Promise for Haiti

Haiti Vision Mission News Trip

Jan 28-Feb 6 2009

Surgery Dr. Chris DenOuden, Dr George Clavenna, Tracy Madole, RN Diane Jennings, RN Amy Zoutte, RN Wendy Jones, RN Clinic & Screening: Dr. Larry Hicks Reada Farrell, Rebeca Clavenna, Jenny Curl , Jessica Madole, Sue DenOuden, Galen Redshaw, Documentary Project: Jessica Madole, Work Projects:Larry Madole, Sam Hobson, Larry FarrellAlan Zoutte , Bio-Med:Virgil Kleinhesselink

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus! Hebrews 12:1-2

This was our 15th Mission Trip to Pignon in 12 years. We have always shipped all of our medical, optical (700+ eye glasses), surgical, pharmaceutical (eye drops and meds) and office-type (encounter & screening forms, surgery post op and glaucoma instructions etc.) We take with us a phaco unit, surgical microscope, G-probe laser, Yag laser, surgical instruments, auto refractor, A-scan, tonometers, indirects, etc. We saw 1,206 patients. Of those patients, 586 received eye glasses, 52 had cataract and laser surgeries and 250+ were treated for glaucoma. Last year we started supplying each glaucoma patient with one year's worth of glaucoma drops. Many returned with normal eye pressures because of this treatment!! And many more were given a year supply. Meredith Drive Reformed Church (our home church) has taken on this expense. All 1,206 patients were screened for eye glasses and glaucoma and each patient was given artificial tears. Many patients were treated for eye injuries, eye infections and of course glaucoma. Many patients were completely blind and could not be helped due to the same. We prayed with all patients that could not be helped.

Larry Madole, Promise for Haiti Project Coordinator led a small team to all work areas and completed a list of all future projects for work teams for this year. They also completed misc. projects in the hospital compounds.


Jessica Madole worked on a documentary project (10 hours of filming)


Virgil Kleinhesselink (Bio-med tech) checked all of the x-ray equipment including mammography, lab equipment and talked with anesthesia regarding problems they are having with their equipment. He was unable to fix it, but he told them what was needed.

We traveled from Des Moines to Florida on January 28 and then on to Pignon via MFI on January 29. We don't like the extra time it takes to travel via MFI, but so much of our equipment is fragile and we prefer to have it flown with us to Pignon. Our customs charge was $560.00!! Our return from Pignon to Florida was delayed one day due to bad weather in Cap, so all of our return flights from Florida to Des Moines had to be changed and we were charged a change fee. This was the first time it has happened in 12 years, so we weren't upset.


We stayed in the Minnesota dorm. The staff was great. The bathrooms were cleaned daily and the food was delicious. We were grateful for the bottled water. We think that is a good improvement. Our team has committed to pray for Guy and Hope for Haiti this year.

Suggetions and notes for others


We were asked to pay our customs bill while we were there. Fortunately I had a check. I'm sure cash would have been preferred. In years past we have been billed by Sue Ishee about a month after we returned home. It may be a problem for groups coming in if they don't know that they will be expected to pay while there.


Thanks and Blessings, Sue