On the road...

Its 2:30 a.m in the morning (Saturday) and I'm in a taxi heading to Santiago with Davidson, one of our 10 year old boys in the orphanage, who has been having major breathing problems this past week due to asthma and bronchospasms (which is a new word I learned this week...I should have listened to my dad when I was little when he wanted to talk to me about medicine). I never wanted to be a doctor or nurse, but the past 7 years has taught me more than I thought I'd ever have to know.

I don't want to make this too long, but one of our missionaries, Brittany, was with Davidson in Santiago for almost 3 days in the hospital. They returned to Haiti and it didn't improve much. Brittany and I kept a close watch on him at the girl's house because we had to administer meds and nebulize him when he was having the breathing crisis'. The girl's house is the only house that had a working generator, which gives us electricity. Our other main generator blew up 2 weeks ago (another story).

Brittany spent last night with Davidson in a small clinic in Dajabon, the Dominican town across the border. They crossed back into Haiti today and he seemed to be doing better. The difficult part of this process has been that the breathing attacks are unpredictable. We're not sure if it is allergy-related or what, but he can be totally fine and then have an attack.

Tonight he began to have trouble breathing again, so I put some albuterol and saline solution in the nebulizer and gave him a treatment. It didn't work. Then he began to have sharp pains in his chest. I just laid my hands on him and prayed intensely...the pains persisted until he had about 7 of the sharp chest pains.

At that moment, I decided to take him to Santiago. My bags were already packed, I called Danita to let her know then took 2 of our male staff and our security guard with me to the border. Its about a 5 minute walk and at 1:00 a.m., it is pretty dark. Sorry if this sounds dramatic because to us, it is just normal. As I was walking, I welled up with tears for a moment.

* Tears of gratefulness for all the times we have had to cross children, late at night, depending on the favor and healing power of God. A little over a year ago, several of us made the same walk with Robenson, our oldest boy, who almost died that night, but is now alive and well!

* Tears of gratefulness for what is ahead. Soon we are going to have a children's hospital in Ouanaminthe that will be able to help all the "Davidsons" and "Robensons" that are out there. I prayed that God would not let me forget those 5 minute walks to the border and 3 hour drives to the nearest hospital that provides good medical care.

As I write this Davidson is sleeping, listening to worship music on my iPOD (thanks, Todd...it has come in handy!). Almost 7 years ago, we took Davidson in to live in the orphanage. He would come to our school every morning, his red shorts falling off because he was so skinny. Mami Toni, a precious missionary who was with us at the time, would give him peanut butter with crackers and juice every morning. When we would see him in the village, he was usually naked and by himself, his mother rarely present in the house. She had several other children, all by different fathers. At about 3-4 years old, he was taking care of himself. Danita has a saying "There is always room for one more"...and Davidson was that one.

Seven years later, here we are...what a privilege it is to take care of him. I'm thankful for those that make it possible for us to take care of our children day in and day out. I'm thankful to my supporters who are faithful in sending their money so that I can stay in Haiti. I'm thankful for the wonderful Godly ladies I work with in Haiti, whom I have the utmost respect for. I'm thankful for the peace and presence of God in the midst of trials.

Please keep Davidson in your prayers and I will try and update everyone as often as I can. Wherever you are today, find your "Davidson" and do something that could change a life...it doesn't take much...

Thanks for reading,

Karris
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