A Two Week Whirlwind

The response to our plea for funds for mules and tack was wonderful! We are so grateful for those who sent us funds to buy some mules, tack, and pay for nurses.

Mary and her Haitian helpers with the mules

While we were here in the states in mid June trying to raise the funds, we received a call from the magistrate of another region in the mountains asking us to come and start another cholera clinic in that region!

On June 20th a delegation from World Vision, WHO, and IOM visited our clinic in Pensek. Yvrose was there with Juani & Manolo delivering supplies and blessing the people. The delegation commended us for what we were doing and said they would try to help us with supplies and might even send some helpers for clean up, etc. We were very excited about this development.

Bill returned to Haiti on June 29th along with our daughter Mary. Victory Compassion picked them up and provided transportation. The next two days were spent in trips going to Port au Prince trying to get something done about the truck. While home, we had called the Haitian embassy in Washington, D.C. to see if they could help in any way. They gave us a contact number for someone in the government in PAP. Bill was able to meet with them and we believe they are going to try to help us get the truck back.

On Saturday, Victory Compassion once again helped with transportation and Bill went to the mule sale in the mountains. He bought two mules that day. He and Mary had been able to take six suitcases of tack and packs purchased here with them to Haiti so they were now set to begin taking supplies to the mountains.

We were sad to find that the help from World Vision was not going to materialize, but we have been very blessed to have some other organizations, particularly Infancia sin Fronteras, Grass Roots United, and IFM donate the supplies we need for the clinics. It would be impossible to do this if we had to buy the supplies and we are so grateful for their help.

Mary supervised getting a 20 x 40 foot UNICEF tent taken down, packed up so it could be transported up the mountain on mules and people, unpacked, and put back up. No small feat. Bill said she was invaluable this trip.

On Wednesday, they made the trip into the mountains to set up the tent at Robia.

Cholera tent in Robia going up

By the time it was up, there were quite a few people there. Our team started singing and praising the Lord. Manolo spoke to them with Yvrose translating about the love of God, sharing the gospel. Yvrose spoke next about being disciples and how to maintain their faith. She said we weren’t there to give them religion. We were there to give them Jesus.

Then Bill spoke with Yvrose translating. Here is his account:

I talked with the people afterwards about why we were there and who God is. I wanted to tell them something about the nature and the character of God. I told them we weren’t there because we didn’t have anything else to do. We were there because of the love that God has shown us and we are compelled because of that love to share his love with other people. This is a representation of the heart of God, of God’s sacrificial compassion for his people. God loves them. I told them He loved them enough to die on a cross and he calls us to love each other in the same fashion. I was trying to give them a picture of the Father. We had a Father who loves us and they needed to share that love with their neighbors.

About seven people made commitments. Times like these are what make our time in Haiti so worthwhile. We want to go back and try to see that the people have contact with other Christians and be a part of a church. (One of the reasons the school we support in that region was started five years ago by the Mennonites was because everyone was illiterate, including the local pastor at the local church! They wanted the children to be able to read the Bible!)

The next Saturday Bill needed to go to the mule sale again but Victory could not help. He was trying to find a ride and was having no success when someone suggested he ask the magistrate of Pays-Pourri (who was asking us to go there to set up another clinic) if Bill could use his vehicle to go. He agreed, brought it out to us, and Bill was able to go to the mule sale and buy three more mules.

The two weeks were full of meetings, gathering supplies, and getting the supply line set up. All this along with the usual demands on Bill’s time from individuals, the constant problems that are a part of daily living in Haiti, and the challenge of getting some sleep in the heat when the electricity goes off kept him exhausted. But the goal was met! The 2nd Cholera Treatment Center is up and running and a dependable supply line is established as long as we can get supplies.

Bill & Mary returned home on July 14th. Our efforts in Haiti have taken on new meaning with the cholera epidemic. A new update will follow shortly with details of our hopes, plans, and needs. Our thanks to all of you who pray and give and bless us! We are grateful.

By the way, Yvrose’s well is up and running! (Or maybe pumping is a better word.) More details on that and her situation in the next update. May God bless you all!