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Haiti Update 1-24-10Yesterday we made an early flight back to Port-de-Paix with the 1400lbs we had packed the night before. The plane we have been teaming with followed in behind with the medical supplies from Ft. Lauderdale. When we took off we could not figure out how we had so much fuel on-board – the gauges just did not make sense to what we asked for and watched them put in to the tanks. When the second plane arrived they had a message that a medical team was arriving in Cap Haitian and needed transportation into Port-de-Paix. Amazing, because of the extra fuel we could go to Cap Haitian and begin transport. Thank you, Lord.
We left Port-de-Paix and flew to Cap Haitian to meet the team. When we arrived we found 24 members (doctors, nurses & support) from all around the USA who had previously been to Port-de-Paix and they had brought over 3000 lbs of medical supplies. We made a plan with them and our team plane (they are set-up to carry cargo) that we would transport the people and they would transport the supplies back to Port-de-Paix. We could take 1600lbs of passengers per flight and we asked their leader to separate their team by priority and weight. We then took on 8 passengers and left as the 2nd team plane arrived and divided the cargo into three trips. We made two trips (16 people) between Cap Haitian and Port-de-Prix then we had to return to Santiago for fuel.
While on the ground in Cap Haitian, while the arrangements were being made, we had a conversation with the UN airport director who happened to be American. He was a career UN official who had been to 39 countries including Iraq and Afghanistan. We found it so interesting when he said that Haiti was like no place he had ever visited or lived. He said that he had never seen poverty like there is in Haiti and was bewildered by all that he saw before the earthquake. He too was hoping that maybe now it would be different as he described how he could not get improvement funds before all of this.
On our way back to Santiago we decided to take on 1400 lbs of cargo and bring it to Port-de-Prix before going back to Cap Haitian for the last 8 passengers.
When we returned to Santiago we were surprised to see another Russian military cargo transport unloading UN supplies. When we told the “Go-Ministries” team we wanted to go back they began preparing another load for us. As that load was on the way out to the plane they received a call from their contact in Port-de-Paix saying that a doctor from a children’s hospital about 5 miles outside of Port-de-Paix heard that medical supplies were being brought in and they needed help. They reported that children were dying because they had no supplies. When word got back to “Go-Ministries” they stopped our load and repacked it with every last bit of medical supplies and baby formula they had. There is a small Rotary Club operation next to them and when they heard of the situation they contributed their last medical supplies.
While in Santiago we also learned that an Agape Plane (a missionary flying ministry) had its landing gear collapse while landing at a good airfield. They slid off the runway and onto the grass. Both pilots were fine but the plane was destroyed. The pilots are obviously very shaken up and the loss of the plane to the transport operation is significant.
We left Santiago with about 500 lbs of medical supplies and the rest food. When we arrived in Port-de-Prix the medical supplies were quickly transported out to the hospital. We then went back to Cap Haitian and transported the remaining 8 members of the medical team back to Port-de-Paix.
It was interesting that each time we arrived in Port-de-Paix the passengers would want to thank us for the ride and we would want to thank them for doing what they were about to do. Our parting phrase to each other became “Do good work – make a difference.”
We arrived back into Santiago just after sunset.
We had planned to come back today unless something significantly compelling occurred that warranted staying longer. As we were eating dinner the director of “Go-Ministries” came to the hotel to excitedly announce that he had received word that a large amount of medical supplies would arrive today. We looked at each other and decided to delay our final decision until it was clear what, if anything, we could do today. We won’t know till around noon.
After dinner we were at the hotel business center and we heard a man speaking in Russian. We spoke to him and he was a member of the Russian flight crew. We spent the next hour talking through signs, pictures and symbols as we tried to share our stories with each other. People are people, we talked about family, dreams, and home. Russians, Dominicans, Haitians, and Americans all want the same things – God help us to see your kingdom.
When we went to bed last night we were exhausted – but what a day!
We both count these days as a gift from God and we hope that you all sense that we are all in this together. We could not be here doing this without your care, trust and support. As we always say “Better Together.” You are all here with us as we hope we are with you. Thank you Lord for your Church!
In His love and care,
Pastor Dennis and Scott
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