Day 2 - A new adventure!

Started the day saying bye to 3 guests heading back to the states. One is still sick. That small plane won't help. God Bless. Powdered eggs and toast for breakfast. My fquiet time today included a letter from one of my son in laws that stated this task was assigned to us so that He could be glorified. God bless our mission. Benson took us to the hospital, where we began changing bandages with other groups. All doors and windows open. A continuious hum of noises and flies. Even dogs wander in. People are speeping on any grass outside, on any floor space inside. There is a lot of confusion here. Dr. Bill, in a picture from last post, is the glue that holds this place together. He is a christion doctor that has a family and a practice in the states ,but has been coming here for years one week out of the month to serve. He hasn't been home since the quake. I am strengthened by his desire to serve. Pray for Dr. Bill and his family back home.

Many terrible injuries. Some are just now coming into the clinic with injuries from the quake. These injuries are almost always amputations because of infection. We see our first case of suspected thphoid. A quiet woman with a leg injury. Haitians like to be touched.We move from one bed to the next. The Haitians say "Merci", thank you.

Peter is a quiet boy. He is 8 with two surgeries to his right arm. He was pinned on his right side for several days. He is skinny. We don't know if he has any family. He says he knows Jesus. He is wearing a sleeveless shirt in the pictures. Please pray for Peter and his family.

Dr. Bill comes to Susie and I and asked us to go to Bonne Fin in the mountains. He says he can't get a security patrol but no offense to us if we did get stopped, they would only want the medical supplies.Ha! Susie, Mary, and I walk to Gary's house to talk to Bob. Marilyn has fresh baked banana dough nuts with powdered sugar. Yum!!

We go to the guest house for lunch. There are 4 guys from the states traveling through Haiti to meet with us for lunch. One is Robby Tingle with AR State Baptist Convention, and another from my home town of Fordyce. God is so good to send a friend to say hello. We tell Mr. Tingle the greastest need is prayer.

We get loaded up for the mountain trip. 8 of us for the trip, plus the supplies we seperated for Bonne Fin. We are grateful for the hedge of prayer surrounding us at all times. Bob calls and sends us encouraging messages throughout each day.

The ride to Bonne Fin is very, very bumpy. Our driver is a missionary named Jean, and a very good guide, as she weaves in and out of Haitian traffic. She said Haiti was founded in 1804, and at that time dedicated to Satan. Along the way she points out flags from houses. She says that each flag represents a different evil spirit the witch doctor has contact with. Lots of donkeys, half dressed children, thatch huts, concrete buildings, and one town. We arrive at Bonne Fin!

This is a mountainous area. We have to climb steep hills to get anywhere. We unload our stuff at a guest house that has only cots and a working toilet. YEA! The hospital is about the same as La Mirre, but a lot more amputations, and if possible, a lot more in need. A Haitian woman shows us around. I am in the obstetrics ward with a nurse named Hannaka, no babies, just sick people. Susie and Mary are in Medicine with Susie in charge of about 30 patients. A lot more disorganized. We work till about 11:30. Walk up to the guest house, lock up,take a cold shower, and get into bed or cot. My last thought was prayer for these people.

Next morning Susie, Mary and I walk to another guest house for breakfast. We meet others and walk to the hospital. Very hark to communicate with Haitian nurses. We give meds, shots, hook up IV's, hold hands, and pray a lot. Lunch and back to work. Home at 10:30. Not even a cold shower, out of water. Wipey bath and to bed.

Up at 7, breakfast, and to the hospital. A cool breeze. Tropical looking with banana trees, and lots of flowers. A lot of suffering inside. So many injuries. Sometimes we just prayer walk. So hot. Hard to keep sweat out of our eyes.

There is a young girl named Shirley. She was in school during the quake. Her family won't sign to amputate her legs below the knees. She asked for prayer. She says she knows Jesus. Her brother had a crushed jaw, and has his jaw wired shut. She cries continually with the pain, I give her a shot as much as I can. :lease pray for Shirley.

At 4 they tell us there are more nurses coming up the mountain, and we are going down the mountain. We work till 6. I tell a young man named Ralph, who speaks some English, that my church sent me here. He asked me what my church was going to do for him. I said they are praying for you. He said thank you.

Down the mountain with Gary and 6 others. We are very tired. It is a beatiful time of day. The market is closing in the town but still lots of people. We are back at the guest house where Amy has barbecue sandwiches and salad. It was good. A wonderful hot shower and,WOW we sleep in an air conditioned room.

"Rejoice and give thanks always,and with prayer and supplication, make your requests made known to God". I cry as I think of the pain these people are in. Ralph asked me to take it away. When I asked what, he said all the images, smells and sounds of everything around him dying during the quake. I hold his hand, press it to may cheek and pray in the holy and powerful name of Jesus Christ. I am glad to be here.