As it can be with global work, things are in flux. Whereas I have previously posted that the April trip was fully funded, that has changed. In-country expenses have increased to an estimated $300 per day. I have approximately $500 remaining from the original estimate of $2000 needed. Supplies are purchased, plane ticket is purchased, and messenger bags are purchased. Training materials are in-progress. TBAs are waiting for arrival...So, patiently I will wait and pray that donations increase by an additional $1500. I will be traveling with another midwife who I've known for many years and who has lived in Haiti. I am hoping that Train Midwives Save Lives will be able to bless her by covering all expenses!

The "Goal" will remain at 10,000, which will ensure that there is full funding for 1 and possibly two more trips into Haiti this year. This number reflects upcoming expenses, including the next trip to Haiti as well as birth kits and training materials for that trip. Also on the docket for this year is a trip to at least one African location. Details to come. Exciting times!

Read the Train Midwives Save Lives project BLOG at trainmidwivessavelives.org

Email Carrie with questions at trainmidwives_savelives@yahoo.com

Thank you for visiting!   www.northidahohomebirth.com

I am humbled and amazed at your generosity! $1800 has been donated toward the first trip to Haiti. I set the goal at $2000, but am considering this trip "fully funded" because planning and purchases for the NEXT TRIP are already in the works. I commit to you that I will post a debit/credit spreadsheet on the blog so that each and everyone of you can see how you are helping to Train Midwives Save Lives!

What's in the works:

More CLEAN BIRTH KITS! This will always be a highest priority. It is relatively inexpensive for us to provide kits and they have to potential to make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in health of mothers and babies.

MESSANGER BAGS: What good is it to have a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff (and know how to use them!) and clean birth kits if you have no easy way to keep them clean, dry and with you? Not much good. We want to provide the midwives with a good bag for their things. Roxanne (Bon Bebe Birth) has purchased a few inexpensive bags for us to try and I have had friend midwife who does a lot of work in Haiti contract with a sewing project to make some AWESOME messanger bags. They are spendy at $15-$20 a piece, so will be a big expense for TMSL ... but the will be SO WORTH IT!    Praying for an extra $400 to be donated to purchase the first lot of the messanger bags.  I'm also considering bringing some back to sell as a fund raiser ... but have to check out the ins-and-outs of how to do that properly. (Thank you to Lisa Buxman for getting the sewing going!)

BABY FOR TEACHING BASIC RESUSCITATION: I am so excited to have found the perfect little black baby that is especially designed as a teaching tool for resuscitation!!! (Thank you to Laerdal and Helping Babies Breathe) The doll and accessories are at a great price of $50!  The downside ... shipping from China may cost as much as $250! (???!!!! I was stunned!)

FIELD TESTING SAFE PREGNANCY AND BIRTH APP: Hesperian Foundation recently released an awesome new Safe Pregnancy and Birth App that is aimed at providing appropriate information to TBAs, moms, and community members at large in ensuring healthy, safe pregnancy and discerning when to get medical help. [yes, this does make sense ... because even in the areas of the world where people have nothing, they still have cell (and even smart) phones! it's crazy!]  The only problem: In order to introduce the App to the midwives, we will need at least one iPad.  Oh how I hope that someone is super anxious to get a new iPad 3 and is willing to donate or sell at a great price their current iPad! :)  I really can't justify spending $500 on an iPad at this point in time, so our ability to take advantage of this awesome opportunity is dependent on donor generosity.

I haven't mentioned in a long time that I am so excited to go on this journey with Roxanne Trent (Bon Bebe Birth), Edie Wells, and Marlene Waechter. Roxanne is the spearhead on this Haiti trip and is the one who originally brought us all together. She is also generously paying for the in country costs, such as hotel. I hope to serve her well and help with getting good evidence-based training into the hands and hearts and minds of the midwives with whom we will have the honor of helping in Haiti.

And, if you're reading this, then Thank you for coming along with me!

Read the Train Midwives Save Lives project BLOG at trainmidwivessavelives.org

Email Carrie with questions at trainmidwives_savelives@yahoo.com

Thank you for visiting!

FAQ: Why has the "cost" of the Haiti trip doubled?

Answer: Train Midwives Save Lives is funding two midwives instead of one!

JUNE TRIP DATES FOR HAITI ARE SET!   Stepping out in faith, we've set the dates for the Haiti trip and purchased / changed the plane tickets.  The dates for our first trip to Haiti are JUNE 24 - JULY 1 !  So looking forward to getthing this work off the ground and beginning to take a look at how we can make a difference in womens' lives RIGHT NOW as well as how we can come up with the long-term solutions that will impact generations to come.

Keep up-to-date on the blog trainmidwivessavelives.org

I have previously posted that the April trip was fully funded, as it so often is with global work, though, things are in flux. In-country expenses have increased to an estimated $300 per day. I have approximately $500 remaining from the original estimate of $2000 needed. Supplies are purchased, plane ticket is purchased, and messenger bags are purchased. Training materials are in-progress. TBAs are waiting for arrival...So, patiently I will wait and pray that donations increase by an additional $1500. I will be traveling with another midwife who I've known for many years and who has lived in Haiti. I am hoping that Train Midwives Save Lives will be able to bless her by covering all expenses!

The "Goal" will remain at 10,000, which will ensure that there is full funding for 1 and possibly two more trips into Haiti this year. This number reflects upcoming expenses, including the next trip to Haiti as well as birth kits and training materials for that trip. Also on the docket for this year is a trip to at least one African location. Details to come. Exciting times!

As it can be with global work, things are in flux. Whereas I have previously posted that the April trip was fully funded, that has changed. In-country expenses have increased to an estimated $300 per day. I have approximately $500 remaining from the original estimate of $2000 needed. Supplies are purchased, plane ticket is purchased, and messenger bags are purchased. Training materials are created. TBAs are waiting for arrival...So, patiently I will wait and pray that donations increase by an additional $1500.  

The "Goal" will remain at 10,000, which will ensure that there is full funding for 1 and possibly two more trips into Haiti this year. This number reflects upcoming expenses, including the next trip to Haiti as well as birth kits and training materials for that trip. Also on the docket for this year is a trip to at least one African location. Details to come. Exciting times!

have you seen the blog http://trainmidwivessavelives.org? Check in there for ongoing updates.THANK YOU TO EACH one of you who has donated already! How humbling to see my friends and fellow midwives come alongside me on this adventure. Know that I *am* working on calling each of you individually, but I don't have all of your phone numbers! So, if you get an email instead, that's the reason. :) But my thanks is no less, regardless of the form of communication I use to get in touch.

Because expenses for the April trip have been met with the current donations, the "Goal" has been increased to $4000. This number reflects upcoming expenses, including the next trip to Haiti as well as birth kits and training materials for that trip. Exciting times!

Because expenses for the April trip have been met with the current donations, the "Goal" has been increased to $10,000. This number reflects upcoming expenses, including the next trip to Haiti as well as birth kits and training materials for that trip. Also on the docket for this year is a trip to at least one African location. Details to come. Exciting times!