Theo "Joe" Honorat

I am exhausted but really want to give you an update and I will do my best to do it justice as it deserves it... the last 48 hours have truly been blessed.

Yesterday morning a work party of Navy soldiers came to H2H to help us clear debris. They worked hard to clear our fallen walls so we can start rebuilding them. The barbwire fences have worked well but we are missing the density and height of our concrete ones.





At noon I got a call from Enorck saying his wife was in labor. This was her 3rd child and the other births were difficult as the babies were big. The second birth was a c-section. I have been working hard to find a hospital that is capable of a c-section but haven't been able to find anything. We had an appointment on Monday for an ultrasound to determine whether a c-section was going to be necessary. When her labour started we took her to the local clinic (Lifeline) which has become a medical hub with the help of the US Marines & Navy. By the time we arrived Chantal was fully dilated, her water had broken but the baby was not in position. The Navy doctor on site arranged to have us evacuated (on a hovercraft) to the USS Bataan for a c-section. Chantal was given an epidural almost immediately upon arrival... while Enorck & I underwent x-rays for tuberculosis (a precautionary measure for all visitors). The plan was a c-section but as soon as Chantal's body relaxed with the drugs the baby's head slipped out and Joe was born!!! By the grace of God both mother & baby are doing great.

The hovercraft:



Transporting Chantal onto the hovercraft:



"Talking" to the baby... trying to convince him to wait until we reached the ship:



Dressing Enorck so he can enter the OR:



Enorck & I with baby Theo Joe Honorat (Joe for short)... the baby knows his aunt already :)



The Navy nurse with Joe:



Joe in his Haitian manger:



The family with Capt. Howard... chief of the USS Batton:



The staff of the USS Batton were incredible. After delivering Joe, they took care of us too... they fed us, clothed us, let us shower (for the first time since the quakes!!!) and sleep. I really needed the sleep. This morning they took Enorck & I on a thorough tour of the ship. Here is a view of the landing strip from the Bridge:



Another view from the Bridge.. back to the shores of Grand Goave:



Apparently doodling is useful in all professions:



Enorck checking out Grand Goave on the binoculars:



We returned the Grand Goave a few hours ago and Joe has met his older brothers, Theo & Theodad. Here is Theodad giving him a kiss:



I know there are many people on the USS Batton following my blog already so I want to say a huge THANK YOU to you all - not only for delivering Joe but for all you are doing for Haiti.

Article in the Tri City News

http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/82986247.html

A lesson in perseverance

I am learning a lesson in perseverance. I have been sick since yesterday morning... "haitian happiness"... and I'm struggling to do the things I need to do. But, everywhere I look I see examples of people finding the strength to not just endure but move forward; A husband who has lost his wife is caring for his 3 young children. A son is comforting his mother as she grieves the loss of another son. Hungry children are sharing food with those who have less. A mother irons clothes for her daughter's funeral. Groups of people are banding together to clean the streets. Men are building blocks again in preparation for rebuilding. The H2H Board, and people all across North America, are working around the clock to help us. Pray that these examples will give me the strength and perseverance I need to do the job God has placed before me.

Cleaning the streets:







Making blocks again:



Ironing clothes with a charcoal iron:



I have neglected Grand Goave on my blog so I'm posting pictures of some of the damage done to our village.

This was a 3 story building:



Individual houses:













The roof of this house is sitting on the foundation... everything inside was destroyed:



This was the Catholic Church:



A side view of the same church:



Sifting through rubble trying to find personal items:



This was a 3 story high school:



There are tent cities set up everywhere:





We had a bit of a scare today. I was in a community meeting this afternoon when a substantial aftershock hit us. A few minutes later I got a call from my husband, Renel, saying one of the older boys at H2H was injured and they were bringing him to me so I could find a doctor. When he arrived he was covered with blood and was holding his head. I quickly found a doctor and they stitched him up. He had been sitting on a stairwell when the quake hit and tried to jump off it as he was worried it would collapse. When he jumped he hit his head on a tree branch and then fell into the razor wire fence. There were a few tense minutes but everything is fine now and he'll probably have the best sleep he's had in weeks... thanks to the medicine I gave him.

A poem: Haiti Earthquake, Debbie Preuss

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

Bodies rotting on the ground
Destruction everywhere is found
Stomachs cry with hunger pain
So much loss so little gain
Buildings fallen, families shattered
Rubble everywhere is scattered
Cries and moans slowly subside
As those buried alive have died
The stench of death permeates the air
But miracles are everywhere
People surviving days on end
Sometimes buried beside a friend
The ground shook, the buildings fell
As Haiti was plunged into hell
Hearts cry around the world
As the devastation is unfurled
Hopeless feelings, what can we do?
Oh Lord, we cry out to You
For we hear when all else is gone
In Haiti there arises a gospel song
As people cry out to You for aid
Those shattered and so afraid
Lift their hearts in praise to You
While others still practise their voodoo
Looting and stealing does abound
As the aftershocks still pound
People sleeping in the street
There is not enough to eat
As bodies are buried in mass graves
The prayers are echoed, “Jesus please save
The lost and hurting in this place
For each of them has a face
A family and friends that cared
Now their hearts have been bared
So many died, yet others live
Oh Lord may Your strength You give
To the Haitians and those around
Who truly do love this ground
Help them rebuild strong and true
May they cast their eyes to You
To break the curse of death that’s there
Help them realise You care
As You send help from far away
May around the globe, Your people pray
For the moving of Your hand
May You bring peace to Haiti’s land
With Death and destruction everywhere
Oh Lord, please keep them in Your care”

Debbie Preuss ©
January 18, 2010

Another day of work

The Marines returned this morning to complete the work they started yesterday. They tore down some unstable walls and put a temporary fence (razor wire) up where the walls had fallen.

Here they are deciding how to tear down the wall... this is the wall that separates my house from H2H and the wall was almost leaning against our house. Renel is the one in the back, standing on the stairs, making sure they don't take down our house too :)





Mission accomplished:



Making the fence:





The Marines shared their rations with the kids... which was very exciting since each meal package had snacks, desert, juice and other treats along with the main course.







Spirit have really risen over the past few days and all of our guys chipped in this morning with the work. They courageous climbed on the roof to recover our water barrels:



They recovered our temporary sleeping shelter with more palms leaves and some tarps we received from Doctors without borders:



They started stacking the fallen bricks that can be reused and cleaning up the rubble:





They also sifted through the fallen guest house to recover some of the floor tiles:







And now for the best news of all... mango season has started!!!!!!