When we first moved to Haiti, we spent lots of time, visiting mothers with children in poor villages. Those poor villages had no clinic, no doctor, or nurse, or even a small clinic. When mothers had their babies, they were born on the ground, on a dirt floor… with maybe a dirty sheet. The local “midwife,” never had gloves. When she cut the umbilical cord, she often used a discarded razor blade, a dirty knife, or even a rusty tin can lid! I have seen this with my own eyes!

As a result, women would usually die during childbirth, or certainly afterward. There was no clean bed for them; no nurse, no doctor. There was no ambulance to take them if they needed a C-section. All this changed when we built our beautiful Birthing Center! The women must come when they are four months pregnant or before. They come for training in our “Women’s Health Class.” Then, they go inside and register. They all receive exams. We have a sonogram and all women are checked. When they give birth, it is in a clean room, with qualified midwives and a doctor. We have medication, vitamins, anything they need. They have a beautiful, clean, sanitary recovery room. They receive meals for themselves and their families who are waiting to see the new baby.

On the porch outside, there are rocking chairs for “nervous dads and relatives!” There is beautiful Christian music is playing all through the Birthing Center! We are saving lives! When a mother dies in childbirth, the family’s children often all become “orphans,” because most times, the father cannot care for them! We are blessed to have the new Birthing Center, to the Glory of God! We are so thankful to God for our wonderful partners!!

Sherry