haiti update - october 12, 2007

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. James 2:14-18

Hi! This week was a busy week running around getting medical visas done for a couple of children who are leaving for the United States tomorrow morning. One of the children, Biverley is getting treatment for her clubbed feet. We helped out the mission that organized her care by doing the medical visa work. Emerson is the other child. Attached is a photo of him. He is the 22 month old boy who has a severe cleft lip/palate. He will be going to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The plastic surgeon is going to reconstruct his face and I can’t wait until we get photos of his new face! His parents are Christians and never gave up praying for help to be found for him. He is their only child. The mother told me that many times people came up to her and told her that if they had a child like that they would abandon him. She responded to them that this is the child that God gave her and she will look after him. Now that he is getting care she said that she would be a witness for God. She plans to witness to those who told her to abandon her son. She has photos of what he looked like when he was first born and what he looks like now. God willing she will in the future also have photos of her son with a new face. She plans on testifying to God’s grace and His healing mercies. Pray for traveling mercies for these 2 children as they travel and also comfort for their parents as they have to live for a time apart from their children.
The bible passage above speaks of what it means to be a Christian. We must show our faith through deeds. The following is an excerpt from the doctors letter written to the US Consulate in order for Biverley to get a medical visa: “I am honored that the ministry is allowing me to assist in the correction of her clubfoot deformity….I am excited the Lord has allowed me another opportunity to serve HIM by helping one of HIS children.” This orthopedic surgeon is a Christian. In our Christian walk we must serve HIM by serving others with whatever abilities the Lord gives us.
While showing the medical team last week Bernard Mevs Hospital on Airport Road, they saw a hydrocephalus baby that was there. I know the mother. The baby’s name is Sara Simeon. Her head has now ballooned to 79cm. The amazing thing is that her neurological signs are normal and she has no sun-downing of her eyes (this is where the pupils turn downward because of the pressure on the brain from the excess of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain). The team was encouraged seeing her and will speak with fellow doctors back in the United States to see what they can do for her there. Pray for Sara and her mother as she lovingly looks after her daughter. Attached is a photo of her.
We also continue to provide medical care for a child that attends Randy and Karen’s school. Judith Pelican is a girl whose family is poor and because of their poverty she is not able to get proper nutrition. We took her for lab tests and she is anemic. Next week we will be getting additional lab work done as well as a chest xray and sonogram on her abdomen. For a poor child summer vacation from school means hunger sometimes. While she will be getting a lunch meal at Randy and Karen’s school, for Judith it would be best that she have 2 nutritious meals. Last year she ate breakfast here at the house where she received an extra protein boost by eating an egg and peanut butter sandwich as well as a glass of milk for calcium. We will do this again this year as well. Keep her in prayer as the doctors try to get a good understanding of her medical problem.
Now is rainy season and we have been getting a lot of rain. The Cayes area of the country has had a lot of flooding because of rivers overflowing their banks and as a result some houses were damaged/destroyed as well. At least 45 people lost their lives because of flooding with several others missing, especially in the Cabaret region. Tonight as I am writing this we just had another rain shower.
In politics the CEP (electoral council responsible for organizing elections) is not functioning very well right now. An investigation into allegations that members of Haiti’s electoral council have misappropriated public funds forced authorities to abandon plans to hold elections in November for a third of Haiti’s senate seats. A senate seat is important for political power as the Senate has the constitutional power to fire the prime minister and government ministers.
Late in the week 5 young men were killed in the Fontamara 43 (Carrefour) area of Port-au-Prince. They were killed because they were accused by gang members of cooperating with police and the UN. Each of these young people received a bullet to the mouth. The people in the community believe these gang members were recently released from prison. Now that the police are arresting more people there is a shortage of space available in the prisons. To make room for new prisoners some other prisoners were released. It looks like some of these prisoners released were best left to stay behind bars. In September, a Haitian pastor was also killed in this same area. He led a community group called “Reduction de la Violence” (Reduction of Violence). Pray for Haitians who are trying to make their country better.
Haitians are trying to take refuge in Canada. 4 haitians tried to go to Canada from the US border at the Lacolle, Quebec border point near Montreal. They were stopped at the border and sent back. They are trying this because detention and deportation are more likely under the United States system.
That’s all the news for tonight. Have a good evening!