7:32am
We're back! Though quite an interesting day, we made it safely back to the U.S. yesterday. Our group would like to send out a huge 'THANK YOU' to all who made this journey possible through prayers, financial help, and in-kind donations for our partnerships in Haiti! There was great comfort in knowing that we were being lifted up in prayer each day.
So, what now? Our lives have been changed. Traveling to Haiti can open your heart in ways you never imagined... if you let it. I believe every single person in our group traveled with an open heart and mind which has added to the impact of this experience. Today we resume 'normal' life here at home. It's strange. Our group, who has spent 24 hours a day in very close quarter, is dispersing, each returning to their own 'normal.' The sudden thought of work, meetings, responsibilities, and the hustle and bustle of this culture is anxiety provoking. We immersed ourselves in a culture that seems to be on a time schedule unheard of here in the U.S. - that being, no time schedule. We adapted to a new way of living - a life that to us may have appeared very limited at times. We ate foods we'd never heard of - a diet unimaginable prior to this experience. We shared faith and fellowship with strangers that have become dear friends. This experience has changed us, challenged us, and led us to a deeper connection with our family of faith in Lincoln and Haiti.
New things are on the horizon for our partnerships in Haiti! The optometry group has ideas to help get a clinic established in Jacmel. This would open the doors for many new opportunities. This week we traveled with many pairs of eye glasses that have been donated for this cause, a huge blessing! The struggle is that we are not always guaranteed to find a perfect match for the needs of all patients - it's a guessing game sometimes. Having a clinic in Jacmel would allow the optometry group to provide more accurate prescriptions for each individual. This clinic would also provide a central location from which outreach could occur to the remote locations and people who are not able to travel into Jacmel.
Al and Jacque, a dentist that has studied with the help of Al's guidance and support, discussed the future for dental care in Haiti. Currently, Jacque has a temporary location at Tetkole Temporary Shelter. After much prayer and conversation about how they could have a greater impact, Al shared that some things have changed. Rather than staying in Jacmel, they would like to move the clinic to Port au Prince. This would provide them the opportunity to take out a loan to buy a clinic location and see many more patients. With the ability to make more of a profit in Port au Prince and be more self-sustaining, they would then have the opportunity to write grants for more financial assistance. The idea with all these improvements is that the people of Haiti own and operate the businesses rather than solely depend on donations from others outside their country. Establishments such as an optometry clinic and dental clinic will allow donations to be used in a more effective manner.
Linda Young and Candy Kohnke have great ideas for the future of nutrition education in Haiti. This partnership would open the door to college students in both the U.S. and Haiti and provide a very new piece of education to Haiti. Food handling, personal hygiene, and basic nutrition are absolute necessities! The conversation about involving other areas of the University has great potential! While very much in its infancy, I truly believe something transformational is going to emerge from this discussion.
The partnerships that have developed with Tetkole Temporary Shelter, Pazapa, CLM (the program helping women in the Central Plateau with a motto of, 'That all may have life.'), Trinity House, Wings of Hope, HELP and much more, are areas that need help in continuing to make a difference. This will happen with more sponsorships for children to go to school, for women to make a home and future for them and their children, and for musical instruments for Tetkole kids.This will happen through continued donations of clothing, hygiene supplies, shoes, eye glasses and sunglasses, dental supplies, and education materials. This will happen through continued, personal relationship between us which is why these mission trips are vitally important to the success of each partnership we develop.
While in Jacmel, Mike shared a poem that he had found. I believe it sums up what is next in our relationship with Haiti. Sometimes, it's not as simple as praying for our friends in Haiti; it takes much more in our commitment to relationship to help lift them up in more ways than one.
Sometimes It's Not Enough to Pray by: Author UnknownAll around us they are cryingThey're afraid and they are dying;Helpless, they've bowed their heads in shame.And they are wounded by our distance,By our caution, our resistance.
We must bring them life in Jesus' name.If they're hungry will you feed them;If they're lonely will you need them?If they're lot will you passion point the way?Sometimes it's not enough to pray.
If they're frightened will you hold them?If they're hurting please console them.And if they're struggle is not the same as yours,Don't let that difference close the door.
They are hungry we must feed the.They're so lonely we must need them.They are lost and they need our love today.For only love will point the way.Sometimes it's not enough to pray.
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