i just returned home from a return trip to Cap Haitian in northern Haiti. Amy Mulvihill, one of our team leaders and Peak instructors joined me as we spend several days working with Open Door Haiti. The ministry that is taking place in the village of Bois de Lance where the ministry is located is nothing short of amazing. Several work teams had been there working hard on the medical clinic, doubling it capacity and helping to create an on site laboratory so the blood work does not have to be sent out. They have also completed a tiled and painted computer lab. This is the only one of its kind as far as the eye can see. They are now working on an irrigation line that will bring much needed water to several acres of fields that they will use to provide food for those in the community that have need. So as you can see God is doing amazing things here.
Amy and i spent the first day working at the clinic. Amy helped to organize medical supplies, while i did rotations with the Dr. and got a better grasp on what medical and health needs the people in the village have. We talked about the prevalence of TB, Malaria, and that almost every person who walks into the door is suffering from a Urinary Tract Infection. The need for community health education is something we are working to help with through teams of nursing students from the Universities we work with as well as adult medical professionals who can go in an teach on community health issues.
The next day we headed up into the mountains for a time of worship and prayer. i wanted Amy to get a glimps of the villages up in the mountains where we hope to take Peak Teams to do relational outreach, and connect them with Open Door Church and Pastor Wiljean. Amy was able to get a great look at some of the villages and meet many of the locals, and a ton of kids!!
Sunday was a great day! i was asked to give the message in Church, which was an honor, and a ton of fun. Wiljean is an excellent interpreter, very gragarious and animated like me...so it was great!! We also experienced a couple local markets. One market, that in some ways would be like a farmers market in the states and in many ways nothing like the ones in the states, was just outside the walls of the church. The hustle and bustle of the local market is always a ton of fun to be a part of, especially when you the only non-local in the market :-) We also went to a market near the ocean where they have some arts and crafts. This is always a great cultural event that the students will enjoy being a part of.
Also while we were there Amy sat down with the pastors wife to begin to plan out a womens conference that they have asked us to help facilitate. This would take place a year from this December and would include up to 1500 women from all around Haiti. Amy will be putting together a team of women to go and train, encourage, and pour into the Haitian women from Open door as well as their two daughter churches and their surrounding communities. An incredible opportunity to share the love of Christ. The theme will be on Being Wholly His. What does it look like to be a Godly woman? What does it look like to be a Godly wife and mother? A Godly neighbor? All of these questions and more will be on tap for this conference.
The next day we jumped on a plane and headed back to the Cities. It was a very quick but very productive trip. We now will begin to plan out some possible spring break trips with college and university students as well as teams of medical professionals who would like to give of their time and talents to minister to these people. So if you are interested in being a part either as one who sends or as one who goes, please do not hesitate to give ma a call or email me at holywseat@hotmail.com.
Thanks so much for all you do to make this ministry happen. Your financial support, your prayers, and your love and encouragement are so very vital to not only the longevity of this ministry, but to my spirit as i seek to serve Christ the best i know how. God bless, and Much Love to all of you...Thanks so very much.
scotty
