Saturday, January 6, 2018

Kylee's blog- Jan 6

Kylee here and as always, I am struggling to find the words to sum up my time here in Haiti. These past 10 days we were pushed, challenged, crushed, and sometimes felt without hope. There were days that were hard, when reality just felt like too much to handle. But God in his infinite goodness reminded me of His beauty and faithfulness, even in the devastation. He filled me with peace knowing that His plans for His children are so good and that is more than enough. The Haitian people are such an example to me. They reflect the joy of the Lord in the most incredible way and that is one thing that I want to bring home with me to the states and I pray it never leaves.

Today we took a visit to Children’s Health Ministries, which is a nutritional / neonatal clinic in Haiti that has such a fruitful ministry that is impacting so many sweet babies’ lives. Their ministry was exactly what my heart is passionate about and it was so refreshing to see the care they are helping to provide to the wonderful people in Haiti. I definitely recommend you all check them out and continue to pray for their ministry- God is on the move!

I’m sorry for this blog being so short but I’m struggling to process what exactly I’m feeling right now. Trusting in the God who will never let us down. Praying you all know how loved you are by the Father and that your worth is found in Christ alone. Be blessed!

Friday, January 5, 2018

Photos- Day 8

The group walking to clinic. 

Pharmacy set up

Pharmacy again (I spent all day here so not many other photos. I will post more when others share) 

Rapid HIV and syphillis tests- both negative. 

Prayer station

Intake


With the doctor

James getting his BP taken






Julia's blog

Last night was rough. If I’m honest, this whole trip has been rough for me. I’ve witnessed so many hard things—so many people hurting. I’ve been wrestling with trying to reconcile the head-truth I know that God is good, while at the same time, my heart is breaking under the weight of what many of these people have to go through. None of it seems fair. None of it seems just, much less the plan of a God who is good and only does good. Last night, the disconnect felt like more than I could bear. I weakly prayed a psalm into my pillow: “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust” (Psalm 43:8). I woke to the sound of rain.

God is good…He has been proven that in countless ways. He reminded me at Church on New Years Eve in the pounding and praising of my brothers and sisters, He showed us in providing for KB, He even made me feel it in the great-heart love of the staff for the Haitian people. He shows His goodness in the fullest moon. He pours His goodness on the earth in the falling rain.

Hope deferred and sorrow and pain in this life are real…but they are not in vain, all because of Jesus. He has the victory over sin and death. He made a way for even the most broken lives and stories to be made whole. He is a God of redemption. He came to bind up the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61). I realized in the sound of rain that my God is able, His arm is not shortened, He is always good. And He has us here to tell and be conduits of His goodness. The doubt I’ve let take root in my heart has eaten away at me all week. Today God reminded me that He is good…even if I can’t see it. I’m thankful He is also a God whose mercies are new every morning. He helps my unbelief. God’s okay with questions. I’m still processing all this…very slowly…but from now on, I’m going to ask God my questions with an intention to trust in His goodness. 

Today we hosted a clinic for the people in our community. We saw around forty-five patients. People came from all around: small ones and big ones, grandma ones and kid ones, and everyone in between. Many got help and medicine, not to mention a bucket load of prayer and even some preaching (shout out to James). I sat in several consultations with the doctor. Before any patients came in, I prayed that God would give me eyes to see these people the way He sees them. A little, strong lady walked in with a solemn smile and a hot pink hat. The hat immediately pulled me back to being home with my mom. My mom wears a hat just like it (only gray) whenever she works in her garden…she folds the front up the same way too. The whole time the doctor talked with the little lady, I kept thinking, “what if this was my mom, sitting here next to me.” My heart went out to her. After the hat lady, a quiet old man shuffled in, his hand trembling as he clutched his call number. It was a sure sign of Parkinson’s disease. I saw in the man an elderly friend I know who has Parkinson’s too. Suddenly, he was more than a stranger from a different culture, a different country, a different life. I looked into his wrinkled face and saw my brother. I felt such a connection to the people we served. Today was a good day to be human.


Thursday, January 4, 2018

Taylor's blog

Hi Everyone!

This is Taylor, a Malone Nursing Student. I am extremely excited about the opportunity to serve God and His mission in Haiti. Haiti is a beautiful country that quickly stole my heart. As you know, a couple days ago we visited a general hospital. It hit a lot of us hard to see the poor condition and lack of resources this hospital had. However, today restored my hope for the future of Haiti. We had the opportunity to tour a private hospital ran by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Five of us, including myself, were able to scrub into the OR. The OR team exceeded my expectations. They made sure sterile techniques were implemented and their equipment was advanced just like in the US. I was very impressed and pleased with the condition this hospital was in and was reassured that Haitians were getting above average care here. Some units even made American hospitals look subpar. Tomorrow we are holding a public clinic for the community. I am anxious and excited to see how God will continue to work in the community during our last couple days here.

p.s Mom, I am okay… just really hot. Love you

Cody's blog

Hey everyone,

This is Cody, who is the leader of the Malone nursing students.  Today was an amazing and uplifting day as we got tour a private hospital here in Carrefour.  After touring the public hospital on Monday, everyone’s spirits were down because of the conditions people were being cared for in.  The private hospital was very clean and the patient rooms were amazing.  They were actually bigger than most hospital rooms in America and they each even had their own balcony overlooking the city and the mountains.  After the hospital, we walked around our neighborhood and told everyone about the clinic we are having tomorrow.  This is my second time in Haiti and yet it still blows me away.  There is so much turmoil, poverty, and sickness, yet everyone is so nice and receptive of our presence.  They are always inviting us into their homes and praising God for the New Year.  We continue to ask for prayers as we finish out our time here in Haiti and we also ask for prayers for Lucas as he travels home in the morning. 

Photos- Day 7


Group photo at Adventist Hospital in Carrefour. 

Touring the OR

Patient ward

Patient room (with shower and BALCONY)

Outside of the hospital (we all thought it looked like a hotel)

Going to see the HIV/AIDS center

Physical therapy

Physical therapy again

Meds for sale in the open market place

Items for sale in the market. 

Lucas got to see Fritznel. 

Praise God his hand is completely healed! 
More of the group at the hospital. 

It was another GREAT day! 











Update- Day 7

The team usually writes the blog at night while I am sleeping (I go to bed VERY early cause I rise very early) and I post it in the morning when internet is much better.  HOWEVER, I woke today and can't find where they saved it on my computer.  So.... I will write this update and then post theirs when everyone wakes in a few hours. 

Yesterday we all went to a private hospital in Carrefour to see the difference between a private one and a public one.  The difference was incredible as the team found out.  It was clean and had much more updated resources for patients.  They got to tour the different areas (ortho, pediatrics, med/surg) as well as the lab, OR, physical therapy, HIV/AIDS clinic, and more. 

In the afternoon we walked around our mission base and invited people to our medical clinic we will have tomorrow.  Again, the difference between here in our own community and the community on the mountain is vast.  It is good to walk around and meet people and everyone now feels very comfortable out walking around. 

I will let them share the rest of the stories/feelings.  They are all doing well.  Lucas leaves today so again the team will be a bit different in dynamics.  He did an amazing job leading worship for a few hours last night on the porch. 

Everyone is healthy, well and enjoying the experience.  Many are already making plans and praying to see if God wants them to return because they have come to love the country and culture (as well as seen the needs- especially when related to health care). 

Keep the prayers and comments coming.  Both are an encouragement to all.  :) 

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Photos- Day 6

General hospital on Monday

General hospital

General hospital

Praying with patients at the general hospital (pediatric ward)

Community by the mission base (photo credit: Rachel). 


Community near the mission base (photo credit: Rachel)

Health education (burn care)


Health education (fractures)


Health education (head injuries)


Health education (all together for wound care)




Shelby's Blog

Before I talk about our day I have to give a few shout outs:

         1.) DAN COLE would you please comment on this blog because Kylee misses you A LOTTTT and needs to know if all is well!! MAMA or PAPA or MOM in case Dan is not reading the blog please pass this along!!!

         2.) To my parents: I am healthy, safe, and enjoying Haiti! See ya in a few days!

Anyways, today we went to Beehive international to teach their employees about first aide. Beehive international is an organization that supports and trains Haitian carpenters to build furniture out of pallets.  We taught them how to take care of burns, fractures, head injuries, and cuts/scrapes. They were all extremely attentive and thankful for the time we took to educate them about first aide.

After lunch we went up into the mountains to pray for people, talk to people in the community, and take their blood pressures. We talked and prayed with the parents of a small child with microcephaly. It is difficult to see children in Haiti with disabilities that could be given adequate medical care in the States, but rather are unable to receive the necessary care.

As an organization we were able to help a young man, K.B., receive adequate medical care by paying for his medical bills. We met him yesterday at a public hospital and transferred him to a hospital that could give him faster care. He had injured his hand at work by mutilating it in a work machine. We found out today that he had his hand amputated yesterday and is doing well. We are so thankful that God led us to this man yesterday. It would be greatly appreciated if you continued to keep K.B. in your prayers as he recovers from his surgery.

Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and for keeping up with our trip. We would love continued prayer as we finish out our week of ministry.
~Shelby Stouffer

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

PHOTOS- Day 5

The ambulance service that took the man with the infected hand to another hospital. (see the blog Lucas wrote).

Paramedics volunteering with Hero ambulance doing an assessment on the man. (We are calling him KB to protect his identity). 

Touring the General hospital (we took very few photos out of respect for patients).

Ally found a sweet baby with Downs Syndrome and was able to educate and encourage the family since she works with disabled children in the USA. 

The group at night on the porch. They were planning for the health and first aid education training they will give Tuesday at a neighboring business. 



Monday, January 1, 2018

Emily's blog

Hi, this is Emily Gerber and I’m with the Malone group on this trip. Last night we got the opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the church Crystal attends here in Carrefour. Generally in order to go to church in Haiti you have to be dressed in a specific way and unfortunately if people are not able to dress that way they are excluded from church, but at Crystal’s church all are welcome to worship no matter how they are dressed. 

To say that the church service was different from what we usually see in the US would be an understatement. When we first arrived the pastor on stage was speaking in tongues with occasional Creole phrases interspersed – this was something that I have never experienced before. During this time everyone was walking around the aisles praying. Then the pastor instructed the people to find people sitting on the opposite side of the church and give them a hug to demonstrate God’s love for them. After returning to our seats we held hands with the people standing next to us and prayed for them for a long time. For me this was one of the most powerful parts of the service. Everyone in the church was praying for their neighbor out loud, it was amazing to hear so voices mixing together and calling out in prayer. During prayer time the song “His love endures forever” came into my head and mixed into my prayer then later during a scripture reading we read Psalm 136 where every statement ends in “His love endures forever”. It was a really cool God moment for me. Following prayer and scripture reading we began worship. We were able to observe the Haitians dancing and praising and we all joined in soon after. It was a very free, joy filled time of worshiping God together.

I am oh so thankful for the opportunity to worship with our brother’s and sister’s in Christ. Though the styles of service may be different we are all worshiping the same mighty God – how cool! We appreciate everyone’s prayers back home and are so excited to see what the rest of the week will bring us!