Gentlefolk:
It is now roughly six months (27 weeks)post-earthquake in Haiti. Millions of dollars of aid are at long last pouring steadily into the country for ongoing relief efforts through USAID, UNICEF, WHO, Red Cross and literally hundreds of other smaller organizations;( most of which are faith-based as is our own MOL).  And yet, it is a frustrating and baffling fact that many warehouses of these various missions are jam-packed with items the suffering populace are in terrible need of, but somehow are not being efficiently distributed. I’m here to tell you that our warehouse at Jolivert was virtually emptied within two weeks of the boat’s arrival with tons of donated and purchased relief items.  Across the country food programs are still hugely in need, as are rebuilding projects, temporary shelters, and medical interventions from a variety of sources. Many of the volunteer medical personnel have gone home and left Haiti with a crucial shortage of desperately needed health care. As I mentioned in an earlier report, our clinic at Jolivert has become a staging center for many of these efforts and our staff is busily serving ever-growing numbers of refugees and overburdened locals whose meager households have become overwhelmed with relatives and friends left homeless or jobless by the earthquake. What has become very clear is that widespread hunger and disease are still rampant throughout Haiti.
The good news is: MOL has played a crucial role in this terrible disaster by having provided tons of relief supplies; including several pallets of meals-ready-to-eat, medical supplies and dressings, and about 130,000 packaged meals for children. I have just ordered an additional 130,000 meals which will be distributed later on this summer, and if funds are provided, for months to come as the effects of the earthquake will be felt for months; even years ahead. Just yesterday a 2 ½ ton Army surplus truck (donated by the kind folks at Crossroads Church in Evansville, IN) arrived on the dock at Gonaives. It’s packed to the brim with additional tents and tarps and assorted other relief supplies including thousands of garden seed for the local farmers.  This truck will be leaving for Port-au-Prince right away where we continue to employ our dwindling earthquake-related funds in several areas of need. I’m also pleased to report that MSPP (the Haitian ministry of health) has provided our clinic with a full-time physician with the fiat that we pay a portion of her salary. Our share will be $300 US per month. We are also in full partnership with the MSPP nowadays with HIV/AIDS testing and ongoing immunizations, and will receive much help from WHO and others with lab supplies and testing materials. Betty (my wife, an RN and chief operational officer for the mission) will be leading a surgical team during October to perform many hernia repairs and other elective surgical procedures for the first time ever at Jolivert. I also spoke by phone today with a Navy lieutenant aboard the USS Iwo Jima who informs me that a large Navy medical team will soon come ashore at Port-de-Paix (only 20 miles north of our clinic) to make a huge medical intervention in that area.   So please be assured the work goes on, God is still in charge, and I can see a much brighter future for Haiti emerging from the rubble of this horrible catastrophe one day.
On the evangelical scene, we’re supporting our group of Haitian men evangelists, the Soldat Valiant, in their efforts to build a new church in Bel Air. This extremely remote and inaccessible mountain community has no church and the people must walk five hours to attend a church. We’ve provided Soldat Valiant with tarps, food,clothing and a small generator to use for their ministry. They are providing help for the people of Bel Air. Soldat has to walk five hours to do this ministry, as there are no roads. I wonder how many of us would be willing to walk five hours each Sunday to spread the gospel? Our secretary, Pat Duarte, will be leading an evangelic team in on August 6th, where a pastor’s seminar will be held at our conference center with around 100 pastors attending. A revival will also be preached by Rev. Darrel Cook of Evansville Ind. These seminars have been extremely popular over the years, and we try to have one every six months or so. One of our director, Dale Breedlove will be teaching one this winter on the Holy Spirit.
Thanks once more for your faithful support and I pray you will be moved to continue your prayers and financial support at this crucial juncture for MOL and the Haitians we serve to the glory of God. The fact is, our monthly operational costs have nearly doubled and we need more than ever many supporters willing to send a small check every month. I’m praying for more churches to come on board with monthly donations of $100 or more; and remember, individuals can become a ministry partner for only $20.00. Be blessed!
Dr Bob, Hartford, KY, 12 July, 2010
Half an hour later though, Widson had us back on the road headed to Jolivert.
