Accompanied by Pastor Harold and Kevin Bither, Pastor Rick Croyle and a team from Lake City Community Church of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, spent the week of January 4-11 in Hinche with HEF. The group from Idaho had just completed a year in study, worship and prayer searching for God’s direction. Haiti was on there hearts, how and where to serve was unknown. Most were not new to the mission field. All felt a call to leadership. The goal was to find a way for Lake City to serve in Haiti, bringing Christ’s love to the beleaguered, yet resilient people. In addition, allowing for members of the Idaho church to experience mission work in an impoverished area of the world, providing for spiritual renewal and encouragement. Lake City Community Church has active mission projects oversea in Mexico and Honduras. God had put Haiti solidly in the hearts of this group.
Different Christian missions organizations working in Haiti were explored. In April I was asked to share my experiences working with HEF. Pastor Bither was contacted and more information was gleaned. A few months later this group asked me to consider assisting them with a trip to Hinche. I spoke with Pastor Bither and the trip was arranged!
Our itinerary in Haiti was full! We were accompanied by Solana Budwig, RN, from Coeur d’Alene, who had been part of a previous medical team to Hinche. We were fortunate to have Dr Goddarz of Miami, Florida, join our team as well. Together with significant assistance from others on the team we held 3 half day clinics in Raven Caw, Andra and Terra Casse. Five hundred people were examined and treated. I was excited to see the improving nutrition and health of those involved in the feeding programs of HEF! We worshipped with the Christians of Pastor David’s church in Terra Casse. They have a wonderful brass band and, of course, incredible vocalists! I wish everyone reading this could personally experience the vibrancy and hope of these wonderful people worshipping God. They have so little but are confident that they will inherit the riches of heaven! I look so forward to feasting at the table of our Lord with these brothers and sisters in Christ!
We spent a morning visiting the Maranatha Church school and participating in the feeding program. What an incredibly joyful group of children! I hope Madame Marie Iliobert recovers from the disruption our presence created! Children were laughing, clambering into our arms, jumping, dancing and singing!! I was unable to discover which child had a leaky ballpoint pen in his/her pocket that left me indelibly mark! Those of you who support the feeding program and schools would be brought to joyful tears! Thank you for your love!
Evenings in prayer, a visit to the Raven Caw agricultural program, a tour of a local orphanage, visits to the local Saturday market and government hospital, long conversations with Pastor Bither and Kevin rounded out the week. It proved to be a time of renewal, recommitment and encouragement!
On return, Lake City Community Church expressed the decision to partner with Haiti Endowment Fund in whatever manner needed. Conversations and planning with the leadership of HEF have begun. The team was thoroughly moved by the faith-base approach of HEF, the culturally-sensitive approach to projects, and the powerful, undying commitment to provide resources to assisting our Haitian pastors in reaching out to the villagers of Central Haiti with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Michael Ettner, MD
We just returned from our trip, and I think all of us are humbled by our experience. No matter how many times I travel to Haiti to help with the medical care I am always heartbroken and hopeful, sad and thankful, exhausted and energized. We had an amazing team of 27 from all over the country that came together to serve. During our clinics in the small villages of the Central Plateau region, we saw approximately 3,500 medical patients, 750 eye patients and 250 dental patients. We also held a clinic in a prison in Hinche.
There is too much to tell here, but I will highlight a few vivid memories: A visit to a cholera tent center with horrible suffering, but with IV hydration they are surviving and recovering. A young 15 year old girl with a severe life-threatening abscess of the peritonsillar area. We treated her over a three day period and hope that she will continue to recover nicely. A 12 year old boy with a machete wound to his arm and with no use of his wrist, hand and elbow. This poor boy had nearly lost his arm and had inadequate before our arrival at his village. We brought him to the Adventist Hospital in Port au Prince for a 3 stage surgical treatment. A one month old 2 pound premature baby who was dehydrated- we treated the baby in the village and then brought her back with us for admission to the local hospital with a pediatrician from Cuba. A child with severe Hydrocephalus and her mother was comforted by our team. Roberto, with multiple severe deformities, who is blind, prayed for us on two occasions as we ministered to him.
Our dentist, Dr. Pat Wei and a dental student James Chao along with a Haitian dentist worked tirelessly. They extracted many severely infected teeth while patients lay on makeshift wooden benches. Many are now smiling with relief from pain.
Dr. Pat Utnehmer was our optometrist and he got to have the most fun of us all! Along with dispensing hundreds of reading glasses, he saw many nearly blind adults and children. With his portable refractor unit, and with the many donated prescription glasses, he was able to see the joy on their faces when they could see again! What a gift it is to donate your glasses you are no longer using. It changes a life.
Each member of our team was invaluable. It is amazing to see how God puts together a team of His choosing and how perfectly He works to bond everyone together into a family. Thanksgiving is here and I am thankful that God is able to use us to love others in Haiti. Please pray for those who will be receiving follow-up surgeries and for Ronnie from YWAM to recover from his infection. Thanks everyone!
Dr. Walt Combs
RAVINE CAVE:
As reported in an earlier newsletter, the ¼ acre garden at Ravine Cave was successful, producing 288 large and healthy cabbages to the church and school community. HEF continues to work with the church and school leadership developing agricultural principles, soil management, and leadership skills that will benefit the garden and people of Ravine Cave. || Read more
The Women to Women Conference is held every summer, hosted on the HEF compound. It is a special time for the women from the village churches to come together for a time of refreshment in God’s Word and fellowship. || Read more
Our medical team arrived at the compound just in time to join the women’s conference in their final afternoon and evening of worship and celebration. What a sight to see the hundreds of women worshiping our Lord together in song and dance. Our team of 14 held clinics for the women before they left to their homes. || Read more