I promise I haven't forgotten about having a blog.  Every time I sit down to write a story or update I just stare at the screen.  I finally decided that I would share with you some of the people that have been on my heart a lot lately.  Some of the people who I have been praying for and that in so many ways have rocked my faith by getting to walk with them on this journey.  

School has been back in session for almost two months and some of my little friends are having trouble focusing in school or learning their lessons.  Each of them love school and they want to be there.  It's just hard.  It's hard going from an environment of little structure to one that is completely structured and in a different language (school is taught in French).  It's hard learning (and remembering) lessons when you haven't eaten yet that day and possibly only ate once the day before.  And it's hard for the mommas, grandmas, and caregivers to help the kids with their homework when sometimes they are unable to read and write themselves.  So one of my prayers has been for the school children to be blessed with parents/caregivers who are daily encouraging the kids to learn and study.  That the parents are blessed with work in order to provide for their families.  And that the children would be able to focus while in school and that their little minds would be able to learn what is needed in order to continue progressing in school.  

Esaie is in the malnutrition program and has an amazing momma.  She is always quick to help teach and encourage the other mothers at appointments and calls me (sometimes daily) with updates.  This momma has other children that are doing well and she has said multiple times that Esaie has struggled since he was little with one sickness after another.  There was a point in our relationship though that she literally rocked my world.  In normal conversation she simply stated that if Esaie is still alive in December he will be two years old.  My heart literally dropped the moment I heard the words "if Esaie is still alive" come out of her mouth.  My instant response was out of anger that she would even think about him dying over the next few months.  After I took a few breaths though I was filled with compassion for this momma.  She has been fighting for this little guy from the day he was born.  She has chosen to fight for him even when the dad left, when they didn't have a home or roof over their heads, and when he has had sickness after sickness.  This momma has still chosen to love her son but in reality she also knows just how frail and sick he is.  This momma was being honest with me and it was in that moment that I knew I had to pray for wisdom in knowing how to love and encourage her.  When admitting a child into the malnutrition program I never know if it's the parent/caregiver or the child that I'm really being called to serve.  Yes, the child has immediate medical needs but sometimes it has so much more to do with learning to meet that parent right where they are in the mess of life and letting them know that its ok to fight and keep going.

 Kerley has had a special spot in my heart for quite awhile.  If' I'm being honest though it's his momma that has truly captured my heart and that has been the one I have felt such a huge burden to pray for.  Kerley has many medical problems that have caused him to be malnourished and very developmentally delayed.  In order for this momma to to care for Kerley she must be in the home with him.  She is such a sweet momma with this little guy and truly loves him.  And yet, if she is at home with Kerley she is unable to work and earn an income.  If she doesn't work outside the home then she isn't able to care for her other children which means that she is unable to send them to school and provide for their needs.  No matter what this momma does or chooses she is not caring for someone in her family.  Kerley's momma has been very open with me in seeking advice and wisdom on what would be best for not only Kerley but her entire family.  We have cried and prayed together multiple times and I'm always left feeling torn for this momma.  My prayers have been for this momma to have a support system that would step up to love and serve her well.  That she would be blessed with an opportunity to work so she can provide for all of her children.  I don't know what any of that looks like and yet I know that we serve a very big God and that none of this mommas story is too small for Him.  Praying with and for this momma has challenged me in so many ways.

Sweet Fado rocked the world of myself and several other of my nurse friends over a year ago when he was initially diagnosed with severe malnutrition.  It's never easy walking with a momma on this journey and this story was filled with lots of ups and downs.  Fado was recently re-admitted into the malnutrition program.  My heart breaks for this little guy.  In the worst way I want to see him thriving and reaching developmental milestones like a normal two year old.  Oh how I want to see this little one not only learn to walk but run and cause all sorts of trouble.  I want to see this momma empowered to fight for her son. In so many ways I'm also fighting against the desire to hide and pretend like Fado isn't as sick as he is and just how messy that can make relationships.  So one of my big prayers has been that I would be bold and willing to be firm and fight for Fado.  Another prayer has been for wisdom in knowing how to care for Fado and how to love and encourage his sweet momma.   

I feel honored to have been given a spot in each of my kiddos little lives.  Each of them is such a blessing in a different and unique way.  These children are the future of not only Chambrun but of Haiti.  I'm constantly praying for wisdom in learning how to best walk alongside their families.  I desire to see these children loved and encouraged in their homes.  And oh how I want to see each of them get to go to school and do well in school.  I pray for each of the programs that NVM has for the children from Brigade (Boy/Girl scout, AWANA type of activity), youth group, choir, Sunday school, and others- that these programs would be a safe place for the children to grow in their relationships with the Lord.  I'm also constantly praying for patience and energy (for some reason the kids never lack energy..) as I learn to love and serve each child in the way that s/he needs most.  These children have blessed me in ways they will never even know and I consider it a honor to get to pray for them and to live life with them.

four years!

Natamara and Davidson- they don't fit that easily on my lap anymore!

 Four years ago today I got on a plane headed to Haiti with a one way ticket.  Little did I know back then just how hard this life would be.  How much this little place (and its little people) would challenge and change me.  And how my faith would be stretched and grown.  I also didn't know just how in love with this place I would become and that I would literally gain another family.  This journey hasn't been easy and yet I am thankful that the Lord has truly blessed me with calling Haiti my home.

Look at those cheeks on Rose!!  

Oh have these kids grown up!  My Chilanda (pink pants) will be 15 this month!

Why wouldn't Davidson's afternoon snack be bread and coffee!?  Ironically enough, his grandmother sent him home with me after he finished his snack=)

Friday afternoons are never dull or quiet in my house!  These three had fun wrestling with the blanket on the couch and then cheered like crazy when they saw I bought a new bottle of ketchup=)  It's the little things in life!  

A friend sent me some packages of pock rock candy!  LOVE doing fun things with my friends here!  Watching the expressions on their faces as the candy "popped" in their mouths was priceless…we laughed a lot that afternoon!

When you are four and you stub your toe it's a pretty BIG deal.  Thankfully we were able to find a piece of plastic to tie around her toe before it got too serious=)  Not sure if my years in nursing school were geared towards this or not..ha.  

There are some moments that will never cease to make me stop and smile.  Stepping in my dear friends home and seeing little Saina sound asleep in the laundry basin is one of those moments.  This little one has the most joy filled personality.  The only time she isn't "talking" and smiling is when she is asleep.  And those cheeks.  Oh she has the most kissable cheeks ever.  Love getting to watch this sweet girl grow!

nursing interns

Amy, Ashley, and Sommer made lots of friends in the village!  Love that Indiana Wesleyan University is encouraging its nursing students to serve and learn about other cultures.   Each of these young women are going to be amazing nurses that provide more than just medical care.  They truly love people and are gifted in serving.   

This summer I had the privilege of working with 6 nursing students.  One of my favorite things is working with nursing students.  I love getting to show them more than just skills and what nursing looks like in the hospital.  I love watching them experience Haiti and learn to think outside of the box.  Each of these young women truly stepped up and jumped right into life here in Haiti.  They loved and served each person they met.  They asked questions and they desired to learn about the culture and life here.  Each of them has a heart for serving the Lord and I know that their stories are just beginning.  I'm thankful that they chose to say "yes" and for all of the help they gave me this summer.  

Kelsey was instantly loved by all the staff and kiddos.  The silly look on Kris' face says it all- the kids had SO much fun playing with Kelsey!  The kids still ask about her and want her to come back to play=)

Kara has a gift for loving little ones!  She was a pro at stealing any baby=)  Loved watching her learn to be bold and speak Creole with our patients!  She did an amazing job teaching the medications!

Hannah was the last intern to arrive and she jumped right into helping get the clinic organized after the move!  She had a special way of loving the kiddos and they were literally drawn to her.  They are going to miss having "Anna" here!

surprise renovation!

My kitchen space before (I had a dorm style fridge in the open spot..the guys worked so quickly that I didn't get a good before pic!). 

You know those TV shows where a crew of people pull up to your house, kick you out of the house, and renovate your home while you are gone?  I never really thought that was more than just a dream until this last week. A new family has moved to campus and they were able to design and install a kitchen in their appartment. Not only did they do this in their space though they also talked with me about building a kitchen in my appartment. If you have ever been to Haiti you know that nothing works quickly. "Haiti time" is a phrase for a reason. Well some of my dear friends were on campus and heard about the kitchen idea and literally ran with it. One day it was a possibility and the next I had a refrigerator and gas stove in the middle of my house. On Friday they locked me out of my house and literally worked all day without stopping. They installed a new outlet, ran water to install a kitchen sink (that has a fancy sprayer and two sides!), installed the gas stove, built a shelf, and built a beautiful counter in ONE day. In one day my appartment was transformed into a home. I no longer need to wash dishes in my bathroom sink!  I now am able to cook and bake and entertain in my home. And the refrigerator is HUGE!  It has been so much fun getting to organize and set up the space. I have also spent a lot of time just sitting and admiring it too:) So thankful to have people that worked so hard to serve me. That desired to create a space for me that is literally so beautiful and like a retreat from life. To say that I am spoiled is a complete understatement.

The finished kitchen!!  

Washing dishes has never been SO much fun!!  

First party in my new kitchen!  

sweet moments

Recently I watched as my kiddos pretended to pile on a "moto" to head off to market.  With pretend money in their pockets they promised to return with rice, cookies, and of course candy.  I could sit and just listen to them laugh and giggle all day.  It's sweet moments like these that fuel my soul.  It's moments like this that make all the hard and heavy of living in Haiti seem 100% worth it.  These kiddos have captured my heart and I feel honored and privileged to get to live life with them.

new clinic!

The pharmacy!  The new pharmacy is huge and has so much storage!

When I moved to Haiti in 2011 there was talk of the new health center.  Over the last few years lots of work has been done to prepare for the big move and opening of our new clinic space.  Last week I had the privilege of watching as so many people joined together to make this move possible.  Literally every person on campus jumped in to help pack up the old clinic space and prepare the new space for patients.  This move had me feeling like I was on an emotional roller coaster.  Part of me was so very excited and ready to have the bigger clinic space.  Part of me was also mourning the loss of a space where so many memories were made.  The old clinic wasn't fancy and didn't have luxuries like running water, tile floors, or fancy equipment.  That space though was where I watched my Haitain grandmother dance in the hall as she laughed and greeted each of us.  That space was where the dream of starting a malnutrition program was formed and where it truly all began with the first group of children.  It was in that space that a mother was surrounded in prayer by our church leaders as she mourned the loss of her daughter.  As I watched box after box of equipment and supplies get loaded into the truck I couldn't help but be thankful for the years spent working in that clinic space.  A visiting team and our summer interns jumped right in to love and support me throughout the move.  They were patient with me as they moved heavy things over and over (and I do mean multiple times..) until we found the perfect spot for them in the new health center.  They worked long hours sorting through and carrying box after box of supplies.  And oh did we have supplies and equipment to go through!  We were blessed to receive lots of new exam tables, desks, chairs, IV poles, and the list is literally endless.  Without the help of so many people the clinic would still be filled with just boxes!  The new clinic space has already had a long list of patients come through to receive medical care.  New memories are being made and as we slowly but surely get adjusted and settled this space is becoming our new "home."  I am truly thankful for each person who helped to make this move possible.  So many people donated time, money, and resources to make this possible.  Even the littlest details have been taken care of and for that I am beyond thankful.  

Triage room- patients get their blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, weight, and blood sugar (as needed) taken.  

Physician room- the rooms now have actual walls so the patients are able to speak with the physicians and have privacy!

This is a space for patients to receive IV fluids and for patients who are unable to sit while waiting to be seen.  On Friday the running water in the sink was used to bathe an infant who had a crazy high fever--feeling thankful to have the resources needed to provide excellent care. 

The vaccine and malnutrition (temporarily) room!  This room is located at the opposite end of the health center because this area is always filled with lots of unhappy babies/children=)

The warehouse on campus used to store the medications and supplies for the clinic- now we have SO much storage in the new health center so everything has been moved out of the warehouse!  Already this has been a huge blessing to have the supplies readily available in the health center!

Thanks to interns and team members the health center supplies and shelving were all moved out of the warehouse!  The shelving was too tall to fit into the truck so the interns got creative!  This move would not have been possible without all our interns!

more snapshots!

I might be slightly partial but I'm convinced that listening to Saina find her "voice" is just the sweetest sound ever.  She now smiles, coo's, and even makes a little laughing noise.  Baby girl is growing up much too quickly already!

For some reason I'm finding it much easier to write about some of the smaller moments of my everyday life and to share the stories with pictures.  I hope you enjoy getting a look into some of these sweet moments with my friends!  These pictures are taken from my instagram (smalleybrooke)--feel free to follow along there for more updates and stories!

We cheered and gave thanks to the Lord when sweet Rose learned to walk just a few weeks ago.  For two weeks this little lady wouldn't sit still but rather thought she was one of the "big" kids.  Her first fall was a big one and required a trip on a moto with her grandma to the hospital.  I prayed and prayed that her leg wasn't broken but deep down I knew it was.  They returned the next day with confirmation that the leg was indeed broken and a fancy cast.  A big heavy cast won't keep this spirited girl down though.  She still wanted to come along for our morning walk and visit with other friends.  Oh and of course stopping to get some cookies was a must too.  

Daniella was pretty proud to show me the chalk drawing she made of ME this afternoon!  Always fun watching my kiddos create, even when that means seeing what they think I look like=)

I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to serve with Amy, Ashley, and Sommer this month.  I love when nursing students get to come and serve in our clinic!  Each of them not only worked hard in the clinic but really jumped right into life with my kiddos in the village.  The children are going to be very disappointed when they realize they won't be  visiting every afternoon!   

If I'm not already holding him this is my view whenever I look down.  Oh this boy is just full of spunk!  He is literally all boy and isn't interested in anything unless he can tie it up, kick it, or pee on it.  He claimed my heart back when he didn't feel the need to wipe off my kisses.  Davidson has me wrapped right around all of his ten fingers and toes and I'm 100% ok with that.  I feel so blessed to have been given a spot in this little guys life.  

I'm just going to be honest, malnutrition sucks.  And yet right in the middle of the hard of it all is when I get to watch as a family starts to heal.  When the children go from barely surviving to thriving.  When the children that used to come into the clinic with no energy to smile or laugh all of a sudden have the energy to play and tickle each other.  There was so much laughter between these four siblings today.  The story for this family isn't "easy" and it's actually still really messy.  And yet, I'm filled with so much hope because today I watched as the kids played, laughed, and shared suckers with each other.  

May newsletter!

 The May newsletter has finally been mailed!  Click on the link below for the web version of the newsletter.  Let me know (brookes_00@yahoo.com) if you would like to feel extra special and receive a copy in the mail!

 http://www.ministryupdates.org/smalley

And just in case you want to see more photos- click on the links below!  

(you do NOT need a Facebook account to see the pictures!)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153027170810831.1073741829.529825830&type=1&l=6237ec42d1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151772100740831.1073741825.529825830&type=1&l=d2a7345c72

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151398640175831.535019.529825830&type=1&l=9bd9939164

You can also follow me on instagram: smalleybrooke for more photo updates and stories!

lovekenda

In February I admitted one of the smallest little girls into the malnutrition program.  I remember when I first met her mom at a mobile clinic up in the mountain.  As soon as I saw her daughter I knew she was severely malnourished. I talked with her mom and asked her a lot of questions.  I didn’t spend a lot of time sugar coating my words with this momma because I wanted her to realize just how sick her daughter truly was.  I explained to her how I would be able to help her daughter but also told her that she would have to choose to come and receive the help.  And that ultimately she needed to grasp on to the hands of the Lord because her daughter was so very sick.  The day her mother came to clinic to have her admitted into program felt like a victory to me.  I felt that I could celebrate because Lovekenda's mom made the sacrifice to actually come and follow through with what had been offered.  Her mother quickly hugged me and said that she had not been able to sleep since we first met.  She said she had spent many nights thinking over the things we had talked about.  It was all I could do to hold myself together as I went through the admission process with Lovekenda and her momma.  I had a really hard time getting her length on the board we use to measure the children because her hips were so boney which made her body just roll to the side.  I was encouraged at the fact that this sweet girl still had enough energy to scream as I tried to weigh her but the sight of her naked body on the scale was enough to take my breath away.  The Lord blessed me with visiting team members who offered to pray over this mother and her daughter before they left the clinic.  As the prayer ended Lovekenda’s mother started praying too.  She prayed a blessing over each person in the room and she asked the Lord to bless those who made this work possible.  She thanked the Lord for bringing her to our clinic and for her daughter.  Because of how the malnutrition appointments fall I knew I wouldn’t see this mother and child for three weeks.  Oh was it a long three weeks!  Right on schedule this sweet momma came walking into our clinic with Lovekenda in her arms.  I instantly thanked the Lord and then lifted the blanket that was covering her head.  She gained exactly 2.99 pounds in three weeks!!  Even though Lovekenda still had a long ways to go I chose to spend that morning rejoicing with her momma.  Rejoicing and celebrating the work that the Lord had done and was still doing in this little girls body.  On Monday Lovekenda graduated from the malnutrition program.  Her momma was proud to tell me all the things her daughter is now able to do.  And told me that others can't believe just how big she now is and how well she is doing.  So thankful that there is a community of people supporting the malnutrition program and health clinic at NVM both financially and through prayer.  Love watching the little ones grow as they progress through the malnutrition program!  

snapshots

These are some "snapshots" that were originally posted on instagram (smalleybrooke).  I hope you enjoy getting a look into some of the sweet moments of my days=)

During the last few months of my friends pregnancy her daughter Kris was extra needy and cuddly
with me.  For months I prayed about the upcoming delivery and transition for this feet family.  Kris has had
my heart for a long time and watching her struggle wasn't easy.  Just hours after my friend delivered this
sweet new little one Kris practically pulled me into their home.  It has  been such a blessing to watch as Kris has fallen completely head over heals with her baby sister.  Love watching the Lord work in the lives of my friends!

This picture was taken on our Labor/Agriculture holiday which meant no school for the kiddos and
no clinic for me!  Wearing a uniform to school day after day must be boring for Rose because this day she
 chose to let her inner spunk shine by wearing her "fancy" dress!  The tackier the better when you are five!

Love the sticky kisses that come with mango season!  Rosemene didn't waste one bite of her mango!

A fun evening outside with Rose!  You really can't go wrong with
bubbles, a slide, and side walk chalk!

Learned a new version of tic-tac-toe with the children.  Needless to say I go treat quite a few times.  

Daniella and Rosemelie decided to come for a visit.  It's amazing how my cozy little home can become
 wild and crazy with these two!  Not quite sure when they got old enough to come and visit me all on their
 own but I have a feeling this won't be the last time!  Oh and I'll confess- I stood right where I hugged and
 kissed them on the road until I couldn't see them anymore- I'm not ready for my kids to grow up.

The 1st of May is Labor/Agriculture day in Haiti!  The preschool and kindergarten classes were busy
planting different plants for several weeks.  The plants went home with the students just recently…I have
a feeling quite a few of them will have a short life if they are watered like the one on the left=)