Clinic Day 3: Both teams together in the Mountains of Tapio= 327 patients

    I was so excited today to go to the mountains for clinic, we did not get to see my baby Rachel, as I had hoped…but still it was such a blessed day. The weather was just beautiful, and a cool breeze uplifted us throughout the entire day. Under the large tree we saw the patients.  Hundreds as usual had gathered and were waiting lined up long down the mountain. We carried the tables, chairs and supplies up the mountain. I was so excited to see my little friend, a young boy maybe six years old wearing the same red incredibles shirt I see him wearing every trip. He always stays all day at the clinic helping us unpack and carry our things back down the mountain at the end of clinic. He was excited to see me, his eye lite up, as I gave him a hug, and reminded him of my name. His name is Gregorge.  He has beautiful bright eyes, and such a caring little boy, so helpful, I wonder though he must not be in school.  I was so excited to get a picture with him, and give him a new shirt, which he ran back to his house up the mountain (however I am still thinking he will continue to wear his beloved incredible shirt J ).

When we arrived to clinic they always send the most sickly up first to see us, one woman had brought her sick baby boy, I was not sure why everyone had gathered around him to pray, until I walked over and saw that the baby had a very large hemangioma on the side of his face, that had involved his ear and even his lips. It looked infected around his mouth, and ear, and Dr. Vlad was not sure how long he would make it without surgery, even with antibiotics.  It was so sad to see, but we prayed over him, and pray that the medications heal the infection.

               We also saw one little girl her entire face and lips swollen due to bad allergic reaction, I will not forget her precious face, may the medications heal her as well.  I held many infants that day. We did not have a baby scale so I had to weigh the mom and baby, or myself and the baby and subtract our weights.  There was one baby with severe scabies all over her little body, I was amazed that the baby was sleeping, I could not imagine the itching and discomfort she had to be in.  

                            

Clinic Day 2: We had clinic in Titanyen Baptist Church (other team in Cabaret)= 400 patients total

I was so excited to return to this special church, for this is where last time we delivered baby Rachel. It was great to see two boys whom makes bracelets for us, when they entered the church their eyes widened when they saw I had returned, they were excited to see me J 
 It was great to share with the patients that morning scripture from Colossians 9:1-12 “For this reason, since the day I heard about you, I have not stopped praying for you, and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding….so that you may be strengthened.”  I shared with them that they are so special to me that I pray for them and have not forgotten about them. I am was so happy to serve them that day in the name of Jesus I told them.  Today we had many babies (well actually at all the clinics we had many babies).
  But today I met a grandmother and women who had brought two twin infants to clinic. They shared with me that their mother had died giving birth to them. It was so sad to see they beautiful babies with no mother, what a sacrifice the mother made, her own life for her babies.  Now the grandmother is left to care for them. 

Mon. Dec. 12th, 2011: The first clinic day was the best

… getting to see all my Haitian friends again; it truly was the best Christmas gift!!! I had missed them all so much, and they were excited to see me as well. I am able to communicate with some of them on facebook, but it was so great to hug them again, and work alongside them.  There are often weeks where they have no team to help, the coordinators Mr. B, and Mrs. W, are their only assistants. But they are each amazing learning to work any aspect of the clinic from triage, taking vitals, to assisting the doctors, and working the pharmacy.  I was on team Omega with Dr. F, "St"-nurse,"Mic" in pharmacy, "W" to translate for Mrs. J-nurse, and Mr. B in pharmacy.  I was to do the triage by myself, which I was not sure how well I would do with the hundreds of patients, but each day God was faithful and gave me the strength I needed, as well as the patients always motivates to keep going.  Especially the little ones, there was always one little angel at every clinic who would come stand by my side, they love to rub my arm, or hand, and place their little hand on leg.  They do not know how they are such a blessing to me, when I look out at the hundreds of patients waiting for me; the little one by my side encourages me to keep going.  The first day it was a little girl, and a little jean dress, she stood right by me, hand on my arm, and watched me as I worked. 

This first clinic was in Carfour Fugy (the other team in Bon Repos), we were not at the usual location….but this time had clinic in an open church.  It was so great to return to doing mobile clinics again, I love it!! We unloaded the van, and set up clinic as the people waited on the wooden benches of the church.  We introduced ourselves, and Dr. F educated the patients, and Innocence shared with the patients about Christ, and praise we had three people accept Christ that day!  Between the two clinics we saw 345 patients. ~ Today we had one lady, almost fully blinded by cataracts, her son guiding her over to me. It was so sad to see, this woman losing her sight, due to something that can be fixed in the US.  Wow just to think how much this women is having to endure and go through just to make it each day.  Living in Haiti each day is hard enough, but being handicapped, is unimaginable to me.  Mrs. W shared about a woman at her clinic crippled from rheumatic fever; she usually crawls each week to clinic to get needed medications.  It’s hard enough to walk miles and miles to clinic in the heat, but to crawl and walk on your hands to clinic is astounding to me.  This woman also brings her three children, one she papooses to her stomach and the other two follow close behind.  This was unfathomable for me to hear, showing true dedication that this woman has to life and for her children!  Seeing them makes my struggles in life seem so pale and meaningless compared to what she goes through each day.

Haiti Medical Missions- Dec 11-17th: First day

                “I may be weak but your spirit’s strong in me, my flesh may fail, but my God you Never will…… I may be weak…but your Spirit’s strong in me…my flesh may fail…..but my God you NEVER will….all I am I surrender….give me faith to trust what you say, that your good and your love is great, I broken inside I give you my life… “- Give me faith- Elevation Worship

                These lyrics I sang over as my plea & reminder from God that He will never leave me…. I was weak; I was tired, and faced with a very challenging first semester of Physician Assistant School.  I have had to rely fully on my God daily to give me the understanding, power and endurance to learn and successfully complete each day.  The last week of finals looked like a gigantic mountain, too difficult to climb. I was overwhelmed at the thought of how I could get through and pass so many exams in such a short amount of time…. knowing there was an enormous about of information needed to be learned.  But God carried me through the long nights, and many hours of non-stop studying.  Through it all… my fears, my disappointments, and times of doubting…… my motivation for going to Haiti pulled me through.  God revealed Himself that week to me, showing me He would give me just wanted I needed each day.  I had to learn to trust, and not give up.  God passed me through all my classes; He is the one to be glorified for this past semester, for I am nothing without Him. 

                I could not believe it when I finally finished the last final (our time on the computer even malfunctioned, ending it earlier than expected).  I had been nervous about the short time between finishing finals on Thursday to when I would leave that Sunday for Haiti, but God knew best, and gave me the exact time I needed to be fully prepared.  This would be my fourth week to Haiti and third trip.  It did not take me long to gather the few things I needed.  My mother and friend who teach kindergarten, had their classes collect the medications and items the clinics needed for me to take to Haiti. This was a true blessing because I did not have the time on my own to collect enough medications.  The children learned about the country of Haiti, and how there are other children their age that are in great need.  I was so proud of the children, and my mother for teaching them this life lesson of giving to the needy.  Some of the children brought their own toys; their parents helped them buy Tums, children’s vitamins, tooth brushes, toothpaste, antifungal crèmes, eye drops, and more!! One child told my mom one day at school during lunch, that he wanted the piece of candy that was packed in his lunch, but he had learned that week he did not need the candy J .  Though a seemingly simple idea, he had discovered a powerful concept, that I pray many children, and people of all ages will come to realize. That there is so very much in this world of material things that we do NOT need, yet people want and buy to fill voids, fill greed, and build status.  Yet if we just open our eyes to see how much of the world lives in poverty, they go about each day of their lives just to survive. Many even at such young ages, must grow up fast learning to take care of themselves, their siblings, and be able to provide and find food and a place to sleep each day.  The things of this world we know are only temporary, they can come and go in an instant, but it is only Christ’s love that remains, and will be true joy.  There is so much more to this life…there is a God, Jesus Christ who died for us and came to save us, to give us the opportunity to accept Him, so we can have eternal life and live with Him in heaven.  He gives us HOPE, life, and being… He breathes life into me, and you, and I have been truly blessed to serve the people of Haiti. Showing them they are loved, they are not forgotten, through our coming, through life saving medications, through the wisdom of the doctors, nurses, and lay people who help wherever needed.

Life is such a gift and going to Haiti always brings such joy, meaning, and purpose in my life. Though I face life and death so much more closely in Haiti, God reveals Himself in such Mighty ways!!  This trip began early Sunday, December 11^th with a 5:50am flight from Charlotte.  I met for the first time one team member, Zachary Lynch, a guy close to my age  who works at Ridgecrest Conference Center at the front desk. It was his third time going to Haiti as well.  Both of us had had little sleep but were excited to get on the flight to Miami. When we made it to Miami, it was such a blessed promise to see a huge bright rainbow painted in the sky!  I could not remember the last time I had seen a rainbow, what a beautiful reminder that God keeps his promises, and will be with us during this trip.  We met up in the airport with the rest of our team, three ladies who are widows, Mrs. Clara, Mrs. Doris, and Mrs. Joy.  It was such a testimony for these retired ladies in their late 50’s, 60’s, & 70’s come to serve in Haiti. Especially Mrs. Doris, who was handicapped due to having a brain tumor removed. She walks with a cane, and has to have to be careful getting around because he balance is not always sound.

It takes about 3.5 hours to get to Haiti, and when we arrived at the Haiti airport, it seemed busier than I had remembered it.  However, it was nice that going through customs we got to follow Mrs. Doris through a faster line since she used a wheelchair.  It took us a lot longer to find and gather our suitcases in all the crowd and piles of suitcases.  Once we all finally found our luggage, we began the trek outside through the crowd of Haitian men in red shirts, all trying to desperately carry your luggage and assist you for money.  I have learned to just carry my own, and keep walking, but the ladies got stopped.  Eventually we got through and made the walk to our van. I was excited to see Bobby, and Jude pick us up, as well as Bobby pays one Haitian man use is deaf to help us with our luggage. He is great to ward off the other men trying to assist, and gets us to the van, and helps load our stuff.  Once in the van the ladies looked exhausted, and hot, but I was so excited!!!  YAY I had made it!! The warm sunshine felt so great, I felt like I was returning back to my second home J.  Everything looked the same, as we dodged the pot holes, we drove by the rows of tent homes, and people as they are walking miles to sell or buy food, kids carrying water, many packed on the taptaps….

                It was wonderful to arrive back to the compound, and see Wanda greet us, as she had been cooking lunch.  We picked a bunk bed, and got unpacked. I could not wait for the first day, to get to see the Haitian workers, the doctors, and the patients, hoping to see familiar faces again!! I was happy to see "Ta" first; she was studying for she is now in nursing school, and her sister "To" is in medical school.  I am so proud of them!  I was so happy that night to see the three doctors again!! Love them so much!!  We also had our first pill packing party that night packing all the medications we had brought.  They were totally out of the children’s vitamins and tums, and other meds in clinic, so it was great to have those for the first couple of days of clinics.

Haiti December 2011

Excited about what God has in store for this upcoming week in Haiti!

7/15/11: Goodbyes and Closing thoughts…..

               When we arrived back at the house, I was surprised to still see some of the Haitian workers sorting through and cleaning the medical items and supplies from the week.  I enjoyed helping them refill medications and repack the items, listening to them joke and have a good time together.  One of the Haitian driver’s enjoyed trying out my camera taking a few photos of us at work J.  

             I enjoyed getting to visit more with some of the Haitian staff that evening.  I talked with 'Tar' about her hope to go to Pharmacy school; I told her I would pray about this and help her find some information to see about her possibilities, maybe even in the U.S.                                                   
***P.S. If anyone has any information or incite about medical or pharmacy programs that will accept Haitian students, please let me know and I will pass this along to these dear students who are hoping and praying they will have the opportunity to go to medical or pharmacy school.

                                       

            That evening I went through my pictures, as well as pictures of Dr. Vlad & Dr. Merline to pull together to make them a photo book for their wedding guests to sign.  **It was so inspiring looking through their photos of the many countless lives they have touched, whether through NCBM, or patients, children they have supported and sponsored, friends in Indiana (who sponsored their schooling), or political leaders in Haiti. They are a precious couple, both brought together by God to serve Him in Haiti.  To see the pictures of the now 82 teams that have come to Haiti since the earthquke to work with them.  Amazing how God brought Dr.Merline (a Haitian Baptist minister's daughter),  and Dr. Vlad, (at the time a new believer that paid $1 to go to a Billy Gramham talk), together in Haiti to meet someone from the U.S. (from Indiana) that paid for their medical schooling!  Although they could now practice in the U.S., they have chosen to commit their lives to serving their people in Haiti.  I am so thankful for them, may God bless their upcoming marriage!

    ~I enjoyed that evening talking with my fellow Haitian brothers and sisters in Christ.  Sometimes the language barrier makes it difficult, but I enjoy learning about their lives.  How God has brought them to work for NCBM.  Their hopes, their dreams for the future.  They will always be in my prayers, and I pray God's blessings for them.  I already see God working in their lives, and He has used them in Mighty ways, giving them God-given gifts to learn and pick-up English so well, and now using this to support their families, and serve with NCBM.  I am so thankful for them, their ministries in Haiti, and have hope that God will continue to use them to minister and spread God’s love and gospel to the lost in Haiti! 

                                

            ~It was very sad saying goodbyes and last hugs, to the doctors and Haitian friends, as it was time for our last group devotional.  I walked outside under the stars, over to the circle for devotionals, and sat in open chair that was waiting for me, as streams of tears welled in my eyes and began to run down my face, as I watched the last of the Haitian staff walk off the compound in the dark.....back to their homes, their life in Haiti.  This time really hit me, we had reached the end, the closing of the trip. 
            ~It had been an incredible two weeks, as I recounted all the many memories and unforgetable blessing from the week!  Yet my heart was heavy hearing Pastor Tom closing remarks, stating the reality that, “we will never be in this same time, place, with same people, or mission again, every mission trip is different…. NCBM will be leaving in October, so it’s so sad that most likely this exact Haitian team that God brought together will not all be working together in this large of an operation anymore.”  The workers come from all around Haiti, from Port-au-prince, to Bon Repo, and Titanyen (to name the ones I know).  Yet they are an incredible team of Christian Haitian men and women, and I am excited to think about the future!
        I pray we will be able to continue our educations, and I can return to Haiti as a P.A., to work with Dr. Vlad, Dr. Merline, Dr. Francise, at their future clinics and schools, and work with some of the Haitian medical staff, my friends, as they work hard to become future nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and other great areas to serve.  Oh, to think of the perfect plan God has in store for those who love him and are called according to His purpose in Christ Jesus.  Once again I know my time here in Haiti is not done, I look forward to the next time, God willing I am able to return to Haiti, to continue to spread the gospel and share God’s love.  (In the meantime, I plan to continue to work on my Creole, so I can better communicate and understand the language :) ).  God willing, I am hoping to return in December (during school break). 

                                 

            ***I pray that these experiences will continue to weigh on my heart, and be fresh in my mind, to continue to motivate me through P.A. school, and I plan to continue to share my experiences, my passion for Haiti, and how other’s can be a part of God’s work in Haiti.  Not everyone is called to go, but we can serve wherever the Lord has us.  I do want to THANK the many people that shared God’s love with the handmade and donated clothing, medical supplies (and portable nebulizers), medications (tums, children's vitamins, tylenol, rehydration salts, etc.), prayers and support.  You touched countless Haitian’s lives, there were seven professed salvations, houses and churches were built, lives were saved from almost lifeless children, to the dehydrated, very ill, and ones about to stroke.  THANKS for the hundreds of dumdums that brought many smiles to children’s faces, calming their fears and hunger pains, and quieting their cries, taking their attention away from the heat, long waiting, and sicknesses.  THANKS for the shoes, sandals, and flip-flops that covered many precious feet, covering the blisters, the calluses, and dusty feet that work so hard, and walk so many miles every day.  THANKS for the children’s toys, crafts, and silly bands that brought smiles and joy to children’s hearts.  THANKS for the support for children’s schooling and uniforms.  THANKS for the life saving infant formula and powdered milk that was given out to the precious abandoned or orphaned babies.  These needs could not have been met without your help!! 

              ***There are still so many needs, and work to be done in Haiti, but you made a difference in many lives spiritually and physically, giving HOPE, a smile, and God’s love.  You showed the people they are not forgotten…….I think back to Sunday, at first Baptist Church Titanyen, where I partook of my first Haitian communion with gram cracker pieces and grape juice……..then at our last clinic in the Mountains as we broke our leftover PB&J sandwiches and fed as many hungry children as we could ( I felt like I was in the Bible story trying to feed the 5,000),......... and our last night, as we had communion with team 82 with a croissant and cup of Gatorade…..all these precious memories reminded that either at home in the U.S., or in Haiti we all can partake of Christ’s free gift of love and salvation for us.  As food sustains our lives, I pray that God will give them life eternal!!  Communion now has much more meaning to me; I will always see these memories flash in my mind of Christ’s body broken and blood he shed for us whether we are a precious child, man or woman in Haiti, in N.C. or across the world.  As a child of God we all have a common need for God in our daily lives, and this love brings us together. 

                               

7/15/11: Afternoon outings (Haitian Orphanage)

We arrived back at the house for a quick lunch and to get ready to leave for our free afternoon.

                 It was tough saying goodbye to the Haitian staff, not knowing if they would all be there when we returned from our little outing.  I asked to have all the Haitian staff gather together for a picture, (which Asher said was the first time he had seen all of them together, except we were missing Rodney, Dr. Vlad’s brother who had just left the previous week with his wife who were granted VISAs to live in Canada).   This was a special moment to capture, and I said my sad goodbyes….(yet are thankful for facebook to still keep in touch with most of them) J 

                We drove off in the vans, first going to CAM, a Mennonite compound just down the road, to purchase some Haitian handmade items. Then we drove past the compound and turned off onto a narrow dirt road leading up the mountain to a secluded orphanage.  It was quite a steep mountain, and very bumpy ride up the rocky path, past the small homes, we pass by a woman carrying a chicken by its feet, and some goats.  It was so cute to see two little boys run out of their shelter homes, jumping up and down, with smiles from ear to ear, and little hands waving to us as we drove by so excited to see us.  Many chickens, and goats were scattered about, and we passed more small shelters, and even one model home going up the mountain.  We finally made it to the top of the mountain where the yellow and blue painted orphanage was.  At first when we arrived we did not see any children, until we proceeded to talk to the director and slowly the children began to come out of their rooms and places around the small orphanage.  I looked into one of the living quarters where there were two or three bunked beds, but with no matrices, only a small mat over the box springs…no toys, bear walls, and only a few clothes and wash tubs hung in one corner of the room. 

                The children though were so happy to see us! We did crafts with them of foam crowns with stickers, and crosses to scratch designs in.  I remembered one boy that was so talented, quite an artist!  He drew a perfect picture of Jesus on the cross, such love and creativity shown through the handsome little boy (gason).  I pray that God will use him in a mighty way, and bless his life.  He was so sweet and just had a beautiful smile.  Oh, how I pray someone will adopt him one day, or give him a chance for schooling, and opportunities to pursue his passions and dreams.  I pray for all of the children, that they would have Hope, and find love and salvation in Christ, and grow in understanding of Him.  **One little girl was just beaming, so happy to see us and get some love and attention; she was jumping, skipping around.  She loved to have her picture taken and when she saw herself, she would squeal, and laugh and point at the picture screen, explaining in Creole, “THAT’S ME, THAT’S ME!!”  She also love to use our camera, as many of the children did, getting to capture glimpse of what they look like.  It was a precious time to spend with the children and be able to leave them some toys, and a suitcase of clothes and shoes, which they would distribute later to the 22 children. 

                                                                             

                We said our goodbyes and headed down the rocky road back to the main road, to ‘In’s house.  He opened the large red gate door as his house is surrounded by a cement block wall.  Rocks covered the yard which led to his cement block home, you could see the love, time, and craftsmanship put into his home.  The electricity in Titanyen had been cut off since either the earthquake or political riots in January?, yet the wiring still remains in the home with a light bulb in the ceiling with hopes that the new President will turn back on the electricity, as he had promised.  Each piece of furniture (a table and chairs, a TV stand, a cabinet) had been handmade by ‘In’ and his amazing metal work skills.   In the home were beautiful arches and details in the block work.  We met his sweet wife (a school teacher), who is pregnant with their first child.  ‘Inn’'s wife was so sweet hugging me and thanking me for the baby clothes I sent for her baby boy (they had had a dream that it will be a boy).  As well as I met ‘Inn’’s sister and brother-in-law who where in the living room studying chemistry on the chalk board mounted on the wall.  Even though it was quite hot in the house, they were so hospitable to let all 23 of us inside to see their home, such a special couple and experience.  We left their home and returned back to the compound.