Team 14 March 19, 2012, 9:15pm Bonswa to our dear family and friends as we listen to the critters and creatures of the night and feel the cool breeze against our skin. It has been 3 days since I wrote last and the days have been filled with sunny skys, a couple of meaningful thunderstorms to fill our team house water supply and truck rides with waving love filled children sharing their smiles and excitment as we bump and sway past them gripping our railing and treking up the mountain to start our day.. The lines of familiess have been long and patient as each day we have seen more and more of our Haitian families. Melissa our very favorite patient who suffered severe burns 4 years ago came bouncing into the clinic with her 2 brothers smiling and carrying on like she owned the place! (She does....emotionally) She has recovered with healed brown supple skin....truly God's plan and care through that team 4 years ago who could offer cleaning and special care to her face and Mom's love restored. Today we dedicated our care to 216 patients. Each day the lines are longer. It will be hard to leave tomorrow after our last day of healing. The needs were varied the last 2 days of care with many pregnant ladies having us check their beautiful babies to be. I never get tired of the smiles on their faces as they hear the heart sounds and receive a diaper pack, onsie and a beautiful handmade baby blanket or baby jacket donated by one of you. Scabies, scabies, scabies was the diagnosis of the day. Prayerfully we were able to relieve itchy skin and treat infection of the bumps and lesions. This time of year we see many of our our friends with allergies, cold symptoms, and some pneumonia. We have treated some quite severe asthmatic patients these several days and thanks to your donations have the medications we need to keep them breathing well and safe. I can't say enough kind words regarding my team members. Selfless, dedicated and hardworking are words that come immediately to mind. Thank you familes for sharing these gracious indiviuals who are now family on a different level. Not only are we all able to work together and accomplish any task but each is more fun than the next...ask them about the game "Garbage". Karen now has a new title of Activities Director. This is a promotion for Karen who is our charismatic coordinator of EVERYTHING and everyone! Seriously we are sad to be engaging in our final day of care tomorrow but always anxious to see each of you as we travel home. Please keep our Haitian families in your prayers as we attempt to meet their needs tomorrow and prepare the clinic for the next team. We had many patients tonight at our meeting for which we prayed. Please pray that God will keep them safe, heal them according to His plan and bring those back to the clinic as we have directed. We will begin travel early on Wednesday.... traveling into Port-au-Prince at 6AM. The team wants to play "Garbage" at the airport....they crack me up....we'd probably get kicked out for the noise! So Orevwa for now, merci for your thoughts and prayers and see you a couple of days. Vanda and Team 14 Team 14 March 15, 2012 11;35 pm Bonjou from Haiti - The rainshower with brilliant lightning and thunder has passed after a bright day of sunshine and cool breezes. I sit with the crickets chirping and pray that the roosters are crowing a bit later this next morning! The team arrived in Haiti without any difficulties this trip from a quick luggage check\in process to a smooth flight and accountability for all our 42 suitcases and carry ons!! Moving through the airport was remarkable for the improvements to the airport and the elbow grease of the team. Greeted by Willem's warm hug and smile, we embraced another winding ride through Port au Prince and up the mountain. Yes, there is change with a stirring of activity, vendors sharing their wares and our Haitian friends bustling about hand in hand with their children. As we weave through the streets there are fewer tents and a clearing in the central park. Willem explains that the people have been given funds and have moved prayerfully to a permanent home. As always. Beth serves us a lovely Haitian meal and spoils us with homebaked rolls and bread. Tired from the day's travel we bunk down with prayers for a productive day to come. So back to the roosters.....lets just say they outdid themselves last night! A symphony of sounds unlike what we hear near our homes, but here in our home away from home the roosters crowed, the dogs barked and howled, and we chuckled, snuggled in with pillows over our heads or listened to our protectors as they carried on.... Our smooth transition into care on this our first day was awesome!! Team members seeing what needed to be done and all the suitcases unpacked in the clinic on this day so we could move forward with our medicines, care products and love. We had seen our Haitian families walking up the mountain well before we left our coffee cups to head over to the other side of the mountain and the smiles and waves we experienced were delightful and fresh. To say the least we had a full day of care to the hustle and bustle of our patints and their families. From little ones shivering as we apply cream for scabies to our pregnant mom's wanting reassurance of a healthy baby and feeling the angst of the malnourished yet the hope that we can provide by offering medicated peanut butter. I write this a bit late this evening as power is not always available but I wanted to get a note off to share with you that we are off to a productive week. Please pray for our Haitian friends to continue to travel to us and for those that we have asked to return for continued care to be able to trek over the mountain without incident. (It gets very slippery after a rainstorm.) We keep in mind how essential that precious water is for our friends yet difficult for travel on these steep mountain paths and roads. I would love to share more with you in a few days. Again, please lift up all in prayer....lovingly as my Haitian shower awaits me. Vanda and Team 14