Babies, babies everywhere! When Tim and I get ready to back our truck out of the courtyard area where we live we have to first check that our landlady's 2 puppies are not
underneath. Kekette will make a "smooching" sound with her mouth to try and get them to come to her and if that doesn't work she pulls out their little tin feeding dish and they come running! Next we have to do a search for Jean Lamour's four toddler-age peeps before moving the truck because as soon as Tim starts the engine they will run across the gate area and right behind our behemoth. Finally, we make certain that baby-girl, Daya, is either on her mama's lap or with another adult who will keep her safe because it is amazing how quickly little ones can move when we are not paying attention. Check list completed we are at last able to depart the busy gathering area.
Not all little ones in Haiti have the opportunity to be so well cared for as families struggle to meet a multitude of needs in their daily lives but, thankfully, there are programs to support families as they prepare for the birth of a new baby. For example, our friends, John and Beth McHoul of Heartline Ministries and residents of Haiti for 24 years, set out to build a "birthing center" after they saw a tremendous need to provide a clean, sterile facility with well-trained midwives and nurses for expectant mothers and their unborn babies. The result was not only a good and safe place to deliver their infants but also a program that encourages mothers-to-be to take part in essential prenatal care before giving birth. Solid health care is only one component in raising healthy children and the strongly relational people of Haiti know that the support of community is key as well.
For that reason we were delighted to read a recent blog written by Beth McHoul in which she says, "Part of the deal when moms deliver with us is that they stay in our post postpartum until they feel ready to go and then we take them home. Home can be a USAID tent, with or without a roof, or a cement house that looks pretty okay. We have women at different economic levels in our program. I've noticed regardless of their economic status our ladies are rich in community. As we wind down a dirt road barely big enough for the vehicle and come to a stop people come out of nowhere. Squeals of delight meet us.
The mom and baby are welcomed, hugged, prayed with, hugged again and mom is swept off her feet as she is ushered into the house, be it a tiny cinder block house or bigger house. Grandma grabs and inspects the baby and declares the child perfect. Siblings grab at the baby while they ooh and aah. There is delight all around. Recently one crowd [even] erupted in worship.
I am seeing this over and over again. Post postpartum depression doesn't have a chance
in these neighborhoods. Women like each other, they support each
other, and they watch each other's kids. Family is extended and they
raise each other's children. Relationships are close. They fight,
sure, but all families do.
Yesterday we drove a bunch of ladies home who live in the same neighborhood. The ambulance, the all-important somber ER on wheels, was transformed by a howling, laughing, joking group of silly women. We drove from house to house, had to get out, take photos, meet the family and the onlookers and then move on. Each lady was gracious and proud to have us. Poverty lost its power to joy and community. Love pulsated in the air. Our differences melted away."
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| Tim, puppies, mama and grandma |
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| Daya |
Not all little ones in Haiti have the opportunity to be so well cared for as families struggle to meet a multitude of needs in their daily lives but, thankfully, there are programs to support families as they prepare for the birth of a new baby. For example, our friends, John and Beth McHoul of Heartline Ministries and residents of Haiti for 24 years, set out to build a "birthing center" after they saw a tremendous need to provide a clean, sterile facility with well-trained midwives and nurses for expectant mothers and their unborn babies. The result was not only a good and safe place to deliver their infants but also a program that encourages mothers-to-be to take part in essential prenatal care before giving birth. Solid health care is only one component in raising healthy children and the strongly relational people of Haiti know that the support of community is key as well.
For that reason we were delighted to read a recent blog written by Beth McHoul in which she says, "Part of the deal when moms deliver with us is that they stay in our post postpartum until they feel ready to go and then we take them home. Home can be a USAID tent, with or without a roof, or a cement house that looks pretty okay. We have women at different economic levels in our program. I've noticed regardless of their economic status our ladies are rich in community. As we wind down a dirt road barely big enough for the vehicle and come to a stop people come out of nowhere. Squeals of delight meet us.
The mom and baby are welcomed, hugged, prayed with, hugged again and mom is swept off her feet as she is ushered into the house, be it a tiny cinder block house or bigger house. Grandma grabs and inspects the baby and declares the child perfect. Siblings grab at the baby while they ooh and aah. There is delight all around. Recently one crowd [even] erupted in worship.
I am seeing this over and over again. Post postpartum depression doesn't have a chance
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| Jeanette holding friend's baby |
Yesterday we drove a bunch of ladies home who live in the same neighborhood. The ambulance, the all-important somber ER on wheels, was transformed by a howling, laughing, joking group of silly women. We drove from house to house, had to get out, take photos, meet the family and the onlookers and then move on. Each lady was gracious and proud to have us. Poverty lost its power to joy and community. Love pulsated in the air. Our differences melted away."
A baby does change things. Each time a new life comes into our world we are reminded of God's awesome power and magnificent love and especially so in this season of Advent as we focus on the coming birth of God's own Son, Jesus. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us" (Matthew 1: 23). Halleluia and halleluia.
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