The MASH center
Grace and peace be yours in abundance! There was a time when I skipped by these greetings in the New Testament epistles, but now words cannot describe how sincerely I send them to you, and I can relate if only in a small way with the true feelings of Peter, Paul, and the others as they penned the words. Your prayers are the fuel of our day here, and please know that they are working.
Yesterday was a busy day in many areas. We received for the first time two helicopters of patients transferred from downtown, because of the OR that has been functioning here. Two surgeries were done on limbs to insert metal pins, something that now only one other hospital is doing in PauP. Having spent four years in the 101 Airborne, it stirred many memories as local kids from towns nearby helped form an arrow with rocks so the LZ could be seen from the air, and I donned a reflective vest borrowed from a paramedic to help guide the helicopter to the pad. It was flown by the US Navy, and made two trips. If you want a visual, think the opening scenes of MASH, with the only difference being that as the docs were bending low and running to the helicopter door, they had their cameras out and shooting! We carried the first load via litters to the clinic/hospital, and set them outside on the covered waiting area outside the clinic to triage. The next batch of patients arrived swiftly (the flight was only 5 minutes to PauP), but were all ambulatory. They were assisted to the outside area as well. I took pictures of docs as they held up x-rays that had accompanied the patients to the sun and swapped immediate professional judgment, then wheeled the first patient off to surgery. The most surreal picture was the one of a big black dog trotting through the triage area, stopping to sniff the feet of one patient.
On a more ominous note, we now have our first case of cholera and malaria, and the man worked in our distribution warehouse. This is the inevitable curse that follows natural disasters world-wide. It is also nearing the time when mental health issues arise. Combined with the frustration and seeming hopelessness that those who have lost all are facing, it paints a very bleak picture. Despair and depression become twin visitors. Please pray for this cycle to be broken quickly.
The warehouse folks are sorting through a full warehouse now trying to prepare for another shipment today (it’s 3:20 am, so that means it’s a new day!), but there are many challenges. First, in a disaster situation where huge quantities of food, water, and medical supplies need to be transported then broken down from bulk quantities to more manageable loads, it is to be expected that there are going to be issues. As I was checking on the shipment, I noticed a box marked with a picture and words of some special enema kit. I thought surely this isn’t medical, but are supplies repacked into an available box. I opened it and discovered a whole box (and a large box at that) of these bags. Then to my dismay I noticed several other boxes with the same markings. We now have enough of this product to last this site the next 150 years at an expected rate of use. Not quite what we were needing...
And the journey down the long road will take years, not months. There will be a need for workers with many skills to volunteer their time and talents. 1 Peter 4:10 exhorts us that “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I believe many of you have been stirred by this crisis out of your contentedness and complacency, and are feeling those promptings of the Spirit to step forward. Please pray through it, and know that there is going to be a need for an extended time, and for many of you that time may not be now. There is a job here for each person’s talent – even if it is a talent you did not even know you had! And you will not be blessing others so much as they will be blessing you.
Last night I finished late in the offices at the foot of the hill, and faced a hike uphill of just under a mile to our quarters. As I started up, slowly of course as I am limping along in the dark on a bandaged ankle, I heard the sputter of a motorcycle, which pulled alongside. The Haitian driver asked if I needed a ride (we are on mission grounds which are secured, so I had no fears of safety), and with some hesitancy I hopped on the back. The driver was a cheerful fellow who introduced himself as Patrice, and we powered uphill dodging ruts and the bigger stones in the dirt road. As we were riding along, he called over his shoulder, “You come to Haiti to help us, so I now help you. God bless!” Tears welled up as I realized how truly blessed I really do feel to be here.
Your prayers are working mightily. We received needed medical supplies, we received new patients referred to our hospital so that our medical team could serve to capacity, we continue to have people volunteering to come to the Mission to help, and I finally got Internet access that has greatly expanded the reach that I have to now do so many more things. But please keep praying. Pray for the health, welfare, and comfort of the people of Haiti. Please pray for an increased and regular distribution of food so that the Mission can meet and increase its distribution. Pray for the resupply of our fuel tanks. Pray for the safety of our drivers. Pray for safe travel for the remainder of our Austin group of docs and nurses who leave today and for the next group that arrives today to join us. They are flying in and out of the Dominican Republic via private air, and will be making the three-hour trip to the Mission. Pray for rain to continue to hold off, as it would bring misery at the moment, and hasten the possible spread of disease. Pray for cholera and malaria to be held in check. Pray for some of our more critical supply needs to be met quickly – tents, communications, etc. Pray for wisdom for the Mission leadership as they are facing new opportunities in the midst of the challenges. And pray for the Kingdom to continue to swell!
Grace and peace be yours in abundance!
Ray Lindner