Hey - we can finally update you!

I could probably write for days and never be able to describe how God is moving!  Through the pain and agony of this disaster, His Name has been and will continue to be lifted high!  In an attempt to get you to read this blog, I will not write for days and just give you some highlights (your welcome -lol).


Monday - February 22


Just crossing the Haitian border was quite eye opening.  Met by armed guards at a gate, our team was allowed into the country with no resistance.  We, of course, seemed to be going against the flow, as hundreds of Haitians were heading to the border.  Many were likely heading to try to get into the Dominican Republic, while others were in search of aid in the form of food and water.  As we entered Port au Prince, we began to be astonished by the extreme poverty and then we began to see the devastation caused by the earthquake that only compounded already impoverished conditions. 


Our clinic was held at a local seminary.  The team from First Baptist Rogers had started when we arrived.  We saw 97 patients! Most cases were infections, worms, or other stomach problems. 


Our hosts fed us a meal of spaghetti, we had a meeting to brief the next day, and went to bed.  Gotta love those cots!


Tuesday - February 23


The River Bottom
We traveled to one of the worst situations with which our ministry partners are involved.  We were taken by van to a neighborhood setting and were then escorted in two groups by 4 wheel drive into a river bottom. As we made the three mile trek down the river, we saw some people washing clothes and others bathing.  The further we went down stream, the population became more dense.  This stream was, of course, not the "cool mountain streams" they used to show on the beer commercials.  The conditions were most unsanitary.  Our clinic was well received.  We saw 227 patients!  Although not patients, there was a herd of pigs nearby as well. The common illnesses included infections, stomach aches, wheezing, and head aches. The more serious cases included a man who will need to be transported for surgery on an ankle, a little boy with a pretty severely infected leg, and an elderly lady with a severe infection.  The people were so thankful and beautiful.  The smiles of these children will melt a heart. We hope and believe those smiles are a reflection of hearts that have received love in the name of Jesus (not the Dominican contact, the Savior - lol).  


The Tent City
Pam, Terri and I went with a nationally known American missionary named Joel to one of the largest tent cities in Port au Prince.  Estimates of the number residents in this city range from 10,000 to 40,000.   As we arrived, we were greeted by children and eventually by a couple of the aldermen (our equivalent anyway) of the city.  They gave us tours of the city showing us streets and quadrants as well as discussing their political structure.  As we took the tour, at least a hundred Haitian children went along.  Some wanted to hold our hands while others simply wanted to see Americans.  Some wanted to see or touch Terri's blonde hair and others wanted to pull my arm hair (I guess both a rarity in Haiti). The whole tour was a very moving experience.  When darkness fell, Joel showed a film he helped produce.  It was a modern day version of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  There were about 5,000 in attendance and we estimate hundreds of professions during the invitation given at the end.Thank you all so much for your prayers!  We truly are blessed to be able to represent Second Baptist, and, more importantly, our Savior in this place!


Dane