4 weeks ago...

Haiti was changed forever.

This week we have been too. We have marveled at miracles, been in awe of generosity, and humbled by the measures of grace we have seen.

We have also been in awe of the devastation, the injuries, the wounds, the sickness and the improper treatment by those who came ahead of us.

We are changed. We are having a blast, and we grieve simultaneously. We will never know the depths of sorrow that is felt by our friends serving here or by the Haitian community, but we will commit to partner with them as they walk in discovery of what the "new normal" will be.

Clinic today was a great success! Yesterday we saw about 200 patients as we were learning our groove. Today we are pretty sure we doubled that. Please continue to pray for us.

(apologies for the limited photos, the internet is not cooperating.)

Clinic Day 1

Words cannot adequately describe our day.

I am SO proud of this group. Their patience, flexibility, endurance, and hard-work meant that hundreds were offered various forms of healing today.

Healing through...

giving a sick child antibiotics...

teaching a mom how to more effectively breast-feed...

listening to an elderly woman and weeping with her as she described losing her entire family...

or praying with a young man who lost his.

We got to be God's hands, feet, ears, and heart today, and we can't wait to go back tomorrow.

You can see pictures here.

Building a clinic in a shanty-town

When we refer to "tent city" we are referring to what used to be a soccer field in Jacmel that has now become home to too many people, living in both make-shift tents, as well as some tents built by the Venezuelan Government. It's sad, because so many people are homeless and living in what we would consider to be substandard conditions, but at the same time, they have no where else to go, and they are making the best of it. Our Saturday photos were a glimpse of "tent city."

Today we took over a corner of tent city, and turned it into a medical clinic. It was awesome! Several of us arrived at 6:30 this morning to start clearing the land of trash, overgrown shrubs and also of things that you don't want to say out loud. The most awesome part, was that without any prompting or asking the residents living in tent city showed up in throngs to help. Together we turned a place of squalor into a place of healing.

You can see pictures here.

Saturday Pictures: Tent City

Resilience

Playground

Kitchen

Home

Fast Food Restaurant

Apartments

Condominiums

Compassion

Clothesline

Cafeteria

Cul de sac

Sunday...

Today we sang, listened, prayed and were humbled. Again, it is such a priviledge for us to be here. We have been afforded the opportunity to join the Haitian church, as they block off the road, and set up church under tarps in front of their church building.

Each of us were challenged today by the words of Nick Mangine as he preached. Many of us were brought to tears as Nick eloquently, and appropriately, led the church in taking another step forward in healing from the earthquake. This earthquake changed everyone's lives, and we get to be witnesses, and encouragers as they take steps towards healing.

I encourage you to ask your family members about today. Ask questions about what it was like, how they felt, what they saw. I know that I, myself, will never forget the face of an elderly Haitian woman weeping after being given permission to do so by Nick. Never. I don't know her story, I don't know how the earthquake changed her life, but what I do know, is that she was given the freedom this morning to let her heart break before God, and again, she is changed.

Future Clinic Location

This is one of the many images we've gathered of "tent city" on Saturday. Today it was officially decided that our team will erect another tent here, this one 20" X 40" and create a clinic for those needing care. Set-up starts at 6am tomorrow morning. We hope to have the supplies set up in the tent in order to start by 8am.

One team, many purposes...

A quick try for internet access proved successful! Thanks for being patient with us. Mostly wanted to post a quick update to assure the families that we are all here, safe and sound, and having some fun.

I'll try to post more pictures and stories if internet allows, but for now, rest in the knowledge that we are all safe, we are all together, and we are all doing well. We are ready and eager to start clinic tomorrow, and are overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity that has been given to us as a group representing Crosspointe Church.

It is an honor to be here. We recognize that this trip isn't just about medicine, but that it is about healing in many ways. It's about encouraging our friends the Pye's and the Mangine's, and their kids, it's about reminding them that even when crisis hits, as a church we are here for them, that we love them, that we are committed to them, and we will help them move forward.

This morning it's about worshipping in the street with the church here, praising the God we all know and love, and reminding them, that He is here. God has never left them, and He never will.

(for our families watching this blog for updates...if the blog is quiet, please don't worry about us, it mostly means that internet isn't allowing for us to post. The phone allows for almost continual twitter updates, so watch the sidebar to the right.)

Update from Jacmel Haiti

Thanks for praying!

Team #1 is on the ground in Jacmel, Haiti! As of now the second team will board a plane at first light Saturday morning and fly to Jacmel. They have accommodations through G.O. Ministries in Santiago.

Rick Smith (for Pam)

Quick Update from the DR...

This is not Pam sorry if I disappoint but she asked me (Rick Smith) to get this quick update out.

9 of the team are now on the way to Jacmel, Haiti from Santiago. One of the airplanes that they were scheduled to use had mechanical issues in Jacmel earlier so not all of them could get on the plane.

The 9 that are on the way to Jacmel right now are Angela Kline, Trish Koslowsky, Kris Stoner, Jennie Kowaleski, Brad Carlson, Chris McDaniels, Cecile Noel, Marslyn Clark and Melanie Mangum.

The remaining 6 are still hopeful to get out yet today depending on the availability of another plane. Worst case is that they will travel to Jacmel first thing in the morning. Accommodations have already been arranged if they need to spend the night in the DR.

Updates will continue to be posted here as soon as they are available.

What a little teamwork does...

15 people

2.5 hours

30 bags

1600 lbs of medical supplies.

It's gonna be an awesome week!