| Asile at Gran Riviere du Nord |
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Greetings
On August 1, 2008, I went with Tabitha to Asile at Gran Riviere du Nord. Gran Riviere du Nord is a
town in Haiti about 25 miles from the orphanage. That equates to about an hours bus ride. Such are
the roads in Haiti.
Asile is a hospice. It is where those that are dying go to live out their final days if they have no family
or if their family can't support them. It is not like an American hospice. While I was impressed with the
building's structure, the overall living conditions are nowhere close to American standards. The
founder of this Asile (there are others in Haiti) has died, so no one looks after the 33 people that live
there. They are very hungry. In addition to the elderly and cancer patients we saw, there are also the
mentally and physical disabled.
The pictures you will see below are not pretty. In fact, they are not recommended for pre-teen kids
because they are somewhat graphic. But that is Haiti and while I debated with myself on whether or
not to post them, I thought it was important to show you how life is in a 3rd world country. I also don't
mean to sermonize (but then again, maybe I do), but this shows just how ugly sin is. Because of all of
our sin starting with Adam and Eve, we have suffering and pain and death like you will see below. I
truly think it's important that we confront just how horrible and ugly sin is and I believe that pictures
like Sizet's tumor below help us to see what God's opinion of sin is.
One of the women you will see below is named Sizet. She is dying of breast cancer and has a massive
infected tumor. We took her to the hospital but the doctor told us there is nothing he can do. The
cancer is so advanced and the infections are so embedded in her body that they can't do a thing. I
asked about morphine to help her with her pain and the doctor looked at me like I was crazy. He told
me that even if we could get morphine anywhere in Haiti, it is so expensive that it is beyond
affordable. I was totally unaware of that and quite frankly it just blows my mind.
I don't like asking for money, but it is much more distasteful to see these people discarded and
hungry, with no medicine and no one to care for them. So for that reason I will ask. If anyone wishes
to contribute to help these people live out their days in dignity, please e me.
Thanks.
bob
On August 1, 2008, I went with Tabitha to Asile at Gran Riviere du Nord. Gran Riviere du Nord is a
town in Haiti about 25 miles from the orphanage. That equates to about an hours bus ride. Such are
the roads in Haiti.
Asile is a hospice. It is where those that are dying go to live out their final days if they have no family
or if their family can't support them. It is not like an American hospice. While I was impressed with the
building's structure, the overall living conditions are nowhere close to American standards. The
founder of this Asile (there are others in Haiti) has died, so no one looks after the 33 people that live
there. They are very hungry. In addition to the elderly and cancer patients we saw, there are also the
mentally and physical disabled.
The pictures you will see below are not pretty. In fact, they are not recommended for pre-teen kids
because they are somewhat graphic. But that is Haiti and while I debated with myself on whether or
not to post them, I thought it was important to show you how life is in a 3rd world country. I also don't
mean to sermonize (but then again, maybe I do), but this shows just how ugly sin is. Because of all of
our sin starting with Adam and Eve, we have suffering and pain and death like you will see below. I
truly think it's important that we confront just how horrible and ugly sin is and I believe that pictures
like Sizet's tumor below help us to see what God's opinion of sin is.
One of the women you will see below is named Sizet. She is dying of breast cancer and has a massive
infected tumor. We took her to the hospital but the doctor told us there is nothing he can do. The
cancer is so advanced and the infections are so embedded in her body that they can't do a thing. I
asked about morphine to help her with her pain and the doctor looked at me like I was crazy. He told
me that even if we could get morphine anywhere in Haiti, it is so expensive that it is beyond
affordable. I was totally unaware of that and quite frankly it just blows my mind.
I don't like asking for money, but it is much more distasteful to see these people discarded and
hungry, with no medicine and no one to care for them. So for that reason I will ask. If anyone wishes
to contribute to help these people live out their days in dignity, please e me.
Thanks.
bob
These 2 ladies are
both blind from
Glaucoma, a very
treatable eye disease
in the US.
both blind from
Glaucoma, a very
treatable eye disease
in the US.
The man in the background is
autistic, but was fun to be
around. I played with him a
little and he was very
responsive.
autistic, but was fun to be
around. I played with him a
little and he was very
responsive.
This is how Sizet spends most
of her days. She could not
even sit on a bench at the
hospital.
of her days. She could not
even sit on a bench at the
hospital.
I don't know what happened
to this woman's nose, but it
didn't seem to bother her too
much.
to this woman's nose, but it
didn't seem to bother her too
much.
This is Sizet's infected tumor and
breast. We dressed it as best we
could, but there is no way we could
give her any tangible relief.
breast. We dressed it as best we
could, but there is no way we could
give her any tangible relief.
| This is how they spend their days. |
October 19, 2008
Well, we finally made it back to Asile. We've had two delays, one from the hurricane and another from
a death in the family, but today we finally went. I'm so glad we got back there. It was such an
incredible blessing to be able to help these people and watch Tabitha and our kids interact with them.
We packed the truck super tight, and I mean tight. I actually had to tell 4 of our kids they couldn't go
because there was just no more room in the truck, even by Haitian standards.
It takes about an hour to get there. Gerome drove great! After taking a little time, we had our worship
service with them. Manno Fils-Aime and Rodely led the songs and praying. Degol and Gerome
prayed too.
I preached on suffering, Romans 8:18-21, 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, John 16:33, and Romans 5:1-8. I
totally admitted upfront I was not good enough to preach on that. I was not in their shoes nor will I
probably ever be in them. I told them it was an honor to be able to bring the gospel to them and to
help them physically. This was the love of Jesus in action. That same Jesus that died for their sins
and rose on the 3rd day, created them and loves them infinitely more than I ever could. That love
from Jesus is why we were there and Lord willing, why we'll be back.
After worship, we helped them clean up. Tabitha did such a stupendously wonderful job
orchestrating this event. She cooked up huge vats of rice, beans, Creole sauce, chicken, and drinks.
It was an awesome meal. But before the meal, Tabitha and our kids and a few members from our
church performed personal tasks for the residents of Asile. Helping them bathe, washing and
braiding their hair, cutting the men's hair, shaving them. Helping them to feel just a little more human.
It was just so totally cool to watch our kids interact with the residents.
After the meal we headed back home. But it was such a spiritual and emotional trip. I wish I could
explain it better but seriously, you had to be there. Jesus tells us it is more blessed to give than to
receive, and boy he wasn't kidding.
I didn't exactly promise them we would return, but I sure want to. I would love to be able to make this
a quarterly trip. We don't want to forget about them. They are beautiful beautiful people, created in
God's image and likeness (and that's very obvious). So again, if anybody wants to help us continue
this work, which blesses us and them, please contact me at northeast125@yahoo.com. Thanks so
much!
One final word. Sizet, the lady in the last stages of breast cancer we talk about and pictured below,
died this past Friday, October 17. Tabitha was sad, but her physical suffering is over. I hope she is
with our Lord now.
bob
Well, we finally made it back to Asile. We've had two delays, one from the hurricane and another from
a death in the family, but today we finally went. I'm so glad we got back there. It was such an
incredible blessing to be able to help these people and watch Tabitha and our kids interact with them.
We packed the truck super tight, and I mean tight. I actually had to tell 4 of our kids they couldn't go
because there was just no more room in the truck, even by Haitian standards.
It takes about an hour to get there. Gerome drove great! After taking a little time, we had our worship
service with them. Manno Fils-Aime and Rodely led the songs and praying. Degol and Gerome
prayed too.
I preached on suffering, Romans 8:18-21, 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, John 16:33, and Romans 5:1-8. I
totally admitted upfront I was not good enough to preach on that. I was not in their shoes nor will I
probably ever be in them. I told them it was an honor to be able to bring the gospel to them and to
help them physically. This was the love of Jesus in action. That same Jesus that died for their sins
and rose on the 3rd day, created them and loves them infinitely more than I ever could. That love
from Jesus is why we were there and Lord willing, why we'll be back.
After worship, we helped them clean up. Tabitha did such a stupendously wonderful job
orchestrating this event. She cooked up huge vats of rice, beans, Creole sauce, chicken, and drinks.
It was an awesome meal. But before the meal, Tabitha and our kids and a few members from our
church performed personal tasks for the residents of Asile. Helping them bathe, washing and
braiding their hair, cutting the men's hair, shaving them. Helping them to feel just a little more human.
It was just so totally cool to watch our kids interact with the residents.
After the meal we headed back home. But it was such a spiritual and emotional trip. I wish I could
explain it better but seriously, you had to be there. Jesus tells us it is more blessed to give than to
receive, and boy he wasn't kidding.
I didn't exactly promise them we would return, but I sure want to. I would love to be able to make this
a quarterly trip. We don't want to forget about them. They are beautiful beautiful people, created in
God's image and likeness (and that's very obvious). So again, if anybody wants to help us continue
this work, which blesses us and them, please contact me at northeast125@yahoo.com. Thanks so
much!
One final word. Sizet, the lady in the last stages of breast cancer we talk about and pictured below,
died this past Friday, October 17. Tabitha was sad, but her physical suffering is over. I hope she is
with our Lord now.
bob
| The above 8 pics are from our worship service at Asile. |
| The above 4 pics are from after the worship service at Asile, when all the kids and other church members who went with us helped to groom the Asile residents. |
| The above 4 pics are when we fed the residents. They were so grateful for what little we did. Again, it was such a blessing to be able to serve them. In the second pic to the left, the man was unable to get out of bed. We were able to give him some money to see the doctor. |
| The 1st 2 of the above 8 pics are more of when we fed the residents. The 3rd pic in the top row is of a lady who was so Thankful. She kept coming up to thank me time after time. On the 2nd row, Ti Marie talks with her too, sharing a smile. The next pic is of a woman picking up some of the grains of rice and beans that had dropped on the floor. Kinda like Ruth. |
October 31, 2009
It really is hard to believe that it's been over a year since we have been back. Tabitha has been
back a few times but this is my first time and the kids' first time since October of 2008. And no, I'm not
proud of that. See the below 2008 entries for more detail on what exactly Asile is.
We came straight over here from the prison this afternoon. They all know us now, probably Tabitha
and her group more than the kids and I, but still they were very nice to us and happy to see us. We
fed them, prayed with them, danced with them and listened to them. It's heartbreaking to see how
they live sometimes, but as with the prisoners, their attitudes are very positive.
This time there were a few more kids than I remember. Last time there were kids, but they didn't
live there, they just visited for food when we came. This time there were at least 2, a boy and a girl,
and maybe more. I forgot to ask for a count, but last year I think there were 32 residents there. It
wouldn't surprise me if there were more this time.
These people are desperate. Anyone wishing to help them should contact me. No, we can't save
the world, Jesus already did that anyway - we just have to help those he gives us. Pics and vid links
below.
It really is hard to believe that it's been over a year since we have been back. Tabitha has been
back a few times but this is my first time and the kids' first time since October of 2008. And no, I'm not
proud of that. See the below 2008 entries for more detail on what exactly Asile is.
We came straight over here from the prison this afternoon. They all know us now, probably Tabitha
and her group more than the kids and I, but still they were very nice to us and happy to see us. We
fed them, prayed with them, danced with them and listened to them. It's heartbreaking to see how
they live sometimes, but as with the prisoners, their attitudes are very positive.
This time there were a few more kids than I remember. Last time there were kids, but they didn't
live there, they just visited for food when we came. This time there were at least 2, a boy and a girl,
and maybe more. I forgot to ask for a count, but last year I think there were 32 residents there. It
wouldn't surprise me if there were more this time.
These people are desperate. Anyone wishing to help them should contact me. No, we can't save
the world, Jesus already did that anyway - we just have to help those he gives us. Pics and vid links
below.
December 26, 2009
Got up here again thanks to a generous Christian from St. Louis. This time, in addition to feeding and
grooming the folks here, we were able to hijack (voluntarily of course) some nurses to look at their
health. Another thanks to Tabitha and her group for doing all the cooking and serving!
As usual it was great. The nurses took the vitals, listened to their medical complaints, and passed
out some meds that they had brought along. Even some of them were stunned at the conditions of the
people. This was their initial visit and we hope to have them return now that they know what the needs
truly are. They say they are anxious to get back.
We also fed them and groomed them. All of the kids from the orphanage that come up here are
volunteers, we don't coerce anyone. I was very impressed especially with Eveline, one of our teenage
girls. She has been here before so she knew what to expect, but yet the people here affected here
emotionally very much. I was so pleased to see she cares so deeply.
We took plenty of pics which are below. Thanks so much for your interest!
Got up here again thanks to a generous Christian from St. Louis. This time, in addition to feeding and
grooming the folks here, we were able to hijack (voluntarily of course) some nurses to look at their
health. Another thanks to Tabitha and her group for doing all the cooking and serving!
As usual it was great. The nurses took the vitals, listened to their medical complaints, and passed
out some meds that they had brought along. Even some of them were stunned at the conditions of the
people. This was their initial visit and we hope to have them return now that they know what the needs
truly are. They say they are anxious to get back.
We also fed them and groomed them. All of the kids from the orphanage that come up here are
volunteers, we don't coerce anyone. I was very impressed especially with Eveline, one of our teenage
girls. She has been here before so she knew what to expect, but yet the people here affected here
emotionally very much. I was so pleased to see she cares so deeply.
We took plenty of pics which are below. Thanks so much for your interest!
| Click on any thumbnail to enlarge them |
| Click on any thumbnail to enlarge them |
| Click on any thumbnail to enlarge them |
