We have just received blessing after blessing, and have been privileged to share some of them with our patients and the other we minister to. We act as support staff in our hospital, just relieving the burden from the overworked national docs and nurses and trying to be a witness for Christ. The only struggle is that we will have to leave, and we know that we are providing the best possible care for our patients and know they won't get it when we leave. The government, medical, and logistical systems in this country are barely functional in the best of times, and this of course is far from the best of times. Its dificult to look through Haitian eyes when we, in our pride, see only the problems and how much better we could do if we were in control (the fallacy being that we as humans are in control...God is sovereign, and we see this clearly). Of course, it makes the patients that much more grateful when we do love on them well and meet their needs and pray with them.
Everybody has injuries, and everybody knows many who died, although in this part of the country there was no damage (and I was actually surprised not to see more even near the epicenter...many buildings survived, but in Haiti they use heavy concrete as ceilings, and so the ones that did collapse killed everybody inside usually). But, as reported, there are evacuees everywhere, and so its mostly people from PAP that we are treating. Thankfully, there is no food or water shortage in this area near the southwestern corner of the island. And, as reported, there is a severe shortage of strong pain meds (although that is the norm here, and patients are mostly just expected to grin and bear everything, and they are tough people and do surprsingly well). I don't know that I would be able to take the pain they do without crying and begging. There is no such thing as an ICU or life support,and I had a patient die yesterday who probably would not have in America.
There are missionary medical teams all over, and some locations have been having a hard time finding work thankfully b/c now things are out of the acute phase, and moving into the more chronic phase. Almost all the broken bones have been set and the certain amputations have already been done. At this point, the biggest need is excellent wound care nurses and therapists all over the country, b/c without those there are going to be many more who lose either function or entire limbs over the next few weeks. Pray that God will provide for that need, and that we don't forget. This country needs much (actually, most of those needs were already in place before the quake), and it needs a transformation from the inside, starting with the hearts of men, particularly those in government who line their own pockets instead of considering the masses. People have been in survival mode for a long time, and that leads to selfishness, and without God working to fix that, this country won't go anywhere.
Thank you for your many prayers. I know that many, many have been lifting us up and this country, and many have supported us in other ways as well. God has provided health and support for my family which is huge. None on our team have gotten sick, and we've made it where we were needed at the right times. We expect to finish our last 2 days working on the wards here, and then head home if the PAP airport opens. Please pray that it will and we can catch our flight. Of course, we need abilities beyond ourselves to meet these needs, and we want God to raise up laborers for after we leave (Matt 9:38?). Thank you. I look forward to seeing my beloved ones soon.
