December 20, 2008
I'm going to Haiti
In March I will be going to Haiti with Healing Hands for Haiti. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and is suffering more now than ever before (see previous post). Each member of our team will be taking two checked bags full of supplies, but we need everyones help in getting these supplies. On the right hand side of my blog is a list of items we are looking for so if you have connections to any of them, please let me know. Thanks!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27826184/
Aid workers: Hungry kids dying in Haiti
At least 26 malnourished children have perished; scores others treated
Ramon Espinosa / AP
Venecia Lonis, 4, who suffers from malnutrition, is weighed at the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The 5-year-old teetered on broomstick legs — he weighed less than 20 pounds, even after days of drinking enriched milk. Nearby, a 4-year-old girl hung from a strap attached to a scale, her wide eyes lifeless, her emaciated arms dangling weakly.
In pockets of Haiti accessible only by donkey or foot, children are dying of malnutrition — their already meager food supply cut by a series of devastating storms that destroyed crops, wiped out livestock and sent food prices spiraling.
At least 26 severely malnourished children have died in the past four weeks in the remote region of Baie d'Orange in Haiti's southeast, aid workers said Thursday, and there are fears the toll will rise much higher if help does not come quickly to the impoverished Caribbean nation.
Another 65 severely malnourished children are being treated in makeshift tent clinics in the mountainous area, or at hospitals where they were evacuated in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, said Max Cosci, who heads the Belgian contingent of Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.
One evacuee, a 7-year-old girl, died while being treated, Cosci said, adding: "The situation is extremely, extremely fragile and dangerous."
Toll on bodiesAt a makeshift malnutrition ward at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the capital, 10 emaciated children were under emergency care Thursday, their stomachs swollen and hair faded by pigmentation loss caused by malnutrition. Several had the puffy faces typical of kwashiorkor, a protein-deficiency disorder.
Five-year-old Mackenson Duclair, his ribs protruding and his legs little more than skin stretched over bones, weighed in at 19.8 pounds, even after days of drinking milk enriched with potassium and salt. Doctors said he needed to gain another five pounds before he could go home.
Dangling from a scale mounted from the ceiling, 4-year-old Venecia Lonis looked as limp as a rag doll as doctors weighed her, her huge brown eyes expressionless, her hair tied with bright yellow bows. Mackenson's grandmother, who has raised him since his mother died, said she barely has a can of corn grits to feed herself, the boy and her 8-year-old granddaughter each day. "These things did not happen when I was growing up," 72-year-old Ticouloute Fortune said. Rural families already struggling with soaring food prices in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, lost their safety nets when fields were destroyed and livestock wiped out by the storms, which killed nearly 800 people and caused $1 billion worth of damage in August and September. U.N. World Food Program country director Myrta Kaulard said she fears more deaths from malnutrition in other isolated parts of Haiti, and search and medical teams were fanning out in the northwest and along the southwestern peninsula to check. 'Always a bottleneck'The World Food Program has sent more than 30 tons of food aid — enough to feed 5,800 people for two weeks — into the remote southeastern region since September, and other groups funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development have sent food as well, she said. But the steep, narrow paths and poor visibility make it difficult to deliver the food to the mountain communities where hunger is worsening. In one case, a WFP truck flipped over while struggling up a hill and slid into a ravine, killing an aid worker. "There is always a bottleneck. The same situation that the people are facing is the same situation we're also facing," Kaulard told The Associated Press Thursday.
Battered by stormsThe mountain villages have long suffered from chronic hunger, growing only enough staples to feed themselves less than seven months out of the year, she said.
But families normally have enough to last through December. This year, Haiti's agriculture ministry estimates 60 percent of the harvest was lost in the storms nationwide. Land quality is already poor and farmers lost seeds for next year when the storms hit, Kaulard said.
Effects of the storms vary widely from village to village and even family to family. In some places, food supplies seem intact. In others, Doctors Without Borders has found rates of severe malnutrition as high as 5 percent.
Aid shortages may soon compound the problem. Donor countries have funded only a third of the U.N.'s $105 million aid appeal for Haiti following the storms, and resources could run out in January, Kaulard said. Shriveling framesAt the hospital Thursday, Enock Augustin sat beside the bed where his 5-year-old daughter Bertha was sleeping. The fragile-looking child was evacuated by helicopter Nov. 8 with vomiting and diarrhea. When she arrived, nearly a quarter of her body weight was due to fluid retention, a sign of severe protein deficiency. The swelling gradually receded as she was fed nutrient-enriched milk and treated with antibiotics and anti-worm medicine; she shrank to just 21 pounds. She has since gained about two pounds but can't go home until she reaches 26 pounds, doctors said. For months, the Augustin family had gotten by despite the soaring prices of corn grits and imported rice because they grew potatoes, which they could eat or barter for plantains, yams and breadfruit that did not fluctuate with the world market. But then, in August, Tropical Storm Fay hit, followed by Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike. "Every time a hurricane came through, it killed our animals and plants," said Augustin, a father of six. The road was washed out, markets became unreachable and "the price of everything went sky high." The entire family subsisted on two cups of corn grits, and Bertha began shrinking — and then swelling — before his eyes. "She was really bad. We put her in the helicopter and they brought her here," Augustin said. "I hope the government will hear about us and bring more support."
At least 26 malnourished children have perished; scores others treated
updated 3:47 p.m. MT, Thurs., Nov. 20, 2008
Ramon Espinosa / APVenecia Lonis, 4, who suffers from malnutrition, is weighed at the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The 5-year-old teetered on broomstick legs — he weighed less than 20 pounds, even after days of drinking enriched milk. Nearby, a 4-year-old girl hung from a strap attached to a scale, her wide eyes lifeless, her emaciated arms dangling weakly.
In pockets of Haiti accessible only by donkey or foot, children are dying of malnutrition — their already meager food supply cut by a series of devastating storms that destroyed crops, wiped out livestock and sent food prices spiraling.
At least 26 severely malnourished children have died in the past four weeks in the remote region of Baie d'Orange in Haiti's southeast, aid workers said Thursday, and there are fears the toll will rise much higher if help does not come quickly to the impoverished Caribbean nation.
Another 65 severely malnourished children are being treated in makeshift tent clinics in the mountainous area, or at hospitals where they were evacuated in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere, said Max Cosci, who heads the Belgian contingent of Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.
One evacuee, a 7-year-old girl, died while being treated, Cosci said, adding: "The situation is extremely, extremely fragile and dangerous."
Toll on bodiesAt a makeshift malnutrition ward at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the capital, 10 emaciated children were under emergency care Thursday, their stomachs swollen and hair faded by pigmentation loss caused by malnutrition. Several had the puffy faces typical of kwashiorkor, a protein-deficiency disorder.
Five-year-old Mackenson Duclair, his ribs protruding and his legs little more than skin stretched over bones, weighed in at 19.8 pounds, even after days of drinking milk enriched with potassium and salt. Doctors said he needed to gain another five pounds before he could go home.
Dangling from a scale mounted from the ceiling, 4-year-old Venecia Lonis looked as limp as a rag doll as doctors weighed her, her huge brown eyes expressionless, her hair tied with bright yellow bows. Mackenson's grandmother, who has raised him since his mother died, said she barely has a can of corn grits to feed herself, the boy and her 8-year-old granddaughter each day. "These things did not happen when I was growing up," 72-year-old Ticouloute Fortune said. Rural families already struggling with soaring food prices in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, lost their safety nets when fields were destroyed and livestock wiped out by the storms, which killed nearly 800 people and caused $1 billion worth of damage in August and September. U.N. World Food Program country director Myrta Kaulard said she fears more deaths from malnutrition in other isolated parts of Haiti, and search and medical teams were fanning out in the northwest and along the southwestern peninsula to check. 'Always a bottleneck'The World Food Program has sent more than 30 tons of food aid — enough to feed 5,800 people for two weeks — into the remote southeastern region since September, and other groups funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development have sent food as well, she said. But the steep, narrow paths and poor visibility make it difficult to deliver the food to the mountain communities where hunger is worsening. In one case, a WFP truck flipped over while struggling up a hill and slid into a ravine, killing an aid worker. "There is always a bottleneck. The same situation that the people are facing is the same situation we're also facing," Kaulard told The Associated Press Thursday.
Battered by stormsThe mountain villages have long suffered from chronic hunger, growing only enough staples to feed themselves less than seven months out of the year, she said.
But families normally have enough to last through December. This year, Haiti's agriculture ministry estimates 60 percent of the harvest was lost in the storms nationwide. Land quality is already poor and farmers lost seeds for next year when the storms hit, Kaulard said.
Effects of the storms vary widely from village to village and even family to family. In some places, food supplies seem intact. In others, Doctors Without Borders has found rates of severe malnutrition as high as 5 percent.
Aid shortages may soon compound the problem. Donor countries have funded only a third of the U.N.'s $105 million aid appeal for Haiti following the storms, and resources could run out in January, Kaulard said. Shriveling framesAt the hospital Thursday, Enock Augustin sat beside the bed where his 5-year-old daughter Bertha was sleeping. The fragile-looking child was evacuated by helicopter Nov. 8 with vomiting and diarrhea. When she arrived, nearly a quarter of her body weight was due to fluid retention, a sign of severe protein deficiency. The swelling gradually receded as she was fed nutrient-enriched milk and treated with antibiotics and anti-worm medicine; she shrank to just 21 pounds. She has since gained about two pounds but can't go home until she reaches 26 pounds, doctors said. For months, the Augustin family had gotten by despite the soaring prices of corn grits and imported rice because they grew potatoes, which they could eat or barter for plantains, yams and breadfruit that did not fluctuate with the world market. But then, in August, Tropical Storm Fay hit, followed by Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike. "Every time a hurricane came through, it killed our animals and plants," said Augustin, a father of six. The road was washed out, markets became unreachable and "the price of everything went sky high." The entire family subsisted on two cups of corn grits, and Bertha began shrinking — and then swelling — before his eyes. "She was really bad. We put her in the helicopter and they brought her here," Augustin said. "I hope the government will hear about us and bring more support."
December 17, 2008
Thank You NuSkin
My roommate works at NuSkin which means lots of perks for her and even for us a lot of the time. Her boss offered her 4 cougar club tickets to the BYU vs Portland game. Let me tell you, we got posh treatment. We knew we be getting dinner before the game, but it didn't end there.
Here's a shot from our seats-3 row court side.
Not only did we have sweet seats, but they each had a cooler under them with water bottles and gummy candies. 
We were pretty full by this point, but at half time everyone in the cougar club section left, so we followed them. Turns out we got even more half-time treats. Popcorn, brownies, soda, candy bars, fruit. It was out of control. Thanks again NuSkin! December 3, 2008
The Other Story of the Dominican Republic- This one's for you Shane
Every good story has some side-stories going on and my trip to the Dominican Republic was no different. Due to some, well, let's just say "interesting" circumstances, there were many, many awkward situations. Not bad awkward, but the funny awkwardness that I just love. Hopefully this post will let you all enjoy the awkwardness with me.
Background:
Flash back: 3 yeas ago I taught a missionary named Shane from Orem. Back to the present: One of my teachers served with Shane in Spain and updated me a little on his life. I found out Shane was thinking about going to the DR with a humanitarian group started by his home-ward bishop. I wanted in. Shane got me the information about IASK, I found an amazing price on airfare and long story short, Shane and I are on our way to the DR. Other important information before you start getting any ideas: Shane has a girlfriend.
Packing Day:
Two weeks before the trip, we had a packing day where we got to meet the team and fill two big check-on bags full of vitamins, hygiene kits, and medical/dental supplies. This is the first time Shane and I have seen each other in 3 years and the first time that we've seen almost everyone else coming on the trip. Shane decides it will be funny to tell people we are engaged. Real funny Shane. So we meet Lori and Clarence and their son. She asks how we know each other and Shane quickly replies, "She was my MTC teacher. We're engaged." I just started laughing, thinking Lori would realize he was kidding. But then five minutes later she turns to me and says, "Are you guys really engaged?" Again I laughed and told her no; this was actually the first time we'd seen each other in 3 years, and he has a girl friend. Then Lori says, "Good, 'cause that's just wrong."
Day 1:
On our first flight we sat next to a super nice man. When he found out we were on our way to the Dominican Republic the first thing he asked was, "Oh, are you on your honeymoon?" At that moment I realized that it was going to be a long trip of explanations.
Day 2:
Our taxi driver from the airport to Punta Cana was great. After talking for a bit he asks us if we are a couple. I say no and Shane says, "I wish." Our driver asks what the problem is. Shane says, "Well, she's older." The driver responds, "That's not a problem! My wife is older than me. All you need is I love, and I can tell that you have love."
Day 4:
We finally met up with the rest of the team in Higuey. After church we took some pictures and then headed back to the hotel. Shane and I were going to grab some lunch with four of the other team members. I walked in mid-conversation when Alec said, "so you guys are married." I'm not sure what Shane had been telling them and I thought they were just joking around, so I chimed in with, "well, he'll have to let his girlfriend know." Then the following conversation ensued:
Back at the hotel I'm trying to call resorts in La Romana since we still don't have anywhere to stay for the last night. Eric is standing next to me with Shane on my other side and just keeps saying, "Two months. I give you two months 'till you're engaged." Shane again keeps trying to perpetuate the joke by saying, "you'll have to convince her."
Day 9:
Our last full day at the resort Shane, in spirit of the jokes of the week, says, "Since we're pretty much married, I'm going to take you on our first date tonight for dinner." I say, "Shane, this is an all-inclusive resort. Dinner is included. It can't be a date because I already paid for myself. And I don't think your girlfriend wants you dating." So this is a picture of our non-date dinner.
Day 10:
Last day in the DR so we have to take one last picture for "the wedding video." :)
And just to finish the trip the way it began, when we flew into Puerto Rico the guy at costums said, "Hope you had a great honeymoon!"
Background:
Flash back: 3 yeas ago I taught a missionary named Shane from Orem. Back to the present: One of my teachers served with Shane in Spain and updated me a little on his life. I found out Shane was thinking about going to the DR with a humanitarian group started by his home-ward bishop. I wanted in. Shane got me the information about IASK, I found an amazing price on airfare and long story short, Shane and I are on our way to the DR. Other important information before you start getting any ideas: Shane has a girlfriend.
Packing Day:
Two weeks before the trip, we had a packing day where we got to meet the team and fill two big check-on bags full of vitamins, hygiene kits, and medical/dental supplies. This is the first time Shane and I have seen each other in 3 years and the first time that we've seen almost everyone else coming on the trip. Shane decides it will be funny to tell people we are engaged. Real funny Shane. So we meet Lori and Clarence and their son. She asks how we know each other and Shane quickly replies, "She was my MTC teacher. We're engaged." I just started laughing, thinking Lori would realize he was kidding. But then five minutes later she turns to me and says, "Are you guys really engaged?" Again I laughed and told her no; this was actually the first time we'd seen each other in 3 years, and he has a girl friend. Then Lori says, "Good, 'cause that's just wrong."
Day 1:
On our first flight we sat next to a super nice man. When he found out we were on our way to the Dominican Republic the first thing he asked was, "Oh, are you on your honeymoon?" At that moment I realized that it was going to be a long trip of explanations.
Day 2:
Our taxi driver from the airport to Punta Cana was great. After talking for a bit he asks us if we are a couple. I say no and Shane says, "I wish." Our driver asks what the problem is. Shane says, "Well, she's older." The driver responds, "That's not a problem! My wife is older than me. All you need is I love, and I can tell that you have love."
Day 4:
We finally met up with the rest of the team in Higuey. After church we took some pictures and then headed back to the hotel. Shane and I were going to grab some lunch with four of the other team members. I walked in mid-conversation when Alec said, "so you guys are married." I'm not sure what Shane had been telling them and I thought they were just joking around, so I chimed in with, "well, he'll have to let his girlfriend know." Then the following conversation ensued:
Alec: Wait, his girlfriend right now? You have a girlfriend? Are you serious? I'm so confused. Aren't you guys married?
Me: (with a laugh) No
Shane: She was my MTC teacher.
Eric: She was your MTC teacher? Didn't she teach you about locking your heart?!
Alec: I thought you guys were married this whole time. I was wondering why you had me take a picture after church with two cameras. 
Eric: Wait, I'm confused. Tell me again your guys' story.
For the rest of the afternoon they were joking about us getting married one day. They even made us take a picture at the Basilica to use in our wedding video.
Later that evening we were watching the office on Shane's iPod waiting for the team meeting to start. In walks Rich, the pharmacist. He was hilarious. He started telling us how last year he was running all over the place out at the Bateys sweating to death. He claimed he was too old for this. Then he said, "but you guys are what, 23?" I started laughing and told him I was 28. Then he looked at Shane and he said, "almost 22!" Here's Rich's reaction, "What?!" looking at me, "You're robbing the cradle! What were you doing, scoping him out when he was in junior high?" We just laughed. Then it was time to leave for the meeting. We never did set Rich straight. Pretty sure he still thinks we're married.
Days 5-7:
The next four days we were working so much that nothing too awkward happened. And I think people were just too embarrassed to ask. But here were a few of the conversations that did happen:
Some of the high school girls from Shane's homeward to Shane, "Shane, let's be serious. What's up with you and that girl? Are you really engaged? Dating? Do you like her?" Shane just smiled and walked away.
At dinner one night someone says to me, "Do you have kids?" I say, "I'm not married." "Wait," looking down the table to where Shane is, "you guys aren't a couple?" Lori jumps in and responds, "I know. Don't they just seem so natural together?!"
Day 8:
Our last night in Higuey we all went to dinner. We hadn't talked much with Andrew and Haley because they'd been so busy with dental. They never asked, but I'm pretty sure they thought we were together.
Back at the hotel I'm trying to call resorts in La Romana since we still don't have anywhere to stay for the last night. Eric is standing next to me with Shane on my other side and just keeps saying, "Two months. I give you two months 'till you're engaged." Shane again keeps trying to perpetuate the joke by saying, "you'll have to convince her."
Day 9:
Our last full day at the resort Shane, in spirit of the jokes of the week, says, "Since we're pretty much married, I'm going to take you on our first date tonight for dinner." I say, "Shane, this is an all-inclusive resort. Dinner is included. It can't be a date because I already paid for myself. And I don't think your girlfriend wants you dating." So this is a picture of our non-date dinner.
Day 10:Last day in the DR so we have to take one last picture for "the wedding video." :)
And just to finish the trip the way it began, when we flew into Puerto Rico the guy at costums said, "Hope you had a great honeymoon!"December 1, 2008
I'm Fabulous . . .at least Summer thinks so :)
My old roommate Summer granted me the fabulous blog award. The rules of this award are:
1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.
Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gadget. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.
My 5 addictions:
1. Traveling
2. Waterskiing
3. Cereal
4. Spanish
5. Zupas tomato basil soup
I now grant the fabulous awards to:
1. Sarah- She is one of my best friends. We share an addiction to traveling and Spanish. She recently got married and moved away to Baltimore :(.
2. Emi- She has the most adorable little girl and she makes the most amazing cupcakes I've ever seen. We spent 6 weeks in Guatemala together and she's AMAZING!
3. Nicole- She was one of my mission companions in Argentina and one of the most talented and fun people I know. Best 3 transfers of the mission!
4. Cindy- She was my roommate and we also taught together at the MTC. She is so much fun to spend time with and has an adorable little boy. She's a great mom!
5. Maurine- We were roommates before our missions and had some fun, crazy times. I loved every minute of it! She is so great with her little girl!
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