Hope For Haiti 2010

The Whole Story- Haiti Mission Trip February 20, 2010

2010-04-20T09:24:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, February 20^th, a team of 6 members from Second Baptist Church left Conway to travel to the earthquake ravaged, Port Au Prince Haiti on a Medical Mission trip and again on March 20th a second team of 8 returned. Like most Americans we had seen the news of the earthquake and had watched almost daily during those first few weeks about the need for medical personnel. Most, if not all of the team, immediately felt a sense that this was where we needed to be.

There was very little time for the first team to prepare but the team of 1 pharmacist, 2 nurses, 1 radiology technician, 1 certified ophthalmic technician and 1 pastor began to make phone calls to those already on the ground and to another team from Rogers who were going to meet up with us when we arrived.

Plans were made to try to fly directly into Port Au Prince as some of the major airlines were to be making those direct flights by this time. As the days got closer we learned that we would have to be redirected to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and there we would travel by bus (and not a Greyhound!) across the Dominican Republic through Haiti to arrive at Port Au Prince. This would be about a 9 hour drive.

We knew that this was going to cut into our time on the ground in Port Au Prince doing what we all had felt called to do but nevertheless we were certain we would be able to get where we needed to be and that the Lord knew how and when we would arrive.

We knew when we arrived in Santo Domingo that we would be met by Jesus ( Hey-suz) a wonderful man who had arranged the bus travel and an overnight stay in a village close to the border. He quickly became a friend. At first we were disappointed that we would not be able to make it to Port Au Prince the first night but we quickly settled into the long trip with our drivers, Alce and Wilson, neither who spoke any English.

We were told by Jesus that these were trustworthy men and they would see us safely to our destination which the first night was a “Mission” church just about 2 hours drive to the border of Haiti. It was dark when we arrived at the mission church and we were warmly welcomed by the Pastor of the mission, Mikael. We pulled our bus into a gated area of the mission compound and began to unload a few things we would need when we heard the sound of someone calling “Americano, Americano” and to our amusement and delight there we 3 sets of little arms reaching towards us from underneath the garage door.

Upon closer inspection we saw three bright smiles from three beautiful little girls who wanted to see and touch the Americano’s. We stayed and held their hands and talked in our broken Spanish for some time before it was time to go into the mission for the night. It had been a long hard day of travel and we were tired but it was a good tired. The weather was hot and the travel was difficult but our spirits were high and we were on a mission and anxious to get to our final destination-Port Au Prince.

On day three, Monday morning, we boarded the bus again for the remainder of the trip and made our way through the Dominican Republic and arrived at the boarder at about 7:00 in the morning, when the boarder opened. There were already hundreds of people on both sides of the boarded waiting to cross. As we arrived at the gate, something I have never experienced before, there were armed guards waiting to check us through. Our interpreters, Alce and Wilson, simply related to the guards that we were an American Medical team headed to Port Au Prince and we were ushered through, no checking of bags or passports needed. Just the words American Medical seemed to be enough.

Once we arrived in Port Au Prince it was evident that this was a third world country. No TV reporting could have adequately prepared us for what we were about to experience. But, with wide-eyed wonder like a child we arrived at our home for the next few days a real home with a real kitchen and a real bathroom. Nothing short of a miracle in itself. Craig Miller of “Thirst No More Ministries” was our contact for this trip and through negotiations had found this house for rent and secured the home for relief teams from the states who would be staying there. We quickly unloaded everything and then with the leadership of our Pharmacist Dwight Davis we repacked supplies and boarded a van to drive about an hour to our first clinic.

There we were met by the rest of the team from Arkansas, another team of medical personnel. We quickly made new friends of the interpreters and these medical missionaries and got right to work. Dan West, Kristen Schwulzt and Teri Murphy began taking care of the patients while Dwight and I worked adding our supplies with the other teams and setting up a make-shift pharmacy and begin filling their prescriptions. Dane our staff liaison, helped get the patients into the clinic in an organized fashion. We were able to treat about 150 that morning. Most of them needed vitamins and some needed antibiotics to treat a wide range of common illnesses.

During the first few minutes there we experienced a mad rush of people fleeing the area. To our surprise they were running away from the area because just outside the clinic there was a radio tower that have shifted during the earthquake and every time it moved they were afraid it was going to come crashing down, however we had no idea what the commotion was about and praise the Lord it was just a little scare nothing serious.

The evening was spent counting pills and packaging them and arranging the Pharmacy in our house to make the next few days more productive and run more smoothly, knowing that the needs were great it was important to see and treat as many as possible. Tired we tried to sleep. Not so hard when you are exhausted but during the night, about 1:30 a.m. some of us were jolted from our sleep by a tremor, 4.7 to be exact, 10 minutes later another one. The next day it was hard to imagine that anyone slept through that but they did, in fact most of the teams never felt a thing!

Our second day of clinic proved to be the most difficult and the most rewarding. We traveled to a tent city down by the river, a two hour trip. All of the residents of this tent city were displaced by the earthquake and migrated to the river where they were living in deplorable conditions of filth and poverty. What amazed me were the children. Children are the same all over the world. Carefree, happy, smiling, precious. You could not help but fall in love with them. They lined up in the searing heat of the Haitian sun to have an opportunity to see the doctor or the nurse. The needs were the same with a few exceptions but that day we saw over 200 by days end.

But today would not only be a day of medical ministry there was also an opportunity for 5 members from the two teams to drive deep into the heart of the inner city of Port Au Prince to one of the largest tent cities, where an estimated 45, 000 people now called home. We were there at the invitation of a local missionary, Joel Trimble, who has lived in Haiti for 35 years. He was going to be showing an evangelistic film that evening and we were going along to help him set up and to meet some of the local people.

Unbelievable! That is the word and it really cannot describe the scene. We were immediately surrounded by dark skined hands and arms, people pressing close to see and talk to the Americans. They all knew who Joel was. He has a TV program that is the most watched television show both secular and religious in all of Haiti. I think they wanted to see him, not us but what an experience. Looking out as far as you could see were makeshift shelters. Made from anything they could find. They were lined up in orderly fashion in what was once a park but was now a “tent” city. They had a city counsel selected and their “major” (for lack of a better description) was introduced to our team. He took three team members into the city and one of our interpreters and two other team members went into the city as well. We started walking down walkways that now served as roads to the city and began to encounter the local people. The children were eager to come in close and to talk or touch the American’s. The adults were more skeptical and had to be coaxed out to talk to us. There we had the opportunity to love on them and invite them to come to the entrance of the city at dark to see a film. We played kick-ball, flew a kite, held their hands and walked the street talking and praying with them.

As we made our way back to the entrance of the park I would hear someone singing, I stopped and looked into one of the small shelters, 4 x 4 feet and there stood a man with a little pulpit singing. I couldn’t see how many were in there but he was actually leading them in singing. I asked my interpreter, “are they having church?” “Yes”, he told me. Tears welled up in my eyes seeing how they found hope in Christ. They found a reason to sing in the midst of unimaginable circumstances. This is why we are here. Not for them but for us.

As night fell the music began to blare loudly and Joel took the microphone inviting them in Creole to gather around for the film. At first there were a few hundred, but as the night went on thousands gathered. Joel took the team into the middle of the crowd and interpreted the message of the film. Once the film was over it was difficult to maneuver through the crowd but we managed to get back to the front of the park where Joel took center stage and began to share the gospel. We did not understand a word he said but what we did understand was result of his testimony which led to the salvation of hundreds of Haiti men, women and children. All praying to receive Christ, arms lifted high and praying as if with one voice. It was incredible!

On our final day there, (sad to have to leave so early but with our travel back to the Dominican Republic it was necessary that we leave early) we spent one final day with the Haitians at an orphanage where we treated about 90 children and a few adults. It was a bitter sweet day as we said our good-byes to the 8 men who had been with us interpreting for those 3 days. As usual the children were eager to meet and talk to us. That night we packed our bags but before we put everything away we prepared gifts for our interpreters. We had carried our own food so we pooled all of the things we had left and made bags for each of the interpreters. We left our scrubs and anything we thought they could use. Our bags were much lighter but our hearts were heavy. We had come to love these people, we could not imagine their pain. It is hard to put into words. They seemed to move through their days in some sense of normalcy. Whatever that it. To us it would seem desperate and because we are spoiled by the conveniences that we have we would not be as resilient as they seemed to be. What little pleasures they had in life were gone the day the earthquake came but life goes on. People were buying and selling in the market place. It streets were crowded with cars and people. There were tent cities popping up everywhere. They were afraid to go back into their homes so they slept wherever that thought they would be safe. Parking lots were roped off at night and blankets were spread on the ground and they slept. Life looks different but it still goes on.

We were met the next morning by a taxi ( an old beat up van with torn seats and no air-conditioning) and I had the privilege of riding in the jump seat next to the driver. He and I became friends. We talked about teaching Creole to me and English to him. Then he asked me, “were you afraid to come to Haiti” I thought for just a split second how to respond. “No!” He nodded his head. Then I said “do you want to know why”. “Yes” he nodded again and I told him “because Jesus wanted me to come and I knew I had no reason to be afraid.” He pointed his finger to the sky and said “Jesus is my friend”. We had a common bond and that bond was Jesus Christ. This is why we came. This was why it was hard to leave. But, it was time to go and go we did. We answered the call to go but none of us will ever be the same for having been in one of the worst countries in the world. We came home wondering when can we return!

Pam Sims

Nursing student Wesley Bowlin and "Thirst No More" Founder Craig Miller

2010-03-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

Dr. Craig Cummins and his two sons Jake and Josh taking a break from the near 100 degree heat

2010-03-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

This sign says it all. Thank you Second Baptist for sending both teams to help rebuild Haiti

2010-03-24T18:50:00.001-07:00

UCA student Joseph Biard was a big hit with the kids

2010-03-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

300,000 dead, 500,000 homeless...pictures don't do justice, but here is a small taste of what Port au Prince looks like right now

2010-03-24T18:38:00.001-07:00

Day 2 in a tent city near the Port au Prince airport

2010-03-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Day one

2010-03-22T05:03:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the plane, we drove into a tent city of 450 families (3000 people) and saw 80 patients in 2 1/2 hours. Drs. Bowlin and Cummins did an amazing job, but their sons stole the show and the hearts of the children. Wesley, Jake and Josh ran the pharmacy while UCA students Joe and Brandon helped to organize the intake process.

2010-03-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Team Number two leaves for Haiti today!

Mark Dance, Randal Bowlin, Wesley Bowlin, Craig Cummins, Jake Cummins and Josh Cummins

Finally Home

2010-02-27T15:56:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be good to leave you with one final post from this team. First of all thank you for your prayers and for following this blog over the past week. We have truly been blessed by God. He put an amazing team together and we worked in complete harmony with one another.

One final thought about the event of this past week I wanted to share. Our last day in Haiti was bitter sweet. We all felt we needed more time. More time to effect change. More time to bring hope. More time to shower the love of God on the people of Haiti. We took some time to speak about how the week changed us. We came away with a great sense that while we feel like we could have done more. God called us to go and we went. God prepared the way. He lead us into places we would have never chosen to go on our own. From the moment we left Conway until the moment we returned He was in control.

While we may have chosen a different direction He knew when and how we were going to arrive in Haiti. Had we flown into Port Au Prince directly we would not have met Jesus our laison in Santo Domingo. We would not have stayed with Pastor Mickael and had an opportunity to touch 3 little girls who just wanted to see and touch the Americano's. We would not have met Alcee or Wilson, our drivers who drove us both too and from Haiti to Santo Domingo. Never complaining about the 14 hours it took to get us back.

We would have not have had the opportunity to meet Andres the German reporter who came and sat down with us after lunch one afternoon as asked us if he could interveiw our team. He was interested in why we were there and Gary was able to share the gospel with him. We would not have had the opportunity to ride through the streets of Port Au Prince in a taxi with a driver who wanted to know if we were afraid to come to Haiti and I told him no and then asked him if he wanted to know why and when I told him it was Jesus he point up to the sky and then to his heart and said "Jesus, number one". We could not have known the ones whose paths we would cross but we can look back and see that God knew all along where we were going to go and who we were going to meet and for that we are all truly blessed. It has been a pleasure to serve God in this time of need in Haiti. There is much work yet to be done. So much work, but we will forever hold these people in our hearts.

For His glory,

Pam, Dane, Teri, Kristen, Dwight and Dan

Heading Home

2010-02-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

Today is our last day of the trip. We cannot begin to explain all that we have been apart of since we left here just one week ago. The trip from Haiti yesterday was very sorrowful as we left behind a country torn apart by a devasting earthquake but their spirit of reselence is evident as you drive through the streets of Port Au Prince and see life moving forward despite all that they have lost.

It will take a long time for them to rebuild but they have already begun the process. What God did this week in Haiti was more for us than for them. To spend a week with people of a different nationality and culture from ours and to grow to love them with a deep and ever abiding love is truly a God thing. It is proof that God is not a respector of person, color or nationality. We found a common bond and that bond was and is Christ Jesus.

The trip from Haiti yesterday was long and hard. We had hoped that we would be able to spend at least part of the day in clinic but that was not to be and it was once again in the hands of God and it was a good thing it was for what was supposed to be a 7-8 hour drive turned into 14 hours. We left the house at a little after 10:00 and arrived at our hotel at 12:30 a.m. It was a wonderful nights sleep as the exhaustion from the trip set in. I wish I could explain to you what that was like but I dont have the words nor the space for that. (LOL!)

We had a good nights rest, some breakfast and now we are waiting for the bus to pick us up at take us to the airport for the trip to America.

We left a part of our hearts with the people of Haiti. I wish you could meet Melione, John Phillip, Webber, Garry, Gellin, Jack, Enoch, and Patrick who took care of us while we were there helping us to intrepret and drive us to and from our destinations everyday. We will never forget them and I speak for all the team when I say that we would all go back. Even though it was hot and it was dirty the people there were gracious and loving. All they wanted was for us to show them love and compassion. Especially, the children. I can see now why it would be so easy to want to whisk them away to a safe place. They are beautiful people and we will miss them terribly. But, we will see them again one day.

Presidential Palace

2010-02-24T19:36:00.000-08:00

Our last day in Port Au Prince

2010-02-24T16:47:00.001-08:00

Today was our last day in Port Au Prince. We began the day as usual, preparing for clinic and loading on the bus and taking a two hour bus ride to an orphanage just outside the city central. On the way we were able to pass through the downtown part of Port Au Prince that was the hardest hit. The people lined the streets and were going through their day in the only normalcy that they know. Buying and selling whatever they could. As we passed through the town we saw the President's palace and saw first hand what you have all seen on TV. It was massive destruction and I cannot begin to explain adequately in words.

After a two hour drive we arrived at the Baptist church that was also home to about 75 orphans. They were expecting us and lined up to see the doctor. There were many children who came through without an adult and it was hard to imagine that these children were going to have to face life without the benefit of a loving parent. I can see why you would want to take one of them home with you. They are beautiful children whose smiles could melt even the hardest of hearts.

We have had wonderful interpreters all week and the hardest part of this week is leaving them behind, but they are loving and kind and the next team will be loved by them just as much as groups that have gone before us.

It was an emotional day for us as we said good-bye to them and had them pose for one final picture. There is so much sorrow yet they have found a way to smile. All of them have suffered great loss. Family, friends, possessions all gone. It is the love of Christ that gets them through their days.

We have grown to love them all so very much. Hard to imagine loving these people in just 3 shorts days but God has knit our hearts together through His Son.

Tomorrow we have a long drive to Santo Domingo where we will stay the night.

Our ride from Santo Domingo to Port au Prince

2010-02-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

Some Haitians are sleeping in the street - literally

2010-02-24T11:22:00.001-08:00

The Team

2010-02-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

2010-02-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hey - we can finally update you!

2010-02-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

I could probably write for days and never be able to describe how God is moving! Through the pain and agony of this disaster, His Name has been and will continue to be lifted high! In an attempt to get you to read this blog, I will not write for days and just give you some highlights (your welcome -lol).

Monday - February 22

Just crossing the Haitian border was quite eye opening. Met by armed guards at a gate, our team was allowed into the country with no resistance. We, of course, seemed to be going against the flow, as hundreds of Haitians were heading to the border. Many were likely heading to try to get into the Dominican Republic, while others were in search of aid in the form of food and water. As we entered Port au Prince, we began to be astonished by the extreme poverty and then we began to see the devastation caused by the earthquake that only compounded already impoverished conditions.

Our clinic was held at a local seminary. The team from First Baptist Rogers had started when we arrived. We saw 97 patients! Most cases were infections, worms, or other stomach problems.

Our hosts fed us a meal of spaghetti, we had a meeting to brief the next day, and went to bed. Gotta love those cots!

Tuesday - February 23

The River Bottom
We traveled to one of the worst situations with which our ministry partners are involved. We were taken by van to a neighborhood setting and were then escorted in two groups by 4 wheel drive into a river bottom. As we made the three mile trek down the river, we saw some people washing clothes and others bathing. The further we went down stream, the population became more dense. This stream was, of course, not the "cool mountain streams" they used to show on the beer commercials. The conditions were most unsanitary. Our clinic was well received. We saw 227 patients! Although not patients, there was a herd of pigs nearby as well. The common illnesses included infections, stomach aches, wheezing, and head aches. The more serious cases included a man who will need to be transported for surgery on an ankle, a little boy with a pretty severely infected leg, and an elderly lady with a severe infection. The people were so thankful and beautiful. The smiles of these children will melt a heart. We hope and believe those smiles are a reflection of hearts that have received love in the name of Jesus (not the Dominican contact, the Savior - lol).

The Tent City
Pam, Terri and I went with a nationally known American missionary named Joel to one of the largest tent cities in Port au Prince. Estimates of the number residents in this city range from 10,000 to 40,000. As we arrived, we were greeted by children and eventually by a couple of the aldermen (our equivalent anyway) of the city. They gave us tours of the city showing us streets and quadrants as well as discussing their political structure. As we took the tour, at least a hundred Haitian children went along. Some wanted to hold our hands while others simply wanted to see Americans. Some wanted to see or touch Terri's blonde hair and others wanted to pull my arm hair (I guess both a rarity in Haiti). The whole tour was a very moving experience. When darkness fell, Joel showed a film he helped produce. It was a modern day version of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. There were about 5,000 in attendance and we estimate hundreds of professions during the invitation given at the end.Thank you all so much for your prayers! We truly are blessed to be able to represent Second Baptist, and, more importantly, our Savior in this place!

Dane

Arrived Safely

2010-02-21T17:37:00.000-08:00

We began our morning with a flight from New York City to Santo Domingo and all along the way God was showing Himself faithful. Proir to our flight we wanted to check our 12 bags of medications at the airport so that we did not have to take them to the hotel but they were reluctant to let us and after Dane gave the ladies at the ticket counter his story and flashed his baby blues we were able to check our bags and get our boarding passes for the flight this morning. We had several divine appointments at the airport this morning when we meet several people who saw Teri and I wearing Help Haiti T-shirts and thanked us for going to help. The driver of our van, a young man who was in the Navy and had just returned from serving in Haiti 45 days and the flight attendant on the plane just to name a few.

Once we arrived in Santo Domingo we were met by Jesus ( a domincan believer) who was had made arrangements for us to travel to Port Au Prince and arrange for us a place to stay in the Dominican tonight as we were not able to make the trip across the border before it closed for the night.

Another divine appointment as we arrived at the Baptist church here and Teri and I were greeted by 3 precious little girls wanted to touch the Americanos. We talked to them in as much Spanish as we could remember and the won our hearts as the peered under the garage door where we had parked our van.We met several other guests here who have been serving in the area here and in Haiti, missionaries like us, who came because God called them. We are getting ready to eat pizza and listen to more stories about the work in Haiti. Get some rest and then head out early in the morning for Port Au Prince.

We have not had access to internet but here on the other side of the world God has once again provide. We have laughed at some of the things we have been involved in realize in so many ways that Jesus is in the boat and we have nothing to fear. Thank you for your prayers and we will hopefully be able to post more tomorrow and maybe even some pictures. It is raining right now and we are thankful for the cool breeze as we sit outside and enjoy the evening. Tomorrow the real reason we came will begin. Up at 5:00 to get to the border by 7:00 and start working at the clinic hopefully by 9:00.

Pam

Getting Ready

2010-02-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

Today was a very stressful day as we finalized plans for the trip. Got a call at 4:00 from Delta, the call we were praying wouldn't come. Flight will be cancelled! So frantically we worked to reroute the trip. Not getting to fly into Port Au Prince. Don't really know why but nevertheless it was not going to happen. But, God is good and He IS in control. What satan uses for our demise God will use for our good. We are going by way of Santo Domingo. Okay, not what we had hoped but we are still going to get there and we will still have several days to work with the Haitian's ministering to them which is what God has called us to do.

Our needs are such: Prayer for our safety as we will have a long road trip from Santo Domingo to Port Au Prince. Prayer for time to adequately prepare for the first day of seeing patients. We are prepared to do what we have to but with the loss of travel time we will have to rearrange our plans. Fluid is the name of the game when you are working with disaters relieft. So we are learning. Pray for transportation needs to be met and that we will have someone waiting on us when we arrive.

We are trusting God with the details and know that His will will be done and satan cannot thwart His plans!
Thank you for continued prayers!

2 Days and Counting

2010-02-18T06:16:00.000-08:00

Well we had a little scare last night. I got a call that the flight was cancelled, but when I called them they said they didnt know why I was called that our flight was on schedule to land in Port Au Prince. No problem though they will accommodate us either way. But God is so good! Ours will be the first domestic flight to arrive in Port Au Prince since the earthquake. We are trusting Him with the details. Thank you for your prayers.

For I am confident in this very thing, that He who began a good work ( Haiti Medical Missions) will perfect it (get us there just at the right time in the right way) until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6

2010-02-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

Just of few of the supplies we were packing for the trip to Haiti. Dwight got everything organized and we just started packing bags. It was amazing how much we were able to get into the suitcases and we have room to spare. We will pack more on Friday night.

3 days and counting

2010-02-16T07:45:00.000-08:00

Good Morning:

Last night the team met with Angie Elrod, who just returned from Haiti, and her insight was invaluable to us as we began the packing preparations for the trip on Saturday. We learned that we will have a house to stay in while we are there, complete with running water! Praise the Lord. We are in contact with Craig Miller who is leading the team in while we are in Haiti. He has secured a home for us to have while we are there. Amazing things are happening and Angie was very excited about what she was able to do while she was there.

Tonight we begin the packing process. We are taking many medical supplies and humanitarian needs for those in Haiti. It has been an arduous task and Dwight Davis and Brad Tilley have done an amazing job getting the medical supplies we need on short notice. Way to go!!! God is good and we are all very excited about what He is beginning to do in the hearts of all who are going.

With each day that draws us closer we realize just how God has put this team together. Thank you for your prayers!

Eight Days and Counting

2010-02-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

In just a few short days the first Medical Missions Team will leave Conway headed for Port Au Prince. We hope that we will be able to post updates daily to this blog so that you will see through our eyes what God has lead us to Haiti for. In preparation for this trip we ask the you remember each of the team members in your prayers. Keep watching and praying.