Haiti Update : August 25, 2021

A very special shout-out this morning to team member Dr. Janice Soman. We celebrate you and wish you a very Happy Birthday! Thank you, Dr. Soman, for donating your special day to serve the people of Haiti. I hear, with a lack of actual plates, the team ate birthday cake from 4X4 gauze sponges. I bet you’ll not forget this birthday.

The team held clinic yesterday in an amphitheater-type setting in Marcelin. Tarps were used for protection from the sun. People of all ages were seen and the flow was good. Injuries included many wounds that needed attention, orthopedic complaints such as back or limb pain/strain or fractures and two people were referred to Samaritan’s Purse for x-rays. One little 5 year- old girl had an abscess that needed to be drained. The procedure took two of our doctors; not because the child was unruly, but because one doctor cradled her little head in their lap while the second performed the procedure. After the procedure, they gave her a cap by wrapping her head with gauze and everyone laughed as she voluntarily gave the doctors big hugs. Suffer not the little children to come unto Jesus.

In the midst of clinic activity yesterday, we had another opportunity to share. Staff with Sans Frontieres (sort of the French version of Doctors Without Borders) shared that they were running out of wound care supplies. Our team was able to restock them by sharing what was purchased through yourdonations to send care to Haiti. We can not thank you enough and Sans Frontieres thanks you.

Today it is on to Jeremie for Team and translators and this is a very “mobile” model. The road that leads to a bridge is out so the team will park on one side then hike to the other side of the bridge (carrying all 18 duffel bags with their medical supplies) where WYAM vehicles will be waiting to take them into Jeremie. At this time, the plan is still to have clinics at Jeremie today, tomorrow and Friday and shelter in the YWAM compound to sleep.

Praise Reports:

· The ones yesterday who prayed to receive Jesus

· The five-year-old child who answers all of the “whys”

· Thanking God for faithful followers of Christ who sent this team and allows them to model Christ by freely giving

· How well everything went yesterday

Prayer Requests:

· Wisdom for future teams. Heartbeat Mission, in collaboration with In His Image (IHI), is discussing sending teams in to follow this team. The Haitian need remains and some have still not been reached/helped. Please pray that those in authority over Heartbeat and IHI have wisdom and Godly direction in making those decisions.

· This team reaches those with the greatest needs

· Continued team health, safety and unity

· Clear direction regarding where to hold clinics in Jeremie