Our Missionaires in Haiti

You can follow the work of the Bentrotts (Patrick, Kim and son Solomon), our missionairies in Haiti by reading Kim's blog Adventures in Life.  Here is a portion of a recent post:

Yesterday I accompanied Patrick to Leogane, and volunteered some time in the orphanage he works with while he taught his classes in the CONASPEH seminary there. Patrick goes to the orphanage on Wednesday afternoons to play with the children, to teach them a language, to interact with several of the severely handicapped kids there and teach staff that they need love and attention as much or more as the other kids. His time there is valuable.

The orphanage is relatively new, started by a well-meaning man and wife who raised money from friends in the community and opened their doors to 50 orphaned children ages 2 to 12. They have a school and a community clinic with a Haitian doctor who works Monday through Friday. They’ve been forth-coming with Patrick, admitting that their funds are running low and finding money for food for the children has been difficult as of late. They have big dreams of expanding services, increasing the number of children served, but such dreams have a long way to go.

I agreed to see the kids after meeting them on a visit last week, recognizing the distended bellies and flat affects of kids suffering malnutrition and likely worm-infected bellies. Upon arrival today I was ushered straight into the clinic and all 50 children of the orphanage took their turn standing before me. Most were shy, slow to smile. There was not a single tear, no screaming, no crying. For doctors and nurses reading this, you'll know just how odd that is: fifty children and not ONE cried with a physician's exam.

Read more here.