How different my life is now!
– Instead of sweating all day, I freeze.
– Instead of cooking and baking, I feed babies.
– Instead of washing dishes, I change diapers.
– Instead of washing and folding laundry, I organize medical supplies.
– Instead of hosting teams, I hold babies and research developmental milestones.
– Instead of suturing, I retrieve beads from noses.
Thankfully, not everything has changed….. I still get to practice Creole, I’m still surrounded by gorgeous mountains, and I still get to eat Haitian food!
Let me start by explaining just briefly about God’s Littlest Angels, the organization for which I’m working. We have 3 locations – the toddler house in Fort Jacques (houses 41 children, approximately 2.5 – 13 years old), the main house in Thomassin 32 (houses 31 children ages newborn – 2.5yrs), and the guest house (about a mile away from the main house.) Today I’m just going to talk about the main house, where I live. I have my own room and half bathroom, and share a shower with several other Americans living here. The other Americans also living on this compound are the directors, John and Dixie Bickel (they started the organization over 20 years ago), their son Steeve, his fiance’ Chelsie (who is in charge of the sponsorship program,) and Miss Vickie (who is the personal caregiver for one of our children.)
We have the NICU/Intensif where the babies live, the nursery/Urgence A where the crawlers live, and the toddler room, where the walkers live. We have approximately 80 Haitian staff, including nannies, nurses, cooks, an accountant, cleaners, drivers, people who do the market shopping, etc. During the day, we have several other Americans who come to work from our other locations.
My official title is NICU nurse…..I’m still trying to figure out exactly what that means. 🙂 When we don’t have critical babies (like now), I fill in wherever I’m needed. Right now, I’m trying to get to know all of the kids, nannies, and nurses, and learn their names. Just a few of my responsibilities these past 3 weeks, in addition to that, included:
– Learning how to give TB tests and working with 2 of our Haitian nurses to give approximately 25 to our babies. They all came back negative, by the way! Praise God!
– Retrieving a bead that was stuck in a nose
– Researching the best way to de-worm babies
– Researching developmental milestones and making notes on what each of our babies should be working on, so our volunteers can help out
– And lots of changing diapers, changing clothes, feeding, holding, rocking, comforting, playing, clipping fingernails, and taking walks.
I’ve been here 3 weeks, now, and I’ve had quite an adjustment. But finally, God’s peace has taken over once again. I’m feeling hopeful and looking forward to the future. I’m starting to get excited when I think about coming back to my babies after my brother’s wedding. I feel like just maybe, I’ll be able to call somewhere “home” again. I still really miss my friends in LaDigue, and I miss going to the market and knowing what to expect each day, but God is good!
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14
This was one of the verses in church a couple of weeks ago, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. It spoke into the chaos that consumed my life, just 3.5 days after moving. How beautiful! God reminded me that I’m here for Him. This is His plan, His mission, and His job. I’m simply the vessel; His hands and feet. Thank goodness.
As I learn more about this mission and my job, I’ll continue to update you. Thank you for following my journey, Friends!
P.S. I just found out I can receive mail here!!!!! It does cost $1.50 a pound, after your shipping costs, so just keep that in mind if you choose to send something. 🙂 It can be sent to
Emily Smith
3170 Airmans Drive
Unit 2081-GLA
Fort Pierce, FL 34946
It can be addressed the same way if it’s shipped directly from a company. (Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc.)
Fruit Worthy 