Here are some pictures from the trip… thought I would share them here… I will post a few more later in the week!

The team is divided and some are working in the clinic at Cambry (where we are staying) and others are going to the hospital each day to see patients there as well. Today at the clinic we started to see the 106 orphans that were moved here after the earthquake. They are actually from Carroefour which is where the epicenter of the earthquake was located. Elise is an orphan momma from that orphanage ans she shared her story with us about what that day was like…

It was just a normal day and they had just finished eating and were beginning to clean up the meal when  the house started to shake and rattle. She said, “we screamed out who could shake the house like this.” The walls started to crack and the things hanging on them began to fall to the floor. The initial quake lasted 45 seconds and the orphans and mommas were inside the entire time. After that they hurried the children outside in time to feel the next wave of shaking. She says that they did not know whether to sit or stand.

In the hours after the earthquake she said the building where the orphanage was collapsed. She describes  the rubble as piles that seemed endless. Everything was destroyed. All 106 orphans and their orphan mommas survived. However, Elise describes that people began to pull those who died out from the rubble and stack them only feet away from where her and the children would be staying until help arrived. She says they slept outside that night and stayed inside the compound walls for safety. As the days went by food arrived for them once a road was clear enough to get in. However, they still remained outside for almost a week before they were moved to here to Cambry. The orphans and mommas will remain here in the school until the Carrefour orphanage is rebuilt. Plans and arrangements are being made to have it up and running as soon as possible.

Hearing Elise tell the story was powerful. She was just going about her ordinary day when changed with no warning. The earthquake took their home, safety, and for a few days all supplies. We have spent some time with these orphans this week and it is clear that it will not soon be forgotten in their minds. It was such a blessing that they were all safe and have found refuge here. Continue to pray for them. Many of them are malnourished, still afraid, and sick.

We continue to be amazed at the stories we here from those effected by the earthquake. Join us in praying for them now and in the days that are to come. Healing is a long way from complete for these orphans, these people and this country.

The day started with us stopping by the hospital to see Philemon’s friend who was very sick. Within five minutes of being there we knew that we needed to go get our supplies and go back to the hospital. However, the doctors were initially very hesitant to let us treat their patients and by early afternoon there was little to be done.

Our awesome doctors and students decided to simply begin treating people as we came across them on the streets of the compound.  In Haiti you have to pay before seeing the doctor or receiving medicine so we just started to help those in need. We were like a walking pharmacy and hospital. The patient that started street docs was a guy who had been in a motorcycle accident and needed to cleaned up so they sat him down and got him all fixed up.

It became quite an adventure and really began to bond our team together in a new way. Most of the students and doctors could not believe they were actually treating people feet away from sewer lines and essentially treating them before they could reach the ER doors.Who needs fancy hospitals when you have Army duffle bags, doctors & PAs, and a bench outside.

So I present to you a well-rounded street medical team… Streetdocs.com. Our Motto is “We treat them on the streets”

From my journal on February 14, 2010 after riding through Port Au Prince and seeing firsthand the destruction of the earthquake. May we continue to pray for these people…

The bus ride was long but every minute was worth it to see what I saw as we drove through Port Au Prince tonight. I wasn’t able to get any pictures but those images won’t soon leave my memory. The streets were crowded and full of people, rubble, and candlelight. I have never seen anything like it before. Everywhere I turned there were collapsed buildings, piles of rubble, and tents that have become homes for so many. My heart stopped in my chest and several times the tears began to swell in my eyes as I watched children and adults sitting in their makeshift homes going about life.

We drove a bit further and passed a church. That was something I wasn’t ready for… The church was full and there were people standing outside praising and listening intently to the Gospel. Many of these people no longer have homes, many have lost their families, and many have been injured but yet they Praise God for who He is and not what has happened to them. To them it did not matter that so much hurt, destruction, death, and fear is around them they still praise and worship God. I truly saw beauty emerging from ashes and rubble tonight! It was an awesome reminder that God is still God in the midst of our darkest hours.

I pray that I will not soon forget how the faith of the Haitian Christians is challenging me to pursue God more deeply and intimately.

Isaiah 61:3 “…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes…”

It’s about 12:30 in the morning and we arrived in Cayes, Haiti about 30 minutes ago. Our day started with a 2:30 am wake-up and trek back to the Fort Lauderdale Airport followed by a quick flight to the Dominican Republic. Then the adventure really began…Our 15 hr bus ride from Santo Domingo to Les Cayes. Some teams experience a nice easy ride where nothing major happens the exact opposite happened for us.

We got about two hours away from the Haitian border when some of the guys needed to make a pit stop. So we stopped on the side of the road only to discover that the trailer holding ALL of our supplies was no longer behind the bus. It had fallen off some miles back and did not even notice it was missing. The bus turned around and off we went to find the “missing trailer”. We drove for about 30 minutes until we found the trailer… It had come off by an Dominican army station and there sat all of our medicine, supplies, and some of our personal belongings being guarded by with machine guns. It was AMAZING!

We latched the trailer back on with a piece of wire and got back on the road. Crossing through the Haitian border was no problem and so we continued our journey for 7 more hours. About 2 hours outside of Cayes after passing through Port Au Prince in the dark we also got detained further with a flat tire. The drivers and men got out to help change the tire and within minutes we had a crowd of children around us. It took about 45 minutes to change the tire so we played and gave out candy and for the first time really began to interact with the Haitian people. It was beautiful to watch them begin to laugh because when we first stopped the bus they were very timid. The tire was fixed and off we went to finish the last few miles of the journey… All of us were excited to arrive mostly to just get off the bus…

(Random sidebar… if the bus experience had been a reality TV show we would have named it breaking point)

Our journey was long and we are tired tonight but each of one is ready to see what tomorrow holds, but now it is time for rest…  Bon Nuit!

Well here we sit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Today started early with loading the bus at 8 am to start our trek to the Big ATL. After the great blizzard of 2010 last night in Charlotte, the roads were slow to start but we made great time. Everyone is feeling good and the team is starting to bond!

I have  to say that today has been full of laughter and anticipation for the days to come.

So now for the story of the day…

Who knew that the doctors would use their expertise before we even left the country.As we were standing in line to finish checking our bags at the aiport we encountered our first “medical emergency.” A young lady passed out in front of us and it was almost like there were too many doctors around. It happened so fast that no one really knew what happened until we looked over and saw her laying on the baggage scale.She is doing well now and just needed to eat a little something but no worries with the deep crew of medical professionals she was well taken care of.

The adventures will continue tomorrow. Our flight leaves at 6:00am in the morning followed by a long bus ride to Les Cayes. So until tomorrow…

Today marks 3 days left of preparation. The team is busy putting final preparations in place and spending time with our families and friends. Just wanted to ask each of you to pray some specific things for our team in the next couple of days. We are so appreciative of those who are partnering with us in prayer and are honored to have each of you in our corner.

-Pray that God will prepare our hearts, minds, and bodies for our time in Haiti. This is going to be unlike any other mission trip any of us has ever been on and from the stories we have heard it is going to be challenging.

- Pray for our safe travel and rest as we travel. Our travel itinerary is almost two days long going, including a long bus ride and a night in the airport. Pray we will be able to rest and bond as a team during this time.

-Pray for team unity! On a trip like this it is easy for Satan to attempt to keep us from being unified and get a foothold against what we are doing. Pray that he will be unsuccessful because we must be able to rely on and encourage each other.

-Pray for our families as we are away.

-Pray for the Haitian people we will come in contact with while we are there, that they will see more than just medical professionals and feel the love of Christ through each of us!

On Sunday the team met and began to pack all of the supplies we will be taking with us. Since we are not sure what we will see when we arrive in Les Cayes we are taking a variety of things from surgical instruments to antibiotics to supplies to provide nutrition and pediatric care.

Packing Day was a family event. Several of the doctors brought their families along to help… Check out these pictures of us organizing, separating and packing all of the supplies for the trip. Stay tuned for more in the coming days!

In just 5 days our team will depart from Charlotte and head to Haiti. This week will spend these last few days packing our personal stuff, spending time with our families, praying, and just doing the best we can to prepare for our time in Haiti.

We have been amazed at God’s presence in this trip. God has met and exceeded every need that has been placed before Him and there is no denying that He is preparing the way for this trip to take place.  A lot is still unknown about the trip but as the details come together we are grateful and humbled at the opportunity to go and serve the Haitian people!

I will be posting some pictures tomorrow from our “packing party” yesterday afternoon!

Good Morning! We are another day closer to leaving for Haiti and we continue to be amazed at how God is moving among us individually and throughout our community. This trip has truly been put together by God. Here are two examples of what God has been up to in the last couple of days.

George received an email yesterday afternoon from someone who wanted to let us know  their company  was making a 2500 dollar contribution towards our trip. We as a team are so thankful for God’s provision! I thought this quote from the email captured the heart of this generous donation… “We fix broken IT systems, not bones, but we are with you in spirit and applaud your willingness to serve the tragedy-ravaged people of Haiti. As you show forth the mercy and love of Christ our Savior, I pray that many will be drawn to know Him and that even members of your own team will grow deeper in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.”

We are so thankful as a team for people who have been led to give so that this trip could take place, but more importantly we are in awe of  the number of people who have joined with us in prayer as we prepare ourselves to face the things that await us in Haiti. No amount of experience can prepare us for the days ahead but as we pray and as many pray with us we are trusting God to prepare our hearts and our minds!

Thank you to all who have given financially and to all who are praying for us. We are truly grateful for each of you!