Three Angels Children's Relief Update

What we *think* we know.

Dear friends, family and supporters -
We still have only gotten limited communication and are anxious to get feet on the ground (hopefully by tomorrow) to give us a real picture of what the need will be. Information is spotty and often unreliable but this is what we feel fairly confident communicating.
First, your fund-raising efforts are working and we are experiencing a generosity that we pray continues - this will truly be a joint effort with every person who gives.
We have had reports that the air quality is starting to bother some of the children. However, all of the kids, even the "sick" ones still seemed to be doing well - they are out playing and being silly.
Thanks to Megan Haug we were actually able to get some pictures of the children today - it certainly did us all a level of good.
We also received pictures of the property and in the light of day the prognosis is not very encouraging. Our structural engineer will hopefully give us better news
We have heard good news of friends who are alive: Alix, Reggie, most of our nannies, Gabriel, Madame Valet... yet there are still those we have not heard from. Many of those who have returned to Three Angels have lost loved ones and are grieving.
We are truly hoping to be able to secure 'parole visas' for the children and get them to the United States as soon as possible. We are not sure if this is attainable but are working diligently to pursue every option.

Haiti is in a very tenuous state right now and will only continue to deteriorate in the coming days. We hear that tension is rising. Price gauging for things like fuel are a reality and will become worse as fuel become more scarce. People will become even more desperate as water and food become scarce.

All civilian flights to Haiti were halted Thursday at the request of the Haitian government because there is no room at the damaged airport for more planes and no fuel to spare for departing aircraft. We are still hopeful that this will change in time for our team to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

From one of our friends in Haiti, "We are starting to see people on the streets with their mouth and nose covered with a cloth or a mask as the stench of death is beginning to hang in the air. In our particular area it is not as bad as some places where bodies are stacked on the side of the road and still buried in rubble. Today as I was on the road, I was passed by a police pickup truck that was stacked with dead bodies. I assure you that no photo can communicate the pain and despair that so many are feeling as we are now entering the days of discovery."

We truly appreciate your donations, your prayers and your offers of assistance.

Please continue praying for the many people we haven't heard from, some of our staff, birth families, etc. We long to hear word that they are ok. Also pray for peace to remain. As people get desperate for food and water, things could decline. Peace needs to remain in order to get the help they need. Thanks for checking in and again if you are considering donating, Three Angels needs your help!

My hope lies in our Maker!

As you all have heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti, many of you may be wondering how you can help.  There a few organizations that I have personally been to in Haiti and I will list them.  You can go to the sites and read the updates as they come through from the organizations.

I will tell you that my son, Aliston, and the other boys at St Joseph's guesthouse are ok.  They are all accounted for and are currently up at Wings of Hope.  I have not been able to communicate with him directly but I do know that he is ok. 

Three Angels Children's Relief is were I have been for my mission trips to Haiti.  All of the children got out of the orphanage--praise the Lord.  The building has some structural damage but is still standing.  Several of the buildings around the area are gone (Carribean Market where we did our shopping, St Joseph's guesthouse where we have stayed in the past, schools, etc.)

I could go on and on but I will leave it with this--even in all of the turmoil, the Haitian people are singing their praises and prayers to our Heavenly Father.  Please follow in their footsteps.  Pray, praise, give, and pray some more.

http://www.threeangelsrelief.org/

http://www.heartlineministries.org/

http://www.livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/

http://www.haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/

http://www.boskohaiti.com/

Merry Christmas Family & Friends!

What a truly wonderful time of year--celebrating the birth of Jesus which happens to be the best gift ever given. 

Jason and I got back from Duke earlier this week.  Jason's appointment went just fine and the doctor is impressed with how well Jason is doing.  He has been off treatment for 19 weeks and the MRI was "rock solid stable" as the doctor put it.  Do you know how awesome this is?  Do you know what an awesome God we have?  Many of you have wondered whatever happened with the PET scan issue.  Well, the ins. company never approved it but the doctor did say to us that he really believes that had Jason gotten the PET scan back in Aug. that it would've came back "cold" (inactive/dead cancer cells).  The reason he feels this is because if it would've been "hot" the MRI would have changed by now.  I must say that this is one of the next best gifts ever!

If any of you are in the area this weekend, Taylor invites you to come out to Messiah Lutheran Church to see the musical "The Best Christmas Present Ever".  Show times are Saturday, Dec 12 @ 7:00PM and Sunday, Dec 13 @ 9:30AM or 11:00AM.  The kids have worked so hard over the last couple of months to bring this amazing show to the community.  They would love to have you come out and see & hear all about "The good news"!

Our family wants to say thank you for all of your prayers and support these last couple of years!  It has meant the world to us.

We wish you a very Merry CHRISTmas!  Jason, Joslyn, Taylor & Easton

A long time--be sure to scroll down b/c I added some new pics

Well I know it has been a while since our last post, but life just gets in the way sometimes:)

Things in the Krenzke household are going great. Taylor is loving 1st grade and is reading like a champ! I am so amazed to watch her reading books now (not just memorized from me reading it to her but actually reading the words)--it's so cool. Taylor has been busy with rehearsals for her first ever play--she is in the play "The Best Christmas Present Ever" and it will be at our church on Dec. 12 and 13th. She is in the chorus (which happens to be the main part of the show) and has a solo towards the end of the play that will absolutely touch your heart (I have to admit, I get tears in my eyes every time she sings it--she's wonderful).

Easton is liking preschool and has a couple of new buddies. It's nice seeing him find friends (sister is like a social butterfly). He has been skating once a week for the last few weeks and is getting better by the minute (at least that is what I'm told--I haven't seen him because he usually goes with Grandpa or daddy). I can't wait to see him out on the ice! He starts hockey again in January. He, too, is going to be in the Christmas play but just for one song at the end of the play with all the Sunday schoolers.

Jason is back in the swing of things with school and teaching. He is feeling fabulous and has been off treatment for 16 weeks now! He heads back to Duke the beginning of December and we're hoping that will be our last trip there for a while. He's up North right now trying to get himself a deer--he would really like some venison. Baseball is just around the corner--he'll have clinics starting up in February and I'm sure it'll be here before we know it.

I have been busy with the kiddos, work, and getting myself ready to go back to school for nursing--yes, I said I'm going back to school and I.am.so.excited! This has been something that has been on my mind for a couple of years since going on my first mission trip to Haiti. The time seems to be right for me to do it, and I will start a couple of classes in January. It's interesting, everytime I tell someone that I'm going to go back to school to become a nurse, they say "you'll be good at that". I sure hope everyone is right:)

Blessings to everyone and I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Joslyn

Praise God and know that He is still in the business of miracles! Jason had a MRI today and my untrained eye believes that it looked stable. This made it 9 weeks since his last treatment and he is feeling awesome.

Well, Jason wasn't able to get the PET scan done yesterday because our insurance company denied the pre-authorization. However, the docs are pretty confident that they will get it approved through our insurance company and he will get the scan done in Midland (hoping this happens in the next couple of weeks). You know, all the politics and stuff!

Meanwhile, Jason has decided to stop treatment (chemo and Avastin) for the time being. He is feeling really well and just wants to take a break. If he can get the PET scan done in the next couple of weeks, it will help him decide whether or not he will start taking the Avastin again. We do know that the chemotherapy portion of his treatment is done for sure. The chemo is the part that makes Jason feel sick and fatigued for a few days afterwards. Right now, the plan is to take the next 4 weeks off for sure and wait to see if the PET scan gets approved.

We know that stopping treatment right now may seem a bit scary to some of you but this is something that both Jason and I are very comfortable with. Jason's MRI looks really good compared to this time last year and this is the best he has felt this entire time.

It has definitely been a while since the last post but this is good because it means all things are going well with Jason. He goes to Duke Aug. 10th for his first PET scan and that will help determine if the cancer cells are active or inactive. It will be one year since his progression and we are so thankful for the treatment that he has been on for the past year because it has held the cancer at bay.

We went to Florida in June with all of Jason's family and we had a great time. The kids loved Magic Kingdom and the waterslide & lazy river at the resort we stayed at.

I can't believe that it is already the middle of July--the summer always goes so fast. We head up North for a week in August and then off to Duke for a couple of days. I will post as soon as I can with Jason's updates in Aug. Have a wonderful summer. Jos