TEAM: Hope/ E-Free churches from Spencer, IA and Meriden, IA
Trip report submitted by Christi Gabhart.

MFI provided our transportation to and from Pignon. We are always in good hands there. All of our boxes and luggage arrived in tact. No problems what so ever. We always appreciate the services of Acadiana Shuttle. Very timely and considerate.

Our team was made up of 15 people; nine of those were experiencing Haiti for the first time. Hope Church from Spencer, IA has had a team with Promise for Haiti for several years in a row. We teamed up with 6 new people from the Meriden E-free Church in Meriden, IA. The combination was dynamic! Everyone embraced the country of Haiti and the work that was planned and all reached out to the people with the love of Jesus Christ. One returning team member did dental work in the dental clinic which he says is the best clinic of any in which he has worked in a mission setting. Three gals on our team have a nursing background. They were able to spend time on a couple of occasions observing and helping out at the hospital. Several of the team members have skills in carpentry so some work projects were a big part of the week. Some cabinets were built for the kitchen in the doctors’ dorm and ceramic tile was laid in the doctors’ dorm as well. The materials ran short to complete the doors for the cabinets and time ran short for the completion of the tiling in the kitchen and common room as well as much of the grouting. The materials to complete the cabinet project were purchased prior to our arrival, BUT some of what was designated for these cabinets had been used by others for a different project. We would like to have seen a bit more effort made to organize the project of tiling in the doctors’ dorm. We were planning to do this project; it would have been helpful for the doctors’ belongings and other furniture to have been moved out so that we could get right to work. But, of course, that is an American trait, so we adjusted knowing that God’s plan is supreme. The three bedrooms, bathroom and common room were tiled and hopefully have been grouted since our departure so the doctors could return to their residence. The remainder of the tiling will hopefully be finished with the next team coming in and the cabinet doors will be completed as well.

The ladies on the team had done some preparation for hosting a Women’s Conference at the church down the street where Pastor Francios serves. We had been in communication with Pastor Francios as well as Jared and Stacey Nikkel to help anticipate how everything would happen. This is the 2nd annual “Fanm Espwa nan Ayiti” conference, translated- Women of Hope in Haiti. The gals met with Pastor Francios the day we arrived to be sure that all arrangements were consistent with plans that had been made.

The day we arrived, we also met with Gyrlene and Obed to share together how things would happen throughout our time in Pignon. We were anticipating a long awaited trip to Guimby School to bring gifts for the students that we have been unable to deliver for over a year because of the January 2010 earthquake. We also indicated the desire to bring rice and beans to some of the poorest of the poor families within the city of Pignon. The rice and beans had been purchased with money given from our home congregations. A list was to be compiled by the hospital for us to identify the families with the greatest need.

Our accommodations were wonderful in the Minnesota House. The cooks did a fine job of providing well prepared meals; we had bottled water and most team members enjoyed our supply of COKE! We had a few short-lived stomach issues but nothing serious. It is always hard to pinpoint the cause especially when it hits random people at random times. No one was down for more than a day and then it was just dealing with a tender stomach. The team members in one room, the double room upstairs adjacent to the balcony, had to deal with ants. The double room on the main floor next to the bathroom had a bug biting condition. We just kept using the bug stuff we had along.

We wanted to do some food deliveries on Saturday and Sunday but were not able to do so because we did not have the “Poorest of the Poor” list or the help of a hospital employee. That set us back a bit on the time needed to get through the list. Because of a combination of circumstances, we ran short of time to get through the list that had been compiled. We have some definite concerns with this activity and will hopefully be able to address the concerns and see improvement for our future efforts.

The women’s conference, held Monday, February 7th from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, was a huge highlight for the women. We had sent money to Jared to purchase 250 bibles in Cap Haitien prior to our arrival and had ‘bookplates’ along to stick inside that read, “Nou bay ou Bib sa akoz de RENMEN JEZI gen pou NOU” which means, “This Bible given to you with the love of Jesus Christ”. During the day of the conference, we gifted a bible to each woman. We presented the bibles to them by saying, “Sa se Powel Senye a pou ou.”, (This is the Word of the Lord for you). The ladies on our team shared scripture and bible stories about Jesus’ love with the aid of a felt board and pieces. We praised Jesus together with songs and scripture memory. A lunch was prepared and served to all 200 women in attendance. One hundred were Christian women and one hundred were their friends or neighbors seeking to know more about the Love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Other items that were shared as gifts were sewing kits, ‘Witness Symbol’ bracelets, and small mirrors in blue vinyl cases imprinted with the words, “Reflete Lamou Jezi Kri” (Be a reflection of Jesus’ Love”). Each of the items had meaning throughout the day of teaching and sharing Christ. The day-long conference concluded with Pastor Francios inviting any woman present to received Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. Six ladies made that commitment while many prayed and sang praises to our Savior.

We made the trip to Guimby School on Tuesday; it seemed in record time! The roads were ‘good’ on the shortcut through the river and up the mountain. The countryside is so beautiful it seems like a dream. Each class greeted us with beautiful songs. This visit also allowed the team to see the Hope Church sponsored lunch program in action. We were able to share a small gift with the cooks that faithfully prepare the food that is served. A wonderful experience for ALL!

There also was time for a visit to Bill and Jennifer Campbell’s orphanage on the edge of town. A couple gals on our team were able to assist Jennifer with a feeding clinic one morning. There are many positive things happening there. Our Worship experience on Sunday was with JeanJean and Kristie Mompremier. A wonderful service as always and as always, there are many wonderful things happening at UCI.

Gyrlene took three team members on a tour of the CTC, Cholera Treatment Center. At the time, there were 16 Cholera patients being treated. 12 of those were from the Bohoc area. There were plans to do some investigating and education in the Bohoc area for the purpose of prevention of future cases of Cholera. It seems as though Doctors Without Borders has done a fine job with the CTC.

A delicious evening buffet served at Dr. Guy’s house, two early mornings spent climbing Mt. Pignon, shopping at the ‘mall’, a trip to the Saturday market, trips to the Cyber Café, time shared with friends singing songs in the evening at the hospital, evening bible study and star gazing made for a wonderful GOD-filled week. An estimate of at least 15 shooting stars over the course of the week brings this verse from Psalm 8 to mind. “I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, Your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings.” The Message Psalm 8:3.

Overall the time spent in Pignon was just as we had hoped. The city, the hospital, and the people seem to be thriving. God is faithful. Each person on the team was blessed, we trust that each of us served in a way that brought glory to His name.

Thanks to Lorrie Berg, Sue Ishee, the Hospital staff, Dr Guy, Pastor Francios, Jared and Stacey Nikkel, Ezequias and others who were part of the whole effort of our team serving in Haiti.

January 2011 Haiti Trip Presentation

Marlene, Shubert, and I along with 9 other God-sent people from the Monmouth and Pitman Churches of Christ in S. Jersey returned from Haiti last Saturday. The trip was a GREAT success!! Thank you all for your prayers and support for the work of this trip!
So many of you donated sewing materials, toothbrushes and toothpaste, glasses, and other necessities and monetary funds which were used to touch many lives and get THEA's education programs off to a really strong start!

We were witness to the evidence of your prayers and support! It was amazing how much we were able to accomplish in just 8 days!! For the sake of time, I'll just list the highlights now.

1. The main focus of our trip was to begin 3 education programs especially for the secondary students in the community for them to have skills which would enable them to support their families and communities upon their graduation. The 30 secondary students were divided into 3 areas according to their interests: sewing training, gardening training, and medical education.
2. The Sewing Program is now off and running! Lynne, an avid sewer from the Pitman Church, partnered with a local tailor; and they worked together to teach the students basic sewing skills and how to use the sewing machines. The students were so proud of what they made this week and were eager to continue the classes. So the local tailor and Lynne worked together to design an 18 month curriculum for this on-going class. This tailor has now become THEA's Sewing Program Coordinator- signing our contract to make it official- and has been continuing to teach the sewing classes after we left for 3 days a week.
3. THEA’s Gardening Training Program also got off to a great start: I partnered with our Agriculture Training Coordinator (ATC) to teach the students how to prepare the land, make and use a compost and organic fertilizer noting the nutritional benefits of their use; and emphasizing the overall purpose for the program, that is, to care for the nutritional needs of the community. We further partnered with a local agronomist who is enthusiastic about providing further training to our Agriculture Training Coordinator, sharing his resources, and helping to teach the on-going classes. This partnership with the agronomist is an exciting new development for THEA!
4. The 4 nurses on the team were responsible for the students who want to continue their education and become health professionals. The students learned about blood pressure, nutrition, and community health issues such as cholera, malaria, and typhoid. They were creative in their teaching, using skits and story-telling. Primary and secondary students at a local school were also taught about personal and community health including oral hygiene. And toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap were given to each student.
5. The sewing and agriculture programs easily lent themselves to be certificate programs. However, we needed something more concrete and ongoing for the students on the medical track. Then the large local hospital where we stayed invited us to partner with them to begin a volunteer program at the hospital for our students. We were so excited! But then the administrator, knowing that THEA is focused on providing education opportunities, suggested that we make it more of an on-the-job training program and that we could put a student in each of the nursing, laboratory, x-ray, and dental departments!! Amazing!
6. Of course as a therapist, when I asked about rehabilitation indicating we wish some of our students would be able to study physical therapy, they said that the hospital had just received funds for building a rehabilitation center, complete with a prosthetic clinic, further indicating that if we returned this time next year, it should be operational! Can you believe it? There was one opened door right after another!
7. While the majority of the group worked in the community, 3 of our nurses worked several days at the hospital conducting training sessions for the nurses and medical students in CPR, IV meds, and understanding and treating sexually transmitted diseases.
8. Also, with us for much of the week was one of the Haitian students who worked with our group after the earthquake. He is the son of a minister and we are sponsoring him to complete secondary school then go on to medical school. He served as a translator for our nurses as they worked in the hospital as well as for a group of visiting urologists from the States. Having him around was a blessing to our group and was a great opportunity for him to learn so much about medical practice!
9. Shubert, along with all of his administrative responsibilities, was able to address several mental health concerns within the community. And I was also able to meet with several people with rehabilitation needs.
10. Last but not least, we wanted to tell you about the program for the younger children. Most of these younger children are the ones you’ve been hearing about and are the ones we are supporting to go to school. Diana and her three children, Sarah, Claire, and Lucas and their friend Callan did an amazing job teaching, playing with, and just loving up on the kids! They prepared great Bible stories, crafts, skits, and songs for the kids for the entire week! The kids had a great time and learned so much from them!
11. Other great news... Meals were able to be provided for all of the children and their families as well as our teachers and translators for the week and beyond. The accommodations and meals where we stayed in the hospital dorms were more than sufficient; None of us got sick and each of us had God-given energy and strength for the work of each day. We were blessed through our work and also through our nightly "processing meetings" and devotionals when we worshipped and prayed together each night. Also, Shubert preached the sermon at church on Sunday and 7 people were baptized in the river that afternoon! It was such a faith-building time for everyone! In all of these new beginnings, we see God at work in Haiti. And through your prayers and donations, you are part of God’s work there. And we thank you!