Today our whole team worked hard and worked well together to make great progress on the home for Vaddy and mariechimi. While Richard, Emily, Gregg, and Carol worked with several Haitians to fit and secure baskets in place for the rubble, Caleb, Eunice, and Tim(the pastor from Oregon who is working with us) breaking rubble up and carrying the broken pieces to the work site from the street via wheelbarrow. It was amazing to see how hard the neighborhood kids worked along side us all day. We couldn't have done it without them.
After lunch we formed a bucket brigade to transport the rubble from the pile to the top of 9 foot baskets. All the team members contributed to the cause. Eunice--breaking up rubble, shoveling rubble, and posting of facebook all at the same time; Emily--working hard everywhere while entertaining her throng of kids(we hear cheerful shouts of "EmilEEE"!); Richard--is the heart of the team using his construction skills and quite endurance; Gregg--used his spiritual gift to lift about one thousand buckets of rubble up to the top of the basket; Caleb--bravely scaled the heights to balance himself on the top of the basket to pour in the rubble; Carol--organized her "bucket boys" (the neighborhood kids) to toss the emptied buckets back to the begining to be filled with rubble again-all the while doing quality control, first aid, and security for us all. (No she doesn't have her gun :b )
By the end of the day we were very satisfied to have filled three walls with rubble. We also left the site with aching muscles and about a ton of rubble dust caked on our bodies. (Half of which was on Gregg)
Since we arrived there has been a turkey on the guest house grounds... Today, it was our lunch. At first Emily had bonded with the turkey but after the turkey kept her awake all night she was don bonding. Boy was it tasty. We ended the day with fresh, savory goat (Emily was ok with that one too). Then Tiga, our Haitian foreman, took us out for his special recipe smoothies. All in all its been a great day and we are all falling in love with the Haitian people and feeling blessed to be here this week.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday in Haiti
We have been in Haiti over 48 hours and we already feel very much at home. We arrived Friday morning in the Port-au-Prince airport at the same time as former President Aristide. People filled the streets celebrating his return.
We were driven to Grand Goave in the back of a box truck. Words cannot express the endless signs of poverty and devastation from the earthquake. We arrived at the guest house which is very clean and comfortable with grounds with lots of shade and a cooling breeze.
We went to the sight to meet the family we were building the house for. Vaddy and his wife Mariechimi and their two small children Diayishka & Valandy. They have been living in a small brick house who's walls were so damaged by the earthquake that Vaddy said that he feared the house would cave-in at night and his family would be killed. So they were sleeping in a makeshift tent next to the house.
During our fist three days we tore down the tent, moved a lot of rocks and dirt,and built a foundation and forms to hold the baskets in place to hold the rubble.
This morning we worshiped at the Temple Shilo Baptist Church. As we sang hymns in Creolle and one tune sounded very familiar. When we realized we were singing "Because he lives" it was a moment in worship I'll never forget. Singing the words: because He lives I can face tomorrow... Because he lives all fear is gone... Because I know who holds the future... Life is worth the living just because He lives.
Singing this song with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have so little and have been through so much gave new depth and meaning to the song. Gotta go now, Caleb is tired of typing. We will check in tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers.
We were driven to Grand Goave in the back of a box truck. Words cannot express the endless signs of poverty and devastation from the earthquake. We arrived at the guest house which is very clean and comfortable with grounds with lots of shade and a cooling breeze.
We went to the sight to meet the family we were building the house for. Vaddy and his wife Mariechimi and their two small children Diayishka & Valandy. They have been living in a small brick house who's walls were so damaged by the earthquake that Vaddy said that he feared the house would cave-in at night and his family would be killed. So they were sleeping in a makeshift tent next to the house.
During our fist three days we tore down the tent, moved a lot of rocks and dirt,and built a foundation and forms to hold the baskets in place to hold the rubble.
This morning we worshiped at the Temple Shilo Baptist Church. As we sang hymns in Creolle and one tune sounded very familiar. When we realized we were singing "Because he lives" it was a moment in worship I'll never forget. Singing the words: because He lives I can face tomorrow... Because he lives all fear is gone... Because I know who holds the future... Life is worth the living just because He lives.
Singing this song with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have so little and have been through so much gave new depth and meaning to the song. Gotta go now, Caleb is tired of typing. We will check in tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Haiti Team In Miami
It is Friday morning and we are on our way from Miami to port-au-prince. When we arrive we will load up into the back of a truck and drive 3 hours to Grand Goave
Please pray today for each team member to be able to adapt to the extreme heat and humidity and for us to get settled and have a good night of sleep to be prepared to start work saturday morning.
Pray also for our connections with the Conscience International team and with Tim and Josh who will be filming durring the week. Pray for Jeremy the Conscience International leader who's wife is very sick in the US.
Pray for us Saturday that we get a great start in the building project.
Pray for us Sunday as we worship with the church and as the whole nation has its presidential election.
Thanks for your prayers.
Please pray today for each team member to be able to adapt to the extreme heat and humidity and for us to get settled and have a good night of sleep to be prepared to start work saturday morning.
Pray also for our connections with the Conscience International team and with Tim and Josh who will be filming durring the week. Pray for Jeremy the Conscience International leader who's wife is very sick in the US.
Pray for us Saturday that we get a great start in the building project.
Pray for us Sunday as we worship with the church and as the whole nation has its presidential election.
Thanks for your prayers.
Haiti Mission Team Departs
Thank you for your prayer and support!
Our PFB Singles Haiti Mission team leaves today, March 17!. Left is a photo of our team of six from Pomona First Baptist. (Left to right—Gregg Svalstad, Carol Allen, Emily Hall, Richard Miller, Eunice Figueras, and Caleb Svalstad).
We will fly from LAX to Miami departing at 10:20pm tonight. Fly from Miami to Port Au Prince at 7:45am tomorrow arriving in Port Au Prince at 8:45am. We will then travel about 40 miles west (about 3 hours by truck) along the coast to Grand Goave where we will be staying and working.
The purpose of the trip is to work alongside and encourage three missions groups that are joining together to do a tremendous work to help the people of Haiti in this region—Conscience International, ABC International Missions, Cooperative Baptists of Haiti.
-We will be building a “rubble house” for a family left homeless by the earthquake. A rubble house is a seismically safe, environmentally friendly home built using the rubble from the earthquake. Go to Conscience International’s website http://haitireplacementhomes.org to learn more about what we will be doing.
-There will also be a Pastor from Oregon who is bringing a professional photographer and videographer to document the whole process of the build to help promote other groups to come and join in this ministry.
-We will be worshiping with and working with the Pastor and church in Grand Goave
-We will be doing ministry with approximately 200 children at a school in the city.
-We are also taking hygene kits and baby kits to give to the people of the region and looking for any opportunities to share the love of Jesus in tangible ways with the people we come in contact with.
We will try to get out prayer updates while we are in Haiti. Here is how you can pray for us as we head out:
Physical Health and strength—Three of our team members are still recovering from being sick with colds this week. Carol has been dealing with a pinched nerve in her neck for weeks. Eunice injured her foot while training for a 5K this past week. Pray for our health and strength as we travel and arrive in Haiti so we can be prepared to get off to a great start serving together.
Safety—Prayer for our travel to safely arrive in Haiti. Also, Sunday is election day in Haiti so remember to pray for a peaceful and just election process. Pray for our health while in country with all of the diseases that are present (malaria, typhoid, cholera, etc.) We are taking all the precautions but would ask for prayer covering.
The family—We do not yet know the family we will be building the home for, but God does. He knows all that they have been through and their relationship to Him. Pray that our work with them will shine the light of Christ into their home and the community and that their home will become a “lighthouse” for Jesus.
The children—Pray for our ministry with the children. So many of them lost family members in the earthquake. Pray that our ministry with them will encourage them with the love of Jesus!
The work—Pray for strength and discernment to do the work God has in mind for us. Pray for endurance to persist in the extreme heat and humidity.
Our Team—Pray for our unity, that God would draw each of us close to Him and do a great work in us. Pray that we would remember that we are not taking God to Haiti, rather He is taking us! Pray that we would follow His lead not ours and that we would look to His measures of “success” not ours.
“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat” Isaiah 25:4
We return to LAX Saturday, March 26 at 8:45pm.
Thank you again for your prayer and support!
Pastor Gregg and Team Haiti
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Thailand Team 2011
The Thailand team 2011 left at 9:30 pm on Wednesday for Chiang Mai. PFB's five team members Steve, Scott, Barry, Eva and Seth will be joined by the ITDP team from Thailand and 4 short term workers from England who are working with Mike & Becky Mann. Their purpose is to install a Water system for a Karen village about 4 hours from Chiang Mai. Pray for health, team-relationship, safety, and for a good witness to the villagers.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Couple more pictures came in this AM
At the school site there is a faucet we use behind the toilets to wash up and even clean our clothes-- see picture of Wayne doing so below. Thank you Steve rosser and winter park baptist church who purchased these faucets. They are the new self closing facets and will help tremendously as sometimes people would leave the water faucet on and would train the water tank on top of the bathrooms. This will preserve the water!!
Sean and the Goats. It appears the Goats don't like to be out in the rain either!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Haiti in the final days
Sounds like the team is doing great. They are making great progress on the house and they are really enjoying themselves. Kevin said they were discussing before devotions tonight what they liked best about the trip and what they would do more of if they came back again. The woman said they would like to do more VBS possibly add a session in the morning and one in the afternoon. The men said that they would in a heartbeat build another rubble house. They said that they see building homes for the people of Haiti as a significant need and should be a priority. All the men said they would like to build another rubble house. Kevin also said that Isaiah, one of the group from Elmgrove Baptist, said he is going to go with the January team back to Grand Goave. I tell you people. If you go on one of these trips to Haiti-- you will be hooked. There is something about it that just draws you in-- the vast need- the hope the Haitians have- their amazingly strong faith- them as people. It just makes you realize what matters in life and within no time- you are hooked!!! If you want to go on a missions trip, please go to Haiti with one of our PFB teams. It will change you!!!
Our team-- working???? Maybe- maybe not... You can see the rubble filling up walls. Its pretty cool!!
Maxi, Sean and Jean Paul working on the corner connections
Working hard!! You can see the idea of the rubble house how the walls are kind of like baskets- they fill them with rubble then plaster the inside and outside of the walls.
Maxi working hard as always-- out little 12 year old man!!!
Maxi and Jean Paul working hard. These are Haitian kids that work just to work. They don't get paid, they just do it to help. They may get a meal out of the work but often they don't. Just amazing!!Sunday, September 26, 2010
More Haiti!!
Kev and I have been writing and it seems like everything is going really well. They are making great progress on the house and VBS is going great as well. They have a ton of thundershowers and were unable to visit the beach today because of the storms. They have a lot of work to still do on the house so Kevin said they are gearing up for a hard working week!
Kevin with little Kevin- they met on the last trip and liked each other a lot. They played the slap-hands game last time and I guess it's still a hit!!
Kevin with Ramon's kids (Ramon is a worker at the school and we spent time with them last trip. If you remember the picture with me holding the tiny baby-- this is the tiny baby a few months later). 
Madam Moise giving one of the Elmgrove woman new braids.
This is Maxxi's sister Janet. Many of you remember Maxxi-- he was one of our favorite kids there. He was only 12 but worked like a man. He was just an amazing kid with a great heart. This is his little sister. All of us wanted to take Maxxi home and would have if we could have :)
Ramon's daughter-- she is precious!!
Sean getting into the Tap Tap which is privately owned trucks that they use as Haiti's public transportation. They had, I think Kev said, 14 people shoved into this one.
The Elmgrove Baptist GroupSaturday, September 25, 2010
Haiti Team Days 3 to 7
Kevin was unable to connect to the Internet for a few days so he could not send me pictures. Yesterday he was able to connect and has been sending me pictures ever since. I have also got some update emails.
I guess they are having lots of storming with thunder and lightning!! They say they are having to take cover often but are still getting a lot of work done. Kevin says living in the volunteer house is great and they are able to gather on the porch each evening and debrief from the day of work and to have a Bible study. He said the team is really coming together well.
Here are some pictures with descriptions:
I guess they are having lots of storming with thunder and lightning!! They say they are having to take cover often but are still getting a lot of work done. Kevin says living in the volunteer house is great and they are able to gather on the porch each evening and debrief from the day of work and to have a Bible study. He said the team is really coming together well.
Here are some pictures with descriptions:
Wayne doing laundry in the sink behind the old bathroom and shower at the school site.
The team gets picked up at the volunteer house in the morning and are driven to the house site. The ladies are taken to the school site for VBS while the men work on the house. They then pick them up for lunch from the house site and take them to the school. They eat, relax and then are taken back to the house site. Then picked up later to go back to the school site and eat dinner. Then back to the volunteer house for bed. Lots of little trips here and there but they are all rolling with the program-- great group!!!
At the school site helping with the build
The Rubble House progress as of day 3 I think
The ladies preparing for VBS. The ladies are from the Elmgrove Baptist church in Batanrouge Louisiana
This is the actual family they are building the house for working on their own house-- too cool. The tent in the background is where the family is living for the time being while their house is being built. 
This is the bathroom hole for the house. It is 8 feet deep and dug by hand-- crazy!!
Rubble House Jeremy (as we like to call him) working on the walls. I think this was about day 4. The basket walls are up and they then fill them with rubble. Jeremy lives in Atlanta and works for Conscience International and is the person that goes to Haiti and arranges the builds. He travels a lot back and forth from Haiti. Very cool guy!!
Digging
This is Destine who is an amazing translator. He actually works with Jeremy and is his right hand man. He speaks like 5 languages and is brilliant!! He has a wife and 2 kids but has to be where the work is so he often is Jeremy's driver, translator and multi purpose awesome guy. He was a teacher before. That's about it for now. As soon as Kevin sends me more info I will post! They are doing great!! Please continue to pray for the team!!!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Haiti Team- Days 1 and 2
This is Christy, Kevin's wife posting for him. Unfortunately, the messages Kevin was sending were not going through and I just now got about 10 messages from him.
Kevin said they made it to Miami and met up with the team from Louisiana just fine. They then went onto Port A Prince and also made it just fine. The team met up with Jeremy (the guy who is working for Conscience International directing the rubble house builds) and then headed to Grand Goave. The team was supposed to meet up with a gentleman who was providing the team with a water filtration system but unfortunately he did not show. I guess they will be meeting up with him on Friday.
Once they made it to Grand Goave the team was met with hugs from all the Haitians. They remembered our team well and even remembered the guys names and asked how all of us who were not able to come this time were doing. Kevin said he was shocked at what an impact we had on these people-- much more than what he had thought. They then were taken to the Volunteer House where they will be living for the next 10 days. When we were there in June the Volunteer house was not quite done so we all stayed in tents- which was quite an experience in the heat. We looked at the beautiful Volunteer house and drooled at what a nice place that would be to stay an our team was fortunate enough to get to stay in it this trip. Kevin said it is very nice but very hot. It has an indoor bathroom and running water. They are impressed with how nice it is and how wonderful it was that they built such a nice home for the volunteers to live in while in Haiti-- they are very thankful!!
Kevin said today was a hard day at work. They dug the footings for the house and filled it with rubble and then began to construct the walls of the home. He said his hands feel like they are going to fall off! He said they are all tired out and will be in bed early tonight.
FYI, while in Haiti, you really live by the sun. Up with the sun at about 5am and to bed around 8pm. It does not take you long to adjust to the new schedule because it is so darn hot in the morning that you have to get out of the house or tent and then you work so hard during the day that you are more than ready for bed by 8pm. Whatever the case, the team is working VERY hard and are thrilled everyone remembers them and are so happy they are back!!!
Kevin did not take too many pictures as he said they were too busy working. So, here is what he sent me for today:
This is a picture of the progress of the school. It is looking really good. If you remember some of the old picture-- scroll down-- there are lots on the blog-- this view is from where the tents use to be. The school was only one set of columns at the far back of the picture. The blue tarp is where we ate, where the woman cooked and where the clinic was located. They have made great progress!!
Another view. The blue tarp is the bathroom and showers and if you remember from the last trip, the school was no where close to the bathroom-- again, they have made great progress!!!
And my favorite picture-- Earnst and Daniel!!!! Earnst and Daniel were our translators and Kevin and I have been emailing both of them and we have a special relationship. We are thrilled they are a part of our lives and Daniel has even taken up to calling me Mom and Kevin Dad. It is very cute and really an honor. Daniel (in white shirt) will be attending Dental School in Port A Prince starting in November. Many people from our church are supporting his education through financial donations. This will not only change Daniel's life and his families future but will also help Grand Goave as he will return to serve his people!!!HAITI Team 3 September 21 to October 1 2010
Haiti Team 3 (Kevin, Chip, Sean & Wayne) left on Monday night and arrived safely into Miami International Airport connecting with the remaining members of the team from Elm Grove Baptist Church (Isiah, DeMarcquanaee, & Cherlyn). The team arrived safely into Port Au Prince & are safely in Grand Goave
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Posts from Christy's personal blog from Haiti
Monday, June 28, 2010
Haiti Update June 28, 2010
New update from Christy:
Hi all!
Yesterday was good. It was not busy at all as everyone rests on Sunday- go figure? It was an amazing church service and it was a treat to watch these people worship. No homes, no material possessions and not always knowing where the next meal will come from but these joyful people worship and praise and trust the lord for all their needs. It was truly amazing!
We got a special treat and were taken to one of the beautiful beaches of Haiti and were given lobster, conch, and fish. It was very special and once again we got to travel by way of the open air truck. They call it a Haitian car :) We then came home and relaxed late into the evening talking as it poured rain.
Today has been really busy in clinic. By 1PM we had seen over 40 patients. We were so excited that 2 people from Texas joined our team late Saturday night. One is Scott and he is an associate pastor at a large cowboy church in San Antonio. The other member is Michael who is is a registered nurse in Dallas. He is from Nigeria and came to the states 15 years ago with his family. He came to the states by way of winning the visa lottery they used to have. It's an awesome story but he is a great man and does amazing in clinic as he is used to this type of nursing. Both Scott and Michael will be here until next Saturday.
Tonight we actually have to start packing up to get the stuff we are leaving for the people of the community organized. We have tomorrow and then we have to leave for Port-au-Prince by 6am Wednesday morning. Our flight leaves at noon and we get into LAX by 8:50. I can't believe we have to start packing. Time has gone so fast and we are sad it is ending. This is something I have grown to love and while I miss the comforts of home I could do this much much more - and I know we will - as a family. This is for sure not a fad- this will continue!
I write my emails throughout the day and started it at 1 and it is now 7 and we still have a line out the door with patients waiting. It's been a crazy day and we are exhausted - completely and totally! Our translators have left for the day so we have a Haitian who speaks Spanish translating to one of our team members who speaks Spanish who then translates it to us in English. Totally funny looking especially when we are trying to translate about sensitive subjects.
I'm exhausted so I'm gonna end this email so we can finish up our final patients and eat dinner. Lo and I are exhausted.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Haiti Update June 26, 2010
New email and pics from Christy:
Today was Saturday and the clinic was slow. We had a few of our missionaries who had been here for 3 weeks leave and 3 members of our team took them to the airport in Port-Au-Prince (3 hour drive) to drop them at the airport and to pick up the new 3 team members from Texas. So our team was small today but lots got done in the work team. It was a crazy hot day. Thermometer said 103 in shade. Almost unbearable but we made it.
Clinic was really slow today. Probably a mix of heat but also it was Saturday but still good. The creator of the Haiti rubble house was in our camp today. They are building 5 houses in our area for people in our church here. It's really a cool house and they already built the prototype right here by our camp. It's the coolest idea and Kev is jazzed and is planning on coming back to build one. The total cost of the rubble house is about $2500 and you can have one totally built house in 7 days. It's crazy and can really work to help rebuild Haiti.
We also did bubbles with the kids and they loved it. Overall, it was a great but slow day. Other team-members were really busy with construction and loving every second of it.
We just finished dinner and are waiting for the rest of our group to get here.
Christy
Friday, June 25, 2010
Haiti Update June 25, 2010
Hi! Things are well but Laura and I have been so busy in clinic that I have hardly had time to stop for meals. I swear I am getting good at this medical stuff. I know a lot of info on symptoms and meds and all kinds of stuff. Feeling like my next project to tackle needs to be medical school -lol- can you imagine? Anyway things have been busy but good. We are enjoying the work we are doing.
We have gone out into the community a few times and those are the experiences I love. Getting to see the reality of Haiti and experience the people first hand has been awesome. It's hard to see but good to experience.
Today Laura and I went to the home of a old woman who had a stroke and can't walk and lays in bed all day and her daughters care for her. We were told about her and that we would have to change her catheter and clean her huge bedsores so you can imagine how freaked out I was with that idea. All my worst nightmares wrapped in one. Well I am happy to report it was not too bad. The smell was fine and it was amazing how clean they kept their little tent. The sores were pretty bad- like spoonfuls of flesh taken out with sores all around the missing flesh. It was gross but not as bad as I thought. It stretched me a bit but I'm glad about that. Laura was amazing. She is such an amazingly loving and skilled doctor. I am continually impressed with her graciousness and loving heart. Will put the patients above her needs constantly. Completely impressed.
Our construction team is doing great work. It's been really hard to adjust to the heat but they are working hard. It is also interesting to watch the women in the kitchen cook. It takes hours for them to prepare the food, as they cook on charcoal and have no running water or anything. They do a great job. My husband Kevin is captivated, but the women laugh at him because only the women cook in Haiti. Our male translators think Kevin is crazy for cooking. They just laugh but Kev is in heaven in the kitchen watching them. The kitchen is attached to our clinic so we get to watch them cook everyday but the others don't so our team has taken up watching them cook and asking questions. It really makes the women proud!
It's been even hotter today if that's possible. There has not been any rain so the sun is out and bright. We are wet pretty much 100% of the time - dripping- shirts with sweat drips all over - just wet. Hard to get used to. Still not used to it.
Other than that we are good. Another team is joining us tomorrow and we are told there are 2 nurses with them so we are looking forward to sharing the clinic responsibilities. It's overwhelming the steady stream of people waiting for Laura and I to help. Glad to have others helping.
We miss everyone but happy doing the work here. I will write again soon.
Christy
One last thing - Laura texted me today and described the pharmacy to me - it is a tiny cement room with literally no working light (Laura used her cell phone for light and had to get really close to the meds to see anything). You walk in and it's almost completely dark and there is only one tiny little window that offers no circulation. They bought some hydrocortisone cream today, which again was ridiculously expensive for the Haitian people. She also described just how limited their supplies are. Really sounds like there is a great need there in Grand Goave.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Haiti Update June 24, 2010
No written updates from Christy today, but she did send several pictures- I wish I had more explanation for them, but this is what I got. I also heard briefly from Laura that they had a good day - they were able to make it into town to run errands and made a stop at the local pharmacy - I believe they were looking to buy some albuterol inhalers for their asthma patients. Laura said it had very limited supplies and was small and dirty, and the meds were very expensive for the local people - she sounded discouraged by that. She also mentioned that the people seem to like to negotiate prices and take their time - not much "rushing" around going on like there is here at home. And, it sounds like they had another busy day in their little clinic! The only other information I heard was that it was more breezy today, which helped with the heat, and Christy did post on facebook that the need there in Haiti is huge. I can't wait to hear more details of their trip, but in the meantime, here are the pics!
June 23
We are doing great. Tons of rain so it's been hard and muddy but it's not been as hot as usual so that's good. Its still crazy hot and we are sweating wet all day. Kev is soaked and dripping constantly. Yesterday he drank about 30 24 ounce bottles of water and only peed 2 times. It's still hot but the rain makes it tolerable- if that's possible. Food is ok but portions they cook for 13 people are equivalent to a portion for maybe 5 in the US. It's minimal but we brought other snacks so we're fine. Days start at@5am and bed @8 so it's not our normal schedule. Also with the rain the mosquitoes are minimal as well. So we are happy about that. Again it's primitive but ok. We are loving the kids and workers. Everyone is so loving and sweet. Most of them are already Christians so we just fellowship together every day.
That was pretty much it for Christy's email, but my sister, Laura, also texted that they were very busy in their little clinic all day! Lots of patients lined up and they are so happy that they are able to help some of them. Laura said that Christy is an excellent medical assistant and has learned so much already! And she has been just great with the patients. For those of you who haven't had a chance to meet Christy in person, I'll just say she is known to be very outgoing and sociable! She enjoys talking and getting to know people, so I can totally imagine her doing great in this capacity in the clinic. They are seeing mainly people with respiratory, skin, and stomach complaints. Many of the patients are children. The group brought a load of reading glasses with them and have found that many people are requesting them. They are also seeing a lot of itchy, allergy-type eye issues. The people seem to be opening up a bit and are becoming more friendly as the days go by. It sounds like they are becoming more comfortable with the group of volunteers. From what I hear, the construction work on the new school is going well also.
Haiti Update June 28, 2010
New update from Christy:
Hi all!
Yesterday was good. It was not busy at all as everyone rests on Sunday- go figure? It was an amazing church service and it was a treat to watch these people worship. No homes, no material possessions and not always knowing where the next meal will come from but these joyful people worship and praise and trust the lord for all their needs. It was truly amazing!
We got a special treat and were taken to one of the beautiful beaches of Haiti and were given lobster, conch, and fish. It was very special and once again we got to travel by way of the open air truck. They call it a Haitian car :) We then came home and relaxed late into the evening talking as it poured rain.
Today has been really busy in clinic. By 1PM we had seen over 40 patients. We were so excited that 2 people from Texas joined our team late Saturday night. One is Scott and he is an associate pastor at a large cowboy church in San Antonio. The other member is Michael who is is a registered nurse in Dallas. He is from Nigeria and came to the states 15 years ago with his family. He came to the states by way of winning the visa lottery they used to have. It's an awesome story but he is a great man and does amazing in clinic as he is used to this type of nursing. Both Scott and Michael will be here until next Saturday.
Tonight we actually have to start packing up to get the stuff we are leaving for the people of the community organized. We have tomorrow and then we have to leave for Port-au-Prince by 6am Wednesday morning. Our flight leaves at noon and we get into LAX by 8:50. I can't believe we have to start packing. Time has gone so fast and we are sad it is ending. This is something I have grown to love and while I miss the comforts of home I could do this much much more - and I know we will - as a family. This is for sure not a fad- this will continue!
I write my emails throughout the day and started it at 1 and it is now 7 and we still have a line out the door with patients waiting. It's been a crazy day and we are exhausted - completely and totally! Our translators have left for the day so we have a Haitian who speaks Spanish translating to one of our team members who speaks Spanish who then translates it to us in English. Totally funny looking especially when we are trying to translate about sensitive subjects.
I'm exhausted so I'm gonna end this email so we can finish up our final patients and eat dinner. Lo and I are exhausted.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Haiti Update June 26, 2010
New email and pics from Christy:
Today was Saturday and the clinic was slow. We had a few of our missionaries who had been here for 3 weeks leave and 3 members of our team took them to the airport in Port-Au-Prince (3 hour drive) to drop them at the airport and to pick up the new 3 team members from Texas. So our team was small today but lots got done in the work team. It was a crazy hot day. Thermometer said 103 in shade. Almost unbearable but we made it.
Clinic was really slow today. Probably a mix of heat but also it was Saturday but still good. The creator of the Haiti rubble house was in our camp today. They are building 5 houses in our area for people in our church here. It's really a cool house and they already built the prototype right here by our camp. It's the coolest idea and Kev is jazzed and is planning on coming back to build one. The total cost of the rubble house is about $2500 and you can have one totally built house in 7 days. It's crazy and can really work to help rebuild Haiti.
We also did bubbles with the kids and they loved it. Overall, it was a great but slow day. Other team-members were really busy with construction and loving every second of it.
We just finished dinner and are waiting for the rest of our group to get here.
Christy
Friday, June 25, 2010
Haiti Update June 25, 2010
Hi! Things are well but Laura and I have been so busy in clinic that I have hardly had time to stop for meals. I swear I am getting good at this medical stuff. I know a lot of info on symptoms and meds and all kinds of stuff. Feeling like my next project to tackle needs to be medical school -lol- can you imagine? Anyway things have been busy but good. We are enjoying the work we are doing.
We have gone out into the community a few times and those are the experiences I love. Getting to see the reality of Haiti and experience the people first hand has been awesome. It's hard to see but good to experience.
Today Laura and I went to the home of a old woman who had a stroke and can't walk and lays in bed all day and her daughters care for her. We were told about her and that we would have to change her catheter and clean her huge bedsores so you can imagine how freaked out I was with that idea. All my worst nightmares wrapped in one. Well I am happy to report it was not too bad. The smell was fine and it was amazing how clean they kept their little tent. The sores were pretty bad- like spoonfuls of flesh taken out with sores all around the missing flesh. It was gross but not as bad as I thought. It stretched me a bit but I'm glad about that. Laura was amazing. She is such an amazingly loving and skilled doctor. I am continually impressed with her graciousness and loving heart. Will put the patients above her needs constantly. Completely impressed.
Our construction team is doing great work. It's been really hard to adjust to the heat but they are working hard. It is also interesting to watch the women in the kitchen cook. It takes hours for them to prepare the food, as they cook on charcoal and have no running water or anything. They do a great job. My husband Kevin is captivated, but the women laugh at him because only the women cook in Haiti. Our male translators think Kevin is crazy for cooking. They just laugh but Kev is in heaven in the kitchen watching them. The kitchen is attached to our clinic so we get to watch them cook everyday but the others don't so our team has taken up watching them cook and asking questions. It really makes the women proud!
It's been even hotter today if that's possible. There has not been any rain so the sun is out and bright. We are wet pretty much 100% of the time - dripping- shirts with sweat drips all over - just wet. Hard to get used to. Still not used to it.
Other than that we are good. Another team is joining us tomorrow and we are told there are 2 nurses with them so we are looking forward to sharing the clinic responsibilities. It's overwhelming the steady stream of people waiting for Laura and I to help. Glad to have others helping.
We miss everyone but happy doing the work here. I will write again soon.
Christy
One last thing - Laura texted me today and described the pharmacy to me - it is a tiny cement room with literally no working light (Laura used her cell phone for light and had to get really close to the meds to see anything). You walk in and it's almost completely dark and there is only one tiny little window that offers no circulation. They bought some hydrocortisone cream today, which again was ridiculously expensive for the Haitian people. She also described just how limited their supplies are. Really sounds like there is a great need there in Grand Goave.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Haiti Update June 24, 2010
No written updates from Christy today, but she did send several pictures- I wish I had more explanation for them, but this is what I got. I also heard briefly from Laura that they had a good day - they were able to make it into town to run errands and made a stop at the local pharmacy - I believe they were looking to buy some albuterol inhalers for their asthma patients. Laura said it had very limited supplies and was small and dirty, and the meds were very expensive for the local people - she sounded discouraged by that. She also mentioned that the people seem to like to negotiate prices and take their time - not much "rushing" around going on like there is here at home. And, it sounds like they had another busy day in their little clinic! The only other information I heard was that it was more breezy today, which helped with the heat, and Christy did post on facebook that the need there in Haiti is huge. I can't wait to hear more details of their trip, but in the meantime, here are the pics!
June 23
We are doing great. Tons of rain so it's been hard and muddy but it's not been as hot as usual so that's good. Its still crazy hot and we are sweating wet all day. Kev is soaked and dripping constantly. Yesterday he drank about 30 24 ounce bottles of water and only peed 2 times. It's still hot but the rain makes it tolerable- if that's possible. Food is ok but portions they cook for 13 people are equivalent to a portion for maybe 5 in the US. It's minimal but we brought other snacks so we're fine. Days start at@5am and bed @8 so it's not our normal schedule. Also with the rain the mosquitoes are minimal as well. So we are happy about that. Again it's primitive but ok. We are loving the kids and workers. Everyone is so loving and sweet. Most of them are already Christians so we just fellowship together every day.
That was pretty much it for Christy's email, but my sister, Laura, also texted that they were very busy in their little clinic all day! Lots of patients lined up and they are so happy that they are able to help some of them. Laura said that Christy is an excellent medical assistant and has learned so much already! And she has been just great with the patients. For those of you who haven't had a chance to meet Christy in person, I'll just say she is known to be very outgoing and sociable! She enjoys talking and getting to know people, so I can totally imagine her doing great in this capacity in the clinic. They are seeing mainly people with respiratory, skin, and stomach complaints. Many of the patients are children. The group brought a load of reading glasses with them and have found that many people are requesting them. They are also seeing a lot of itchy, allergy-type eye issues. The people seem to be opening up a bit and are becoming more friendly as the days go by. It sounds like they are becoming more comfortable with the group of volunteers. From what I hear, the construction work on the new school is going well also.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Haiti Team 2 First work day
The team had a long day of work (Tuesday) that included 2 VBS sessions. Continue to pray for health and strength to cope with the harsh conditions. More updates as they become available.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Haiti Team 2 -- Arrival
We had a long day of travel and we were exhausted. When we finally made it to Haiti we were met with heat but also a flood of people needing and asking for our help. Unfortunately, it was not appropriate to give them money so we had the hard job of telling children barefoot, covered in dirt with ripped clothes that we could not give them money. Hard.
We were met by International Ministries staff and they took us to the truck we needed to load our 18- 70 pound bags into as we brought a ton of supplies and meds. We loaded the bags into the truck and then we were told we needed to join the bags and ride in the back of the truck, all 9 plus 4 others, all the way 3 hours plus to our destination. And so we loaded up unable to sit down- we stood up for the next 4 hours over bumpy roads and gawkers waving and staring.
On that long 4 hour ride standing up in the back of a truck we saw things that we have never seen in our lives. Concrete ruins and mangled buildings. People living in poverty you can not imagine. It was hard to see but came to a head seeing naked babies and children living in a center divider of a road in plastic tarped rooms the size of a small powder room. Literally childen, families living in a center median in a room about 5x5. Covered in dirt and playing naked with rocks on the ground- tent after tent the same scene. It was enough to push one over the edge and it did. How could these people survive like this? How can we live like we do while this poverty is happening. Heartbreaking.
We drove for 4 hours to end in Grand Goave, our place of residence for the next 9 days. We met the other missionaries and found our tents and saw what we would be doing. Laura & Christy were very pleased with the clinic as it was an actual room with a ton of supplies. It will be a great place to work. We unpacked which took a while and had a dinner the local women prepared. It was a nice time. The kids are adorable and I can't wait to see them more tomorrow. As soon as we finished dinner it began pouring and I mean pouring. http://weather.msn.com/tenday.aspx?wealocations=wc:HAXX0004&q=Port-au-Prince%2c+HTI+forecast:tenday
Please keep us in your prayers. We are having a good time. Its just an absolute adjustment from everything we know. No comforts of home - nothing. But, we are here to help and help we will.
We were met by International Ministries staff and they took us to the truck we needed to load our 18- 70 pound bags into as we brought a ton of supplies and meds. We loaded the bags into the truck and then we were told we needed to join the bags and ride in the back of the truck, all 9 plus 4 others, all the way 3 hours plus to our destination. And so we loaded up unable to sit down- we stood up for the next 4 hours over bumpy roads and gawkers waving and staring.
On that long 4 hour ride standing up in the back of a truck we saw things that we have never seen in our lives. Concrete ruins and mangled buildings. People living in poverty you can not imagine. It was hard to see but came to a head seeing naked babies and children living in a center divider of a road in plastic tarped rooms the size of a small powder room. Literally childen, families living in a center median in a room about 5x5. Covered in dirt and playing naked with rocks on the ground- tent after tent the same scene. It was enough to push one over the edge and it did. How could these people survive like this? How can we live like we do while this poverty is happening. Heartbreaking.
We drove for 4 hours to end in Grand Goave, our place of residence for the next 9 days. We met the other missionaries and found our tents and saw what we would be doing. Laura & Christy were very pleased with the clinic as it was an actual room with a ton of supplies. It will be a great place to work. We unpacked which took a while and had a dinner the local women prepared. It was a nice time. The kids are adorable and I can't wait to see them more tomorrow. As soon as we finished dinner it began pouring and I mean pouring. http://weather.msn.com/tenday.aspx?wealocations=wc:HAXX0004&q=Port-au-Prince%2c+HTI+forecast:tenday
Please keep us in your prayers. We are having a good time. Its just an absolute adjustment from everything we know. No comforts of home - nothing. But, we are here to help and help we will.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Haiti Team 2 2010
The Haiti Team (Matt, Barry, Kevin, Christy, Laura M, Sean, Wayne, Rene & Laura G) left LAX on Sunday evening amid a flurry of bag reorganizing. Our goal was to take the maximum number of bags allowed (2 checked plus pay extra for a third), however American Airlines just recently placed an embargo on boxes & the third bag. Thanks to a wonderful ticket agent who graciously worked with us, we were able to repack our overloaded 26 bags into 18 and then just pay for overweight bags. The team all helped in this initial task and they worked well together.
They should be arriving in Haiti very soon this morning and will then wade through immigration and customs with a load of medical supplies, tools, and hygiene kits from a local girl scout troop.
The team will be focused on doing building projects, medical and VBS ministry.
They should be arriving in Haiti very soon this morning and will then wade through immigration and customs with a load of medical supplies, tools, and hygiene kits from a local girl scout troop.
The team will be focused on doing building projects, medical and VBS ministry.
Lithuania Team 2010
The Lithuania team left LAX without incident on Saturday evening. Our last team member to sign up, KielyAnne, had to take an early flight but will be catching up with the rest of the team (Mel, Nick, Katie, & David) in Germany before they head on to Palanga airport. Please follow the team's blog at http://pfbhighschoolmissionstriplithuania.blogspot.com/
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