Update from Haiti

Since the Yoga group left last Wednesday, Sandra and I have been by ourselves here at PID. Many of the staff here have been taking advantage of Sandra's English lessons and she has been very busy. I have been working on planning and getting ready for the groups that will be coming in March.

Mr. Genois has been accepting new children that are greatly in need to the sponsorship program. He sits down with each child's mother, father, or caretaker, asking questions and listening to their sad stories and difficult situations. He takes note of all the information he recieves, and takes a photo of each child. Each family leaves with a small bag with some clothes and a little hope that he or she will find a sponsor soon.

Child sponsorship

This was a record week for sponsorship. Ten kids were sponsored: 7 from Haiti and 3 from Guatemala. We are now a little over 1/2 way to our goal of 1000 kids being sponsored.

Teams keep growing

Today we sat in the office and laughed at Martha's, our trip coordinator's, elaborate chart. So many people want to go on trips she can't fit them all in the weeks they want to travel. But she and her chart are doing a great job at getting everyone a traveling date. Looks like we will be building a lot of houses this year:-)
Thanks Martha for all your hard work .

US Medical Warehouse

We have had and exciting three days in the US moving our medical warehouse.
Many volunteers came to help . Now we have to label and finalize our system. This will give us a way to track all medical and other donations . It will
also help the packers:-) If you are interested in volunteering in the warehouse call the office. We always need help.

Last Couple of Days

Here are some photos from Saturday morning - the last day on the work site in Desierto.

Peter Vance often ends up as a human jungle-gym

Kendall making some friends

Peter N. and Dr. Jen in the rock line

Sarah and Anthony passing rocks

Johnny and Pedro Pablo (one of the sons)

and then they started passing kids

Rich Schonewald throwing some kids around

Then on Sunday the team spent the day in Antigua seeing the sights and doing some shopping. Here is the whole team at some church ruins that we visited:

Soccer Jerseys

On Thursday some of the team members were able to go to the school in Desierto and hand out some donated soccer jerseys. The kids were very excited!!! The girls team played on Friday in their new uniforms!

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Home

Arrived home from Guatemala. Tomorrow we begin the moving of the medical warehouse!

Busy Day!

Today was another busy day for the team from North Shore Community Baptist Church.

It was day two of the VBS program and everything went smoothly. Tomorrow they will be handing out bags of clothes, toys, shoes and soccer balls to the kids that are coming to VBS. Village Concepción will be flooded with 100+ soccer balls tomorrow afternoon - I can't wait to see that!

In the clinic Dr. Jen continues to see patients and got to meet with our Guatemalan doctor today to explain some treatment plans for what we are calling our "special cases".

The construction team continues working hard under tough conditions and surprises me every day with their willingness and perseverance. Gale and I visited this afternoon and took some photos. Mostly it was just kids who live around the work site and wanted their picture taken, but I did get a few of the nice ditch that they are digging for the foundation.

Also the team leader Gro wanted me to wish a Happy Anniversary to his wonderful wife Londie. =)

Last day of Yoga classes!!

Last day of Yoga classes!! Team member Vanessa left around lunchtime and the final three team participants Ada, Natalie and Cami are scheduled to leave Haiti tomorrow. It has been such a great week, and it ended with a very full morning class of local Blanchard kids, followed by a visit to the Enfants de Jesus Orphanage. The ladies have had a fantastic time here. Four children have been sponsored through team members in this Yoga team.  Some team  members were able to meet their new sponsored kids before they left Haiti, which is a really special moment both for the sponsor and the child. This group of women has definitely touched a lot of children’s lives since they have been here.

The Team Has Arrived!

The team has arrived safely and had a hard day at work. The construction is in a complicated area with a lot of rocks. The water for the concrete has to
Carried up from the river in buckets. The sand and cement has to hand carried into the worksite over rocky hills. We saw a few very complicated medical cases at the clinic.

Post by Vanessa Burns

My name is Vanessa Burns and it is my great pleasure to be writing on behalf of the Bridge of Diamonds/Yogakids February yoga team. We have had an incredible time working in Haiti with PID and the children of Blanchard, Damien & Canaan. The children are absolutely amazing!!!!!! Since the first team members arrived on Feb 12, approximately 460 children have enjoyed the yoga program and we have thoroughly enjoyed having this great opportunity to spend time with them and contribute. In addition to the regular classes held every day, our team has had the great pleasure to visit an orphanage and look forward to visiting another one tomorrow afternoon (which will be the last class held for this team). The Haitian people are so strong, kind, inspiring and full of hope despite the absolute hardships they have experienced and continue to endure everyday. We feel incredibly blessed to have learned what it truly means to have hope and strength and we will walk away from this experience with a new perspective on life and a passion to advocate for PID and the difference they are making in the lives of so many. Before we sign off we must also give a huge shout out to our awesome translator Evens, the super awesome PID staff that have taken amazing care of us during our visit, Lauren, Cinda and Martha who helped organize us and to Lizzy and Sandra for their hospitality & friendship that we will never forget! Thank you so much for this amazing experience and opportunity!

Update from Haiti

Yoga team member Pamela safely departed this morning, after a great week here. Its obvious that she will really be missed for the rest of the week’s activities. This afternoon everyone relaxed at the public beach, then spent the evening gearing up for the remainder of yoga classes and craft projects this week. On the ride back from the beach on the tap-tap, the group saw a carnival celebration in action: a group of 20 -30 people running down the street dancing and drumming. Carnival is the Catholic celebration that comes just before Lent, At least in Haiti, it means costumes, street parties and parades, and very, very loud music.

I visited auras mom today. I was shocked when I asked how she was and she said good, in Spanish of...

I visited auras mom today. I was shocked when I asked how she was and she said good, in Spanish of course. While she is far from better, it is the first tome she spoke in several months. It is a mystery.
Little Carlos was running down the street and smiling.
This afternoon we shopped for the team. I took 4 kids from the village to help carry things, as the car was getting repaired
And we had to take the chicken bus. Then Sela and Gene offered to come and help carry. So 7 of us left on the chicken bus ready
Carry everything home. Then Sergio lent his car to pick us up so we ended up all stuff in a car. But we had a fun time both ways.

This morning the local kids in Blanchard showed up early ready for their turn for the Yoga classes....

This morning the local kids in Blanchard showed up early ready for their turn for the Yoga classes. This afternoon the Yoga team went to the local orphanage for kids who have disabilities. There are over 30 kids there, and the kids absolutely loved it. Everyone involved really enjoyed the program, and it was a great experience for both kids and yoga instructors. 

This afternoon, the team went on a taptap tour of Port-au-Prince, a stop by at the Palace, and a meal out at Epidor.

Mr. Genois came and talked to the group this morning. He thanked them for coming and for everything they are doing with the children. He told them about PID’s work in Haiti and especially the sponsorship program. The team really enjoyed listening to everything he had to say and had a lot of questions for him. With the kids impatiently waiting outside the door for yoga, they asked him if he could come back this evening to answer the rest of their questions. We sat on the Yoga mats outside together this evening while they asked Genois questions about everything, from schools in Haiti, to government and politics, to tourism, to his own family. Mr. Genois responded to all of their questions with very wise words, and asked only one thing of them: that they go home and spread the word about all the good work PID is doing in Haiti to all of their friends back home.

In Guatemala we were invited by fundazucar to a meeting. We hosted it at the clinic. The minister of...

In Guatemala we were invited by fundazucar to a meeting. We hosted it at the clinic. The minister of natural resources did a presentation on recycling and the thirty women who signed up ( most of who are in our program) are committed to cleaning the streets in the village every two weeks.
The leaders came to the clinic and passed out cards for the Childrens program. The leaders are getting to be professionals.
Leybi, who is in the English class , and studying nursing, took an 8 page English test and got a 91. Next week she will help at the clinic, practicing English and nursing.

Yoga classes today featured a special concentration on crafts, including a “vision...

Yoga classes today featured a special concentration on crafts, including a “vision board” craft project. The kids in the classes pasted magazine clippings of people, houses, landscapes, food and flowers onto a board in an illustration of their dreams and hopes. One team member brought down with her creole words of inspiration written on papers that children from a local school had colored and decorated, which the Yoga class kids then pasted onto their boards. The creole words for “faith”, “laughter”, “family” and more were pasted onto the Yoga kids’ vision boards. Knowing that these words were sent from kids just like them, all the way from Alberta, Canada was a moving experience for the adults involved. For the children, the vision boards were a unique chance for their creativity to emerge, and for their innermost hopes to be spoken aloud and made visible to the world.

Today, I saw little Carlos, he was so much better than two Weeks ago. Aura’s mom is not...

Today, I saw little Carlos, he was so much better than two
Weeks ago. Aura’s mom is not so
Good but gave her Ensure in the hopes she will get some of her strength back. Baby Suhul , an emergency baby , who just entered the program is gaining weight. Don Chico is doing a beautiful landscaping job around the clinic. Some of the leaders group worked on name tags for the kids .

Yesterday three more Yoga team members arrived safely at PID, just in time to join the afternoon...

Yesterday three more Yoga team members arrived safely at PID, just in time to join the afternoon Yoga session. The new arrivals Cami, Ada and Natalie joined Pamela and Vanessa today for not only two yoga sessions for kids from Canaan, but also two additional sessions for local kids as well. Each of the sessions was packed with kids that were all pumped to be part of this program. The team couldn’t resist the kids’ smiling faces, and at the end of the day those still around enjoyed a relaxed time of turning paper bags into puppets with crayons and googly eyes. The Yoga girls are wiped from such a long day, but enjoyed every minute of the kids’ enthusiasm, energy and creativity.

At 5 AM I leave for the airport to go to Guatemala for a week. Another house will be started for a...

At 5 AM I leave for the airport to go to Guatemala for a week. Another house will be started for a family . The only sad part is I got flowers from my husband and some from my kids and I won’t be here to enjoy them. But I am blessed to have one night surrounded by flowers .

Another routine yet lively day at the clinic. Day two of yoga kid’s classes also successful,...

Another routine yet lively day at the clinic. Day two of yoga kid’s classes also successful, also with kids from Damien. TOEFL students have started incorporating typing into their class sessions, using the computers donated from Gordon College. The students have made a good start with typing up their personal works of writing.

Help Needed! Moving PID's Warehouse!

Calling all local PID supporters! Thursday, February 23rd (in the afternoon), and all day Friday & Saturday we will be moving PID’s Warehouse to a different location (on the same property). If you are able to volunteer some time and energy please let us know by calling the office (978-380-6132) or emailing Michele at michele@pidonline.org. Thank you!

*Many thanks to the generosity of Dave Clark for the use of the facility, and for the helpfulness of his staff!

It was the first day of yoga class. Pamela and Vanessa ran 2 classes for kids from Damien, one in...

It was the first day of yoga class. Pamela and Vanessa ran 2 classes for kids from Damien, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The kids enjoyed not just the yoga, but also the goody bags with crayons and treats. They did breathing excersizes and yoga positions to start, and then had a snack and some time to do arts and crafts before heading home. Its good start to the week for the yoga team.

Yesterday the team spent one last day enjoying the natural beauty of Haiti at the public beach, then...

Yesterday the team spent one last day enjoying the natural beauty of Haiti at the public beach, then left this morning after some final goodbyes. Just a few hours later, two new arrivals have come. Vanessa and Pamela are 2 of 5 in a yoga group that will be doing two yoga classes a day for kids from Blanchard, Damien and Canaan here at the PID grounds. The 3 other yoga instructors are scheduled to arrive Wednesday. The ladies have brought down treats for their little yoga students, including trail mix, beef jerky and arts and crafts. It’s the first time in Haiti for both women, and both seem very excited to get started with this week’s program.

The work day today included setting up the PID Pharmacy’s new computer with a spreadsheet of...

The work day today included setting up the PID Pharmacy’s new computer with a spreadsheet of all the medications available. Thanks to those with Pharmacology skills, this database will make finding and ordering the needed medications even more efficient. In the afternoon, high-school senior Jonathan, his father Andy, and others from the medical and construction team joined the latter half of the mobile clinic in Damien. This time last year Jonathan and his father came on a PID trip, and while in Damien Jonathan played drums using overturned buckets and his own personal drumsticks from home. This year, Jonathan wrote to a professional music company and told them his story. As a result of that, he was able to bring to Damien 50 pairs of drum sticks that the company donated to children in Haiti. Upon arrival at Damien this afternoon, he then gave out the instruments to the ecstatic children surrounding him. Many remembered him, and all of the children excitedly found a place near a bucket, or table, or piece of concrete in order to imitate Jonathan’s drumming patterns. The kids had a fantastic time and will definitely cherish their new sets of drumsticks, as well as the memory of such a great afternoon.

After the team’s workday ended, this evening the team held one final debrief meeting. Although they leave Sunday, it was tonight that everyone shared many meaningful reflections and stories. For some, it was their third or fourth trip to Haiti, for others, this was their first time in a developing country. This team has had a lot of significant insights into the situation in Haiti, as well as a lot of sincere connections with their translators and co-workers, not to mention the kids who hang around the construction site. Then as a final piece of a closing team meeting Mr. Genois came and prayed a prayer of encouragement and thanks for the team’s dedication to PID and Haiti, after he himself shared about his own meaningful work here.

 

Gale left this morning after a great trip back to Haiti. Today half the medical team held the...

Gale left this morning after a great trip back to Haiti. Today half the medical team held the third and final of this week’s mobile clinics in Bon Repos, while the other half of medical team stayed at PID for today’s prenatal clinic. At this point in the week, the medical practitioners are well into the routine of consulting clients in this setting, and the construction team is gaining momentum with building the foundation for the current house.

Also this week, four desktop computers arrived as a generous donation from Gordon College in MA. Thanks to the youngest team member here, Jonathan, they are now set up and equipped with the necessary programs. We’re really looking forward to having these much-needed additional computers around PID. We put one in the pharmacy for medical use, and one will be used for English lessons and typing practice for the staff, one will be for general office use, and the last one dedicated to small business. We are really, really grateful to have these computers here since they were desperately needed and will make so many tasks much easier.

Today the team continues to work hard in the clinic here in Blanchard and the mobile clinic in Bon...

Today the team continues to work hard in the clinic here in Blanchard and the mobile clinic in Bon Repos, as well as on the construction site. After work, the team went for a tap-tap tour of Port-au-Prince, a stop by the Palace, and a meal out at Epidor. Madame Pavelus came tonight for our meeting to tell the team about Haiti’s history from her experience.

Today we had a directors meeting. I went well as we recounted what had happened in the last two...

Today we had a directors meeting. I went well as we recounted what had happened in the last two years. We made future plans. We talked about business classes and management classes for the employees and business and housing program participants.

Today half the medical team went to Bon Repos for a mobile clinic and the rest of the team stayed...

Today half the medical team went to Bon Repos for a mobile clinic and the rest of the team stayed here at PID’s clinic. Both locations gave out toiletries, clothes, and shoes to the patients. Patients in Blanchard also have the opportunity to receive pastoral counseling from one of the team members. The construction team is making progress on the foundation.

Emergency Sponsorship in Guatemala

TWO Emergency Sponsors are needed for this baby in Guatemala due to the high cost of formula.

For more information on how to start a sponsorship, please go to: http://www.pidonline.org/programs/child-sponsorships

Today went well. The team worked on construction, helped at the clinic and Ran a clinic in Damien ....

Today went well. The team worked on construction, helped at the clinic and
Ran a clinic in Damien . Had hypertension clinic and after all the classes and teaching they all showed up and understood their medical problems. We are so excited that both the diabetic and hypertension clinics are going so well.

PID's Annual Celebration

Please join us for our Annual Celebration!

Sunday, March 4th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Boone Hall (adjacent to Ascension Memorial Church)
31 County Road, Ipswich, MA

This gathering will feature PID updates, native crafts to purchase, delicious food, & a chance to catch up with PID pals. This is also a great way to introduce
new people to our work, so bring your friends.

All are welcome, free of charge.

Please RSVP for food planning purposes
or call (978) 380-6132.

This morning, Gale arrived after 3 months of being grounded in the US. The Haitian staff members who...

This morning, Gale arrived after 3 months of being grounded in the US. The Haitian staff members who were working today were so happy to finally see her.

The new team also arrived this evening. Many of the team members are returning for a 2nd or 3rd time here with PID, and there are many new people as well. I am looking forward to a great week with them, we have a lot of things planned.

Today was a good day. The new office for the social worker, Alahandra, is almost finished. The staff...

Today was a good day. The new office for the social worker, Alahandra, is almost finished. The staff is working on a plan to do public health presentations in all the schools in the area. Millie, our pharmacist, is working on figuring out how many supplies we will need to do the program. So start collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste and soap. Sela and Gene will leave in a month so we are looking for an English teacher from Guatemala to teach. Later we will look for someone from the US who wants to come and teach for a year or more.  I leave for Haiti tomorrow. This time in Guatemala went so quickly. It will be a sad good bye.

Last night the English students did an excellent presentation. Sela and Gene are great teachers and...

Last night the English students did an excellent presentation. Sela and Gene are great teachers and the kids clearly
Love them. The kids that are11-15 can’t take the class but now are asking when can they have a class too.