Navigation

Haiti Trip Update

Five Mosaic Partners (Ken Hahn, MD., Stacy Bellavia, social worker, Gitta Rauen, RN.,and Dave and Bonnie Zollner, lay workers) are currently in Haiti on a mission trip to Terre Blanche in northern Haiti. The team is spending a week working in a medical clinic through Mosaic’s long-term partner, Haiti Foundation of Hope (HFH). During their week of working in the clinic, the team is expected to care for more than 1000 people, some of whom will have traveled over 100 miles to get to there.

*** * * * * Update: 3.5.11 * * * * ***

From team member Bonnie Zollner

"Hello friends!

We arrived late in the afternoon yesterday. The road from Port-au-Prince is definitely improved, but it was still a long, long trip! Pastor Delamy's wife Elvire had prepared a wonderful meal for us, and I think most of the team was in bed by 7:30. A patient came in after that--a young boy who had gotten into some medicine and took what he shouldn't have. The stories this morning about Dr. Ken being awakened from a deep sleep at 8:00pm were pretty amusing! So, clinic officially began just a few hours after we arrived!

Today the first medical clinic ever is being held here in Terre Blanche! More than thirty physicians and nurses from many areas of Haiti are learning about women's health issues. This has been a goal of HFH as they have continued to come alongside the Haitian people so they can better serve their people. Meanwhile, the team is prepackaging medicines that will be given out during the week. About a dozen people are around a dining table measuring, bagging, and tagging medicines as they get to know each other better.

Tomorrow we will greet the church in Terre Blanche, and then drive to Doobedoo (I'm guessing at that spelling!) and worship with them. Pastor Delamy is directly responsible for four churches, and he hasn't been with the Doobedoo church for a while, so we will go there with him. Then in the evening, we will go to Finel to their church. Dr. Joe and Linda will be showing them pictures of the earthquake, as they know a lot about it, but have never seen pictures. That will be a unique experience to share with them.

We appreciate the love and care of our Mosaic family.

Love, Bonnie and the team"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

More Info

While Haiti’s 2010 earthquake did not directly hit Terre Blanche, most locals have taken in family and friends from affected areas, adding to the challenge of having enough food. Malnutrition is the top concern in bringing health to the people of this region which, too often, is ravaged by drought and hurricanes. “We eat what we can find,” was a repeated answer when clinicians on last year’s team asked about patient diets.

Medical care is not effective when patients don’t have the nourishment to heal. Financial donations to provide clinic patients with rice and beans can be made to HFH (see link above). All money given will go directly for this purpose and will be used during the week Mosaic’s team is in Terre Blanche.

Besides malnutrition, diarrhea is an ongoing cause of death, especially in children. One in three Haitian children don’t make it to their fifth birthday. Contaminated water and lack of basic sanitation are being addressed through Mosaic’s support of CHE (Community Health Evangelism). Hand washing stations and latrines are two practical ways these issues are being addressed. Through Advent Conspiracy, Mosaic is providing funds for the construction of ten latrines in an area where they have been nonexistent.