Final numbers and some thoughts

Before I go into the final numbers of the trip, I would like to talk a little about our day spent at the Children's Home and the Home forthe Dying.  You will see no photos from either of these locations because they are not allowed.  Both of these facilities are part of Mother Teresa's organization.  We went to the Children's Home first.  There were many infants and children.  This is now more of a care facilities then an orphanage or hospital for dying children.  For most of these children, their parents are not able to care for them at home and they need longer term care (but parents are still involved), others will be adopted, and others will remain there.  We were able to leave 300 dosages of Hep vaccine which will serve 100 children.  Jerry and Ashli tested for HIV and only 1 out the suspected 23 was positive.  There were several other visitors in addition to our team.  We held the babies and children, fed them, gave them puppets and candy.  They clung to us and we soured with their smiles and cried as they cried when we had to leave.

The Home for the Dying is a different story.  We were the only visitors.  There were men's  and women's  wards with 40-50 people lying in simple beds.  The care there is different (not bad just different) and the expectation is also different.  For me this was the most emotional time of the trip.  As you went to each bed side and took the hand of a person who you knew would not understand the words, but would understand the intent; you prayed.  At the name of Jesus the eyes would open wide.  At the word "pray", the eyes would close.  At the word "Amen" the head would nod or a weak hand would attempt to squeeze my hand.  At each bed my prayer was to ease the pain and to bring faith to the heart so that they would experience the joy of heaven one day, probably soon in many cases.  When we left there, I truly felt that this was one of the best things we did while in Haiti.

Many people have asked for the  numbers of how many we served and how we served them. 
So here goes:

• The medical team saw 1436 people included 17 from our hotel over 4 1/2 days of clinic.
• The eye glass team saw more than 510 people.  Many of them received two pairs of glasses.  (Thank you Dr. Balok and Gulden Ophthalmics for the eye glass flippers for testing)
• 19 people received joint injections
• Minor surgeries were performed on 3 people
• 5 tons of food were distributed.
• 25 people were tested for HIV and only two were positive ( that is good news!)
• Two people tested positive for malaria and were able to received medicine ( We now have proof positive on why the team takes their anti-malarial medications)
• Patients received an average of 4 prescriptions per person which included vitamins and worm medicine.  That would make the total amount of prescriptions given approximately 5744.
• 1000 hygiene kits were distributed which consisted of a wash cloth, soap, toothbrush and tooth paste.  (Thank you Donna for preparing and Dr. Wesley for the toothpaste)
• We distributed enough soccer uniforms to outfit the school children at Caridux.  (Thank you Lisa, the Girlfriends Group and AYSO)
• Each person who came received either a cross necklace, a witness bracelet, a puppet (Thank you to the smith family and friends), a beanie baby and the message that Jesus loves them.

We will continue to try and find follow up care for people in the following situations:

• 9 people for whom we are seeking hernia surgery               
• 13 people for whom we are seeking cataract or other eye surgery
• 1 man needing an adult circumcision
• 1 child needing a hydro seal surgery
• 2 women with cysts on their breasts
• 1 person in need of a skin graft
• 2 people needing other diagnostic procedures

Those are the numbers, BUT more importantly are the people behind the numbers.  It is our hope and prayer that each person we met, saw Christ in our faces, our hands and our hugs.  Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers.  It is a hard country.  We might not be able to cure all of their illnesses, solve their political problems, eliminate their hunger, but we can give them the hope of live eternal with the Lord and Savior.  Isn't that why we go and why Jesus told us to go?

The team this year was as always assemble by God.  They worked together, laughed and cried together.  Attached to this blog is a photo of our hands together with bracelets we received on the very first day.  God has now sent us back into our regular lives.  We are all changed and have been prepared to continue to serve.  Thank you one and all for your prayers.  Many times those prayers kept us going. 

Below is an email I received this morning from one of the pastors we met.  I thought you all might enjoy reading it.

              
Dear brothers and sister in Jesus Christ,

I write to thank you and to express my gratitude to you for the multiple helps that you give to the Haitian community, especially the members of the Lutheran churches.

Since March 2010, 3 months after the terrible earthquake that Haiti faced, and the same week when the tragic death of our brother Pastor Doris Jean Louis occurred, and now on, I have the chance to explore the work of the Lutheran mission medical team here in Haiti. The two other pastors (Theard, Pierre) and I have received a lot of congratulations from the members of the Lutheran churches as well as other people who have been examined and obtained other type of supports by the medical team. That reminds me the apostle Peter in act 3 verse 6, when he had met the disable man who was barging in front of the door of the Jerusalem temple. He asked Peter for money but Peter told him "I have neither money nor Gold to give to you but what I have, I give it to you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth stand up and walk. In addition, the medical care and the food assistance have contributed to reinforce the evangelization for a spiritually and materially needy population. Those positive actions show clearly that you are all messengers of God. 

Also, I can't wait to express my satisfaction for that work and I congratulate particularly each and every members of that team because that job has been a total success. My congratulations go to all members of the mission board as well as their churches who never stop thanking of us here in Haiti.

I know that you are praying for us in Haiti, also, we are praying for you and wish that God will always be with you and your families.  

Once again, I thank you all and I wish that the medical team will be back to Haiti the next February to continue giving the same medical assistance to the people.

God bless you all.  

Pastor Louidor Louime