My name is Benita. I live in Cazale and this is where my family is from. I grew up here. I have a daughter that is 5 years old. When I was a small girl I grew up with my brothers and sisters. We never really had a lot of problems between ourselves. We went to church every week. My aunt came to see me. She told me I needed to think about a profession. She wanted to pay for me to go to school. She asked me to choice between a nurses aid and learning how to sew. I was always interested in health and education so this is what I went to school for.
The local judge that was here at the time called my mom and told her there were white people that were working in the local clinic. He wanted me to come meet them. I came and had my resume ready. I saw first Mr. Zach. He was standing at the door. I gave him my papers and he took them into Madame Zach. She asked me to come inside and she talked to me. At that time I was doing clinicals at a clinic in town. Just to get experience I did not get paid. Madame Zach gave me three appointment to come back and see her. I had to travel back and forth form Port-au-Prince each time. It was a long way. The last time I went I was discouraged because Madame Zach had not told me that she wanted me to work. I went back to town. I was standing on the side of the road waiting for a taxi. I saw Mr Zach’s car and he saw me. He asked me if I wanted a ride. He was with Madame Zach. Madame Zach said she was happy that I came to see her each time she asked. She liked that I respected my appointments and then she told me to come to begin working. I was very happy and I began working in Sept 1998. I worked at the clinic for several years. I did weights, took BP’s, vaccinations and helped out with dressing changes. Madame Zach asked me one day if I would be interested in returning to school to become a nurse. I was very happy about this and said yes. I went to nursing school for several years. It was hard work. I always went to the RHFH clinic on vacations and during the summer to help out. After I graduated I began working full time again for RHFH. I currently see all the pregnant women and all kids under 2 years old. I also work 2 days a week doing dressing changes. 
I first want to thank everyone at RHFH for everything they have done for Cazale. I would love for RHFH to have a school that teaches cooking, how to bake cakes and how to arrange flowers. I think this will help the community.
I would like women to be able to make change. I would like there is be a lot of education and material for women. This will help them so they are not just living to live for that day. So they can live well in the future. 
If a foreigner came to Cazale I would first say welcome. To help people live better- that has already began. I would tell them to help educate the people. Education will help all of us move forward and advance in our lives.
Thank you for asking me all the question.
Comments(8)
Jess says
March 15, 2011 at 5:26 pmLOVE this new addittion to the blog. 🙂
Miss you guys. <3
Debbie Woodward says
March 15, 2011 at 5:37 pmThanks Benita. I really enjoyed reading your story and learning more about your journey. I never knew that you had worked at RHFH that long and I really appreciate how you see the value of education.
Hopefully more people will read your story and help with school sponsorships or funds for adults to get additional training.
I look forward to more posts from the staff.
christi says
March 15, 2011 at 6:31 pmThis is an awesome testimony! Thanks!
Cindi tigner says
March 15, 2011 at 10:44 pmThis post is wonderful! So cool hearing about Benita. Keep ’em coming.
Joan says
March 16, 2011 at 11:53 amI enjoyed reading this post as it gives us more insight on RHFH from a
staff member’s perspective. Benita sounds like a lovely woman.
Dee says
March 16, 2011 at 12:09 pmBenita,
Thank you so much for answering all my many, many questions! I had heard about you for so long(how highly Madame Zack thought of you)and was curious how you had chosen to become a nurse. It seems much harder for a girl to do this in your country, than in the U.S. Thank God for your aunt who gave you your start, and for you who worked so hard to become the woman and nurse you are today. I wonder just how many lives you have touched over the years? Your little girl is blessed to have you for an example! God bless and keep you in His love.
I LOVE hearing from the staff that works so hard behind the scenes,
Thank you RHFH!
Bekki says
March 16, 2011 at 9:18 pmGlad to know more about Benita – we need to talk more on my next visit because I believe so much like her!
Jacci in Ohio says
March 17, 2011 at 7:28 pmBenita, I just loved hearing everything you had to share. Thank you so much for telling us more about yourself and how you came to be a part of RHFH. You must really encourage the women & children that you see with how you value education and hard work, and also your compassionate love as you care for them. Praise God that He worked out all the details for you to become a nurse! It’s always such a blessing to see how He leads one of His children and then uses them for His kingdom work. Thanks, again, for a wonderful post!
~Jacci in Ohio