Bethesda Evangelical Mission

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Email PastorLubin@bemhaiti.org
203-676-2848 / 203-668-6435

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Update From Haiti, February 26th 2010 #2

Friday, 26 February 2010 22:22

Dear bemhaiti.org friends and visitors,

It was another outstanding day in the mission field. Just as we did earlier, we have some of our medical team sharing with you their personal experiences. This time it is Pastor Tom Walsh and Cara Gooding, a registered nurse.

I'm always impressed by the stories when Jesus and His disciples are swarmed by crowds of needy people. Today we experienced a taste of what that must have been like. We held a clinic at Brefette, and it was packed. My name is Tom Walsh and my brother-in-law Jason Jones and I run the pharmacy. We see everybody that comes through. Our nurses are awesome. They fill out patient information including orders for medication which we fill. The best part of our job is teaching the patients how to take their medications and how to get well. The best moment is when I can place my hand on a patient's shoulder and with compassion share healing with them. These are the easiest people to love. They have so little. They are not demanding and always grateful. The most memorable patient today was a 12-year-old girl who is caring for 5 younger children because she has no parents. I didn't have time to listen to her entire story because of the swarming crowd. There are always 5 more patients right behind this one. I handed the case off to Pastor Lubin. I don't think I could I can ever hand off the look of determination and responsibility in the eyes of that young girl though. Its an honor to be in this swarm and I think they are healing something in me. I'm not even sure what it is, but serving in love changes it.

Tom Walsh

I've always considered myself an adventurer however having to "water the daisies" on the ground in front of 20 strangers was a bit of a challenge. These are the things we laugh about at the end of a long day. After seeing about 180 patients, our team reflects on the day's work. Although we are a medical team I found that the majority of the problems that Brefette faces are the lack of food, clean drinking water, and a basic knowledge of general health. We not only taught patients but families about the importance of drinking clean water. The things we see the most are parasites and fungal infections. Until there is a source of clean drinking water this situation is not going to change. The solutions are simple and yet unattainable. Tomorrow we start all over again, one person at a time.

Cara Gooding

Powerful ways to experience a life-changing moment in the mission field with BEM. Tomorrow we will have 2 more stories from 2 more team members. Keep checking the updates because you never know what you may be missing.

Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you under His care.

From Les Cayes with the BEM medical team...

Pastor Lubin

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Update From Haiti, February 26th 2010

Friday, 26 February 2010 12:53

To our faithful friends and partners!

As we are getting ready to start yet another in Les Cayes to serve the people of Haiti, we have you in mind. We know many are thinking about us and are praying for us, and for this this we are grateful.

Yesterday was our first day of service, and we had the opportunity to serve the refugees from Port-au-Prince now living on the soccer field in Les Cayes. We had a late start, but we had a good day. We saw people with all kinds of problems, from simple heartburn to severe infections. Due to the seriousness of some of the cases, about 10 people were sent to hospital immediately to receive more specific care. We saw 111 people ranging from age 6-months to 96 years old.

Our oldest patient had a broken arm from approximately 2 years ago, and is a case that no one can explain medically. He is able to do virtually anything he wants and yet the bones are not even connected. This man's joy brought life to the clinic and our team found strength and encouragement from him.

This is how Chris and Jen explained the experience:

I treated a 95 year old man at our clinic in the soccer field in Les Cayes. This man had more spirit than any man I have ever encountered. He entered and left our clinic with a smile and rejuvenated every person he interacted with. Toward the end of the day when everyone was tired and in pain, this man came into our clinic and into our hearts. We did not treat him today, he treated all of us as we shared in laughter and love of life and for Jesus.

Chris Rusate, RN

This man also touched my heart with such sincerity and joy. I walked back into the clinic from a break and saw this lovely little graceful man sitting humbly, when yet I had no idea what kind of beautiful, jovial spirit he had and was about to share with our team. The first words out of my mouth were "Oh my goodness! This man is adorable!". I walked over just to lay my hand on his shoulder and offer a kind gesture when he embraced me and the team with precious smiles and joyous pictures with the teammates. For a geriatric nurse, this man was a heartthrob! When asked about where his family was, he replied that his only family that remained was his church family. Quite the blessing for the first day of a most needed mission week.

Jen Hansen, RN

With a well-organized team, one in-taker, one taking blood-pressure, four nurses seeing patients, three at the pharmacy, and one prayer warrior, we were ready to serve and deliver basic health-care to some of those in need in Haiti.

At lunch time, because we had the financial support of Casimir Pulaski Elementary School of Meriden CT, we provided food for all the residents on the field. The children from Pulaski collected coins, talked with their parents and along with the support of their teachers and the principal Mr. Tom Brown, collected $2,100 to help the victims of the earthquake. Thank you Pulaski, you have made a tremendous difference!

Today we will be at one of the most needy areas in Les Cayes, the village of Brefette. Its only 5 miles from the city. Please pray for the patients and the strength of the team. We are grateful to the Lord that our team in healthy and strong, we have meds and we are buying more every day. We are anticipating seeing 150 patients (or more) today and we need your prayers.

It was a great sight to see after our clinic yesterday, everyone including the town Mayor were praying over the medical cards of all the patients we just saw, knowing that the Lord is the healer and not us. It was simply wonderful!

May God bless and keep you as you continue to serve him daily, until the next team update.

Your servant in the field,

Pastor Lubin

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Update From Haiti, February 25th 2010

Thursday, 25 February 2010 08:36

To our faithful friends and families in the US,

Due to the task and the crazy hours on travel days and other technical difficulties, we were unable to send an update yesterday. But whenever we had a chance we took pictures which we hope you enjoy.

We left Wallingford Wednesday at 1:30am and arrived at JFK International Airport at 3:30am where we faced the opposition of American Airlines. They refused to allow us to check additional bags. We explained to the desk supervisor that we are a Christian relief / charitable organization, but they still did not allow us the chance to check the extra bags in. However, the Lord worked in the heart of another desk worker who allowed us to shift some items around, meaning emptying the bags that were too light and make room in the heavy bags and waived the overload costs. She even allowed us to duct-tape together 2 bags at no additional cost. So 10 people checked 25 bags and only paid an additional $300, instead of the original $700 overcharge! We called the second worker "our angel"! Once again, your prayers have been answered.

We departed at 5:45am to catch a connecting flight at Miami International and landed in Port-au-Prince at 12:05pm.

Our famous bus driver, Gary Jean, came later than expected with one van instead of 2. The team went to a trusted restaurant for a wonderful lunch of rice, beans, salad, and juice. We took eating shifts as some of us needed to stay with the bags as the others ate. We then departed for Les Cayes. On our way we drove by some national structures, now destroyed by the earthquake such as the National Palace, the Catholic Cathedral, and the Federal Prison. The scene was truly both unbelievable and heartbreaking. A great number of houses were down, the people's spirits were high and extremely positive.

We are amazed to see, inspite of the earthquake, the road to Les Cayes is not as damaged as it could have been.

We arrived in Les Cayes at about 7:45pm and enjoyed a wonderful traditional spaghetti dinner, sorted out the meds and headed to our bedrooms for some much needed rest.