It is amazing that this week is the 5-year anniversary of Kelby’s Kids serving full time in Haiti!!  It doesn’t seem possible that I have been living in Haiti for half of a decade already!

It’s hard to believe all that has happened — all the lives that have been affected, all the families that have been helped, lives saved, hope delivered, and, sometimes … the headaches shared. 

Sometimes when I am looking back through my pictures for something, I see photos of patients that have come through the clinic over the years, and that I’d forgotten about.  Sometimes I forget just how many people have been affected in a life changing way by the ministry of Kelby’s Kids!  All of that is because of your faithful prayer and financial support.  I couldn’t do what I do without YOU!! 

Happy Anniversary to US!!!

I thought about going through the pictures from the last 5 years and sharing some of the memorable pictures.  But without the story behind it they wouldn’t mean as much to you if you don’t remember who they are.  So, I encourage you to scroll back through the blog posts from the last several years so you can be reminded, like me, of all the lives that have been touched

Some time ago, Woodline came to the maternity clinic.  But then she disappeared for a couple months.  When she came back, she said that she was homeless and was living in the market behind the clinic.  This area is not very safe and is very dark at night.  During the day she can’t be in the market while it’s open so she wanders the streets.  This is no place for a pregnant woman and, for sure, not a baby.

Naika is only a year old.  She lives on the street and sleeps in the dirt with her Mama.  My heart went out to them and I helped them  out as much as I could while I worked on a solution.  Woodline had no family, no money, no support and her plan was to deliver in the market and raise her new baby there along with Naika.  I was able to find an organization to take them in and help them until after the baby arrives.  I found a second organization that is going to help her get a house, job training, and teach her money management.

Please pray for Woodline, Niaka and the baby that they are able to turn there lives around and stay together as a family!

I know many of you have been waiting for an update on things and I apologize for the delay.  But It’s so hard to know what to say.

Haiti is difficult and stressful right now.  I am sure that most of you have heard of the 16 Americans and 1 Canadian short-term missionaries that were kidnapped on October 16th (and are still being held by a gang).

Kidnapping is up 300% in the last 3 months.  Gangs control 50% of Port-au-Prince, and it’s growing.  There are over 100 recognized gangs in Haiti.  Some of the police are corrupt and people don’t know who to trust.  There has not been any fuel sold at stations for about 3 weeks because gangs control the streets into the port where fuel is unloaded from the ships. Gas on the streets or black market is going for about $30 USD per gallon.  With no fuel it’s hard for people to find food and water and the prices of what’s available is going up significantly.  Hospitals are closing because they don’t have fuel for their generators.  Haiti is hurting, people are scared, and there is no hope of things changing anytime soon.

It’s a difficult decision to decide when to come back to Michigan.  Will it get better or will it get worse, how long would I have to be gone, what will my patients do if I leave? 

I am coming back for Christmas.  When I leave is yet to be determined, though. I make a daily assessment of what’s going on.  How long I will be gone is also up in the air.  Please pray for wisdom to make the best decisions.     

Maternity clinic has remained busy with patients and babies despite the insecurity in the streets.  There has been an increase in teens in the maternity program lately.  I am considering starting a second day for the maternity clinic just for teens.  Many of them are embarrassed to come to the clinic and I think a clinic designated for their age would help encourage them to be in the program. This could help reduce the complications and deaths that accompany teen pregnancies, especially those at 13, 14, and 15 years of age.

Rosedaline is a strong Mama!  Only 27 hours after delivering a beautiful 7 lb 8 oz little girl named Clara, she walked 25 minutes one way to Clinic for her follow-up visit with her baby.

A tough part about maternity clinic is when moms disregard part of the weekly education. It seems like there are always one or two things that they decide not to do.  It’s a struggle to change the old-school beliefs that they’ve grown up with.  But, hands-down, I’d rather have a little non-compliance here and there, than to have a dead mom or baby because mom didn’t have access to any prenatal care.

Getting to hold brand-new babies is always the best part of the maternity clinic.

Please pray for all the mamas. Pray for uncomplicated deliveries — especially since hospital care is so very limited right now.

Thank-you for the part you’ve played in the ministry of Kelby’s Kids over the last 5 years!  It’s a privilege to serve in Haiti on your behalf.  I look forward to what we can accomplish together through the next 5 years!

Until No Child Dies,

Kelby