Friends  -  Thanks to your generosity, between the 5 of us in the Haiti team, and including Gift Aid, we have raised nearly £8,000 (as of March 2015).

I am so stirred to hear and see the harsh realities and injustices of life in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere - with the highest rates of maternal, neonatal and infant mortality. Do watch the video posted below in the gallery.

In our short time in and around Cap Hatien, I'll be with a community team working with traditional birth attendants (TBAs), the women who have always supported birth and have great wisdom and a knowledge of their communities. Around 75% of women give birth at home with or without TBAs. HHA have received a small grant from DfiD to create education and action towards safe, clean birth at home. And there may be some work for me around the impact of communication on the physiology of birth. The really exciting truth is that we can do NONE of this in our own strength, but will rely on God to lead and point the way...

Colleagues in our small team will be encouraging local pastors, working with carers and children in the Maison de Benediction, helping with hospital admin systems and holding babies in the neonatal unit (amongst other practical tasks).

If you'd like to follow our journey do go over and 'like', then 'get notifications' on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsinHaiti/

Oh and just i case you thought I was getting away without any physical exercise - and because life is so BRUTAL for Haitien women and children -  I'm running the BRUTAL race on Jan 24th as part of my fundraising. http://brutalrun.co.uk/race/women-only/.

With love and thanks, Kate

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