"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." Jn 15:12

The relative quiet of the evening has been broken by the waking of the roosters, heralding another day in this remote village of the Artibonite Valley. The last of the Voudon drums are beginning to fade and the dancing and chanting of night are giving way to the local school bells as the teachers begin to call the students to class here in Dessalines. It is a little past 4:30 AM and life is just beginning to stir again as the sounds of the morning begin to filter into the senses.

We have been moving non-stop since arriving only a few days ago with the tasks at hand seemingly growing at an incredible rate. There seems to be little time to simply stop and take stock of the situation as it would seemingly swallow you up were you to dare. Friendships are being renewed and sharing in the incredible sorrow of those impacted by the earthquake of January 12, 2010 has already taken its toll as we look into the faces of those we have known for years.

There are medical personnel here on the premises sorting through literally thousands of dollars of medical supplies abandoned by various NGO and military units as they begin to shut down their units and prepare for the next global hotspot.”

They come from around the USA and Canada, each with their own version of what brought them to this Caribbean island for such difficult assignments. For some it is the adventure and for others the madness, for still others a human compassion that reaches beyond that easily quantified. For those in this particular location it is a sense that God has placed them here “for such a time as this…"

We are seeing literally miracles daily as the surgeons and medical doctors here are piecing back together the fabric of this community. Each in this village has lost someone either directly or indirectly from this catastrophic event. Those doctors and nurses here are starting the second wave of infectious diseases and trauma treatment as people continue coming through the doors seeking assistance. Lives are being salvaged through prayer and the trained minds of those serving in spiritual counseling. It is fair to say the end of each day brings a relative exhaustion of body and mind and yet they keep going out of commitment.

We are sharing stories nightly of this one or that one, who through the grace of God were spared in this devastating event. Of those who retained a limb or digit due to the willingness of those coming to serve. Of individuals who were fortunate enough to have access to medical supplies brought to this community that under normal circumstances would be difficult to find in rural areas.

Being a part of these teams is a privilege that we do not take lightly though our parts are a simple hand on the shoulder or a cup of cold water to someone in need. We are accepting the challenge of supporting those on the ground here in a variety of ways. There are funds to manage – there are no banks on the corner down the street. There is food and water to be brought in to feed those working in the heat of the day – the grocery is a 2 hour drive one way. There are vehicles to coordinate and keep running – we are sharing three with 12 currently. We sense that “as we do unto the least of these…” we are serving in His footsteps.

Over the course of the next several weeks we will be acting coordinators for this mission, overseeing the needs of doctors and nurses, professional trauma counselors, maintenance personnel and others with varying skill sets with a common goal of offering the opportunity to truly seek a new life – one committed to establishing and growing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I share a recent quote with you, paraphrased as my memory is not what it once was, from the founder of the Burger King chain of fast-food stores;

“There are two important days in your life, the first is that day on which you were born, the second is that day on which you discover why you were born”.

Seems fitting here, serving those less fortunate than ourselves, that we should reflect again on what God has provided and consider how we are best suited to do our parts.

There are no limitations to the human spirit and ingenuity, we need to each consider whatever God has provided and perhaps more importantly what we are to do with it.We’ll drop you an update shortly, as time allows, to provide you a glimpse of what life is like on this particular mission field.