Travel – Page 9 – Waite for it…

Haiti (April 14: final clinic day)

Posted on April 14, 2016 by William Douthwaite

Another long bumpy ride took us back to Thomonde for our last clinic day. I talked about Jesus and the woman at the well to start things off today.

I was honored to do another baptism today for a man nearly at the end of his life. The tap on my shoulder late in the morning took me to a gentleman failing quickly due to old age. A celebration broke out as he confessed his faith and I spilled three handfuls of water from a small bag over Jean’s head. God just keeps adding to the number of those being saved! What a privilege to be the first to pray with a new brother in Christ!

The local church will send people to his home to provide care in his last days.

I had two encounters with a woman who came through my little prayer station. Pregnant, with a history of miscarriage and a tumor on her neck, she neede extra encouragement today. We surrounded her in prayer for some of God’s joy and peace in her life.

A number of people asked for prayers of “deliverance” today. They offered no other details, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they had at some point connected with voodoo. Voodoo is still a part of the fabric of life here. In any event, I offered a number of prayers for the freedom Christ brings.

We saw people for about three hours today before packing up to return home before the evening rains. I don’t know that we saw many really sick in the mountains this week. Beyond a few aches and pains, most were fairly strong and healthy.

Ministry, Travel

Haiti (April 12: second clinic day in Bien Amie)

Posted on April 12, 2016 by William Douthwaite

Learning an important lesson from yesterday, we left much earlier and got to the church in Bien Amie by 9 am. As we set up I taught the story of Zacchaeus to the waiting crowd of moms and babies. Then we settled into seeing patients.

Some of the team taught a birthing class, a newborn class, along with the tooth brushing class. Nothing extraordinary today — except for a baptism!

Sometime in the morning we stopped everything and I got to baptize a beautiful 18 month old little girl, Essmina. With a tent full of witnesses and more watching from the outside we celebrated her new birth into the family of God. What a privilege and what a great moment. God’s mercy, life and salvation poured out onto that mountainside piece of holy ground! I guess I probably taken my shoes off. Oh well; next time…

As I prayed with all who came through the main registration, I did the wordless book with two more who trusted Jesus as Savior. I ask every one either, “Are you a Christian?” Or “Do you trust that Jesus is your Savior?” Most say yes, and I believe most are sincere. And then suddenly, some one says, “No,” and I get to tell them more about Christ. My translator, Jemmy, is great and keeps right up with me.

Tomorrow a new site, another remote location at the edge of somewhere.

Ministry, Travel

Haiti (April 11: first clinic day in Bien Amie)

Posted on April 11, 2016May 4, 2016 by William Douthwaite

We were up and out by 7:45 am on our way to the small mountain community of Bien Amie. We ran right into horrendous Port-Au-Prince rush hour traffic. It took our four 4x4s two hours just to get out of the city. Mostly stand still. With no traffic direction and no traffic lights, it’s a free -for-all. You don’t flinch, you just keep driving. It’s truly a game of inches.

We finally got to the church about 11:30 and started to set up. Now by church, I mean a flat 25×25 foot area on a hillside shaded by torn tarps suspended by rough hewn poles. Our ears popped, so I’m guessing we were up about 3,000 feet. There were about 300 people waiting, many moms and kids.

We set up places for 3 providers, a pharmacy, treatment, and to see most of the children. After I presented the gospel to all the moms gathered there, I had a translator and got to talk to everyone who needed to see a doctor after they registered. I asked if the were Christian, and how I could pray for them. These were great conversations. Prayer requests ranged from deliverance to children to a stronger faith. I had two conversations that actually led to first time faith. One was a man who had heard a lot about Jesus and wanted to take the next step. The other was a woman who had miscarried, she believed, because of her involvement with voodoo. I led her through the whole wordless book and prayed as she told God of her faith and asked for forgiveness. I then connected her with a local pastor for more conversation.

We wrapped up about 4 and got home by 6. Yes, we took a different way home!

Ministry, Travel

Haiti (Worship and prep day: April 10)

Posted on April 10, 2016 by William Douthwaite

After an interesting breakfast, we loaded up and went to worship at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Oh, you were wondering what I meant by interesting? A spicy bean soup, fresh mango and pineapple and croissants. I usually don’t have soup for breakfast, but I’m glad I tried it. Very tasty. Worship was spirited, a familiar liturgy (though in Haitian Creole) and very well attended. One of our translators sat next to me to tell me the scripture readings so I could follow along in my bible. It was fun to try.

After worship we headed out to an orphanage that housed 14 teen boys. It was in great disrepair, but our doc said the boys were fairly healthy. A sad place to be but one that could come alive with a few seeds to plant and some chickens in the yard. Mission:Haiti is exploring the best way to help.

From there we got to stop by Lophane’s new guest house, still under construction. It just needs some floors, electrical and plumbing. The roof and stairways were poured concrete. I’m not sure how they do that, but it looked great.

Lophane's guest house — Lophane’s guest house

Back at Walls guest house, we are a quick lunch and started to prepare our supplies for the week. We counted out hundreds of bags of vitamins and medications, birthing kits, baby kits and hygiene kits. The kits would be used in the education we will present this week. I know you’re wondering: a birthing kit consists of a pad to sit on, gloves, gauze pads, a washcloth, some strings, a razor to cut the umbilical and some instructions. A little teaching goes a long way in helping the people care for themselves.

Our team brought so much along, including diapers, washcloths, baby clothes, and medication. We’ll be in some remote areas where there ‘s no where to go to buy anything. I wonder how they live off the land there. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. The pastor of the church there is so excited that we’re coming. We will help him connect with many families for future ministry.

Ministry, Travel

Haiti (day 1: arrival)

Posted on April 9, 2016April 9, 2016 by William Douthwaite

After an uneventful (but very early) flight to Port-au-Prince, we got a ride to Walls Guest House, our home base for the week. After a quick unload of twenty -something fifty pound duffles full of supplies, we rode over to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church to attend the Saturday program, which members from our church support.

It was so good to see our friend Lophane, Pastor Josie and his wife Elise, and listen to the voices of over 160 children in attendance. We also helped serve lunch, then we headed out to a small pizza/burger place for lunch.

Back at Walls, we were able to catch a nap and relax a little. After a supper of noodles and sauce, we met to go over our plan for the week.

Our team comes from all over the U. S. from teens to retired, some medical providers, some not. Some wide-eyed first timers in Haiti; others have been here eight times or more.

When we stepped out of the airport today, Lisa and I both thought, “This feels like Haiti.” What’s that mean? It’s hard to say. The air is filled with a smoky, musty, diesel-exhaust smell, Bougenvillas in full bloom are tumbling over every wall and fence, and the ever present sound of car horns fills the air. It’s been five years since my last trip, but it feels familiar.

The streets are lined with a strange mix of new construction, buildings in disrepair and make shift home in every nook and cranny. We were told that ecause of inflation, things are actually worse here. Last year’s twenty-dollar bag of rice for the Saturday program now costs $35.

Church tomorrow, then we sort and organize all our supplies for Monday’s clinic.

Ministry, Travel

Haiti (prequel)

Posted on April 8, 2016 by William Douthwaite

We are headed out to Haiti tomorrow morning with a Mission:Haiti team to a small community not too far from Port-au-Prince called Bien Amie. Google Maps and Earth doesn’t show much out there. Helen, our trip leader, reports that no mission teams have yet been to this area. This will be their first exposure to the medical care and education we can bring to them. Bien Amie 1

It’s been five years since my last trip to Haiti. Where did that time go? The last time we took a group from our church and did a lot of work with Lutheran Schools in the Port-au-Prince area. It will be interesting to see what has been repaired and rebuilt since my last time there and since the earthquake six year ago.

Continue reading “Haiti (prequel)” →

Ministry, Travel

Madagascar (part 6 – clinic day four in Ambohimponana)

Posted on November 4, 2015November 4, 2015 by William Douthwaite

So many people were quietly waiting when we arrived at the fourth clinic site on Thursday, October 15. It felt calmer and less rushed, but we still saw more than 400 patients.

After clinic, we went to see the oldest Lutheran Chuch in Madagascar, established in 1867. They were in a sanctuary build in 1950. The front of the pulpit was a beautiful carved Luther rose. Every church has a Bible verse arching above the chancel.

We then traveled to a community that housed and cared for 140 mentally-ill, addicted and demon possessed people called Toby (TWO-by). Yes, demon-possessed, as described Pastor Bob Bennett’s book I Am Not Afraid. Some were in chains, to keep them from hurting themselves and others. We went in part to give them some rice and oil, but also to experience this unique situation supported by a number of churches. It was clean and well-kept, but not a place where you really wanted to spend time if you didn’t have to. The Church there was beautiful.

Our guides next took us to a small candy making shop where the owners mixed up some Bon Bon Gasy (“Madagascar candy”) for us. We brought home eight flavors.

Upon returning home, Dr. Harison provided a delicious barbecue for all, to say thanks and good-bye. Tomorrow we leave Antsirabe. Altogether we’ve seen over 2,000 patients over four clinic days!

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Ministry, Travel

Madagascar (part 4 – second clinic day in Ambano)

Posted on November 2, 2015November 2, 2015 by William Douthwaite

Tuesday’s clinic ( October 13) was at a Lutheran church in Ambano, only 30 minutes away, a location where a team hadn’t gone before. About 100 people were waiting for us. After a devotion by Pastor Andy, the local pastor, we opened the doors.

We saw 425 patients on day two. Janelle helped us set up a highly-efficient, high volume, assembly-line pharmacy, and we were able to keep up and fill every prescription, finishing up by 3 pm. On this day I had the chance to interact with some of the patients, especially children. Dr. Harison was amazed at how many patients with goiters came through his makeshift office, a concern he would communicate to the local health ministry. Molly had a chance to teach both tooth brushing and hand washing, giving out lots of tooth brushes, toothpaste and soap.

Since we got done a little earlier, we went to a Jewel market, a long row of little outdoor shops, all selling semi-precious gems. We really didn’t see anything we wanted to buy at this location.

Our next stop was a place where artisans made everything and anything you can imagine from the horns of zebu. We bought a few souvenirs here.

We then went to a little shop where a woman made her own paper which she then crafted into postcards and notecards. She also made silk thread and wove beautiful scarves. We did buy some items here.

Supper was a very well done pork tenderloin, noodles, rice and French fries, along with some watermelon and mango.

After supper, it was more pill packing then off to bed.

A demonstration of how to make just about anything from a zebu horn

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Ministry, Travel

Madagascar (part three – clinic day one in Antsiriribe)

Posted on October 28, 2015February 28, 2020 by William Douthwaite

Photo Oct 11, 8 33 00 PM — Waiting for the clinic to open

Monday (October 12) was our first clinic day in Antsirirabe (not to be confused with Antsirabe, where the Lutheran Hospital is located). After a two-hour drive on OK roads, we went off-road for the last hilly and bumpy final 7 km that took us to a Lutheran Church where the local pastor said 800 people were waiting for us. A team had supplied a clinic here in September, so word must have gotten around. They were gracious and patient as we set up and began to see patients.

The basic flow: (1) sign in, with weight and age; (2) see a nurse for BP and triage (what’s your main concern today?); (3) see a doctor, or Joanna, the NP working here for the year; (4) pick up your prescription at the “pharmacy.” “Pharmacy” is a table with all of our meds spread out, waiting to be put into bags as prescribed. I think we had three triage stations, three providers, and seven of us working in the pharmacy. The other two pastors with us directed traffic from one station to another.

We saw 607 patients that day before we closed up shop at 4:30. I worked as a runner in the pharmacy, taking filled pill bags to Jeanelle, our pharmacist, for a final check, who handed them off to an interpreter to deliver to the patient. I helped restock all the stations where prescriptions were filled. We gave out antibiotics, antifungal cream, analgesics, and many, many, many vitamins.

I thought we were doing very well, until at the end of the day we still had a stack of unfilled prescriptions! Where did they come from? We would need a better system for the next few days. No worries – Jeanelle had a plan for tomorrow. Also, a team would come back next week to fulfill all those prescriptions.

The doctors and Joanna didn’t need interpreters, so we were able to see many patients in a short time. Plus, there weren’t too many severe cases. Mostly headaches, hypertension, asthma (all that dust we were breathing) and infections. A few were referred for further hospital care, but the hospital is several days walk away and fairly expensive. I’m not sure what happened to them.

We had some very well done zebu of supper that night, along with some Three Horses Beer, a native brew of Madagascar. After supper and devotions, we filled hundreds of bags with vitamins and other medications to help facilitate a speedier pharmacy in the morning.