This was first published in DMU Alumni Magazine April 6, 2016.  Heeding Haiti’s call April 6, 2016 — Barb Boose A WARM AND WONDERFUL PLACE: Rick Wilkerson, D.O.80, and his wife, Barbara, rallied resources and like-minded supporters to move an orphanage from Port-au-Prince to a new facility near Haiti’s southern coast. Rick Wilkerson, D.O.’80, didn’t need Haiti to fulfill his passion for overseas medicine. After all, he’s provided health care and medical training regularly since 1991 in nations ranging from Afghanistan to Vietnam as well as the United States. But when a planned trip to Afghanistan was canceled in 2010, [...]

Posting a blog written by BVU Student, Abby, who spent her J-Term in Haiti.  Reality Check After being in Haiti for two weeks the reality of it all is starting to hit me. I remember at the beginning of the trip I had multiple people ask me how are you doing? Is Haiti overwhelming you? I had thought no I am fine. After two weeks my opinion on this question has completely changed. I have noticed that the first week I was very oblivious to certain things. I didn't realize the harsh reality of living in Haiti. As I am [...]

Excited to introduce our newest activity at LOVE Takes Root. The Roots Runners. LOVE Takes Root (LTR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating the future of children worldwide.  We help children around the world facing dire circumstances by delivering basic aid, education and the seeds for a sustainable future.  In 2011, we were called to Haiti where we have relocated and rebuilt an orphanage reduced to rubble by the 2010 earthquake.  For sustainability, we have also built a primary school, medical/dental clinic, and are presently building a secondary school. LOVE Takes Root is an Iowa-based volunteer-led grassroots organization that [...]

As the facilitator of LOVE Takes Root I have a lot of trips back and forth to Haiti. Which means I have a lot of time setting on a plane. Below I will share some of my plane reflections from my trip back this past week. As I compare the despair and sadness leaving La Concorde Orphanage in Port-Au-Prince in 2011 with the love and smiles I have while leaving La Concorde in Jacmel in 2016, it seems like such a quick journey. Although at the time having the knowledge of children with no clean water, food, shelter or healthcare made [...]