Haiti February 2012

“We are not called to save the world, not even one person; Jesus does that. We are called to love with abandon. We are called to enter into our neighbors sufferings and love them right there.” 

Katie Davis.

In February 2010, I was in Haiti my first time with a medical team providing post earthquake disaster relief. Two years later I returned and experienced a different side of Haiti. This time we headed north of Port au Prince to the village of Dessalines which is in the Arbonite Valley. Fields of rice, beans, onions, and cotton abound in this area earning its nickname “The Bread Basket of Haiti.” The wealth of lush green is contrasted with wide spread poverty. There is no rich part of town, No supermarkets, and no city sewer. Against innumerable odds this community’s love, perseverance, and joy are awe-inspiring. Being there made me realize that our time controlled and money hungry society has a lot to learn about faith, trust, and community. It felt like I stepped through the wardrobe in Narnia and now returned to find no time has passed at all. 10 days is much too short a time, and I barely scratched the surface of this amazing community.

         

Amazing Leaders Steve and Sheila Schieb

   Our team led by Steve and Sheila Schieb also consisted of Dave Soper and his Granddaughter Aubrie. Tuesday February 7^th we arrived at Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage (EGO) established and run by Don and Doris Peavey. Their faithful and loving service is an amazing testimony of sacrifice. Within the stonewalls of the orphanage lays a haven from the noise and chaos of the village. Around 56 children currently call this home. Throughout the week I was amazed at how many people we met that were raised at the orphanage, and have since grown up to be leaders within the community. This ministry not only gives housing to these kids but also teaches them a Godly lifestyle they can steward and sustain outside the orphanage.

Aubrie and Dave Soper

            

Wednesday I awoke several times throughout the night to the noise of a sleepless city. Mostly the night bandits were chickens that missed the memo to only crow when the sun comes up. Later when the sun did come up I could sit and hear Watson playing his guitar. Steve and Dave dove into their work projects and Sheila headed to the main house to assist and encourage Doras.  Aubrie and I toured the grounds and spent lunch break playing with the school children. They are always dressed in beautiful blue uniforms with pristine white ribbons in the girl’s hair. These kids start school as early as 2 years old! 

That evening Aubrie and Dave put up the basketball net, which started the tradition of nightly basketball games. Every evening we spent time out there utilizing every last bit of sunlight. 

        

       Thursday and Mondays I helped at the clinic, from 9am until everyone had been seen. The clinic is run by Talante, Rosemond, and Eli.  They all grew up at the orphanage. Talante and I would first see the patients and give a diagnosis then send them to the pharmacy where Eli and Rosemond would dispense medications. Eli just graduated as a lab technician from a school in Chili. Now he just needs a lab! 
        Most of the cases we saw consisted of diarrhea, chicken pox, or Scabies. We also saw burns, which are very common in women because all cooking is done over campfires.  I also treated a man with a burn on his leg from a motorcycle. Motorcycles and walking are the main source of transportation. Aubrie and I saw 5 people on one motorcycle. It was also common to see goats, pigs, and produce being carried by motorcycle.   

Friday began early with Steve and Dave sharing their dreams. The evening before Shiela and I had been discussing tropical medicine; and so Steve and Dave were dreaming about missing vitiamin B12 and Premethrin disasters! Shortly after this “mom” Doras came to grab Steve for help. The dogs had fought overnight and Flassie was going crazy.  The dogs play an important part in the security of the orphanage. They have lost many dogs because intruders throw poisoned meat over the stonewalls. That morning Flassie could barely move but after three days of nursing from Steve she was all better and ready to lead the pack again.

Shirley is in charge of the baby dorm and is an 
amazing woman. Aubrie and I assisted her in baking bread. I was awed as she dumped in unmeasured amounts of water, sugar, yeast, salt, milk, and flour. Once everything was mixed and given time to rise, Celie would come in to kneed the dough. Joslyn would then come and be in charge of baking the bread. Aubrie and I also baked oatmeal cookies for the kid's Bible study that night. Every Friday night Don and Doras invite the older children to their home for Bible study. They typically sang, read scripture, watched a film and then have a discussion. While cooking we memorized Isaiah 58:10-11 “and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, 
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land 
and will strengthen your frame. 
You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

      Saturday and Wednesday are the Market days. This is where everyone gets their food for the week. Many people come from the mountains to trade and buy produce. Aubrie, Shiela, and I headed to the market with Madame Cherishal to buy food for the next few days. We watched as she skillfully maneuvered the narrow crowded walkways to find vendors that she trusted. She would then begin the process of bartering for needed goods. The market is filled with variety. Lots of beans and rice. It also had many fruit varieties and in one section they had many fresh herbs to choose from. The meat section was a lot to take in. The animals were freshly slaughtered that morning, and every part was kept for sale. The head of the animal was always left with the meat to prove whether it was goat, pig, or beef. The market had no refrigeration so you can imagine how strong the smells became by the end of a hot afternoon.

Inside the orphanage we were known as “Aubriet” and “Beff” walking through the village we were singled out and called “Blanch.” I always felt very safe walking through the village. There was never a shortage of people saying bonjour and offering warm smiles.

Woodnaika and Berlange

  Sunday dawned beautiful. After getting cleaned up, we headed to church.  They do church a bit differently than we do as the service is typically three hours and every age is together in the sanctuary. 1 Corinthians 11:24 “and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” As they served communion I was overwhelmed with how vast the body of Christ is! We speak different languages and live in different places, but for the redeemed we all have one Father. Praise Him!  I am so thankful for Christ’s death and resurrection.  

            Traditionally Sunday is a rest day. So our team took a 6-mile walk up the beautiful lush valley. The fresh air was invigorating as we walked past large onion fields and intricate irrigation canals. Workers tirelessly prepared bag upon bag for market that are then picked up by the truckload. In the country, the houses are much sparser and many are made from sticks, mud, or palm leaves. Many with a roof made only from a tarp. Along side the road goats and cattle with massive horns are tied up to eat greenery from the ditches.

The next two days I spent the morning and early afternoon assisting and observing at the hospital. While we were waiting for the doctor to arrive, Aubrie and I met the Chaplain. After introductions, he invited us to visit patients with him. We spent the next hour encouraging and praying with patients.  
After that we assisted with prenatal check ups, and then were given a tour of the hospital grounds. They were well-equipped with a maternity center, an inpatient ward, Emergency rooms, and Operating rooms. This hospital had a much different feel to it than the atmosphere I’m used to at The Nebraska Medical Center.  Many of the nurses still wore the skirts with white leggings and caps. One big difference was they didn’t keep supplies in the patient care areas, because they tended to walk off. The doctors wrote out prescriptions and then family members would take them to the supply building and purchase them. While I followed Dr. Paul who ran the ER and General wards, I saw malaria, a necrotic ear, and traumas. 

That afternoon, Rueben, A former Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage graduate, was able to get the city to come and clean out the metal from the trash pit. One of their crew had gotten a deep burn from a motorcycle that I was able to treat. From trash to nursing, just goes to show one key thing to bring to Haiti is flexibility!

On Valentines Day we had the treat of a talent show at the church. The kids went all out, dressing up, and practicing their performances. They are very talented! A speaker got up and shared in English “For the white people here. We all speak different languages. We come from different homes, but we all have one Father in heaven. Whether we worship in English, French, Spanish, or Creole God hears it all and is glorified!” 

After the concert, a group of us walked the evening scraps out to the goats. Wisley teased me by pretending to throw a cockroach. No matter culture, location, or age boys are still boys wherever you go!

Throughout my stay, I was fascinated with the leaders of EGO who had grown up within the orphanage. Talante, Rosemond, and Eli who run the clinic. Pastor John who works at the church. Reuben, who maintains the books and is a general troubleshooter for the orphanage. The kids really look up to these guys. It is a testimony of how God is using this miraculous ministry to impact lives.

 Haiti water tips:

 #1 The water pump from the 100ft well runs off of solar power. So when the sun doesn’t shine make sure to conserve!

#2 How to manually flush toilet. It’s not about the volume of water so much as the speed in which you dump it. (This is from Dave our professional plumber.)