This past week the rains started. They came early in the evening and lasted late into the night as they usually do this season.  Normally Haitians, thankful for the cool winds and the increased crop, welcome these rains.  But this year that is not the case. 

This year the rains come as an added stress to an already overwhelmed people.  Haitian citizens are still trying to adjust to life after January’s earthquake, looking for work, waiting for schools to start.  All across the country families are still sleeping outside under tarps, tents made from bed sheets, and make-shift tin shelters.  Just last week, when people were starting to feel comfortable enough to re-enter their concrete homes, we experienced two more tremors.  Now families who were contemplating normalcy are back out on the street and out in the rain. 

The rains will continue to come in the following months, and with them we could see an increase in typhoid fever, dysentery, and other illnesses.  “The rains are death,” a visiting French nurse commented as he looked out at a cloudy sky yesterday afternoon.  And death is the last thing people here need to experience.  After a month and a half of grieving and foraging for a new way of life, people here are ready for some semblance of stability.  But with the changing climate and the introduction of new challenges, this stability may still be a long way off.

This is a reflection from one of the doctors who came in to do relief work.  His perspective is fresh and interesting. 

Call Me Stupid But…

Call me stupid but, I must have enough to live on.

The phrase ‘to live on’ has taken on a different meaning as my days in Haiti come to a close.  I have watched women drenched in sweat, stand for hours in the hot sun in the ‘one item or less’ line.  Don’t you hate those lines?  They never move fast enough. Neither do these lines.  Thousands of women arrive as early as 6 a.m. and wait for hours for something to take home to feed their families.  They are waiting for their one item of, a bag of rice or beans.  They get water in buckets from another line and carry that home later.  As I recall this scene I step away from my kitchen faucet.  I let the water run so it is cold enough not to need ice cubes that I don’t add ice cubes.  I use that time to choose my favorite glass.

I took care of some of these women as they arrived in the clinic.  They had carried 40 pound bag of food, five to ten gallons of water, on their heads, along crowded uneven and dusty roads.  It may take or seem to take an hour to get back to their homes.  It is not a house.  It is home.  It is made of sheets, blankets, tents and cardboard, and if very fortunate, some donated tarpaulins.  They came to clinic, or were brought there, confused, lethargic, sweating and near death from dehydration and sun stroke.  As I interview them through an interpreter, I ask myself; ‘What do I need to live on?’  I need to narrow that list.  I think the water is cold enough to fill my glass now.

Call me insensitive, but a refrigerator that keeps food just long enough for me to dump in the garbage or feed my dogs is not essential to life. I confess.  If I can recognize the color as original, I will eat it.  Let me narrow my list.  It no longer includes bottled water or that green stuff I just threw out.  The dog would not touch it.

Call me out of touch, but spending for reality T.V. is off of my list of essentials after seeing the reality of people searching the garbage for food hoping to find enough to eat before the dogs, or neighbors get it or before nightfall comes. It is hard to find good garbage to eat in the dark and avoid the rats.

Call me out of step, but it seems that the $17 I recently spent on popcorn, soda and a movie may have been a bit extravagant on my part. How far does 17$ go in Haiti, street sweepers make 4 dollars a day Of course I work hard and I deserve to be entertained and amused.  But a movie about rescuing people who are being devastated by an alien force pales in comparison to helping people who are being decimated by a natural disaster.  I could have actually spent a bit more here helping them, micro-waved a bag, had some Kool-Aid and read a good book.

Call me ridiculous, but now I realize that telling people I have been called to serve about my fears and frustrations does not make sense to them.  They don’t really care to know about the problems I will face retiring because I did not put enough aside for my later years.  They just want to make it through the day.  They have seen too much death, even this week.

Call me stupid but if I can’t go a week or a month to help people, should I be willing to spend a week salary, or even a month’s salary to help someone do it in my stead?

Now you can really call me stupid, insensitive, out of touch, out of step, and ridiculous.  Give a whole week’s or month’s salary to help?  Let me see how bad it really is.  Turn on CNN and get the real story.   Don’t be stupid. After all, you must have enough to live on.

Haiti needs help.  Go, give or send.  That is smart.  That pleases God.

By Dr. Michael Johnson as quoted by Dean Stephenson

Hello Friends, 

The past 32 days have been  an incredible ride … snapshots of death, grief and suffering, mingled with pictures of courage ,compassion and the best qualities of our humanness. As you know …..the Wesleyan emergency clinic in Petit Goave has been one of those good frames , a picture  of synergy with medical and non medical volunteers from different countries and languages in amazing cooperation, saving lives, caring for the injured, delivering babies, babies, babies….

This note is to update you regarding the current situation as of Saturday February 20, 2010

 ·         There has been a gradual decline in overall intensity as the focus shifted  from earthquake injuries to primary care and now  to community health.  Eighty plus percent of all the people being seen now are coming with chronic medical issues.

·         Everyone agrees…what we are doing here is not sustainable long term  As you know this enterprise requires large numbers of volunteer medical staff as well as large quantities of free medicines. As well, all the Wesleyan missionaries have completely devoted themselves to the recovery effort along with a majority of available resources.

·         Government officials and the international NGO’s are beginning to assert themselves.  Their stated objective is to establish a  transitional and  long term plan for health care in the Petit Goave area.  Our clinic is obviously deficient in the following areas among others;

 ·         No sheltered waiting area with the rainy season advancing

·         Lack of substantive examination and treatment buildings

·         Lack of adequate toilet facilities for either staff or patients

·         No X ray or laboratory

·         No sterile environment for procedures

·         No record keeping( charting)

 The Red Cross is apparently now committed to creating a provisional and then permanent hospital at the existing damaged government facility . At least one other faith based organization has expressed great interest  in opening a community health/primary care day clinic near the present location.

 When we opened the field clinic it was with the clear understanding that in spite of our deficiencies, that we would remain open until a reasonable alternative for acute and primary care was available.  It is our belief at this time,  that within the next thirty days, that will be accomplished.

 I believe that the time will soon come for us to return on our primary mission objectives and add some new ones ie managing church to church partnerships for the rebuild efforts.

 For  those of you who have expressed a desire to come or to return for service in the clinic…….The clinic will need to continue to operate for several more weeks until  these other preparations are put in place.  We will need to continue to staff the clinic until at least the middle of March.  Until an orderly  handoff is made our commitment  will not change, and we will continue to provide the highest level of care possible to those who come to us for help.

 Ongoing ….There may be ongoing opportunity to connect with the Hearts Afire organization that intends to invest in a primary health day clinic in Petit Goave. We will provide more info as it comes available.

 We are deeply grateful for you and others who have made possible one of the greatest expressions of love in action that I have ever witnessed.  While the medical ministry  in Petit Goave appears to be winding down for us , there are still critical health needs within the ministry networks  of the Wesleyan church  in Haiti, ie opportunities for medical teams and involvement of medical personnel on LaGonave and other areas where the Wesleyan church has a presence. As well we are experiencing a time of deep nationwide spiritual transformation , creating opening for a wide variety of other ministry opportunities.

 Our prayer is that you will be a voice  for  this shattered  country,  where suffering injustice and brokenness have been tolerated too long .

Pray for the healing of this land and the well being of it’s beautiful and resilient people! 

Dan Irvine

Caribe Atlantic Area Director

Global Partners

While TiGoave started as a field clinic in the first days we did our best not to have overnight guests as requested by the staff.

A 17 year old young lady carried in by friends and family who informed us that she needed a Caesarian section. A second opinion we felt would be prudent before sending her down to the Petit Goave hospital. The hospital did have a standing operating room but no surgeons. Our team used the operating room during the day for some cases. Later the hospital would be deemed unsafe and completely closed down.

The OB thought that she deserved a trial of pushing as she was completely dilated. She really didn’t like this idea or accept the idea that life would be better if she could avoid surgery.
For the next few hours we encouraged her, prayed with her, disagreed with her and encouraged her again. Because she had ruptured her membranes a few days prior she received intravenous antibiotics to help protect the baby and her.

I held her left leg while another team member held her right. Now and then we’d move according to her directions. Push-push-push. Unfortunately for her and us her contractions were very short and quite far apart-so she received a second IV medications to help solve these problems.

In the midst of encouraging her we had visitors popping in and out-not only had some of the team members never seen a delivery but we had some media personal and political folks from Florida visiting at the time as well. To see a report on this go to http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jan/30/local-residents-move-mountains-to-help-those-in/.

Baby’s heart rate started to drop-concern mounted, the encouragement reached a new pitch and volume. With the help of Pitocin and encouragement she started to improver her effort and soon we had a baby. No heart warming cry. We had no oxygen but did have prayer. When the baby cried everyone rejoiced.

In many hospitals in Haiti after a normal delivery the moms go home. A short time later her care was completed, pictures of the baby taken and baby dressed. She generally got off the table and gave me a big hug and thanks.

Now that the field clinic is a field hospital I hear that they are doing both Cesareans as well as normal deliveries. The hope of any country is in it’s children. Haiti still has hope. Many Haitians are now finding their Hope in the Lord. The Lord is still in control. He is still powerful. He loves Haiti.

Kris Thede -

The first Sunday after the earthquake, I walked into church, expecting to take my usual seat about halfway to the front of the sanctuary.  Instead, I found that the only seats left were a few toward the very back.  As the service continued, more people crowded in.  By the time the pastor came up to preach there was standing room only.  This was a far cry from the week before when about a third of the benches were empty. 

There was a different feel amongst the congregation as well.  The casual talking of teenagers mid-service was silenced and the occasional Amens and mmm huhs of agreement louder and more frequent.  Grown men bent forward as the pastor preached and middle-aged women wiped tears away during the special music. 

The prayer which started with the repetition of the phrase “Ou se Bondye. Ou se Bondye.  Ou se Bondye,” (You are God.  You are God.  You are God.), continued long past the usual ten minutes. And the service ended with a string of testimonials.  People who had been trapped under rubble or had lost family members came to the front and told stories of their new decision to turn back to God.

This testimonial time has become a normal part of the service since the earthquake as each week more people give their lives to Christ.  I heard one story about a little boy who had been in a school building when the earthquake hit.  A falling rock hit him in the back and pushed him outside.  The school collapsed behind him, killing all of his classmates.  He knows it was God who kept him safe. 

And the stories and the people keep coming.  Four weeks after the quake, and churches are still full.  Just last week during the nationwide prayer time, I could not find a seat in the church.  The pastors there, at the Wesleyan Church in town, had moved all the benches outside to make more space for church attendees to sit on the floor, and still they ran out of space.  They even arranged the benches outside to create three sections of seating for those who came too late to get in the doors.   

They may continue to need extra seating in the coming weeks as more people come to Christ.  Since the earthquake, they have seen 120 converts at the Wesleyan church alone.  Churches all over town are seeing a similar trend.  In the week since the prayer time, we’ve seen evidence of this trend ourselves in the number of people who have come asking for bibles.

“Oh, Lord please grant me wisdom as I triage. May I notice and recognize the people needing immediate care and who can wait. Please don’t let me send away someone who needs to be seen today.” These prayers echoed in my mind during the days when medications and personnel limited who we could see at the TiGoave clinic. Deciding who gets the limited time and medical resources is normally not an easy task in Haiti. But with a crowd of traumatized people, even those without direct earthquake injuries or acute illnesses deserved to be seen. While I knew I had to try to make the judgment calls, it was not a comfortable job.

One way I attempted to limit the crowd was to emphasize that the doctors came prepared for injuries and not chronic illnesses. “So if you’ve been sick for more than a month we may not have medications and you’ll need to wait until this afternoon to be seen.” I announced. I don’t know how many people left after receiving this information but a few at least.

Before marking a number on the palm or back of their hand I tried to ask what their symptoms consisted of to avoid having people wait for problems we didn’t have medications or treatment for, like sleeping pills. An older lady had waited patiently for me to get to her. I don’t remember much about her physical make up other than she was thin and her conjunctive were pale. She complained of vaginal bleeding for several months. Already started with my speech about chronic problems I suddenly stopped, marked her hand and directed her to the short stone wall near the procedure room.

I quickly explained to the OB/Gyn why a chronic illness was waiting and that I had Okayed it. I returned to my less than desirable, but necessary role as gate keeper.

Later that night as we had group devotions and sharing time I learned the rest of the story. Dr. Shawn shared about this lady. How he diagnosed a polyp causing her chronic blood loss and by thinking out side the box, they were able to find a few tools to provide treatment for her. What normally would have been an easy routine job in his office-took on new challenges because of the set up and lack of tools. Thankfully with the Lord’s help they got the job done. While we didn’t even have any iron pills for her-at least her body should have a chance to slowly regain strength.

As the weeks, of clinic at Wesleyan Ti Goave , now the only ‘hospital’ open in town, many of the patients being seen are treated for indirect earthquake problems caused by living outside, lack of clean water or food, many people living in close quarters, and accidents. The earthquake brought the healthcare workers and volunteers to the Ti Goave compound to show the Lord’s love to the suffering. Only the Lord knows what today, tomorrow, next week or next month holds for any of us.

Please pray for the ministry at Ti Goave. First and most important that the main reason for the work would remain priority: to share God’s love in such a way that souls will be won for all eternity. Pray hat the patients would receive what they need and their suffering be lessened.

Pray for the right people to come in the Lord’s timing to do the vast amount of work and rebuilding that needs to be done. That the supplies and finances would be present when needed. We have an opportunity to serve like no other time-may it not be wasted.

Dr. Kris

It has been one month and a day since Andy Pratt, Chris Thompson (my dad), and myself, Caleb Thompson, heard news of the earthquake in Port au Prince and felt called to serve.  Our first plan was simple: Andy and I would get ourselves into Haiti somehow, maybe backpacking in from the D.R., and link up with Pastor Dan Irvine.  Through many turns God eventually showed us that, first, there was an urgent need for food for the whole population of La Gonave and second, that we could supply this need by container ship with the help of many friends and His guidance. 

We are not trained missionaries.  We are regular people who live a normal life in upstate NY.  We were when we started and will be when we’re done.  But God opened some big doors for us and our friends, and all I can say is that we walked through them.  We have learned (or have been taught) how to ship containers full of food from Florida to St. Marc , Haiti.  We got two of these containers and some drums of fuel on the first relief ship into that port since the quake.  There is already another container on the next boat, and there are at least two more being planned and funded as I write.  What has been created here is not just a relief shipment but a system for shipping relief in through a back door and straight to the people and missions not already being helped by the bigger organizations.

When I say we at this point, I no longer mean Andy, Dad, and I.  God has raised up a whole team of saints; those who give, those who pray, those who lead and administer, and those, like Josh, who come and will come to serve on the ground.  The first container full of food would never have been purchased, and therefore this mission would have ended before it began, if our District Superintendent, Pastor Paul James had not agreed to give funding almost before it was raised.  “Ready, Fire, Aim!”  (His own words on the matter.)  That same Wesleyan District of New York and New England is still behind us and the third container is of their doing. 

Calvary Chapel from Spokane, Washington, felt a similar call from God and is now in every sense our partner in Christ.  They funded the second container quite literally overnight and have given us prayer and leadership, especially through my own uncle Pete Thompson.  Now they have even given us a brother on the ground, Josh Nerren. 

Our third partner is Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in both Montana and St. Marc.  Without them, we also could not be where we are or go where we are going.  Terry Snow, the YWAM director in St. Marc for over twenty years, has navigated us through the Haitian customs process and has likely saved us at least $9000 in import taxes and who knows how much delay and headache.  His ministry is very literally a Godsend.  The YWAM base in Montana has put together an 18 person team, headed by my sister Veronica Thompson, to raise funds for the next several containers and they are a good way toward their goal.  God knows how to put the right people together to do his will. 

Now our containers are in St. Marc, cleared through customs and we are almost ready to distribute when this national weekend of prayer for Haiti is finished and the dock yard opens again.  Pastor Dan was ready with a two-pronged distribution plan before Andy and I even landed on the container ship, but we’re still asking for prayer in this.  God has helped us every step of the way so far and I know he’ll see this through.  However, He has also asked that we continually give this ministry back to Him and that we remain flexible to His will.  Please pray that not just Andy and Josh and I, but every person who is involved will be ready to hear and obey as we take His supplies to His people.

HS.

Caleb Thompson

The last two nights we have gone to bed to the sound of Creole hymns, and the last two mornings we’ve woken up to the same sound.  In the afternoons, the mission compound has been silent, the usual bustle of boys working in the yard and wash women yelling bonjour strangely absent.  And since Thursday evening, the stores, the market, and the wharf have all been closed.  What’s the reason for these services and this silence?

A few weeks ago, the Church in Haiti asked everyone in the country to pray February 12th, 13^th, and 14^th, and it seems like the whole country listened.  Churches everywhere have been holding services that started early Friday morning and will continue until tomorrow.  In Anses-a-Galets, we have been able to hear church services all over town.  Even the town square is filled with worshipers who have gathered to sing, pray, and listen to speakers. 

Leaders called for this prayer time in response to the desperate post-earthquake needs of this nation.  The country still lies in shambles and the violence and anarchy of Haiti’s history seem close at hand, but the Church is reacting against the past and looking forward to a more positive future.  Churches here have seen a large number of people turning away from sin and back to God since the events of January 12^th.  They are continuing to ask people to turn to God and pray that He’d heal this nation.

This kind of declaration is monumental in a country with a heritage of voodoo and ancestor worship.  And this Haitian initiated, Haitian led national time of prayer is a testimony to the strength of the third, fourth, and fifth generation Christians in this country. Please pray with the Haitian Church that God would use this time to change the hearts of people of Haiti and that He’d bring His redemption in a place facing so much devastation.

 

The other day, I saw a dead body for the first time.  It was someone in the hospital who had passed away and had been carefully wrapped in a sheet, laid on an army stretcher, and placed in a back hallway until friends could come carry him out.  When I first saw him, Miss Vero offered a quick explanation and carried on with her work.  Jean Berna, a friend of ours who was with me, asked a couple of questions, then he, too, moved on to a new subject. 

 A little later, another friend of mine walked in and saw the man.  She gasped a little and asked who he was, then let out a quick laugh.  It wasn’t the kind of laugh that comes from hearing a funny joke.  It was the kind of laugh that comes with hands thrown out both directions in a gesture of helplessness.  The kind that says, “Ha! What could I do.” 

 I was surprised at how casually everyone handled this situation, and thought maybe death does not effect Haitians in the same way it does me.  A little later in the day, I realized I was wrong.  

I was in the truck with Jean Berna talking about the rainy season, when all of a sudden, he let out a little laugh.  The same kind of laugh I heard from my friend in the hospital.  “Ha, did you see that man that died in the hospital?”    

 “Yeah, I did,” I answered back.  

 “We are nothing,” he laughed again.  “Only God is something.”  He went on to explain himself saying that when we die, we don’t know anything and in this life we are very small.  “But one day, I think, in the last generation, God will take my body from under the earth,” he added again with a smile on his face. It was a sobering conversation to have less than a month after the earthquake. 

 As he spoke I thought of friends I’d talked to just days before the earthquake and will never see again.  I thought of a little girl in the orphanage who lost her father, four bothers, and a sister.  And I thought of my close friend still grieving the loss of her siblings.  And I had to wonder if the casual attitude toward death isn’t an example of Haitians being unaffected, but instead evidence of how deeply they have been affected by all that they’ve seen and experienced.

We have had a tremendous outpouring of interest in medical and rebuild teams.  The truth is, there is great need for both.

At present we are operating, in addition to the LaGonave hospital, the field clinic in Petit Goave which is staffed completely by volunteers, most of whom spend a week or less at the clinic.  As well, we are in need of specialty services, surgery, GYN, orthopedic, pediatric at the LaGonave hospital.  Obviously the need for rebuild teams requires no explanation.

The frustration at present is that we have no reliable means by which to bring people into the country or send them home.  Missionary Flights International, our best conduit up to now, is backlogged weeks and the route through the Dominican Republic requires a huge financial investment and is taxing the time and resources of our friends in the Dominican who have provided airport pick up and logistics to the border.  For this reason it is very difficult for us to respond to the many gracious offers of help.  We will be able to aggressively pursue these offers when more reliable air transportation is available. 

Blessings,

Dan Irvine
Caribe Atlantic Area Director
Global Partners

Today an assessment team of nine service men arrived on the island to learn about the Wesleyan Hospital on La Gonave and to get accurate information about potential needs of the island.  The team works in conjunction with several non-profits to coordinate aid. The men came in on two helicopters carrying IV fluids for the hospital and small radios for the townspeople. 

 

Once on the ground they didn’t waist any time.  Part of the group went immediately to the hospital to receive a tour directed by Hospital Administrator Met. Rous.  The other group arrived shortly after, and stood around chatting with the town mayor, Magistra Dahame Laguerre.  When the nine-man team was together again, they shared lunch with Magistra Dahame and Met. Rous, asking questions about town needs and distribution plans.  Then it was off to the Wesleyan school to speak with the director there. 

 

In just a few hours, the team was able to gather information and make community connections which will be vital in the coming weeks as more relief supplies come in. 

 

But the assessment team wasn’t the only shipment that came in today.  While our trucks were waiting for the team at the airstrip, we received a surprise shipment of food and medical supplies from MAF.  Additionally, the Monarch Queen reached St. Marc yesterday morning, and today they started the paperwork process which may take 3 or 4 days.  Once the paperwork is complete, we will begin unloading and distributing the 80,000 pounds of food. 

 

Please pray for this distribution process:

            – that supplies get to areas in most need

            – that those transporting supplies are safe

            – that a sense of calm and peace covers each point of distribution

Pray also for the logistics of distribution:

            – clear communication (telephones and limited internet still make coordination difficult)

            – that the paperwork for the Monarch Queen is finished quickly

            – transportation: trucks, boats, planes, and men on foot are moving supplies daily

Also continue to pray for all missionaries and aid workers:

            – that we’d see the needs

            – that we’d know how to respond and how to help others respond

 

Thanks for continuing to be involved in what God’s doing in Haiti.

             Justine

Today a medical team visited the orphanage. The kids there as always were happy to see new faces and excited to be around visitors.  Even though life there has returned back to normal for the most part, there is still one reminder of the earthquake.  Every night all of the children go outside to sleep under a tarp.  Ever since the earthquake the children have been too scared sleep inside the building. 

 

This fear has been a cause for another concern.  The children need to learn an evacuation drill.  As orphanage director Mme. Soliet explained, during the big tremors in the days following the quake it was really difficult to get the children to quickly leave the building.  Instead a lot of them would run for corners or hide under beds.  An orderly evacuation drill could calm the fears of Mme. Soliet and ensure that the children get out safely. 

 

Another change the orphanage is experiencing is the addition of five new children, putting the total to over 60.  These children who have recently become orphans since the quake are visibly the quietest and most distant. Their life has been shattered and they are still adjusting to the new situation.  Though life is difficult, they are very lucky that they have found such a good place to live.

 

One of the newest little girls in the orphanage is Florence.  This kindergarten-aged girl was trapped under rubble for three days.  She was saved only to learn that her family had been killed in the earthquake.

This past Thursday I got an unexpected look at the Wesleyan Hospital on La Gonave when I suddenly came down with an intestinal illness.  After I realized I was not even able to keep water down and was getting dehydrated, I called one of our Haitian nurses, Miss Vero, to help.    She and another nurse Miss Manoos came over shortly after the call armed with two IV bags, anti-naseau medication, and syringes. 

I watched as the two skillfully rigged up the IV in my bedroom and conscientiously charted everything they gave me in a 1 subject notebook from my desk drawer.  They carefully cleaned my skin with alcohol swabs before announcing the Creole word for shot, “Pike.” (pronounced pee-kay).     Then they injected me with metoclopramide for my nausea and chloroquine in case I had malaria (Malaria is so common here that the nurses treat almost any fever accompanied by chills and muscle aches as malaria.).  It was clear that this house call was old hat for the two senior nurses. 

Miss Vero, who acts as the equivalent of an American Physician’s Assistant serves as an anesthesiologist for all surgeries in the hospital.  And Miss Manoos, another head nurse, has had her share of experience with severely ill patients.  They are just two examples of the highly skilled professionals we have working at the Wesleyan Hospital in La Gonave.        

A little later, when the medicine started to take effect, I asked these two women about the hospital supplies.  They explained to me that they were out of chloroquine, and Miss Vero had brought some down from her house for me.  They also explained that the metoclopramide was their second choice treatment.  They would have preferred promethazine another anti-naseau drug, but had used their last vile of it the day before.

The supplies aren’t the only thing being stretched thin in the hospital.  The staff, too, has been pushed hard post-earthquake.  I could see it in the faces of Miss Manoos and Miss Vero when they arrived at my house at 6:00 p.m., still dressed in scrubs on a work day that should have ended around 3 in the afternoon. 

The two nurses explained to me that they are still seeing an increased number of patients, many with wounds from the earthquake.  When I asked if they have enough staff, the two adamantly replied with a yes.  But shortly after added, if there were some missionaries who wanted to come for the hospital, they would be welcomed. 

Now, just 2 days, 3 IVs, and 16 pills later, I am on the mend.  I have our dedicated, resourceful hospital staff to thank for that.    

with gratitude,

justine

p.s. Since this post was written our hospital has received several suitcases of supplies from the Scottish lemonaid team.  I have asked Miss Vero to compile a list of other needed resources.

 

This week a medical team from Florida arrived on the ground in La Gonave.  The six-person team, which was made up of two surgeons, one general practicioner, three nurses, and other medical personnel was joined by an anesthesiologist from Canada.   After arriving late Thursday afternoon, the team was able to connect with the staff at the Wesleyan Hospital.  And in just two days, they were able to successfully complete over ten operations, which included at least one caserean section, a DNC, a hysterectomy, and two lumpectomies. 

While this surgical team hurried to finish up their last surgeries of the day, the Scotland Lemonaid team arrived for another resource drop off.  This team, four strong, brought in several pounds of medical supplies as well as four duffle bags of food to restock the guesthouse.  The team is continuing to gather information about needed medical supplies and preparing for the hospital rebuild they are sponsoring here. 

Once the supplies had been delivered and the surgeries finished, the two teams took off on the Breezy Sea to head back to their three home countries respectively.  But the island will not stay quiet for long. 

Tomorrow the Monarch Queen, a large supply boat sponsored by the New England Wesleyan District is scheduled to arrive in St. Marc.  The supplies will be unloaded and stored.  Then over the next few days our very own Breezy Sea will deliver the supplies to various churches on La Gonave.

My husband Chris and I have just arrived in Port au Prince to stay for a while to help out at the guest house as teams are coming and going. We were living in Fauche/Port Margot which is about 100 miles north of the epicenter of the earthquake. In spite of the distance, these past two weeks have changed our lives and the lives of our Haitian neighbors and friends. Never before have we been this close to such catastrophe and huge loss of life. We have seen person after person be affected… can’t find a friend, haven’t heard about a brother, buried their cousin, now housing their homeless relatives… everyone in Haiti knows somebody who was there at the quake. For us, we didn’t lose anyone we knew, but our friends did. Our house wasn’t destroyed from beneath us, but it shook hard enough not to let us forget that thousands did. The world isn’t in chaos in north Haiti, but it did change.

Northern Haiti is a beautiful area…full of trees and green mountain views. While there is evidence of poverty almost everywhere you look, it is a different feel than the PAP area. We experienced about a level 5 earthquake which didn’t do any substantial damage, so, however strange it may have seemed, life continued on after the quake and the beauty seemed untouched. Yet in the faces of our English class students and neighbors we saw evidence of what had happened. We felt helpless to do anything for the people. We found ourselves asking our students and others we know if they have family in Port, just to acknowledge that the earthquake happened and that we know it has affected them. Each one knew someone, and one woman even shared with me that she lost her husband. I was so taken aback that I asked again, “Mari ou?” (Your husband?) And she answered, yes. Other family members and a friend too. What do you say? I just couldn’t accept that she would suffer such great loss. The people here seem to be suffering quietly. They go about their days and keep on, but we know they are dealing with loss as well as rearranging their lives so their family members can come live with them indefinitely. Something cool to think about is the fact that family members and friends are coming together and being reunited under the same roof, even though it’s not great circumstances. Hopefully it’s a blessing to them.

Cory Thede and Chris showed a slideshow of pictures and told a church-full of Haitians news about the earthquake the day after it happened. Without TV they don’t have an opportunity to see or get much news. Some have radios but many were anxious to hear any news. They were careful in what pictures they chose, knowing it was important for them to see some but unnecessary to display all the graphic shots that the news had captured. Afterwards a spontaneous, short service of prayer, singing, and reciting Scripture was held. Many people do not receive quality news. They have many incorrect ideas about how the US is involved, what the plans are for Haiti, and how the aid is being distributed.  Without newspapers and TV easy to access, it is hard to be well-informed.  They do not want the pre-earthquake Haiti to be the result of reconstruction, they want something more. Their lack of information and education doesn’t affect their ability to dream. We are praying and hoping to encourage these amazing people to take hold of their dream of a better Haiti with both hands 

Chris and Kathleen-

When the Breezy Sea arrived at the Wesleyan wharf on December 29th 2009, we had no idea of the plans God had for this boat.  This boat had come as a donation from the Atlantic-Canada District in New Brunswick, and the mission gladly welcomed it as an upgrade from the wooden sailboat they had been using to haul teams and supplies.  We had originally thought this boat would be a great help with our normal mission business.  Little did we know that this boat would soon become an asset to post-earthquake relief efforts. 

Since the disaster, this boat has made the trip from La Gonave to than main land an average of three times per week.  Whether it is carrying badly needed supplies, doctors, or fuel, this boat is always hauling precious cargo.  Just two days ago the boat was used to carry US medical relief supplies that had been driven up country from Port Au Prince and to deliever those supplies to the island.  Then today the boat ran again to pick up several drums of fuel used to run the generators for the mission and the hospital.

But the boat isn’t just hauling supplies across the channel, it’s helping us to conserve them.  “The amount of fuel we save running that new boat is huge!” exclaimed Butch Alexander GP missionary and co-director of WISH.  “It uses about 5 or 6 galons of fuel, while the other two (the fly boat and the Wesleyana) use about 15 galons.”  That’s an average of 30 galons of fuel per week we’re conserving by using the Breezy Sea, an awesome amount in a time when fuel prices in the country have nearly doubled. 

So while we continue to coordinate post-earthquake aid shipments and transportation for relief teams, we can’t help but praise God for his omniscience.  He had bigger plans for the Breezy Sea than any of us had imagined. 

Also, we want to say a big thank you to Dean Stephenson, the Atlantic-Canada District, and everyone else who was involved in getting the Breezy Sea down to Haiti!

Thanks again!

        Justine for the Haiti team

For this moment normal life is on pause for everyone in Haiti. Pastor Carl Gilles explained the other day, “I had plans to do leadership training but right now all of that has to wait.” He was talking about the current ministry of the Wesleyan Church in Haiti and how all of us have had to shift our focus off of our original goals temporarily in response to the pressing needs of those in this nation. All the missionaries here have turned their attention to disaster relief. English and computer classes, pastoral training, national church meetings have all been put on pause as aid distribution, medical relief, and international communication take precedents over what had been planned.

Similarly, the Haitian people are living in limbo. Many of them are still sleeping in the streets and waiting for schools to reopen. They are returning to work and trying to go back to what was normal, all the while waiting for the grief to pass and waiting to see the ramifications of all that has happened since January 12th. “This thing isn’t over yet,” Dan Irvine lamented over supper this weekend. “We could see a wave of deaths from tetanus and another wave of death from infection.” It’s going to be a long time before we fully understand what has happened in this country.

In the meantime, we are continuing to respond to the needs God puts in front of us and looking forward to a day when Haitians and expatriates alike can sit down and cast a vision for the future of this country. Already there has been talk of relocating Port Au Prince. We have also heard people comparing the capital city to New Orleans where innovators are rebuilding the city better than it was before. Though we’re not sure what lies ahead, we are trusting that there is a future for this place. For now, we simply ask that all of you would continue to pray and continue to trust with us that God is not done yet.