February Update

Hello all,

Its been almost a month since I've given you an update. Yikes! Sorry about that!

I am actually sitting here enjoying some throwback Newsboys greatest hits. Breakfast, anyone?!?!

Things have been pretty busy over the last month. I began a new job as the Director of the Mission Emanuel Medical Center on January 11th. The earthquake in Haiti hit on the 12th and on the 16th I went to Haiti for the day. Since then we have had three fabulous groups of men fly down to the Dominican and then almost immediately leave for the border to cook meals for hundreds of patients at the Good Samaritan hospital in Jimani. Check out the photos and stories at missionemanuel.org/haiti .

There are several people in the community dealing with medical issues that I have been updating you all on. Here are the latest updates:

1. Mari Rosa -- She will be receiving surgery to remove the cancer from her breasts on February 22nd. After that the government may be assisting her to pay for her chemotherapy which will be around $3,000 a month. Please pray that the surgery is successful and that she can find the resources to help her pay for this expensive treatment. Mission Emanuel will be taking care of the surgery costs.

2. Brenda -- She is healthy and happy and has not had any complications after her heart surgery. Praise God!

3. Kirsey -- She has received a set of dentures thanks to the goodness of God and the generosity of those here on our October trip.

Kirsey's new smile :D

From right to left: Me, Kirsey, Dr. Jose Manuel, Kirsey's sister and another staff member Anna Bolton

Recently, a baby came in for a 6 month check up who our doctor has been caring for since she was at just 1.5 lbs. She received formula and medical care from our clinic is now a happy, healthy little girl that surprised us by how big she has gotten!

In January we also began giving dental checkups and cleanings to each of our school students. Here are some pictures from this past Monday's mini lesson. Dr. Jose Manuel, our dentist, comes every Monday to give the children a lesson in how to care for their teeth and then works with 6 to 8 children to clean their teeth, fill cavities and in some cases pull teeth. We are hoping that the more dental care the children receive while young the less likely they are to loose their adult teeth to cavities.

Please continue to keep Haiti in your prayers, the mission's role as it serves the Haitians living and working in Bayona and the communities of Nazaret and Cielo.

Blessings,

Anna