The Latest Word

Someone reminded me that it has been days since I posted something, and I am sorry. The main reason I have been silent is that I have had little news. Now I have some.

My daughter, Patience-the-younger, is in PAP right now with a medical team doing all kinds of things to help the injured and frightened. I'm going to quote some things she's sent to her sister on facebook.

"We transferred a lady to the Uunv. of Miami field hosptial who just about died in our clinic. We think she might have typhoid. But we stabalized her with IV fluids and other "mess" and I think she is going to be okay.
"We have had a really long day but it was fairly productive. Tomorrow we are planning to set up our mobile clinic at a school nearby. We won't actually be inside the building because it is very tipsy. But we anticipate seeing ~500 patients. We really need for it not to rain tonight so we won't be working in the muck.
"You can google [the address where they are]: 25 Matthew Street, Port au Prince.
"In keeping with my ability to go with the flow, the one bag that didn't make it to Puerta from NY had all of my food in it. I had put some wonderful trail mix together. . .. )-:"

Of course, I am proud of her for taking her vacation time and trying to help these people I love so much! She is trying to arrange a trip to Petit Goave so she can give us some first-hand knowledge of the situation there.

I just got back from Miami, where I worked with the Florida/Haiti Covenant Committee to coordinate the work churches in Florida are doing during this time of disaster recovery. We found, to my dismay, that the shipment to Haiti that was supposed to go days ago is still in port. It cannot leave here until arrangements are made for it to dock in Haiti, and there is some hold up. Meanwhile our people are doing without food and tents . . . . I feel the frustration that I have heard so much about from other catastrophes in other places. Every nation should have disaster plans, and Haiti apprently had either no plan or a poor one. For food that is needed to sit because it cannot be received in a port seems so senseless.

We had a most productive day in Miami, and we hope that we have found avenues for communicating church to church about the work. Several Florida churches were represented at the meeting, and all of us are preparing for further work just as soon as it is safe to take teams there. I found a person who knows about cisterns and how to make them more efficient. I'll contact him immediately, hoping he will consider going with us to Carrenage. I also learned of another water-filter source, so we may be able to get some filtered water to our children at Carranage if we cannot get the well working correctly.

Plans for our team to return to Petit Goave are still uncertain; however, I think it is very possible that I will return to Haiti soon. One of my friends on the Covenant Committee is going, and I hope to travel with him. It is important to know before teams go what to expect and what teams can do once there. We must not take our mission teams into impossible or even dangerous situations. Flights are now restored to PAP but only on a limited basis.

One good thing. Join me in praising the Lord! Revival has broken out in Haiti. I have had several communications from friends who tell me that the churches are full, and people can be seen and heard all over PAP praising God for his mercy. Even in their grief, they realize that there is much to be thankful for. When I talked to Patience last night, she called the people "amazingly resilient." That's the word I often use to describe them. They are resilient! They have been knocked down so many times, but they get up, smile, take what little is left, and move on! I learn from them every time I go there. They challenge my faith and my character! I live in the most wonderful country in the world, but I am oh, so spoiled! I have so much and take much for granted. They have little, and praise God for the smallest thing!

I have recently been introduced to a missionary team in PAP, and I have news from them about what is happening. I will try to condense it and send you some beautiful stories tomorrow.

Meanwhile, thank you for your continued prayers for these great people. Pray the rains hold off until the tents arrive.