GO2HAITI MEDICAL TEAM
MINISTERS IN HAITI
Haiti is a land of desperate needs and lost hope for much of the population. There is no dependable supply of electricity or running water, sanitation is a major problem, educational opportunities are very poor or non-existent for many and health-care is readily available for very few. Government services are very few and far from available to most people. Hunger is a major problem with most people eating one or two meals a day and malnutrition is a problem that haunts the children and brings an early death to many. Orphanages abound in the land as many compassionate people and organizations attempt to bring some measure of hope and help to homeless children.
In the midst of all the desperation and despair many Americans give of their time, money, talents and energy to minister to the Haitian people and alleviate some of the ministry. Such a group of people went to Cap Haitien, Haiti September 17-24, 2011. Under the auspices of Grace Brethren International Missions and in cooperation with Caribbean Vision Ministries a medical team comprised of people from Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida ministered to the sick and needy of Haiti.
The team came hauling twenty two (I think) suitcases & trunks of personal belongings, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and a multitude of other things. After settling in on Saturday evening the team went to House of Hope Orphanage on Sunday morning for a worship service with the kids & staff at the orphanage. After a visit with the kids the team returned to home base and began to sort out supplies and set up offices for a medical clinic that would start the next morning at 8:00am.
As the sun began to come up the people began to gather in line for the clinic several hours before it began. This happened for four consecutive days. Some people waited a whole day only to have to come back and get in line the next day. It makes one think when Americans complain about waiting fifteen minutes for a doctor's appointment.
Once the clinic began it was non-stop work for everyone until 4:00pm or later each day. Each day there were well over one hundred patients seen by our two doctors, Dr. Elvinor (a Haitian) and "Dr". Taylor (GBIM)." And on Thursday they were joined by Dr. Rose, another Haitian doctor. And that day they saw one hundred thirty four patients. They were pushed to the limit, as were the nurses and other medical personnel. The number of people waiting in line to have their prescriptions filled often overwhelmed the pharmacy staff. Each patient was counseled and ministered to by our prayer team of American men and women and our Haitian Pastors and translators before their prescriptions were filled. Several people came to Christ that week including the father of one of our Haitian translators. Praise the Lord!
The medical team ministered medically and spiritually to infants, children, teens and all ages of adults. Many of these patients had never seen a doctor before. Some of the patients had very little or nothing wrong with them. A lot of the patients, especially the children, had health problems that were very common to most of them. And many of the women had problems that came from a lack of hygienic care. But there were some children and adults that had some very serious health problems and if the team had not been there to minister to their needs that week the resultant lack of care could have been disastrous for them.
On Friday the team went to House of Hope Orphanage to examine the kids and any staff members who had a need. On the whole the kids at House of Hope were much healthier than the kids seen during the rest of the week. This is undoubtedly because of the care they receive on a daily basis. But one teenage boy was diagnosed with a hernia and needs surgery. The House of Hope staff is waiting on an appointment with the surgeon who will be at the local hospital sometime in the future. Things don't move quickly in Haiti. Please pray for Ricardo in this matter. He is a great young man.
I am sure each of the team members could tell you story after story of the events of that week relating to their personal experiences and interactions with the Haitian people. And I am sure they could tell you how God changed them because they ministered in Haiti. You can't spend a week in Haiti and not be changed and I trust that change is for the better.
The GBIM medical team was highly qualified and very professional. They, along with the Haitian workers, made a big difference in the lives of many Haitian people. Did they change the entire country of Haiti? Did they solve all of Haiti's needs? The answer is a self-evident "no." But they made a difference where they were. People had their medical needs met and some at a very crucial time in their lives. Some received Christ as their Savior. People were given hope that they were not forgotten by the rest of the world. Friendships were made that I trust will last for a lifetime. Steps of progress were made in establishing a more ongoing ministry of medical help in the Cap Haitian area of Haiti. And the team was faithful to the stewardship that God gave them to minister to people God brought to them to receive help. Well done good and faithful servants of God. We salute you.
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