Updates from Haiti

Over the last month I have had the pleasure of seeing Marlene (the head of the orphanage in Gantheirs, Haiti) not once - but twice! Before she left to go back to Haiti, I brought over the rest of the Crocs for her to take back to the children along with other donations I had received from friends (clothes, toys, hats, medical supplies, hand sanitizer, etc). As we were packing and repacking everything, her kids would point at the smaller shoes or clothes and say the name of the little girl who had the abscess on her cheek  (the only one who would fit the smaller clothes). Marlene and I joked that the little girl would be in heaven over all the new clothes and shoes that were headed her way. There is still a need for larger sized clothes and Crocs for the older children (more like adolescents) who are middle and high school aged. Shoe sizes commonly needed are mens 6-10 and clothes Young Mens (M-L).

She told me that K, my little helper, continues to ask her when "my Amanda" is coming to visit. I smiled and told her to tell him I hope to come back soon. Fabienne and I have been talking about heading that way sometime in December - but we will see when the times gets closer. Oh how I miss my little K! Here is a picture of him from the August HVC trip:

He is getting SO BIG!!

 While we were chatting, and I was struggling to communicate what the difference between Neosporin and Cortizone was to her (finally resorting to my Bing Translator on my phone - lol), she gave me the following updates on some of the kids:

* GREAT NEWS! Darlene has been reunited with her family and was very happy to go with them!

* 'O' is all healed up and is smiling beautifully! Her mother has recently been in contact with  her at the orphanage, and there are plans to reunite them in February. Her father died (I think in the earthquake), and her mother is unable to walk, so the government has been helping to support Oalguine since her arrival at CAD. Marlene told me 'O' has 7 brothers and sisters!

Taken by my friend Lauren on her trip in August.

'O' is on the right. Look at that gorgeous (toothless) smile!

Hopefully more updates to come in December!