one, but still cool.  We took the windy bus ride through the mountains back to Santo Domingo to meet Tim and Paola for his birthday and pizza lunch.  At the restaurant, one last funny story... in the bathroom there was a little girl wide eyed staring at me, I was surprised with the amount of foreigners who come through the capital that she would stare at the American, but then she got her sister, who equally stared, then her mom who she hid behind, and whispered, Mom look, come on, Mom, it's Shakira, come and see!  I guess my wild unwashed hair from the multiple moto rides gave me that Shakira look.

Well, I'll leave it there, but it is great to be back again at the orphanage.  I was showered this morning with lots of hugs and kisses, and even a handful of smashed up wildflowers from Jhon Luis.  It is great to feel missed.  This week we're starting a unit on Dinosaurs which will be lots of fun.  More details on that next week.  Also DR independence day is Friday so some fun activities there too, and we'll have a parade and party on Friday.  Dominicans always love to celebrate. :)  This week, please let me know if you would be willing to commit to praying for Rosali, one of my cuties from my morning group.  She is always giggling, but I will fill you in on more details if you are interested in praying for this little princess.  Oh and please be patient on me getting back to emails, they cut our internet at the orphanage so the only time I can write now is these Mondays when I come to San Pedro.

Okay wishing a great week to everyone, lots of love, peace, and prayers to everyone back home.
xoxo
Love,
Kristin
 

Visiting Animal Planet in Jarabacoa!

Happy Valentines Day!!!  Hope you all had a wonderfully romantic special day with your loved ones... and hope you all received my ecard with our party photos and songs on video.  I was going to try to send photos and videos today by email but forgot my camera and I think card was a lot easier to download the videos.

Okay, I think Ill go reverse chronological order, since I think its a small handful who make it to the end of my emails.  Since everyone wants to know, how is Dave, here is the latest scoop... He does not have dengue fever and never did.  Before you sigh with relief... its because he has malaria.  Yeah, like the deadly disease carried in mosquitoes that you hear about passing through Africa... that one.  Since around 500 people know about it on this side of the world, and my mom has it plastered all over facebook, I think I may as well share all the details.  Since we came back from the hospital last week, after 3 days of staying there "interno" being treated for dengue, his fever, migraines, chills, yellow skin, and finally convulsions got worse.  I could barely walk outside my door without a million people telling me what a bad wife I was for not taking him back into the hospital, then went back to him who stubbornly insisted he was fine and would wait it out as dengue can last up to 15 days.  Well finally Friday night the whole volunteer house was against him, as well as the rest of the orphanage so he finally agreed to go in.  He insisted on driving, so we borrowed the orphanage truck Saturday morning to go into the clinic.  They called up a team of "malaria specialists", so we went to meet them at MUSA, the public hospital.  I think this is the first time I have been in a passenger seat next to him in this country driving, and while looking out the window at the bright pink and green buildings, horse and carts trotting by, old men selling fruit on the street, stray dogs, reggaeton blasting, motos weaving in and out, and children jumping up onto the windshield trying to wash and make a few cents, I flashed back to our times driving side by side in Michigan, thinking of the quiet snow sloshed highway of 69 driving home or to work.  So crazy how life can change in the course of one year.  I guess this is all part of the adventure though it doesnt always happen quite the way you imagine in your dreams.  Okay, so anyways, we got to MUSA and the malaria specialist was waiting for us.  I definitely had done my homework on dengue vs. malaria vs. hepatitus, reading online while taking care of Dave, and asked tons of questions and watched carefully through every test they did, knowing the symptoms, numbers, med names, side effects, etc.  The specialist insisted I was a doctor or nurse, and asked where I studied.  I told her I found all this information on the internet and she was so blown away by it.  She said really, shocked as if all of her time researching was just all a waste, this information is on the internet???  How do you find it??  Did you tell Dr. Bettini that this is all on the internet??  Guess she never heard of google.  Then she insisted I stop teaching then to join her malaria squad team, out combatting malaria in the bateys and villages.  Ah tempting as it is, cant commit to that right now.  Sooo his diagnosis came back positive and he took 7 meds and started feeling better that day (Saturday), though side effects came later, then took another 3 meds Sunday.  They told us to come back Monday for the last of the treatment.... so this morning I felt I couldnt yet again leave my poor teaching assistant solo so Dave went on his own since I thought he was just getting a shot and would be okay.  So around 11a.m. this morning, the whole malaria SWAT team, looking like that team out of Monsters Inc (Tracey knows exactly what Im talking about here) came with their big badges and kits, pulling everyone out of class to get finger prick tested and treated for malaria.  They asked all kinds of questions, and then informed me that a man named David came from Haiti and had been infected by malaria, and since a mosquito could bite him here and carry the infection, now all 300 of us or more at NPH were at risk.  I explained that this was my husband and they were especially concerned.  (Though I was too busy worrying about him this past week, he was sweet, even in his sick state would run and slam the door and pick up the fly swatter swatting like crazy at anything that came in.  He said "I love you too much to let you go through what Im going through"... what a sweet guy huh?)  So yeah, I think the guy who hates attention definitely has gotten more then ever before, and not all positive since about 300 people, including the babies, all had to get their finger poked for him.  They poked the middle finger, and it was a great scene watching the whole preschool class come out in a crying line to go home, all with their middle fingers sticking straight up to show their boo boos (wish I had my camera...).  I guess Poor Dave took his nickname to a whole new level this time.  But now, today, he seems to be doing better.  He came in to give art lessons to Samuel today even, but is spending the rest of the time in bed.  We both vowed to trying to eat and live healthier, spend our stipends on fruits and veggies since our diet is rice and beans and rice and beans and rice and beans and more rice and beans.  Saturday we bought all kinds of vegetables and have been eating only veggies all weekend.  Valentines dinner was a big bowl of green brocolli at the house.  To try to give it some flavor we got the flashlight and snuck around in the dark through the tall grass looking on all the lime trees to snatch a piece of the kids fruit, but with no luck.  It was fun though.  Sound like how you spent your Valentines day?? 

Okay so since this email is totally out of order, that brings me to my next theme of this email - Valentines day... or as they say here The Day of Love and Friendship.  Like I said, we have been doing everything hearts and valentines and friendship in my classroom this week and last - from read-alouds, to cut and paste pages, to heart cookie play-doh math, to heart collages with feathers and bows, to heart symmetry, to heart word building games and more (this is what you do when you have a modge podge class of anything and everything, in a country with no curriculum).  As youll see on the videos we wore heart crowns and sang translated versions of Skidda ma rinky dinky dink and The More We Get Together and Hello Friend.  We made TONS of decorations for the party, the whole room was COVERED, including handprint rose bouquets and butterflies with heart wings that said "On my wings of love, I will fly around the world and make it better" (okay the phrase sounds better in Spanish) - then we spread our "love wings" and flew around the room hugging, and using our wings to pretend to help others who were sick or in need. Simple concept, but oh so important for these little guys in a world that has been so cold to them in the past, and is so full of poverty and disease and just general need.  We played games where we passed hearts in a circle to music and when the music stopped, we had to show "love and friendship" to others in the room.  Oh and we had pink strawberry cake for the party, with sweet coconut in the middle, pink frosting, drizzled with strawberry sauce, then decorated in red hot candies.  It was sugary SWEET! (just how the Dominican kids love it)  My roommate Jose spent the night before the party baking while I sat and translated histories for him into English to send to US sponsors (seemed like I got the better end of the deal).  Everyone at the party ate cake and drank red juice and ate heart suckers.  A small handful of visitors came to watch our show, youll see my little Moises in the video, blind with CP, falling over while doing the skida ma rinky moves to a different song, not able to see my lead, but too cute.  I think Ive mentioned him before but he found in a basket on church steps as a baby and they named him Moises, like Moses found in the basket in the bullrushes.  He is about the cutest thing in the whole world too.  Oh and of course youll see Rodolfo front row with crown over eyes refusing to sing because his VIP, my roomie Janvier, didnt show on time for the show.  But anyways, kids will be kids, and it was a quite a bash, and hope you all enjoyed the card, let me know! :)

Okay, well like I said, most of Saturday was spent at the hospital, but that night Jose had a dinner party at the house for us (early bday because my roommate Kata is going to an Occ. Therapy conference in Mexico next week) - he cooked and cooked and cooked like crazy, and we equally ate and ate and ate like crazy.  All kinds of unusual ethnic dishes I never thought Id like, wheat salad, french quiche, meat in crepes, cheese seasoned potatoes, brownie birthday cake, and much more.  It was a great time, and have I mentioned I love my roommates?  Weird to live so many people after 2 years married living on our own, but it is always fun living in such a multi-cultural home.  Speaking of roommates, in addition to the millions of visitors in and out, I have 2 new roommates... one named Martin from Germany who works in fundraising, and a white water rafting instructor from Cali named Collin who drives trucks to and from Haiti. 

Oh and I think that brings me full circle to Sunday, the real Valentines day, that I spent at the orphanage with Dave.  We had a dance party on the cancha (basketball court) and there was a birthday party for all the January birthdays with a big cake (have I mentioned things are slow-paced here and often happen late?).  I went to the school for a couple hours to "work" but really making valentines for our volunteer house, my little girls house Santa Ana, my beloved teaching assist. Maria, and of course most of all Dave.  I made an updated version of What I love about you.... (I did this Valentines Day 7 years ago with 101 reasons but didnt come up with quite that many this time, just more lengthy quality reasons) and a photo slideshow of photos through our time together.... little did I know, he was not home in bed resting but actually up in our arts and crafts room at the same time busting out the ribbons, pastels, paints, and construction paper making me a beautiful valentine too.  I think it made me more happy than any romantic dinner or jewelry or weekend away ever could have.  Then we had our delicious, or should I say healthy, brocolli dinner and watched our favorite movie Elf that we found in a plastic bag in our living room. 

Okay so this brings me to my "prayer child" of the week, if you have made it this far, please email me if you are willing to pray for Samuel on a regular basis.  He was expelled from school in the fall for behavior and has been a part of my program ever since.  He can be really tough, and spent our Valentines day party outside throwing things through the window since he wasnt allowed to come (for reason too extreme to mention in email).  He has a terrible terribly sad history.  Please email and let me know if you are willing to commit to praying for Samuel.  I will fill you in on more details then.

Okay lots of love and peace and friendship to all, and of course many thanks for all of the prayers, love, encouragement, support, donations.... I am blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed!!  Hopefully the next time I write it will be to inform you that Dave is all healed and we are back from a weekend AWAY - we live 10 minutes from the beach (by car) and have not been in over 2 months!  Im so ready for it! 

Love love love you all,
Kristin

We made so many Valentines projects they wouldn't fit on the bulletin board!

Jhon Luis making his crown of hearts

Katha and Wilkin making a Valentine man

Rodolfo making his Valentine's bouquet!

Carlos Daniel and his heart collage

Erika, Samuel P., Wilkin, Luis Alberto, Moises, and Jhon Luis all dressed up for Valentine's Day!

Visiting the piggies at the farm!

Going to visit the NPH farm!

Hello hello,

Sorry I am now 2 days off on my weekly email, everything is a little off here.  As you all know, cats out of the bag, Poor Dave, as nicknamed by my cousin Kim, and the name is becoming more and more fitting, is sick again.  He didnt want anyone to know but words out, so thats the reason I didnt write on Monday cause we were at the clinic all day, and then I started to write an email last night but internet was out, so now Im here in town making photo copies for all my Valentines lessons and activities and shopping for our party so thought Id email.  Has to be quick cause I have two visitors with me, one disaster relief specialist from Miami and another from Haiti, so Im taking them around to get supplies to take back over, beans, rice, water, meds, etc.  Right now theyre at McDonalds so Im writing quick.  But for those who dont know, Dave got back from Haiti Saturday and after I badgered him all day Sunday about not helping me face paint for visitors day, I found out he has dengue fever, kidney infection, and pneumonia.  Great wife I am, I know... but so besides teaching and trying to tend to him bedside while he demands to be left alone and that hes fine, here is the latest news...

We are moved into our new house and things are going good.  It is really nice, and we have our inverter hooked up so we have lights almost always, and are back to having electricity around 10 out of 24 hours a day so that is nice.  We also get internet most of the time right on our patio, sometimes even in our bedroom.  And though I hate to even share it because I feel so guilty, I have to share, we have a hot water heater!  Granted it is small and only works when there is electricity, but I have to admit it is sooo nice.  At the same time, I feel terrible because I know I am living better than about 95% of the people, which I hate, but had to share.  Another one, not sure anyone would want to hear, but will share anyways... in our kitchen we have had a terrible problem with flies the first couple of weeks... we would have like 100 of them and then kill and kill them and they would all be gone and wed keep all the doors closed and all of sudden there would be 100 more and we couldnt figure out where they were coming from but then found a mound of brown dirt in the pantry where they had been hatching... found out from Daves boss Francisco that one of the guys working on the house a few months ago had to use the bathroom before they had installed one so instead he used our kitchen pantry, and apparently forgot to clean it up later.  Never imagined Id be cleaning up 3 month old human feces in the kitchen, especially from an adult, but guess its part of the adventure.  The flies have been much better since.

Okay have to hurry now cause visitors are back from McDonalds, so will share the other details...
Tuesday found out Glorimar, one of my favorite favorite favorite girls, I know I shouldnt have favorites but she really is like a little sister to me, was leaving school.  I said okay see you at lunch, but then found out she was leaving forever.  I burst into tears immediately and all the kids climbed up in the windows to watch the teacher cry.  We had a quick makeshift going away party for her with whatever gifts I could find around my classroom and house and baked a chocolate cake, and since the lights were out that night, we passed the flashlight around a circle telling our favorite memories and wishes for Glorimar.  Then I went home and cried like a baby.  The good thing is that family came forward who can take care of her, an aunt who is a psychologist and makes enough money to take her and her brother Miguel, who also came to my class for help with math, and I met with her aunts boyfriend who seemed like a good enough guy, but it was still so hard to let her go, especially not knowing where or what her new life would be.  Just have to pray for her lots and especially that she never changes or lets her heart harden through lifes struggles because so far she has the biggest one I have ever seen in an eleven year old.

Other news, we just finished our farm animal unit, lots of fun there... animal cracker farm math, farm animal read alouds, songs, charades, mini book making, coloring and counting cut and paste pages, sheeps with cotton ball filling and chicks with yellow crepe paper, and a visit to the NPH farm on Friday.... very fun and big thanks to all those who support my class and make learning fun and enjoyable for the kiddos.  Now planning lots of Love and Friendship activities, thats what they call Valentines here, Love and Friendship Month, and we are having a big party next Friday.  Check facebook for pics, and for farm pics as soon as I can get them up there.  Great ones of the kids feeding the chickens and getting pecked too!!

This weekend was another weekend in the compound, I am so ready to get out but everyone is working to make up for all the people who went to Haiti, so its only fair I do my part too.  Most of Friday and Saturday was in the office translating and then Sunday was family day so I was one hour church, two hours making kites, one hour with lunch, one hour making bracelets and necklaces, then three hours of face painting.  Was so beat by the end of it!  All went pretty well for the most part, except the sad faces of the kids who waited and waited for an aunt or cousin or grandparent to show and at five they finally went inside disappointed.  Last family day, I spent most of the day with Rodolfo and we pretended to be family, but since I had to work this time, he hid from various locations throwing rocks at me and screaming that he would kill me.  He was so angry and jealous and disappointed.... but amazingly resilient as he was back in my classroom yesterday again full of hugs and smiles.  Most of the kids here have learned not to love or attach too much, but a few that do get hurt so easily and quickly.  It breaks my heart.

Okay, well I feel bad my visitors are definitely waiting for me and have lots of shopping to do, so have to go, but lots of love and sunshine sent your way from the DR.  Was planning to attach a picture, but left the camera at home!! New idea though... I was thinking about trying to attach a picture every week, or at least give a name, and if you feel compelled to pray for that child, please just send me back an email letting me know and then hopefully, eventually, each child will have someone praying specifically for him back home.  So this week, Rodolfo, who appears to need it more than ever.  If you write back, I can give you more specifics.  And Glorimar.  And also Ill add Paola, my 190 pound teenager in my classroom who is as teenager as it gets... she hasnt been in school for over a week for a list of reasons... most recently because she ate a handful of small rocks and now cant get them out.... pray for her and for my patience with her because sometimes it does run low!!  Let me if you feel led to pray for any of these 3 of my kids.

Okay, love you lots and keep in touch.
xoxo

Love, peace, and prayers,
Kristin




May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....May you be content knowing you are a child of God.... Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you.

Holo todos,

Well, since I am definitely off on my usual Monday mass email schedule, figure I will keep this short since Im sure you all have heard enough from me for a while.  Also, from now on, tune into http://www.macombdaily.com/, where it says Haiti, Reports from the Front, to read more about what NPH is doing in Haiti.  Most all of these are from our NPH journalists, I did not write them, but since there is so much info. and Im not sure how much people want to read, you can tune in there anytime to stay updated and I will not be forwarding the info to you.  Also, please feel free to leave some comments as most of the ones Ive read so far are quite disappointing.

Well, as I think you read, Dave came back late Thursday night, and I was happy to see him.  He wanted to take the weekend to rest but I think he is leaving for Haiti again tonight.  Really funny story though that I forgot to share before.... While he was in Haiti, he was sleeping each night in the aid truck because the hospital was full, and Jeanvie and some of the other former orphans from Haiti, we call expequenos, were pushing and shaking the truck and making jokes screaming Earthquake, Earthquake, during the night.  Yeah that should not be funny, but I guess thats how theyre dealing and they were having fun with it.  Anyways, the funny part is that when the real earthquake, the big 6.1 one, happened Wed. morning at 6a.m., Dave said the truck was shaking like crazy and he thought it would fall over, but he just yelled.. Knock it off Jeanvie, quit it, Im trying to sleep... it wasn't until after the whole hospital had been evacuated and people were screaming all over in the streets that Dave realized that it had been a real earthquake rocking the truck.  Ha, thought that one was too funny not to share.

Well, on the DR side, things are going good.  It has been a crazy transition since Christmas but my kiddos are doing very good.  I got some great new supplies with the donations from our party, including chalkboard paint in bright colors that the kids LOVE.  They even try to sneak up and use it when Im not watching.  But it definitely gets them even more motivated to come show off their skills on the chalkboard.  So far, we have spent the first week back sharing lots of ideas about helping Haiti, and now we're doing a unit on farm animals.  Hopefully this Friday we'll be visiting the NPH farm for a tour, to learn more about the animals, and take some photos.  In other school news, I got a new student referral last week.  He is Manuel's brother, the new special needs boy who came a couple months ago from the very harsh conditions I described, and though I am way full already, he is just too precious to turn down or pass on to someone else.  His name is Carlos Daniel, and he is ten and in the first grade, skinny as a rail, dark as night with a bright white smile, and towers over the other kids in his class.  I've been told he is Haitian and speaks Creole, but he wouldn't admit this to me, but when I tried throwing around a phrase or two in Creole, he laughed as if he understood.  I hear he can be aggressive, but so far its just been big hugs and big smiles, and Im really excited to work with him.  He seems very intelligent, just needs some help with basic vocabulary and learning to read in Spanish.  Should be fun...

Friday we finally got the last of our stuff moved in, and spent the night organizing it, only to find out Sunday night that we were moving to a different room.  So Monday, since there was a holiday we spent a good part of the day moving all our furniture and all our stuff all over again and reorganizing.  There have been so many changes since we are housing so many new visitors.  No lights or electricity yet, so lots of sitting around candles and hanging out under a dark blanket of stars, definitely makes you realize what you take for granted.  And at least 1 or 2 days I think its been pretty obvious I put my makeup on in the dark, and didn't realize til hours later... insert smiley face here...  One of our volunteers, Ralf, from Germany who has just been here a week and committed to a year, flew home already on Sunday.  Said he missed his girlfriend too much.... and Max, a 19 year old volunteer also from Germany, whose application was turned down but showed up anyway because his parents donate lots of money, moved in today so that should be interesting.  So far, the ages in our volunteer house has been 22 to 35, and he acts like he is still in high school.  Sometimes I feel like Im on the Real World.... only I get along with everyone great, and unlike Real World, I listen to at least 5 languages among my roommates while hanging out on the patio.... and we spend our time playing with orphans rather than all the crazy things they do on that show... so maybe not too much like Real World.  I think our house would be a much more interesting place to tape though.... another smiley face would go here if the punctuation marks on this keyboard worked.  

Tim and Paola came out to San Pedro Saturday to visit, Paola is 7 months pregnant and getting bigger and bigger and I can't wait to meet the baby, my first neice, and Tim is staying busy going back and forth to Haiti all the time still.  Looks like we will be seeing them more and more now which is wonderful.

Not sure what else to say, other than have I mentioned thank you yet for all of the support... again the question mark doesn't work, oh these Dominican computers.... well again Gracias, Danke, Mercy, and Thank you!!! Love you all dearly, and thank you a million for the love, prayers, encouragement, donations, and support.  Each one of you is making the world a better place.  Speaking of which, I read Horton hears a Who, in Spanish, today to my kiddos.... love the message there.... but here is the quote of the day to leave you in English.... 

 A person's a person, no matter how small.

Thank you for helping our friends in Haiti!

In Haiti, even before the quake, they say that one in five children die before the age of 5.  Thanks for helping these little guys of NPH, in Haiti, the DR and the 7 other countries where NPH saves these kids' lives.  I can promise they are wonderful and beautiful and deserve to keep on living.

Love, peace, and prayers,
Kristin
 

Hanging out with Ditania, Alejandra, and Glorimar in Santa Ana

Hi again,

I think it has been two days now since I’ve written an update, and I’m pretty sure I have told everyone, but just an update – my husband Dave, his brother Tim, and his cousins are just fine.  All still working hard on one side of the border or the other, helping with the Haiti relief. 

I have yet to share about the most exciting and unexpected visitor I received yesterday during my day as visitor coordinator – my former roommate Antoine!  Antoine is a former orphan from Haiti that volunteered in the DR for two years… we shared a house, and many great conversations.  He told many times of his dreams to start an orphanage of his own to give back for all he had been given as a child.  He is all of about 5 feet tall, if that, at 28 years old and is an absolutely adorable human being.  He showed up yesterday after a long bus ride from Haiti, and I hugged him tight and burst into tears.  He is actually sitting across from me out on our terrace now and it feels so good to have him back living with us again as a part of the big NPH volunteer family.  Among other volunteers that arrived yesterday included the director of the NPH office in Italy, an NPH medical coordinator from Iowa, an NPH nurse from Germany, and an NPH veteran and nun who lived years and years here and in Haiti among other 3^rd world countries in tin huts in bateys caring for the babies who are now grown… the volunteers fell in love with her and her crazy stories in a single afternoon.  Last night, two guaguas (buses) returned from Haiti.  The first one with Jeanvie and my husband, which was an exciting surprise since I had expected not to see him til Saturday; we didn’t have much time to talk before he was sound asleep but he told me of the countless Haitian children with missing limbs and terrible injuries.  In the next bus came Nikki and the others, including Joseph, a former orphan from Haiti who will also be staying with us for a while since he lost all of his family in Haiti, and also his home since he lived in the hospital that collapsed.  He had a younger brother who died alongside him in the rubble while he survived and I can’t imagine what he is going through for it.  But here he is outside chatting and laughing with the rest of us on the terrace.  It’s great to have both him and Antoine living in the volunteer house with us – one great big crazy multicultural happy family (for those who don’t know, my current roommates are from US, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Haiti, Mexico and New Zealand – it keeps things interesting for sure). 

Today in our daily “Haiti Relief Meeting” came another unexpected volunteer, our house director (also a former orphan from Haiti) Danny, who had been MIA since he left for Haiti last week.  He didn’t return the same bright smile when I saw him and looked like he had seen a ghost.  Later after the meeting I caught up with him, he did tell that his wife and kids are alive, but his sister-in-law and brother-in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles, and all extended family had died.  Recounting his experience even brought my roommate Jose to tears.  Things we cannot imagine.

 

On the DR side of things, we had another scary event here.  A little girl from my class and that also lived in the Santa Ana house where I hang with the girls had to have emergency open heart surgery today.  I’ve known of her heart condition since I moved here, but it suddenly took a turn for the worse and my heart sank when I heard of her chances.  But thanks to God she made it out okay.  She will have to go back for more surgeries, but for now she is home resting.     

What else to share…. Many more volunteers, visitors, doctors here today.  We are sending two more trucks to Haiti at midnight tonight.  My roommates just finished packing in the cots and other boxes of supplies.  Going tonight will be Father Rick, the director of the orphanage in Haiti, who just flew in from burying his mother who died a few days ago.  He was visiting her to be with her in her last days when the earthquake happened, and his mom said “Go to Haiti, they need you there” and he went, then was back to the states for her funeral a week later.  Can’t imagine the pain or loss he is experiencing, but yet he stands strong as the backbone of this entire Haiti Relief operation and is on his way there again.  Talk about dedication.  For those who haven’t read Diane Lane’s article on him on CNN.com, it is worth checking out.

I think that’s all for now.  I am going to cut and paste a few details from our NPH reporter Monica who is in Haiti, in the space below.  What I can say last, is that what all of you are doing in terms of help, donations, fundraisers, prayers, encouragement, is beyond what I can respond to in a simple thank you.  I don’t have words for it, other than among all this tragedy and devastation, there is such a great beauty in all the caring people coming together to give anything they can to help.  Each email I get touches my heart and keeps me going here.  Each person helping in each of their own ways is bringing a bright light to the people of Haiti, more than you will ever know.  You are each planting a seed that you may never see bloom, but that will indeed bloom.  Thank you thank you thank you again and again and again.  I love each of you dearly and can’t say it enough how blessed I am to be here as a part of all of this and to have such a HUGE support system behind me through all of it.

Love,

Kristin

One medical team provided medical care today for 40 patients living in one of the many makeshift camps. They are not really a camp but thousands of blankets connected with wooden sticks to try and protect them against the wind. They have no food, no water, no sanitation and no medical care. These camps are a big concern to all organizations.

The St. Luke Outreach team is working on going out into the community to distribute water and they are discussing strategies about combating possible future outbreaks of disease. If the rains come these tent cities will be washed away.

We have an average of 80 volunteers excluding the Italian civil defense. Many of the volunteers are surgeons and physicians. We were very happy to receive surgical support from the first group of volunteer nurses. We appreciate all volunteers because the hospital staff is functioning at half capacity. Many staff have lost their homes, or family and have not been able to return to work. We do not have an exact number of missing staff.

We have a 35-year old man that arrived positive for tetanus and has severe, deep wounds. Having tetanus can result in convulsions when exposed to light and sound. This patient was located in the ER, which is quite loud and whenever someone was shouting, he then started to convulse. He was treated with Valium, but continue to speak to everyone in English saying, “please help me”. In most countries, tetanus is easily preventable. A single shot vaccine. Today we received a tetanus shipment from the WHO so we are no able to vaccinate all in-coming patients.

Monica Gery

Information Officer

NPH International

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....May you be content knowing you are a child of God.... Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you.

---

Hello dear NPH volunteers,

I wanted to give you some updates.

I attended Molly’s funeral yesterday.  It is hard to describe the sadness.  Her uncle, Fr Craig Hightower presided over the mass.  He is a former Haiti volunteer as well.  Here is the article  in today’s paper:

Jordan Hightower gave the eulogy for her sister Molly, who was killed in a Haitian earthquake on Jan. 12. –Charlie Bermant

An estimated 1,000 people crowded into a Lakewood church on Wednesday, paying tribute to a Port Orchard resident who lost her life during last week’s Haitian earthquake.

Molly Hightower was killed in a building that collapsed during an earthquake on Jan. 12. At the time, she was serving as a volunteer for Friends of the Orphans, an aid organization for orphaned and abandoned children.

Jordan Hightower, who was older than her sister by just 15 months, delivered a eulogy that left listeners wondering whether they should laugh or cry.

Many did both.

“Many of us think that a bad event in our life — a failed test, a lost job opportunity or a failed relationship — is the end of the world and the worst thing that could happen,” she said. “It would be easy to say the last week has been the end of the world for my family and so many of us.

“It isn’t the end of the world, but the beginning of Molly’s legacy,” she said. “It is the beginning of when people will be turning to God, and ask how they can help out others. It is the beginning of us asking why we are on this earth, and what we can do each day to live with intention and purpose.

“This week showed many people that in a blink of an eye or the flip of an underwater fault line, life can be taken from us in an instant.”

Jordan Hightower finished writing the eulogy on Tuesday, according to a post on her Twitter account.

At the beginning of the service she told the congregation that she had “searched Google to find out how a eulogy was supposed to look, but it wasn’t much help.”

Molly Hightower was born in 1987 in Pacific, and her family moved to Port Orchard when she was seven years old. While she has strong Port Orchard ties, the service was held at the St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Lakewood, where her great uncle serves as a priest.

Hightower’s uncle, Father Craig Hightower, is also a priest at Gonzaga University in Spokane.

He said Molly “had the light of Christ in her eyes that gave her the crown of righteousness. This light was bright, and is not diminished today.”

Jordan Hightower was respectful and affectionate, but a little less reverent.

“Molly was our princess,” she said. “If she knew she was getting a crown of righteousness, she’d be really psyched.”

As children, Jordan characterized her life with her sister as “sarcasm, insults, competition, tattling and clothes stealing.”

Later, she thanked Molly for her tendency to “annoy me, irritate me, tattle on me, love me, push me, confront me and inspire me.

“Molly lived her life dramatically and with flair,” she said, “from the time she was almost born in the car with a cord around her neck to her dying in the first earthquake in Haiti in 200 years. Sis, you lived in style.”

As the eulogy continued it became more emotional and intense.

“We know that God had a plan for Molly from the time she was created but for us her ‘happily ever after’ came way too soon,” Jordan Hightower said. “If there is one thing we can take away from the multitude of beauty and wonder that is my sister’s life is that we should ask ourselves what we are doing with each minute of each day. Because every day is a gift that cannot be guaranteed.

“Who are you helping? What kind of impact will you have, and most importantly, what are you waiting for? One person can make a difference, and my sister’s life shows that in spades.”

After the service, Craig Hightower said the family hoped to rebuild the structure in which Molly died as a tribute, but had no current plans for further action.

“Molly inspired a lot of people,” he said. “But they should get involved because they want to, because they are inspired to do something, not just because of Molly.”

In addition to friends and family, the service included about two dozen Jesuit priests from Oregon and Washington, who were acquainted with Molly and her family.

Additionally, the Hightowers gave free reign to the media, which was allowed to videotape and photograph the service with no restrictions.

“The media was very helpful in getting word about Molly out to the public,” said Mike Hightower, Molly’s father. “I am grateful for that, and they have been very considerate of our family. I just wish that it didn’t take this for people to learn about Molly.”

This article was originally published in the Port Orchard Independent on January 20, 2010.

  

Like all of you, Molly was drawn to serve the poor out of a love for children.  Thank you all for that dedication. 

I will be in touch in the future, but please know that I am thinking of you.  We are all frantically busy trying to respond to the needs.  I am screening all the volunteer offers.  We have received an incredible amount of donations in honor of Molly and Erin and Ryan.  Many of them have come from your family and contacts.  When things settle down I will let you know details. 

I know some Danielle and Angela and Ingrid (former DR vol) went to school with Molly at the University of Portland.  You know they held a prayer service on Saturday, and Molly will forever be remembered there.  Many younger students say they look up to her. 

Please hold all the NPH DR volunteers in your prayers.  The DR home has become the staging ground for the relief efforts for NPH.  They are being exposed to the horrific aftermath.  Jacob, Kristin and David, we are thinking of you.

Please lean on each other for support.  Let me know if you need anything from afar. 

Respectfully,

Vicky Medley International Volunteer Coordinator Friends of the Orphans National Office Phone   425 698-5449 Fax       425 484-8280

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....May you be content knowing you are a child of God.... Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you.

---

From: tinselina303@hotmail.com
Subject: Watch CBS interview with Katie Couric about NPH - 5:30 tonight
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:17:06 -0500

Hello,
The Kloos family informed us that Erin was interviewed by Katie Couric for a piece she is doing TONIGHT on Molly Hightower, Erin and Ryan Kloos.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
CBS Evening News with Katie Couric
5:30CST/6:30Eastern
Monica Gery
Information Officer
NPH International

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....May you be content knowing you are a child of God.... Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you.

---

From: tinselina303@hotmail.com

Hi again all,

I know you are hearing from me a lot so will try to keep this short.  Just want to let people know who I may have misinformed that when you donate online for Haiti on the homepage, mark Haiti as the country to donate to, not the Dominican Republic.  Im sorry if I confused people with this.  I think all of the money will ultimately end up going there anyway, and no matter what, it is going to a great cause and great organization, but if you want to make sure the money does get straight there to Haiti and you marked Dominican Republic, you can go to http://www.friendsoftheorphans.com/ and go to contact us and write them an email, if you want to change where your donation goes and make sure to have it marked Haiti.  Sorry for the confusion.

As an update, we just sent out one more aid truck and one bus to Haiti last night at midnight with 7 doctors and several volunteers, including Nikki, my close friend and physical therapist here who has been taking over for our volunteer and visitor coordinator, which leaves me as the volunteer and visitor coordinator now.  Luckily, it worked out perfectly because there is a national holiday so no school today, so I can work in the office and run around coordinating beds, food, transport, etc. for all the doctors and volunteers coming.  Dave is still in Haiti, should be back tomorrow night or Saturday but no word yet.  The last truck was overweight so the brakes went out and we sent the part to fix in the truck last night so could be a couple of days yet.  I am hoping he will get back soon so we can move our furniture, I have been living between two houses.  One house has my bed and things, but no lights, electricity, gas, furniture, people, etc.  And to make things worse Dave took our only flashlight, so I have just been crashing on a sofa of sorts in the new house where the other volunteers are.  Have to move soon because we are filling with more and more doctors who are on their way to Haiti, and I think will be getting lots more Haitian orphans on this side as soon as the paperwork can be done because so many have lost their parents. 

Been getting lots of updates from Haiti, not sure what to send anymore because there is soooo much, but I will cut and paste below for anyone interested in reading more details of what we are doing there.  Oh and also, my brother-in-law Tim is okay, he was on the border ýesterday for the other quake.  I havent heard anything about Daves cousin Daniel, but am hoping no news is good news.  Also, Danny, our DR house director is still in Haiti (he is a former orphan from Haiti), but no one knows where and no one knows if he has found his wife and kids, so pray for Danny.  Otherwise see more updates cut and pasted below.

Love and much thanks to all for your prayers and genorousity,
Kristin

Message from Gena Hegarty, Director of Special Needs Programs, Haiti:

One week later and still there are wounded not treated. One week later and so many dead, injured or just disappeared. Amazing how fast the world we live in can change. Kids in the orphanage still sleeping outdoors - except for my kids- they are inside since last week. All are fine and not in any way suffering from the tragedy.

I am in the hospital in Tabarre every day - helping where i can. The husband of the director of our special needs school is paralyzed from the chest down and in and we are all very concerned for him.

Lots of people helping out and everyone doing what they can. So many people left without arms or legs and my God they are so so strong. Lying in their beds, not complaining at all and they have lost so much. One girl lost a leg when she was rescuing her younger siblings. I don't know what to say - so many emotions and really no time to deal with them. At night when I lie down, the bed seems to be forever shaking and when i talk to people they say it is the same for them.

My heart aches for Haiti and the Haitian people. My heart aches for those I have loved and lost. Some people blame God or wonder if he is even here. I do not blame God nor do I doubt his existence. My mind is logical. this was a natural disaster and it wreaked so much havoc because Haiti was in a mess long before the earthquake.

People in tents all over the place- makeshift ones. Are they getting help? I worry for some because who will find them where they are, off the beaten path?

How am I? I am ok. I am alive and happy to be alive. i am happy for all the support I know and receive. I am sad as is everyone here. We have lost a lot but we have a lot to work for still. There is no time to grieve just now. Well maybe there is but we choose not to take it because the wounded need us to be strong if they are to survive. So we are ok and we are people of faith and we believe we can make things just a little better.
For now this is all I can bring out of my mind.
Love to all.
Gena

Hi all,
Sorry for the mass email but I have been getting lots of concerned emails.  A quick update for those that don't know.... I'm sure everyone knows by now that there was another big 6.1 earthquake in Haiti this morning.  Dave is still in Haiti now in our hospital at Tabarre, he left at 4a.m. yesterday morning.  He was supposed to come back this morning with Jeanvie but there is something wrong with the brakes on the truck so it's getting fixed.  He is okay and so are the other volunteers and kids at the orphanage there.  In Port-au-prince I hear it is bad but I don't have a tv here to watch the news and don't know details.  I hear a lot more buildings have come down.  Dave's brother Tim is in Haiti as well, along with his cousin Wes and cousin Daniel who are doctors helping in Port-au-Prince.  I got word that Wes is okay, but haven't heard anything yet about Tim or Daniel.  There may be this info. available on facebook but that is blocked here so check in if you can and let me know asap.  Please pray they are okay.  I hear there are lots more collapsed buildings and lots more death, which is scaring aid workers and they are pulling out.  Please pray for the people of Port-au-Prince and that the Lord give strength to those helping there, I can't imagine how much more terrible it could be there.  They are working under extreme conditions in danger and poverty.  If you want to donate, you can donate directly on www.nph.org on the homepage and the money will come straight here where we are loading and sending trucks with specific supplies requested of the hospital in Haiti.  They have done countless surgeries and especially amputations already.  But for now please pray pray pray and forward this on to all you know to pray.  Going to teach for the p.m., and then tomorrow will have my assitant Maria take over and I will be the new visitor coordinator to coordinate our many many doctors that are flying in and using the orphanage here as a stepping stone to get to Haiti.  Thanks for all the prayer, encouragement, and donations.
Love,
Kristin

Hi all,
> As you receive this, please take the time to say a prayer
> for my husband Dave who left for Haiti about 30 minutes
> ago driving in a truck, and pray for all our
> friends who went with him.  Pray for the people there
> and that our supplies will reach the people that need them
> most.  Pray for our doctors who are working in our
> hospital in Tabarre.  Pray for Dave's 2 cousins who
> are on their way to Haiti and Dave's brother Tim who is
> also in Haiti.  Also, please pray for David's
> wonderful Aunt Eileen in Michigan - we just received an
> email that her cancer has severely progressed.  Thanks
> for the prayers, love you all.
> Kristin
> PS Yes, I know it's 4a.m. but I couldn't sleep
> after kissing my hubby good-bye and we happened to have
> electricity at the moment so I'm on here instead! :)