Tomorrow Haiti...again:)!!

Well it is here. My trip back that has been in the works since about April, and I leave tomorrow. I am so excited. It is really different going back this time. I feel like I have a better idea what to expect, but I am still a little anxious because you can never anticipate what is going to happen!!! God works in awesome ways, and he never ceases to absolutely amaze me!

The first team is on the ground. They arrived on Sat. Well most of them. Unfortunately, one of the team members had a little hang up in Florida with American Airlines (which I think many of us can relate too... or at least I can!). She had the best attitude when I spoke to her on Sat afternoon, and she arrived in Haiti safe and sound Sunday morning (only after like 30 hours of traveling...). I think God really put together two great teams, I am excited to see how it goes for each of them. I have been thinking about the team over there a lot...I hope they are doing good!

There was a time that I thought to myself, I am not sure we are going to be able to fill these positions, but after much prayer.... we did. We have 13 amazing people going, who are stepping out on faith to serve. That is HUGE! They felt the urge, and an opportunity opened up...Some of these people are choosing to serve the Lord over going on a vacation this summer. Have you thought about doing that? I promise you may be working hard, but you will come away with SO much more than a huge hotel bill and a sunburn! The experience will impact you for your life.

I did hear that the team is at Jack's Beach. It is a Samaritan's Purse compound close to the epicenter of the earthquake...I know we all heard about Port Au Prince when the quake happened, but that is not the epicenter. It was in Leogane. I have been trying to upload pictures that the Samaritan's Purse sent me- to let people see where we stay and serve over there. They are running the mobile clinics. How awesome, going into the tent cities, orphanages, schools, etc. to provide health care to the people of Haiti. I hope I get to do this- it would be so different than what I did last time! I guess we will see where they need me.

I am very interested to see if anything has changed since I was there 4 months ago. Wow, where has this year gone?! I am also interested to see how Marathon training goes in a third world country....I should be running like 16 or 17 miles this weekend. I am taking my running gear, but who knows how it is going to work- definitely one I am going to have to pray about! This should be a great two weeks!!!

Check this link out:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/

I should say about this post- Chad Missildine really helped make so many connections for this team. And the people who volunteered, really opened up their hearts to the Lord and are stepping out on faith.

Going back

Well, I was just reading up... I have not been on here in a while, well since my trip in March. Man, things have been crazy. So I am leading a trip back to Haiti in August. I have encountered some random interactions in the planning process. You really find out who is serious about serving and who is just toying with the idea in a situation like this! I have had a couple of people essentially committ to the trip, and now you can't hear a word from them. What the heck people!

I feel like there have been so many changes in my life since the last trip- God is really stirring in my heart. It's crazy!! I am so excited about the up coming trip, but nervous about leading people. I know God will give me the knowledge, strength, and ability to guide, but still....it's uncharted territory.

What's closer on the horizon is a visit from a close friend and my birthday...both are exciting. one seems to capture my attention and excitement a little more than the other! And all I have to say is if 31 is anything like 30, bring it on because 30 was amazing! Looking forward to a great year in my life- Can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for me!!!

Thank you Haiti....Now time for a hot shower and flushing toilets

(I wrote this last night when I was on the plane back to Dallas)
Today as I said goodbye to the medical team I worked with, it was all I could do not to cry in front of them. I am not really sure why I was a sad- was it the experience, the bond, the change in my heart, or God. This time away has given me the chance to experience the Lord in a whole different fashion. You know I have asked him to take control for so long and this experience showed me…Proved to me the greatness of allowing him to be in control. I went into this situation nervous about what I was gonna see, who I was going to work with , what medicines to use, and if I would measure up. I went by myself but not alone, I went with the greatest companion. Honestly, when I got there I felt completely calm, comfortable, safe, and surrounded by his love.
I can’t really explain the feeling I have now that I have left- I can’t describe the situation to others to give them a true recollection of my experience. Not just the sights or the people, but the feeling, the interactions, the prayers, the work that was done by something much greater than me. I feel like they have given me so much more than I could have ever given them.
Friendships were created that I think have the potential of sustaining distance.
Speaking of friendships- I am so grateful for all of you who shared you hearts and prayers for me when I was on this trip. It really makes you think, experiencing a trip like this. What is truly important? For me I realized the importance of support and showing your love for another person- something that has always been important but just more evident know more than ever. If you truly love someone, friend or lover, you support them, you care for them, you worry about them, you let them know that you love them and care for them. Relationships are important to the Haitians- it’s really all of what they have. I had so many wonderful friends old and new offer me a prayer and well wishes, but the one person I thought would be the most supportive, proved to be the person who would try diminish the importance of my trip to me- that is a really hard thing to accomplish. I guess the Lord has something better- much better!
On the other hand, I had a wonderful time relaxing in Miami. I had a very good friend come pick me up from the airport. We just hung out, relaxed, and shared the Haiti experience- he had been there about a month before me. It’s funny how you can spend time with someone, who you have not seen in a long while and pick up where you left off. The comfort. I think it will be something I remember for a very long time. A little Jack Johnson and sitting on the balcony overlooking the bay. Thank you!
It’s funny the last night at the compound they did a debriefing and told us things to expect when we return. I had my first to be expected moment….As we were driving in Miami- I was so uneasy. Someone would start to merge or what not, and I was trying to put on the passenger break. The driving in Haiti was AWFUL- there is really not any determined side of the road that people drive on- just where ever there is not bumps(yeah right, the roads are awful, esp. after the quake), people, or other cars!
I am very interested how the next couple of weeks will play out after returning.


Lord, I praise your name for protecting us, guiding us, directing us, and comforting us. You are great Lord. I pray for all of the individuals that we connected with this week, that the impact of you is a resounding voice in their head. I pray I be a witness of your love to others by expressing my experience in a way that will touch their hearts. I pray you will protect my heart as it feels slightly broken

I can't believe clinic is done

Today I have intermittently had times when I have had to choke back tears. I am not really sad, but just feel so touched by this whole experience.
Clinic today was good. It's funny the first night we got here Dr. Kara told us all about how clinic would flow and what to expect. She mentioned that Wed. and Friday's were usually short days because of food distribution and market....I am not sure if we were just doing a great job or what but Wed, Thur, and Fri we saw about 150 people each day. Not kidding. Today the whole staff was wiped out by 3:00pm.
There are so many stories to tell, and each of us on this team has moments that have brought us to tears. Whether is be a very sickly lady who was completely incoherent lady placing Travis's hand on her heart or Kat explaining to a woman who had miscarried about how it was not her fault. We have all had our experiences!
Yesterday, sitting in the orphanage surrounding by these children that all wanted to be seen- they did not really have anything wrong with them, they just wanted to be checked out by a Dr (or NP). First of all, I don't think this orphanage is what everyone would think of when they think orphanage. This one is located in a village outside of the city of Port Au Prince. It is kinda in the back of the village, there are lots of children and women and one man. The are outside a lot with the clay/cement houses with a wood fence and cactuses surrounding it (not what I picture at all in my head). The are very poor, some wearing clothes some not...you know, but the kids love to laugh and play. Anyways, This woman handed me this little baby. He was 22 weeks old, and probably born a little early. I asked her a few questions about the baby, and if she was breastfeeding- I could look at her at her a know the answer, but I wanted to know what she was feeding the baby. She told me cookies and milk - she would boil the cookies and put it with milk (not really sure what kind of milk but...). She was told not to breastfeed because she was ill ( I am pretty sure she had fulliment AIDS) and of course they could not afford formula. They are too far from the city to get the formula from the malnutrition place- the baby looked so weak. There is so little we could do for him.
HELPLESS
As the kids starting to disperse(the rest of the team were handing out beanie babies), I sat back and choked back tears. They need so much.... but they were so happy.
Today in clinic I saw one of my patient's back, who was pretty sick earlier in the weak. High fever, diarrhea, etc. The boy was doing wonderful and mom was so completely thankful for helping them. It is really nice to know that what I was doing truly was impacting them.
As we closed down clinic today we said goodbye to our translators- they are truly great guys. They are so helpful and fun. But there is this one, every morning he would meet us at the camp( the other ones would just be at the clinic), he was from the village with the orphange. His name was Sarafin. If I could only just explain how he truly touched my life- he had the best demeanor, no matter how frustrating of a day he was having(the pediatrician who came mid week is quite a piece of work- and Sarafin would work so hard for him). So thankful for EVERY single thing and I will be honest, I don't think he EVER asked for anything. Always wishing you a good day and never letting anyone steal his joy! He told me he loved serving the Lord, and he did it for the glory of God not for recognition or for someone else to see him. He did not care what the others thought of him. He is a little man and very skinny. He has a wife and a daughter, and yes there lives were touched by the earthquake- his house was completely damaged. He is living in a tent in his "front yard". He stores his stuff inside of his house, and he told me that he was going to have to completely rebuild his house. He cried when he walked away from us to walk home today- and I think we cried as he was walking away. He touched me!
Well tomorrow will be interesting- No clinic we are going to two orphanages and doing a little tour of Port Au Prince the area (the we did not see on our trip to the UN the other day).

Whew, What a day

When we walked into the clinic this morning there was the cutest little boy sitting there waiting for us to get there. Mind you the lights were all off and the doors cracked but essentially closed- it was dark and lonely. Anyways, we stood began to pray and he joined our circle. I looked over and he was bowing his head and holding hands with the people in our circle...I was one of those very cute moments- totally touched my heart.
My first patient today was a moment in time that I will never forget. The mother brought in her 22mos old child because he was not walking and not eating well. I looked at him and immediately knew this baby had CP. He was pretty text book, and mom had a pretty good story to go with it. But no one had ever told the mom this- they just said he had something wrong with his tongue, is why he could not eat right, and he had an eye problem. I had to explain to mom that the baby may never walk and may never talk and may never eat right. She (like any mother) looked devastated. I told her we could pray for her- then our translator/ and incredible van driver Baltazar, told me I got this. He began talking to her, and lead the woman to Christ. She got on her knees and Karis, Baltazar, and I prayed for her as she accepted Christ. Then Baltazar picked up the baby and Said this wonderful prayer over him. She began to cry.
I have so much more to share about the craziness of today but I must get to bed.

Clinic Day 1

Today was the introduction to the clinic. I have to admit I was a little nervous at first...For all of you medical people, so imagine going into a new hospital or position where you don't speak the language, don't really know the flow,and the medicines- you are limited on what kind and dosage that you have. It's a hard concept to grasp, when you come from a place that has essentially and everything at the tips of your fingers. But I will tell you God really does calm a heart and mind. As you start to work you get into groove and everything begins to click...sorta ( I kept having to go to our "pharmacy" and look at what I could possibly treat this or that with). We have these great Haitian translators - you know the earthquake has caused a lot of destruction but you look at individuals like these and know that they found a new job because they speak both english and creole. They are great!!

You know the Haitian people are generally joyful people starting with so little and having experienced so much tragedy- yes there is a undertone in many of the individuals that you speak with that there is hurt and pain. I makes me think what kind of mood would you be in if you lived under a tarp with no mattress, ate rice and beans (when you can get it), and most likely lost multiple family members or friends to a recent disaster. REALLY shows you in an overwhelming way how fortunate we are......and yet we still complain.

One thing that really made an impression on me is taking the time to allow them to ask questions. From what I have been told in this culture there is such a rank difference between a lay person and a Doctor, and women in general. Today multiple times the women would start out the visit not saying much with their head down. Just making eye contact with them, allowing them to have voice, and showing them that you were listening brought a smile to their face.
Today was good I feel like it was a chance to get my feet under me in the clinic- I pray tomorrow I can continue to learn but not focus so much on the clinical side of things. If you work in a health care setting you know that it is very easy to get wrapped up in your work and not focus on the different sides of care.

On a side note, I found out today about how they have food coupons. The government distributes them...but only to certain people, "You gotta know people". Ummm these are not box seats to sporting event that "you gotta know somebody" to get , this is food! Let me know if you think this sounds fair. I had a woman in clinic today with two small children, she told me that they had no food. Dad was the provider but he was killed in the quake and since then they have truly struggled(that's been about 2.5 months now). She said that she needed food coupons-

ok, stop- So we have had very strict security warnings about giving out anything (it can be brutal out there...hmm I wonder why), so the translator says this to me and then says he doesn't even know anyone to get coupons from. After talking to our medical director she said- she has no idea how to get these coupons and does not want to know. People kill for these things literally! All of Samaritan's Purse food distributions are kept COMPLETELY confidential to avoid a riot. And then after dinner we were told that food was stolen today off the truck during a food distribution and someone was shot and killed during another distribution.

I just pray that tomorrow goes well and I am able to really connect with people as I am providing them with the best care I can.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Arrival

This one is going to be short because I am tired and it has been long day with a lot of information.
Got here with only one flight delay (the notorious Miami airport...). Oh, and the fact that are plane bounced on the landing. No, not a touch and go, a BOUNCE. I think the lady next to me almost lost her cookies....
It's pretty crazy. The city is very busy and there literally are "tent" cities everywhere.
We are staying at a compound North of Port Au Prince. Samaritan's Purse is serious business- the compound is very secure. There are US military as well as a security on property.
We are serving at a clinic in City Sole(sp?). I guess it is the SLUM of Haiti, and definetely not the safest part of town! I am very interested to see how tomorrow goes, and to experience God in this manner.
One story from today- after we landed we were taxing down the run way, and I was talking with the woman next to me. Her name is Elisabeth. She is originally from Haiti, but lives in Boston. Her mom took her and her sister there when they were younger, and then her mom had since moved back to Haiti. As she was telling me her story, her eyes filled with tears. She said that this is her first time back since the earthquake, and that she had lost her mother in the quake. She was coming to see what was left and if she would be able to find the rest of her family. My heart broke for her.