Working Together
By Dr. Joe and Linda Markee, HFH board members and team leaders:
“We are stronger when we work together.” This was the theme of the week for the recent medical team working in Haiti. (“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecc. 4:12)
Some of the beans and rice for distribution following Hurricane Matthew.
We served in Terre Blanche, both in 2004 and 2008, after devastating hurricanes and floods. This month, we arrived just a week after Hurricane Matthew hit the country.
Although villagers in Terre Blanche did not receive the devastation that they experienced in earlier storms, they did lose all of their crops which the community depends on. This compounded the existing problem caused by a drought that had been going on for more than two years.
With news of Hurricane Matthew’s impending arrival, the Clinic of Hope staff prepared for flooding, cholera, safe areas, and other emergencies. Terre Blanche is thankful that they did not receive the total destruction like the southern areas of Haiti.
So what do you do to help after a hurricane has wiped out the main food source? We asked Pastor Delamy and he immediately responded, “You invest in the students … You increase their nutrition with fish and vegetables and provide an additional breakfast meal for the youngest students.”
Young students enjoying spaghetti for breakfast.
So that is what happened. These young kids (about 70) received a spaghetti breakfast (a Haitian favorite). It was a joy to see them wait until all were served, then pray and begin eating.
Thanks to the many generous donors, rice and beans were distributed to about 800 people. Pastor Delamy and the fleet of community health volunteers were able to find the most needy and deliver food. There was much dancing and singing when they opened their doors and found M. Merci Dieu handing them food.
There are many reasons to be thankful that we were in Haiti at this time. One reason was a 10-day-old baby girl who was brought to the clinic because she had not opened her eyes. She had a severe eye infection from birth. With treatment and many prayers, her sight was saved.
Another mother came to the clinic with her hydrocephalic child. When her husband realized the condition of his child, he had kicked the mother and both children out of the home. She was left without resources. Fortunately, a staff member at the clinic was able to assist the family.
Thank you for your continued support.
We’ve heard it said by former team members that Terre Blanche does not look the same as on previous trips. We can say the same for 2016. Thanks to all the support to upgrade the cafeteria, the Haiti Foundation of Hope campus is much different.
Written by Donna Vander Griend, February 2014 team member:
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