TN Baptist Disaster Relief - Haiti

Haiti Buckets of Hope Released

2010-06-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 14, 2010 – What an incredible day in Haiti! We started out by going to the Minister of Civil Defense’s office for a mandatory meeting. It was called because of a problem that developed Friday. The minister decided to go with us to open 5 containers. (He rarely went to that so it was going to be great or really bad.) When got to the truck yard, there were only 2 containers. Needless to say, the Minister was upset at us for not having 5 containers. (It was a simple delivery problem but still the whole thing almost blew up.) While they were discussing the problem in a loud manner, I felt compelled to sit down, under the deck of a semi-trailer and pray. I prayed for the Lord to intervene. Within minutes I noticed that the voices were calmer. As I looked up I noticed CMBH National Director of Ministry, Pastor Lebranc, giving me a thumbs up. At first, the minister only gave us permission to open the rice container. He said we could not open the bucket one. As we went to open the rice container, we found that someone had placed a lock on it but no one had the key. Again things were tense but the Lord prevailed. Once we opened the rice container, the minister warmed up and decided to let us open the bucket container. That was incredible.

Since the beginning I had visualized this day in my mind. I had been telling the pastors, the contract workers and others about the buckets. They could not comprehend it. When we opened a couple of buckets and showed the minister and his assistant how the bucket was packed, they were amazed along with everyone else. We distributed over 600 buckets this afternoon. We also distributed over 8 pallets of rice. It was hot, tiring, and hard. Still, it was a great day. Several times I had to stop because I became overwhelmed by the enormity of the moment. This is just the first of over 100 containers. The marathon continues.

For those of you practical people, yes the buckets did shift and tumble some because this one was not palatalized except at the back. Many lids cracked because some buckets had more space that the original size we tried to get people to use in the promotion piece. Many bottoms of the buckets bulged, bent and a few cracked. Never-the-less, there was only two buckets that the beans and oil did not survive. They it came apart when they fell out of the back of the truck when we opened the door. Pretty awesome!

From Don Owen in Haiti

2010-06-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

First let me begin by saying, Thank You, to everyone who has come to Haiti to work with the medical end of our Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief effort. I already knew from all your emails and your updates to the blog what a difference the work was making. However after talking to the director of the entire project and with the doctors, nurses and the EMT's I have learned that the half of the story has not been told. Second let me say, Thank You, to those of you who supported, through your donations to the Nolachucky Baptist Association Haiti relief fund, and through your prayer support of those who came and became a living sacrifice. According to the Director of Operations for the Medical project know as Medi-Share more than 20,000 lives were saved as a result of thousands of volunteers supporting and serving through this operation in Port au Prince Haiti. Plus not only were lives saved in the operating rooms and through the care of the doctors, nurses and medicines provided but thousands have given their hearts to Christ and saved for eternity. David Acres, our state DR Director, was here to start up operations of at the hospital project (back in March) and also here to assist in the shutting down our portion of the massive operation. Today,Tuesday, the area where the operations and work took place is just a big open space at the airport. The tents are gone the containers are all gone and that page in the 2010 Haiti earthquake recovery effort is now history.

Now to page two:
Beginning today our efforts will turn toward looking for ways we can effectively work to support the rebuilding in Haiti. A team is flying in this morning from Memphis to meet and show us an area we might possibly serve. There are so many, many needs here and my biggest request of you at this moment is to ask you to pray for God to show us His plan. Please pray for Mr. Acres and me today and the remainder of the week here in Haiti.

A personal note:
It has been incredible for me to see how the people of Haiti have picked themselves up dusted themselves off, and even in their poverty, have kept smiles on their faces as they begin the long uphill battle of rebuilding their country. These are some of the hardest working people I have ever seen. In the heat of the day, and I mean heat with a capitol H, they do not stop. They do not have jack hammers they use hammers or whatever tool they have to bust up concrete in small enough chunks to be carried in 5 gallon buckets outside and dump it in a pile. From these piles others go through sifting it and salvaging everything that has a possible use. Most of these people are doing this for food or possibly up to two dollars per day. Please do not forget the people of Haiti.

- Don Owen

The Last Team Out - Team 13 Post from Haiti

2010-06-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Our team represents the FBC Shelbyville and consists of Bill Chapman, Travis Binion, and Drew Hooker who, by the Grace of God, has had a life changing experience while serving the needs of the Haitian people.

This will be the final blog for the TBDR assignment to manage the Medical Warehouse for the University of Miami/Medishare Field Hospital. We were blessed by the arrival of David Acres and Don Owen to finalize the shutdown of the operation. The Hospital has moved to a permanent location and most of the work today was involved in moving and saying our goodbyes to a wonderful and dedicated group of doctors, nurses, and EMT people. We were informed today by the Project Director of Medishare there were over 20,000 lives saved at this Hospital.

When the Lord led me to go on this mission, I knew I had a desire to serve. But because of the spiritual condition of this country, the Lord gave me a greater desire to find someone I could help to spread the Gospel in this country. On Tuesday, one of the local people approached the Warehouse and made the usual request for water or the Gatorade Sport Drink they call ‘shake’. As I talked to this man, he told me his name was Pastor Alida Edry and said he was a local Pastor at a church he calls the Great Harvest Church of God. He began telling me of this great vision he had to spread the Gospel through his country of Haiti and how God had told him this was a golden opportunity to minister to so many people affected by the devastating earthquake. He is planning to start another church in a city called Cornillon and said he was waiting for the Lord to furnish him with 200 Bibles. One hundred in the French language and one hundred in the Creole language. I told him I would do anything I could to help him get those Bibles. I cannot tell you how blessed I felt! I knew without a doubt I was the one sent to this man to help him with his ministry!

And by the grace and generosity of the TBDR, they have already offered to provide the Bibles for this Pastor. But that does not end the story. I will continually be in contact with this Pastor to provide more of what he needs and the other Pastors that all have the same vision.

And some will say, ‘Well, how do you know if this Pastor is really sincere and is really going to go through with his vision?’

On Wednesday, he wandered into our camp and was reading a devotional, ‘Our Daily Bread’, which looked like he had just about worn it out. I immediately thought about my beloved devotional book written by Henry Blackaby, and with some hesitation, I offered to give him my devotional book. We went to my tent and when I gave him the book, he looked at the cover and said ‘I know this man!, ‘I know this man!’, ‘I have his book!’

On Thursday, the Pastor returned with a notebook. And he pulled out this old ragged book and I could hardly read the cover. When I took a closer look, it was the Experiencing God book by Henry Blackaby!!

This Pastor has been using this book to teach his congregation for ten years!

So God had confirmed my vision as well as Pastor Edry and, GOD willing, the Haitian people. And I know all of our volunteers have been blessed by their experiences with this mission. Many seeds have been planted. And we have fulfilled the final commandment from Jesus Our Lord according to Acts 1:8 and we will all be eternally blessed. Until we meet again , The Last Team, Team No. 13, is signing off.

- Bill Chapman, FBC Shelbyville, Tn

Monday May 17 2010 Team 10

2010-05-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

Before we left Cleveland, the Holy Spirit had impressed on my heart that there would not be many salvations on this trip. Instead, Jesus was sending us to minister to His hurting children of Haiti. And for the most part that has been the case.
There is not enough time and space to list all of the answered prayers and acts of love and ministry that Jesus is accomplishing during our trip here. I have not, for the most part, had a translator here. When I haven’t had one, I word my prayer, "Lord Jesus, they do not understand my English, but I pray by the power of your Holy Spirit that you speak directly to their hearts. Tell them that You love them, that you died for them, so they might live for You.” Then the prayer varies as led by the Holy Spirit. I know that the prayers have been answered time and time again by the look on their faces.

We had prayed for God to provide Bibles and a translator for the next chaplain. We met the new team from Georgia yesterday and, guess what? They brought many Bibles. Their chaplain is a pastor from Atlanta Ga., but he speaks Creole like a national because he was born in Haiti. When I was showing him around last night, he met some of his family waiting outside the ICU.

We were able to give a young man who believes in the scientology religion a Bible, and he has promised to read the Gospel of John and call or e-mail us if he has any questions. His faith cannot answer the most important questions in his life, but Jesus can. The Holy Spirit has impressed on all of our hearts that there will be a day that he comes to faith in Christ Jesus.

We are completely spent and many of us are sick again, but the power of the Holy Spirit is moving in a great way here in Haiti and we are thankful.

Wayne

Sunday May 16 2010 Team 10

2010-05-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

There were two deaths yesterday. Everyone is exhausted. We have some good pictures of the babies. I measured the temperature at my cot at 111 F and it is supposed to be hotter tomorrow. The air conditioners keep breaking down.

We had a wonderful church service this morning. The team told me that I pray too long. A young Haitian gave his testimony about living though the earthquake and how he knew that God was protecting him. They need Bibles in Creole, English, and French.

We have to pace ourselves and take frequent breaks without feeling guilty, otherwise you will be in the hospital with the rest of the patients. I pray for every patient in the hospital, many times their families, the doctors, the nurses, and all the workers, including the guards. All of the new mothers want you to pray for their babies. You can see the love and pride in their faces for their babies.

The Haitian people are so very grateful for everything that you do for them. Things that go without notice in the States receive a heartfelt "merci" or "thank you.” Bill and everyone that has worked in the warehouse have earned the respect of everyone in the camp, including the doctors. We are known as the "Tennessee Baptists."

The team that built the shelves from our home state have left a good testimony. In fact, every team from Tennessee has done so. They recognize the blue T-shirts.

Our group is sharing the love of Christ with everyone they meet.

Charlie Scoggins

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Team 10 Report

2010-05-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

We cannot tell you all the amazing things that Jesus is doing among the Haiti people. There have been two salvations today. I have prayed so much that I am losing my voice. Charlie said that might be a good thing.

I prayed for all the babies in premature babies, all the babies and their mothers in pediatrics. I prayed for all the patients that gave me permission to pray for them and that were most of them.

Let me tell you what the Holy Spirit of Jesus did today in one case.

As I went around praying I was giving out pieces of paper that said "Jesus loves you". I ran out of papers. I came to two ladies, I requested permission to pray for an elderly lady and the younger lady said that I could.

After praying I started to leave and the younger lady started asking me something. I had not had a translator with me all morning and I thought at first she wanted a piece of paper that I had been handing out, but that wasn't what she wanted.

I prayed "Jesus, I need a translator". I turned around and there stood a Pastor. He translated for me. I found out that she wanted to know my name and what church I was with.

I told her that wasn't important all she needed was Jesus. A Pastor and I explained the plan of salvation to her and she accepted Jesus Christ.

I found out from a Pastor she had been a Muslim. We must protect her identity. The Pastor is to going to take her to his church. Praise God for the work of the Holy Spirit as the Pastor told me afterwards that the Holy Spirit had told him to come to me today and that I needed a translator.

Thank you for your continued Prayer support. God is at work!!!

Your Friends in Christ
Wayne
Johnnie K

Team 10 First Report, Tuesday May 11, 2010

2010-05-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all from Haiti,

Today the Lord woke us to a beautiful new day in Haiti. The country is beautiful but full of needs.

Last night we had several inches of rain and some of our sleeping quarters were standing in water. The workers here quickly dug trenches so the water could drain. At least the rain cooled the temp so we could sleep better.

Monday Morning May 9, the translator led me to a man, he said they did not expect him to live long. He was a voodoo highest priest and someone had hacked his leg off with a machete, and he had a bad cut on his arm. He renounced voodoo and accepted Christ ss his Savior.

That afternoon I went back to visit him, the Holy Spirit told me to witness to the man seated in a wheel chair beside him. After much explaining and teaching I was ready to give up when he raised his hand and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. This turned out to be the man who hacked the exvoodoo priest's leg off. It was also his brother! The brothers forgave one annother.

Tuesday morning before breakfast Wayne Morrison was sharing Christ with some young belivers and one of them redicated his life to Christ. Now he wants to be a missionary.

We have met three national pastors serving as translators. One of them has planted over ten churches in the back mountains. Another pastor is over 12 small churches, a school, and an orphanage. They are all praying for revival in Haiti.

Pray for our team as there is reports of unrest here with the government.

In Christ,
Wayne Finnell
Johnnie Morrison

Team 10 Arrives

2010-05-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

Team 10 Consist of:
• Wayne Finnell from Westwood Baptist Church, Trained Chaplain & Team Leader
• Bill McConnell from Westwood Baptist Church, Medical Nurse
• Wayne Morrison from Westwood Baptist Church
• Johnnie Morrison from Westwood Baptist Church
• Charlene Foster from Westwood Baptist Church
• Charley Scoggins, Clingan Ridge Baptist Church
• Roger Watkins, Clingan Ridge Baptist Church
Representing Bradley Baptist Association, Cleveland, TN

Day 6

2010-05-07T15:15:00.001-07:00

Hello Team 9 is still going strong in Haiti. We feel like we have accomplished a lot in the warehouse for the past 2 days. Peggy has new additions to her family. She has several new sons. They call her mom. No one can believe she is her age. She still is spry as a spring chicken. I will post some pics of her with her new sons. Matt has made several new friends as well. He's been giving them lessons. I can also post a pic of that. There have been several more deaths in the past few days. But we have given away several Bibles. The little baby in the brown flowered outfit is one Peggy fed. We also went to the UN to eat last night. It was really good. Traffic on the streets of Haiti, well let's just say you better be prayed up. We rode in the back of a pick up truck. WE did make it back safely though. We have witnessed to many people including the nurses and docs. Most have been receptive or at least tolerate us. Please continue to pray for us all that we will be doing exactly what God would have us do. We thought she was going to be a slow eater but she had the whole bottle gone in no time. We hope you enjoy the pics. It gives you a little idea of how our days are going. The pic of us in front of the cross is where we do our devotions in the mornings at 6:30. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Blessings from Team 9

Tuesday Evening post from Team 9

2010-05-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hello from hot, humid Haiti I almost used a term that sounds alot like Haiti and it's hot as well. Just a bit of humor tends to help with the heat. Ok to begin with I probably should tell you we were proviledged to pray with a father and daughter. The daughter was 18 and she came in with a brain infection. The father was thankful and one of the nurses said afterwards that we almost made her cry she wasn't expecting that. We also had a request from Sharon one of the nurses on our team ask for prayer. She was semi kidding because she has had to put up with people not listening and things being put in the wrong places. She said you need to pray for me I think she was really serious.

Last night we were introduced to a local vendor who cooked hamburgers and hotdogs they also had cold sprite and cokes we could purchase. I wasn't brave enough to endure it however the rest of the crew did and said it was very good. Thankfully no one got sick so I guess it was ok or God was looking out for them. Probably both. Everytime we meet one of the children in passing they give us a hug. Sweet children. Wish I could bring some back. Several infants had been "abandoned" and fortunately all the mothers showed back up today. From what we understand that is somewhat of a cultural thing for emotional detachment when they think they are going to pass away. I know I am going long but there is so much to tell it's hard to get it all in.

God is still working and there are so many needs. We had a request today for toothpaste and was able to give them the toothpaste that a dentist from our church had donated. I should sign off for tonight all my biting friends are visiting me so I have to get a shower and get the bug spray. We continue to desire your prayers.

Monday, May 3 Post from Haiti Team 9

2010-05-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

We arrived on time and safely yesterday. We've only been here for a little more than 24 hours and have already witnessed God's protection and how he orchestrates things long before we even realize it.

Around 12 am this morning we were all awakened to screaming voices saying, "There is a FIRE in the Med-surg tent and we need everyone to come help evacuate the patients." So as you can imagine it was mass chaos. We did manage to get all the patiens evacuated, however we lost a child and an infant. Early this a.m. we lost another infant. Few people have had more than 4 hours of sleep.

To elaborate on God's orchastration it has truly been a blessing having Sharon and Josh on the team because of their knowledge of medical supplies. Allen is with our team and had not planned on utilizing his background as an electrician. In light of the fire last night, which was caused by a lightening strike, Allen's expertise was used to rewire the hospital and patients were moved back in. Currently the hospital is not accepting new patients but are treating the patients who were already here. Matt has been the muscles of the group and well that leaves me. I have prayed continually for the team for endurance in these conditions and boldness to share the gospel.

We are doing the best we can considering the circumstances. The medical supply tent is in the process of moving supplies to containers. Some of the supplies are under tarps on pallets some is in containers while there is some on the shelves still but not in good order. God is blessing and we are loving the people. Please continue to keep team 9 as well as all the wonderful nurses, doctors, volunteers and many other medical people in your prayers.

In Christ,
Team 9

Sunday, May 2 Post from Team 8 in Haiti

2010-05-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

Hello from Team 8. We will be leaving tomorrow morning with Team 9 due in this afternoon.

Mark was blessed with the opportunity to attend worship service at an evangelical Haitian church today. The two pastors of this church are evangelical church planters who focus on areas where voodoo is rampant. They had several of their church plants destroyed during the earthquake but their faith and trust in the Lord is stronger than ever.

After the service the two pastors took Mark to an voodoo "temple" where the voodoo "priest" was actually present. The area was strung with voodoo implements, tools and signs. You could literally feel evil lurking. One of the Haitian pastors shared truth with the voodoo priest for several minutes and then we left. The Haitian pastors shared some of the voodoo practices that are still carried out in this country including child sacrifice and mutilation of human remains to produce "potions." Although not common in the cities anymore it still goes on particularly in the mountains and more remote areas. Politicians even go to the voodoo "priests" to cast spells on their rivals. Satan stalks this entire country. Please be in prayer for Haiti and for the pastors who strive everyday to combat this evil and walk our Lord and Savior's name in a land awash in darkness.

The new team of Doctors and Nurses arrived last night. Although several of them are having difficulty adjusting to the heat (can't imagine why, it's only 98 today) their attitudes seem to be universally positive and upbeat.

One of the Haitian pastors stated to us that he knew what a sacrifice it was for us to come here to serve. My reply to him was that it was not a sacrifice but a blessing from the Lord to be able to come here and serve.

Serving in His Name,

Team 8

Saturday, May 1 Report from Haiti Team 7

2010-05-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

The word for today is HOT, HOT, and more HOT! We are moving the stuff out of the medical tent into cargo containers. The med tent is in a mess. Team 9 will have their hands full with all the moving.

We have a new set of twins born early this morning. Mark and I are getting ready to leave. These 2 weeks have just flown by for me, but I am looking forward to getting home. I have learned a lot about myself. The people I have met here are great. I would not trade the time I spent here in Haiti. We have planted many seeds here and hope a tree grows!

Your Friend in Christ,

Ken Sheppard

Friday, April 30 Post from Team 8 in Haiti

2010-04-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

We are very busy with a wide range of tasks. In addition to running the supply tent, we are frequently asked to come to one of the hospital tents to pray for and with patients and families. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve and share Truth; helps keep us very busy but also leaves us spread very thin. Team 9 with 6 people will indeed be a blessing and an opportunity to get caught up in the warehouse and spend more time in prayer and fellowship with patients and staff.

Can not give enough thanks and praise to the Fla house staff for all of their help and support. They have been a blessing indeed.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we seek to serve Him and walk his Name.

Please keep the Haitian people in your thoughts and prayers as well.

In His service,

Team 8

Thursday, April 29 Report from Haiti Team 8

2010-04-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

This morning we were asked to pray with a woman. Her baby isn’t expected to live through the day. Mark said a wonderful prayer; it was touching and the mother was comforted and grateful for Mark. I went to the United Nations compound for lunch. The food was great.

We lost a child earlier today, prayed with 9 people, and planted many seeds today. As it is very hot and there is only me and Mark, I need to go feed the babies now because I help with the feedings.

Pray for all the people here in Haiti. John 3:16 is my verse for today. “For God so loved the world that he gave is one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

God bless you all!

Ken

Wednesday, April 28 Report from Team 8 in Haiti

2010-04-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

Not much new to share. The team is fine, working long hours (we usually have devotional time a 6:30 am and then go straight to the warehouse and work until approx. 5:30 pm), but in good health. It is our understanding that team 9 will consist of 6 people. This will be really helpful as there is so much work to do.

We went to the market in town today to purchase some much needed items for the hospital (primarily bleach, soap and baby bottle brushes). The hospital is located about a mile from the main UN compound which is on the route to the market. The sides of the streets around the UN are lined with Haitian vendors selling everything from bread and V-8 juice to wooden bowls and art work. All are trying to earn a few dollars in an economy with an unemployment rate well over 50%.

I mentioned yesterday the wealth of opportunity here to share the truth. There is a very wide range of peoples here; professional staff (some of whom are believers but a lot of whom are not), Scientologist's, Sikhs, Haitians a lot of whom profess to Christianity but have some very non-scriptural beliefs). It seems that He placed a cross section of people groups here for us to be witnesses unto.

If eveyone would please be in prayer that we might be humble witnesses to His perfect Word and humble servants to His perfect Will.

Thank you for your prayers,
Team 8

April 27 Post from Team 8 in Haiti

2010-04-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Port-Au-Prince, Donna and Carolyn both left yesterday and are home safe and sound - four hours late out of Miami due to weather but both home safe. Ken is staying over a second week and he and Mark are now holding down the fort. The same basic mission, running the warehouse and sharing Truth whenever the opportunity presents it's self.

Very hot today, probably pushing 98 and very high humidity but the Fla. House folks are doing a super job of supporting us with water, ice and anything else we need. Our thanks and gratitude to all of the personnel there.

The Doctors, Nurses and other professional staff (PT's PA's etc) are a joy to work with. Super attitudes toward their jobs and the Haitian people. Some of them have been here multiple times but for a lot of them this is their first experience in this type of environment and their attitudes are overwhelming positive and professional. Very grateful and appreciative for our help.

On a more somber note, we continue to lose infants in the pediatrics unit. This is very hard on the Nurses in particular. In the States they are accustomed to saving probably 49 out out of 50 of infants who come into their Hosp in distress. Over here it seems like they are losing close to fifty percent. Ken has been spending a lot of time in prayer for the babies and with the staff.

A couple of logistical notes for anyone who may be coming down:

1) If at all possible you need to book the entire trip with America. Personal experience and ongoing reports from others indicate significant problems (delayed and canceled flights, missed connections etc) with the other airlines serving Port-Au-Prince. Additionally, American is still allowing two checked bags (fifty pound limit ea) into Port-Au-Prince with no checked bag fee.

2) There is an ongoing need here for the following items if anyone has room in their checked bags.

Tarps (10x12 probably work best)
Powdered Gatorade is an ongoing need both for yourself and for patients

Let me close by saying that there is a over flowing abundance of opportunity here to share Truth and serve Him. (more on this in the next couple of days).

Your fellow servant,
Mark

Final Post from Haiti Team 7

2010-04-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

First, I want to thank God for the opportunity to have been here this past 8 days. He is so good. We have had a blessed week. Some days were harder than others, but it has been so worth everything we have been though, emotionally, physically and spiritually. God has truly blessed through the Haitian people, all the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who are here volunteering their time.

We had a church service this morning. Ken, Carolyn and I were the only 3 in attendance, but I pray we have sown some seeds here. Ken read from John and talked about casting the first stone. We really enjoyed it.

Mark arrived safe, we thank God for that. Keep Team 8 in your prayers.

Please pray for safe travels for Carolyn and me tomorrow as we go home to our families.

Any teams coming in the future, there is a need for English Bibles. “For HE will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and needy...He will rescue their life from oppression and violence. Psalm 72:12-14

God bless Haiti and you!

- Donna

Saturday, April 24 Update from Team 7

2010-04-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

Hello to all our family and friends. We are all well. God is watching over us all. He is so good.

We have had another very hot day, sometimes you think you can't take any more, but He gives us the strength we need to keep on.

We lost more babies today. This is one of the hardest parts. These babies are precious. The children are so loving.

We have been working long hours trying to get the warehouse ready to move to the new location. There is still so much to do. Please, if you can possibly join with TBDR and make a trip down here, the need is great. There are so many people who need help. God will truly bless you.

"I thank my God for you; hearing of your love and faith you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother." - Philemon 4-7

We need to minister to these people and show the love of Christ. Carolyn and Donna only have a few more days in Haiti, so keep Ken in your prayers. Pray that God will send him the help he needs to keep doing this work that God has given us to do. Pray for safe travels for Carolyn and Donna.

On a lighter note the UN brought us hamburgers and hotdogs. They were so good. Thank God for His goodness!

God bless you all.

Friday, April 23 Report from Team 7 in Haiti

2010-04-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a very busy day. First, we moved from the Florida House to the camp at the airport where the warehouse is located. The two Southern Baptist tents are still up and available for us to move into so Ken took one and Donna and Carolyn took the other. The girl’s tent had three cots and Ken's ten had more cots then he knew where to put them. He also had an air mattress that I found out he didn't use. I may use it tonight! The cot was hard last night. As soon as we got to the warehouse a nurse came in and told us they had just lost another baby so Donna and Ken went to pray with the family. That makes 5 babies that have died since we got here. It doesn't get easier.

We didn't get any new deliveries yesterday, but we are starting to create palettes with excess items that they can move to a real warehouse with walls. They are concerned that the rainy season is coming we have lots of palettes outside that would get wet. We were told to send 6 palettes a day. We are marking them with a yellow security tape.

Yesterday we had a chance to tour the city. We went into the area that contains the worst damage. We saw debris still in the streets, but they [the Haitians] just drive around them. We even saw tents in the middle of the street; again we just drive around them. We saw the Cathedral where a group of about 15 people were singing in Creole, it wasn't a song we recognized. Everywhere we go we see people asking from money or food. Our hearts go out to them.

We also saw the Palace, it had a lot of destruction but you can see what the grandeur was before the earthquake and right across from the palace is a tent city. How can rulers not see how the people live and not help?

Today is Nick and Tyler's last day; please pray that we make a difference in their lives. Some of the books and things they have are very non-Christian, one book was called White Witch, Black something.

Thank you for your prayers. Ken did sleep better.

Today's verse we found on the back of a bus yesterday when we were touring. Daniel 3:17- “If we are thrown into a blazing furnace the God we serve is able to save us from it and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.”

Today is starting to look like it will be our hottest yet.

- Carolyn, Ken and Donna

Thusday, April 22 Update from Team 7

2010-04-22T03:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Hello, this is a new update. Thank you for your prayers. I got my best sleep, so far, on Tues night. It was another hot, hot day at the airport. A lot happened today, so bear with me, as it is now 3 am on Thursday.

We cleaned up in and around the supply tent and then a news crew came in and filmed us. They took pictures and asked questions. Next, Donna & Carolyn handed out around 200 tracks in French. Two Haitian men specifically asked for Bibles in English that thankfully Donna had brought. We were able to plant many seeds.

Now on a sad note, at one point, I was sitting down and our Lord was laying on my heart that I needed to go see the babies in the ICU ward and pray over them. All at once, God said I needed to go at that moment. I told Donna what the Lord had laid upon my heart, and asked her to go with me. When we walked in, alarms were going off. This mother was holding her baby and crying. The nurses said the baby would not live much longer. We asked if we could pray for her. I got down on my knees, placed one hand on her and prayed for her pain. A little while later the baby died. Donna and I were crying. It was very sad. A total of 3 babies died on Wednesday. But, now they are with our Lord Jesus in heaven in no pain.

I’m so blessed to have Carolyn and donna on our team . I believe our Lord puts the right people together at the right time. The teams from California, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida have blessed us so much as we have gotten to know them. Today, Thursday, it’s time for us to move into the tents at the airport and say goodbye to our new friends. I’ll miss the services each morning with the Haitians at the Florida house – the singing in French and the sharing time. The people here are so nice to us.

Because it’s so hot here and we need to drink a lot of water. my verse for today has to do with the living water. Jesus said unto the lady Samaritan at the well, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” - John 4:13-14. Amen.

- Ken

Team 7 Checking In!

2010-04-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

First off we are staying at the Florida House instead of the camp where the warehouse is. This has pros and cons. We have about a 30 minute drive every morning and night so our work day is a lot shorter. We get a hot breakfast and supper every day and we sleep on a bed in air conditioning. The feel here is more like other Disaster Relief trips I have taken. There is a community with teams from TN, FL, GA and CA. There are about 40 of us staying here. Other teams are doing demolition, construction, and some are training local pastors.

Each morning we have a devotional in the court yard with the 40 people and about 60 Haitians that work with the teams as translators, construction workers, security, drivers, and cooks. Everything is translated and we sing in Creole (like French).

Today we had lots of work, but a lot of blessings. It was a little cooler and we had a fan. We received several deliveries today. One delivery was an over-abundance of toilet paper and paper towels. We took toliet paper to patients and families in the hospital. Everyone got one or two rolls depending on if it was a thick or thin roll.

Donna, Ken and I (Carolyn) found a tent which is set up as a play room for children. We got a chance to play with the children. We had bubbles and balloons left over from yesterday and we found books and clappers in the warehouse. Ken even got on the floor and played cards with the kids. They showed us how they could count in English. My counting in French was very rusty but I got all the way to 10 with a little help.

Today the Lord gave me the scripture from Hebrews 3:15, "Today, if you hear his voice do not harden not your hearts." This disaster relief trip is turning into the greatest retreat I have ever attended.

Please pray for Ken as he hasn't slept well in two nights. Continue to pray for Tyler and Nick - we had a chance to talk to them today, but will need to talk more. The Lord is definitely working on these two boys.

Your brother and sisters in Christ,
Donna, Ken and Carolyn

2010-04-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Eddie became dehydrated and had to spend

time in ER, this is Donna at his side

April 19 Post from Haiti

2010-04-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

We started our day with a wonderful breakfast. Then we had an awesome devotional and a song.

We went to the warehouse to start our work. We unpacked several palates of medical supplies and stocked them onto the shelves.

Carolyn and Donna visited the children's tent at the hospital and gave balloons and bubbles to the children. That was an awesome experience. The children's eyes just lit up. They are so precious. In Matthew 19:13, Jesus says "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

Pray for 2 American boys that we are working with, they don't know Christ and we want to show Him to them through us. God is so good.

- Team 7

Team 7 Arrives in Haiti

2010-04-19T04:20:00.000-07:00

Hello from Team 7! We are Ken Sheppard, Donna Rose, and Carolyn Fregoe. We have landed here in Haiti safe and sound. We are looking forward to starting our work tomorrow.

We have met a team from California and they are a blessing to be around, singing, sharing testimonies, and all of us praying together. We will update more later.

Thank you for your prayers!!!

Team 5 Looks back at their time in Haiti

2010-04-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Although Team 5 left Haiti over a week ago, they sent along this update as to their last 24 hours in Haiti and also a "thank you" to those of you who prayed for them as they ministered to the patients and other relief workers in Haiti.
-------------------------
Well, we were up early Monday morning, we had to leave for the airport at 7am, we were able to say our good-bye's to the new friends that we had made. One of the Haitian workers, Lilio came early Monday morning to see me off and thank me for the bible I had given to him.

Eddie and myself almost missed our 10:50am flight with Insel Air because we were directed to the wrong location (it was because of the language problem), but I was able to contact a worker from Insel Air and he was able to get us taken care of just as the plane was getting ready to leave.

Sunday was a bad day for Eddie, because that evening he got sick and had to go to the ER to get checked out. He had to stay in ER for some time and they gave him an IV because he was dehydrated. I have a picture of Eddie in the ER with the IV's in his arm and Donna at his side. He also had to get up during the night and go back to the ER and was sick going out the next day. I was able to be with him until Miami then we had to split up and go different directions.

Sunday night was also a bad night because we had a very bad thunder storm, and again our area looked like a small lake. One of the oxygen bottles in the children's ward fell over and broke. I guess it was the noise from the oxygen bottle that scared the parents, because they grabbed their children, tearing out IV's and running out into the rain.

Thursday and Friday they dug ditches around the hospital tents so that the water would flow into a well that they had dug, and could be pumped out, this kept the water from flowing into the hospital tents. Wednesday night we had a bad rain storm and the tents got a lot of water in them.

Please be in prayer that more teams will go to Haiti to work, because I heard a lot about how much great work Tennessee Disaster Relief did, what a testimony to those who served. To God be the glory!

- Don Pickrell

April 10 Post from Haiti Team 5

2010-04-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

Today is Saturday April 10 and on Monday Donna, Eddie, and myself will be flying back home. We have made many friends down here and it will be sad to leave, but sadder still is the fact that we do not have a replacement team. The conditions down here are not the best, but for all the teams that have been here and worked I can say with assurance that it has been rewarding, and a real blessing to have served our God in Haiti. I am sure that anyone of them would return, if given the chance to do so. I am so thankful to have Donna on my team, she is a real worker, and takes care of the warehouse, and because of her the supplies are getting out to the Doctors and Nurses.She is always on the go and has gotten to know everyone. We also have a Christian Rabbi, Mark working with us who is just great and always on the go. We also have Kris, a Christian lady from Key West, helping and also doing a wonderful job.

I just talked to John, a Chaplain from Tennessee, who told me he lead an elderly man to Christ today, praise God. I think that is five this week, God is at work in Haiti.

Last night as we were eating around the picnic tables, which are under a tent with open sides, it started to rain very hard. The camp ground area looked like a small lake, our tent had some water inside, but not much. I have a picture of Eddie standing on the picnic tables pushing the water off the tent roof, we had about four inches of water around the picnic area.The medical warehouse where we work had lots of water and some boxes got wet that were sitting on the floor. It was muddy this morning and we had to bring gravel from the parking lot inside to cover the muddy areas. The Hospital also lots of water inside, but they did a great job of cleaning up. It is very hot again today, so I am sure that it will dry the ground up.

A lot of the Doctors and Nurses left this morning, and so far just a few have came in to replace them.

Keep us in your prayers, we need them.

- Don Pickrell

Team 5 Haiti Update

2010-04-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Haiti!

Today is Thursday morning and it is already HOT, but God is good and He takes care of us. Donna, Eddie, and myself are keeping busy here in the Medical Warehouse. We also have two other people that came in to help us - Mark and Chris, who just needed a change from what they were doing, what a help they are.

Donna gets to go out into Haiti today to visit a orphanage where around 70 children are staying, she loves children and I think this will be a real blessing to her. Darrell and Rhett left Wednesday morning, they were the last of team #4. One of the many blessings about being here in Haiti is meeting new Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

On Wednesday morning Katie Couric came and visited our camp. One of the many things she did was interview a young girl (about 4 or 5) who had lost her left leg below the knee and had a deformed right foot. The little girl was using a walker that Rhett, who was on team #4, made which had a special seat in the walker. This was helpful because when she got tired of walking, she could put the seat down and have a place to set. She was using this when Katie Couric interview her, so if you see the news just know that the chair she is sitting in was made by one of our Disaster Relief people. (Editor's note: We do not believe this segment has been aired yet, as soon as we find out, we will let you know when it will air and/or will post a link to it on this blog)

We also had a 13 year old boy pass away Wednesday afternoon and the Mother was on the outside of the fence yelling and crying over the death of her son. Please be in prayer for this family and all the people of Haiti.

The Chaplains (not sure where they are from) also had four people come to Christ this week, what a blessing. Keep Team #5 in your prayers, we need them.

- Don Pickrell

Final Post from Haiti Team 4

2010-04-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Velda and I leave Port-au-Prince at 5 PM today and Team 4's work in Haiti will be done. Today is such a sad but glorious day as 4 people were saved in the adult ward.

There are so many people to thank that I know I will miss someone important if I start naming names so will do a general thank you. The nurses, doctors and PT's have been amazing. Their professional care was awesome to start. Being able to volunteer in the ICU and watch what happens there is something I will never forget.

The staff of Medishare is so easy to work with. They are "make it happen" people of the highest quality.

The Haitian staff were/are so thankful for the help of everyone that comes down here. They go out of their way to assist in every way they can.

To the staff at Flordia House, thank you for your support and help. Praise God for people like you.

Making an exception here, as the 2 Georgia guys were and still are truely men of God. Darrell Barrett was such a help to me and Rhett Spires will make a lot of children's life easier with the modifcations he made on walkers,crutches, etc.

Team 4 was so amazing. Velda and Betty are the BEST. God assembled a team of strangers and made them brothers and sisters forever.

To my wonderful wife Lee, for taking care of everything at home alone so I cando this work , I love you so much.

Last I thank God for allowing me to do this work and all the Blessings He has given me.

1 Corinthians 2:2
- Bill

A PRAISE update from Haiti Team 4

2010-04-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

PRAISE GOD!

I found out today why I came to Haiti. I knew part of the reason was to serve God, but I didn't know who He would bring me in contact with that needed to know the Lord. I have prayed each night to God for Him to lead me to one that was lost and in need of salvation.

Today is moving day, teams are leaving and entering the camp. I have talked some about Dr. Mitchell and the group of nurses he brought down from Chicago. I was talking to Leslie before she left from the airport, when a voice said I needed to go to the warehouse. I told Leslie I would be right back, and started for the supply room. I had not taken but a few steps when suddenly Nicole was at my side saying she thought I would never stop talking to Leslie and she needed to talk to me. I told her, sure, lets go to the computer room of the warehouse.

She started crying and telling me something was tugging at her. She knew she wasn't living right and wanted the joy all of us seemed to have . She poured her heart out as we sat together. I talked to her about Jesus, how He loved and wanted her to be a part of His heavenly family. I read some from Romans to her, then prayed with her. I asked if she really wanted the peace and joy that we had and that all it took was for her to ask God to come into her heart. We talked some more and then she prayed for Jesus to come into her heart and rule over her soul.

YEP, thats why we came!

1 Corinthians 2:2
- Bill

April 5 Report from Team 4 in Haiti

2010-04-05T10:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon a young nurse named Annie came in and said she had to work ICU by herself from 11 PM to 7 AM. She is a nurse of 8 months and said she was scared to death. I told her I was use to working nights and had basic 1st Aid training and would help her. She was so happy just to have another person with her she accepted my offer.

There were 3 patients in ICU last night. Bed 1 was a young man that while swimming tangled with a boat propeller. Both of his feet were cut and mangled badly , losing his left big toe. Bed 2 was a man that was in a bank during a robbery , and was shot by the police by mistake. He waited 6 weeks before going for treatment and now is very serious. Bed 3 is a man that was riding a motorcycle and hit by a bus. He has been in the ICU for 8 days. He is on a ventilator. About 2 AM while Annie was tying to give him some suction everything bad happen at once. His O2 ran out and she had me run and get man that changes the cylinders.

When he still wasnt responding , his condition worsen, she ran for help, then doctors were called. The doctor's work was not helping and I noticed patient one motioning for me. With chapped lips he told me to tell the doctor to "bag him". Now I have been around enough doctors to know they do not listen to patients trying to tell them how to do their job. I moved over to Bed 3 and was about to whisper this to Annie when patient one yelled out "BAG HIM" . The doctor said yes do this. Patient one gave order after order, telling them if they were doing something wrong , or right. By the time they sent for the head of the hospital and the respiratory experts the man was already calming down. Patient one had saved the man's life. It turns out that he is a critial care respiratory expert. His sister was also the person that started the hospital here. Coincidence? NOPE God in control.

Betty leaves today, we will miss her so much. Tomorrow Velda and I leave.

1 Corinthians 2:2
- Bill

Easter Sunday from Team 4 in Haiti

2010-04-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Oh me! We just finished Easter morning service and it was so emotional. About 30 people came and we had an amazing service. People from different religions worshipping the Risen Lord. We sang a couple of songs, I read from the book of Mark. Wanda Mitchell from Chicago , then sang a special music. Donna Holt then gave her testimony. Dr Mitchell wanted to share what happen in the ER next. A car wreck involving 6 people , most seriously came in late last night. One was a little 3 yr old baby. The baby was non-responsive and they were losing him. Working on the little boy for about 1 1/2 they knew they couldnt do any more. Dr Mitchell led the ER nurses in a prayer for the baby , twice they prayer for God to save this little child. Finally the baby started crying, then moving and may recover completely now. There were veryfew dry eyes in that open field in Haiti when the Doctor finished. We then sang Just As I Am and had prayer and dismissed. Even a loud generator near by, nor planes landing could stop us from worshipping our Risen Saviour.

1 Corinthians 2:2
- Bill

April 3 Post from Team 4 in Haiti

2010-04-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

Well its moving day. So many of the amazing doctors, nurses, and PT's are leaving with a new group scheduled to arrive on the Medishare plane. Words can not describe the attachment and respect everyone has developed for each other. Donna Holt arrived safely yesterday and is another great addition to this team God has assembled.

I think sanitation and hot water are greatly overrated, may even take my hot water heater out when I get home , ha ha!

Fritz and Wade from Florida House came by yesterday. They are heading up all the SBC response here in Haiti. Fritz took some of us around town to see the destruction. It was unbelievable the damage. Buildings pancaked, building leaning over the street and we drove under them, the piles of rubble, and the mass of people living in tensts. I was shocked at the sheer number of tent cities.

Speaking of that, anyone coming down, 9X12 tarps are needed. The nurses give these tarps to discharged patients that have no home. These tarps become their new shelter.

I am still amazed at the worship service I witnessed in the wards. Led my a local pastor , the singing , praying and praising God is something I will never forget.

Gotta get busy, please continue to pray for us and everyone here.

It cloudy and cool today.

1 Corinthians 2:2
- Bill

April 2 Post from Team 4 in Haiti

2010-04-03T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hello from the TN Baptist Disaster Relief Team in Haiti,

After 6 days, we have seen God's hand in this place. The TNBDR is responsible for the medical supply tent at the Medishare Tent Hospital at the airport in Port-au-Prince. We have had many opportunities to share the love of Christ to the patients and staff. Everyday has been stories of praying and crying with these people. We had an opportunity to be able to visit with Dr Franscisco Noel with One Vision Int and provide medications for his clinic. What a blessing that was, especially since my church is so involved with One Vision.

Last night revival broke out in the hospital. Patients who couldn't move in the day were rocking the tent with song and praise. All the staff were going after other staff to tell them they needed to see what was happening. One of our men has it on video, and I hope to get a copy and be able to share it.

We had a tour with our NAMB (North American Mission Board) disaster relief director for FL and Haiti today. The damage is unbelievable. But there is revival here. Nurses were coming to us to ask us to pray for their patients, we prayed with family who had very sick children and relatives. It has been a blessing to even do a little.

Keep us in your prayers. We now have 7 on our team. All are doing well and using their gifts to bring honor and glory to our Lord. Happy Easter from Haiti. Our group will be doing an Easter Sunrise Service.

Love to all,
Betty Ebbs

Crew 3 Final Report

2010-04-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Port au Prince, Haiti reminded me of war zone because of the death, destruction and shortages of food and water – all of this destruction has been caused by the recent earthquake.

I worked at the warehouse at the hospital where the supplies are stored. We would receive soap, water and MRE’s but then the next day they were gone or there would be half as much on the shelves. Haitian people were pillaging from the warehouse, and I would wonder – why are they stealing from the sick and dying? After thinking about the circumstances, I wondered what we would do if our children were hungry and had no water. What would we do to keep them alive? Are they stealing for their children or are they selling the goods at an exuberant cost to the poor people of Haiti?!!

God supplied miracles daily -– we would need for example, diapers, ensure for adults, medical supplies, and the next day it would be delivered. We asked for Bibles in French or Creole one day and miraculously it was received the next day. God works in wondrous ways!!

The University of Miami is the medical facility that is in charge of the hospital in Port au Prince. The head CEO was Doctor Vince and he was a stern but fair person – he would often make appearances at the warehouse to check on medical supplies and water. He had to make decisions that I would rather not have to make, for example: two girls, 11 and 13 received severe burns on Saturday night when a transformer exploded and covered them with fire. The hospital requested an airlift for the girls to Bethesda, Maryland, but it was not to happen. The decision was made to keep them comfortable and their bandages changed when needed. A Charge Nurse was helping us in the warehouse and she said that without a sterile area the two (2) girls will die from the infection. The nurse thought it not feasible to use the much needed medical supplies for those that are destined to die from their injuries. I am not such a skeptic – I believe in the divine grace of God!!

While in Haiti I would sit in the area where the doctors and nurses would come on their breaks to relax and talk of the days events. I heard that a woman with TB in her chest, not yet in her lungs, would receive no medicine for the bacterial infection – there was not enough medicine to start the treatment. The day before I heard of this ladies predicament, an older man had died from TB.

Death is not uncommon at the temporary tent hospital. I would go everyday to the children’s side of the hospital and see children that had to have parts of their arms and legs amputated, children with back injuries so severe that they could not walk, and then there were the preemie babies. The preemie babies were the most beautiful of Gods Creations. The babies were born to mothers that had little food or were ill when they were pregnant. Mothers’ asked me to pray for the babies – one mother professed that she believed in God and that she wanted me to pray for her small infant. I was so overwhelmed by these tiny babies that were so innocent and sick that I cried. After I finished praying for the first child, I was asked by two other women to pray for their babies. It was unexplainable how I felt to see these babies that are sick and dying. The same night the man with TB died, one of the preemie babies died too.

There was an RN from Philadelphia who was stationed in my tent. She worked in the adult side of the hospital and said that almost every night the army or the emergency workers brought in Haitians that had been shot in the neck (spine). She said that they would be quadriplegic for the rest of their lives. A young man of 18 was brought in that had been shot in the neck and he was paralyzed from the neck down, He had a young wife that was 16 or 17 years old and she was being taught how to take care of her husband. The RN told me the young wife did not realize that this type injury would not go away, it would be a lifetime of taking care of her husband.

I am so glad that I live in America, the Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave. I am so thankful for all of the prayers that were prayed for the Haitians, me. and First Baptist of Morristown for giving me a spiritual home. and for giving me an opportunity to help others in need.

I also want to thank the recruits from the United States Army Division from Louisiana that helped us at the Port au Prince warehouse. They brought us a foot locker of food. It sure tasted good!

Thank you God for the blessings you have bestowed on all of us in the USA!!!!

- Gail Hudgens

Haiti Team 4 - April 1 Post

2010-04-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Good morning from the sunny Isle of Haiti,

Yesterday was a moving touching emotional day.Flordia House (NAMB) delivered about 2 dozen home sewn quilts and blankets for babies. They were made by the women at 1st Baptsit Church in Aztec , NM. We sent 2 to babies in the pediatric ward. Several of us visited the mothers and babies in the ward shortly after. One of the little girls , 3 months old, was seriously ill with bowel distention. We prayed over her and her mother. This morning the pediatric nurse met us , told us the baby lived thru the surgery where a twisted bowel was corrected. She is stable as I type this. The mother said that when she was given the quilt , she knew her baby was going to live.PRAISE GOD!

Also yesterday a nurse told me a mother of a 26 yr old man was asking for a chaplain. He has late stage HIV and will not live very long. Darrell when to see him having to get in mask and gown. Darrell said he kept drifting off and couldnt really focus but the young man said he believed in Jesus ,,we can only hope that is so.

We started planning our Easter Sunday sun rise service. A Dr and 5/6 nurses from Chicago tent next to us said they were so happy to hear about this and that they would be there. The Doctor (Dr Mitchell) and his wife Wanda joined us this morning for our devotion. They brought a small tent with them and have been using that as a place they can pray alone each day. thrilled my heart!

So much going on , I ould write all day but this was a few of the hi-lights from yesterday. Oh Velda is taking a tour of the city today and visiting another orphanage. Others will go this afternoon and the rest tomorrow. More great news Donna Holt will be joining our team tomorrow instead of Sunday when the rest of her team arrives. Is our time here really drawing to a end????

Pray for us and the doctors and amazing nurses and the haitian people

1 Corinthians 2:2
- Bill

Haiti Team 4 - Day 2 Post

2010-03-30T19:55:00.001-07:00

Good morning from Haiti,

Eddie Tucker is HERE! His story is a long ,sad, and fuuny . But I knew right away Eddie was going to fit right in. As I was giving him a tour of the hospital , a Haitian came up to me to ask a question. When I turned back around Eddie was holding a little 1 yr old girl, smiling for pictures and laughing with her parents.

1 Corinthians 2:2
- Bill

March 28 Haiti Update from Team 3

2010-03-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last night we enjoyed a dinner at the UN compound in celebration of our work here shortly coming to an end. The special treat was commandeering a TV and seeing the Vols win a close game over Ohio State.

We are preparing today for the new team, team 4, which is coming in on Sunday.

Please continue to pray for the Hatians and for our team and the entire group working here with many needs and also safe travel for those coming and going home.

Photos are included below. Thank You.

- Gail Hudgens

Family members waiting to go home with Jerry Legg

Young girl amputee

Infant child with encephalitis

Young mother with preemie

Surgery on infant

Supply yard

Young Haitian girl

Doc Vince, CEO of the hospital and support

March 26 Update from Haiti

2010-03-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

Today, which is Friday, March 26th, a small group of our team members went with a police officer from the US Embassy in a crowded car for a what was to be a brief tour of near town. The officer also operates an orphanage for 35 children. The tour became longer when we were stuck in traffic as people lined up to get US donated rice.. Big American flag on each and the folks struggled to take them home. We saw the Presidential Palace which was in ruins as was probably half the housing. Many different tent cities around the area and people walking and many street side vendors selling everything. The drivers here operate by the horn and push their way system and you hold your breath each time.

Prayers were answered when we received baby and adult diapers, which still are in great demand. Hospital still full and more coming from early morning till closed. Pray for the Doctors and nurses as they work 12 hours on and 12 hours off under tough conditions.

Please continue to pray for our team.

- Gail Hudgens

Team 3 Haiti Update

2010-03-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

Day 5

This is a good day, we are half way through the day and we are locking in very well in supplying the needs to the hospital. We are re-organizing and re-stocking the supplies daily and that is a dirty hot job - but we have received many blessings.

In yesterday's blog we asked for Creole and French Bibles - God answered that prayer and we received French Bibles and new testaments. Praise the Lord!

Today we visited the children's hospital and as soon as we went in an Haitian, named Jocelyn, came up to us and asked us for a English Bible - all we had were the French Bibles. (We are in need of English Bibles)

Today at the hospital we were asked to pray for two (2) preemie babies - they are very ill - please remember these babies in your prayers as well as the other sick and dying.

We lost 2 yesterday - One preemie baby and an older man - remember their families in your prayers.

Team 4 members:

Roger Mason and Don Kohansky are doing a tremendous job organizing supplies out in the supply yard - the temperature is 97 in the supply yard.

Bill Stokley is working hard on helping organizing the supplies coming into the warehouse - he also helps in the children's hospital.

Doug Duncan is doing a great job in pharmaceuticals - he is organizing the medical supplies. He is also helping to keep us all health - he is the team pharmacist.

Sherry Pratt is medical authority of our team - she does a great job in directing all of us.

David Pratt is Sherry's husband and he does a tremendous job in organizing the supplies and providing us with the location of the supplies when needed.

Roxy is a nurse from New York city and she helps all of us when we are tired and need to rest - she keeps us on our toes! (she is from New York)!

Jerry Legg is the backbone of this team and provides all of us plus the Haitians with Spiritual guidance - he keeps us all grounded.

Last but not least we have a fine team of Haitians who help us everyday to lift and carry heavy boxes and to help us in anyway that is needed - they also translate for the Haitians that speak little or no English.

Please remember team 4 in your prayers and pray especially for me.

God Bless,
Gail Hudgens

Team 3 - Day 3 Report from Haiti

2010-03-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Team 3 TN Baptist Disaster Relief Group

Day 3 Weather is wonderful - hot with a southerly breeze. ha! Please tell the next team they do need mosquito nets, they need to bring gatorade it is necessity of life, also if they are prone to cramps from dehydration they need potassium supplement tablets.

Monday night we had a Haitian vendor come to our camp and they sold hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken burgers and real Coke products. (It was a blessing to eat real food)

Tuesday I went with Jerry to the children's hospital - and it was something I will remember for the rest of my life - there were 3 premie babies in an incubator - they were so small and helpless. There were children that were so sick they could hardly hold their heads up. There was an American Woman that came through the hospital with a dog for the older children to pet - it was a hit with most of the children but for some it did not matter they were so sick.

Last night sitting under the community tarp it was like camping - everyone was so happy and talking about the events of the day. At the bottom of our camp site there is a field and people were getting their hair cut and enjoying 2 young Haitian play soccer- it was a wonderful thing to see in all of this suffering.

A lot of the Haitian say they have received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior - some want to know more about salvation- Jerry asked if someone could bring Bibles that are in Creole or French.

Please pray for the children who are orphaned that they may receive placement - and please pray for our team.

Our team members David and Sherry Pratt's daughter Crystal fell yesterday and shattered her knee and is having surgery today (Wednesday) please pray for her that she is ok and also pray for Sherry and David that they may receive peace of mind that Crystal is ok.

God Bless Everyone!

- Gail Hudgens

Special Thanks to TN Baptist Disaster Relief Workers!!!

2010-03-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Readers,
The letter below was forwarded to David Acres, TN Disaster Relief Director and finally on to the remaining 5 crew members of the TN Disaster Relief Team, Crew 1. It's with great joy I share this letter with you and hope that it will inspire all who read it Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement to TN Disaster Relief.

- Don Owen
Nolachucky Association Disaster Relief Director
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My name is Dell Ezell. I am a registered nurse at Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee. I recently returned from Haiti. Three other medical personnel from Paris accompanied me there from March 6th through March 13th to the tent hospital complex that has been established at the Port Au Prince airport by the University of Miami Global Initiative project. Some of the finest human beings I have ever come into contact with were there.

I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of the gentlemen that were in charge of the supply tent. They all had on t-shirts that read "Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief". These good old boys from my home state of Tennessee had built an incredible array of shelving with their own hands and had organized all of the donated medical supplies throughout this network on a computerized database that enabled all of the nurses and doctors to find what they needed to treat the patients. Whenever I needed anything for any of my patients in the intensive care unit, all I had to do was walk in and they got everything I needed and more.

All of the patients in this field hospital were on simple cots. Many of them, such as those that I had on ventilators, needed to have the head of their cots elevated. The volunteers from the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief took on this project and made wedges out of cardboard to not only accommodate all of the ICU cots, but all of the cots in the whole hospital. They worked longer hours than I did ( and I worked 12 to 14 hour days while I was there ). Not one time did I ever hear one complaint - instead, all they ever wanted to know was what else could they do to help get any job done.

The temperature in the big tent that they operated in exceeded 100 degrees most days that I was there, but I never saw any of them sitting down. It has taken me a week to get around to writing this letter, but I just wanted someone on this end to know what an invaluable service those guys provided and how proud I am of those guys. I am a member of the First Baptist Church in Huntingdon, Tennessee and I plan to share with Fred Ward, the pastor how proud I am of the life changing and life saving services that are being administered through the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief team there at the airport hospital in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Please pass on my heart felt thanks to all those guys that worked in the supply tent there. They are the greatest.

Sincerely,
James (Dell) Ezell, RN

Final blog team #2

2010-03-23T05:58:00.000-07:00

As of 11:00 PM, Monday, March 22 most of the members of the team are still en route home. Part of the team was delayed leaving Port-au-Prince airport due to the arrival of Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. The airport was shut down, causing them to miss connecting flights in Miami, which will put them arriving home Tuesday morning.

For the members that went through Ft. Lauderdale, they were delayed due to mechanical problems several times and eventually Spirit Airlines told them they could not get the team members on a flight till Tuesday night, March 23. As a last result, they rented a car in Ft. Lauderdale and drove to TN. As of 5:00 AM Tuesday they were driving through Gainesville, FL headed north on I-75.

Word of advice for future travelers: stay away from Spirit airlines, even if they are the cheapest ticket into Haiti.

I will share a few remaining stories with you and then conclude with thoughts from the team members.

When medical staff or other volunteers leave for home they wait for their ride in a central location on the grounds of Project Medishare www.medishare.org.

It is very obvious when team members are coming and leaving. John, who is a Physical Therapist, came up when our team started to leave and spoke to Mark Partin thanking us for our work over the past week. John became very emotional as he shared his story.

John is in his mid twenties and he grew up in a Southern Baptist Church. He shared that his heart was very hard toward organized religion and the church. He shared that he was turned off by all the people that said they believed one thing on Sunday and did something different Monday - Saturday. He did not want to have anything to do with the church and people who were not authentic in their faith.

He continued to weep and thank our team for being authentic in our faith and willing to love others in the name of Jesus. He shared he had been watching us carefully and with a critical eye. As the week went on, he knew we were real and that our ministry had challenged him to rethink his critical spirit and spiritual condition.

John represents most of the staff in the clinics of Project Medishare. They are here to serve hurting humanity and they do it with passion and energy. They are young adults who have grown up in good homes, received a good education and now they are using their gifts by helping a devastated country. Also the staff comes from all over America and they are a portrait of the spiritual condition of America, a lost people that is in need of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

John represents a group in America who grew up in a good home, received a good education and his parents took him to church. Now he has turned against the church and we now pray God has put a flame in his heart to return and walk with Jesus.

The platform God has given TBDR has served not only the Haitian people but the numerous doctors, nurses and other specialists that have come to work in the clinic.

Project Medishare for Haiti, Inc. was founded in 1994 by doctors Barth Green and Arthur Fournier, who assembled a team of faculty from the University of Miami Schools of Medicine and Nursing to assess the health care situation in Haiti and explore ways in which they could help improve the health conditions there.

Many of the workers here are grateful for the blue shirts and yellow hats of our Disaster Relief workers. They also need encouragement and a continuous flow of Tennessee Baptists to assist them.

If you are going to Haiti in the future, please reach out to the medical staff, say hello to them by name, smile at them, ask them how are things going and share Jesus with them. Walk the walk and talk the talk. People are watching your every step.

In a previous posting I introduced you to Sunzi, he is the little boy on the bike seen in a picture which was posted on March 19. As I shared his story I left out that Sunzi was found in a dump. He was left for dead, but he was found and now he has life, a new mom, getting ready to leave for Alberta to his new home and a new bike. Pray that Sunzi will one day find Jesus.

On my last day I spent time talking with each team member asking him to share the impact this trip was having in his life. Here are some quotes from the other team:

“What stood out the most for me was how the Haitian people continued to live their lives against a backdrop of disaster and devastation. Outsiders marvel, pity and take pictures while they simply keep going, accomplishing as much as they can with brooms, shovels and wheelbarrows. Amazing.”

“Makes we realize how much stuff I have.” “This is beyond anyone’s imagination.” “All the babies and adults still losing life.” “We will continue to see the results of this earthquake for decades.” “The thing they think they need the least in the thing they need the most.”

“Mixed emotions, one minute you are praying with someone that has lost a baby then you step to another cot and you pray for a boy that needs to eat.” “Everywhere you see a Haitian helping another Haitian.” “You see a 13 year old boy helping to clean his dad who lost a mother and wife.” “Humanity is not totally bad a lot of good exist in those who do not know Christ.”

“I am a spoiled American.” “I am growing closer to realization of how blessed I am to have a walk with Jesus to know him when others have never heard his name.” “This country is trying to survive.” “Spiritually we have to count on the Lord everyday as if we don’t have anything.”

Final thoughts, when we arrived in Haiti we went straight to hospital/tents and took a tour of the facility. After that, we got to work.

March 14, we walked in the tent that was designated to house medical supplies. It was about 95 degrees plus high humidity, dusty and full of aisles with shelves made of plywood. There was a lot of stuff on the shelves and just as much stuff in boxes that lined each aisle, and lots of hot sweaty people waiting for us to come in there and straighten things out. We were game. That’s what we’d come to do.

For those that served as Chaplains or in the Medical Supply tent there were the people, patients and doctors who were upbeat, in spite of the circumstance. They were leading the way.

On Saturday afternoon, a few of us broke away from our task and went on a tour of the downtown area. Unbelievable devastation - and that was 40 miles away from the epicenter! But people have moved on with their lives. No one seems to be dwelling on the disaster. They are real survivors. I saw it with my own eyes. People cleaning up the streets, rebuilding their homes and businesses in a way that is slow and tedious that you and I would wonder, “Why bother?” But they are bothering. They're working, building, selling, buying, going to church, everything they were doing before the earthquake. Some have returned to their homes in the day time, but at night, they sleep in tents because they’re afraid of another earthquake.

We all are concerned about the rainy season coming in April, but they're concerned about today, this moment, this time. Every day, they do more, and for the Haitians it doesn’t matter whether they see any progress or not. They’re not trying to impress anyone. They are trying to survive.

It was an experience of a lifetime. Seeing it first-hand is the only thing that allows you fully comprehend what happened, what’s needed and why they have such a long journey ahead of them.

So many people, like us, want to do something, but you have to make sure not only that what you’re doing counts, but that it counts for Jesus. And what counts for Jesus............ is the best thing at the time.

People of faith, get ready, and let’s be there ready to go.

Phil Taylor
Director of Missions
Cleveland, TN

Incredible neonatal nurses.

A final good-bye.

One of the many tent cities. A tent city in downtown Port-au-Princes houses 67,000 people. Men, women and children all bathe on street side walks.

Monday, March 22 Report from Haiti DR Team #3

2010-03-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Hello. I am sending you information regarding Haiti DR - team #3 members are:

Jerry Legg, Team leder - 1st Baptist- Dyer, Tennessee
Roger Mason - Hermitage Hills Baptist Church

Don Kohonski - Hermitage Hills Baptist Church

1st Day - arrived 2:30 pm - hot and windy - met with the previous DR team - informed us of what to expect - Jack was right - if you need to lose weight -come to Haiti. Worked picking up garbage off the floor of the medical warehouse. It had rained 2 days ago and the cardboard had disintegrated into the mud and the tarp that they had placed on the dirt floor to keep from wading in mud.

Everything is dusty and dirty - boxes of medical supplies are protected by just a tarp that makes up the sides of the warehouse. They have had to put a deterent (barbed wire in rolls) to prevent Haitians from stealing the supplies.

Let me tell you that cold shower sure was a God send - I felt like a million dollars for about 1 hour. Ha ha!!! I did eat a meal from the food mobile and it was ok - I think it was spaghetti and I hope the meat was chicken - but who knows.

There was a breeze last night - it is hard to sleep when airplanes are coming in and out of the airport all night - the doctors and nurses have a place they can relieve some of their tensions of the day and guess what, it is outside my tent. (but that is ok) I know why they have such stress. I saw it first hand today (2nd Day) at the hospital the Haitians are in a tent - no dividers and you see amputees, people with AIDS, tuberculosis and one young girl had a broken back - she could not move her legs. Jerry and I stopped to talk with a lady whose mother was in the hospital and she shook our hands and said God Bless you for coming to help us. Very few could speak English - there were interpreters to help. Jerry prayed and I shook hands and hugged those that were sitting with their families in the hosptial. Jerry said that one Haitian had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior yesterday. That Gentleman was All Smiles Today!!

We are down to 1 meal a day - but the other team members said that we could go to the UN to purchase real food - I might try that one day when I am not so tired. (the heat will zap you)!

I will send more information in 2 days - please continue to pray for all of us here - and especially for the Haitians.

Pray that God will send these supplies - they are in great demand:

Ensure
heel warmers
diaper scale to weigh premies
white foam for KCI Vacs
Y Connectors for KCI Vacs
Pediatric feeding tubes SFR 8FR
Adult Diapers.

Well that's all for now -

God Bless All of You,

Gail Hudgens

Prayer Request

2010-03-21T05:15:00.001-07:00

Here are a few prayer request:
1. Pray for Lawrence and Travis, they will be preaching in two churches this morning.
2. Pray for the new believers and for those that are seeking a deeper walk with Jesus.
3. Pray for Team 3 as they are traveling to Port-au-Prince.
4. Pray for Team 2 as they bring closure to their work. It has been a very productive week both physically and spiritually.
5. Pray for the new medical staff that arrived yesterday. They will adjust quickly and see the valuable partners they have with the DR guys.

I feel like Radar in the last episode of MASH when he is on the intercom telling everyone it's over for now. Till Jesus comes it's never over. AMEN!!

Take care I trust you have a great Lord's day.

Phil

These young girls were brought over from an orphanage and they quickly found Lawrence Cotton secret pocket full of sweets. They came for shots.

Travis Webb has each day helping to disciple Lilio. He has been one of our best workers around the supply tent. Lilio took Andy and Lawrence to his tent home in one of the many tent cities. It was a ten minute walk from the Medishare tents. After a visit in their homes they took two of the workers to the UN for dinner.

Twelve year old Anderson on the right has a new friend Vincent who you have read about in previous post. The doctors tell us because of the prayers and love from our team Vincent has put on 8 lbs this week. He still has along way to go.

Phil saying good bye to one of the little girls being

discharged Sunday morning. She had surgery on her leg this past Tuesday.

March 20, 2010 Saturday Evening

2010-03-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

This will be my last blog til I get back to Cleveland, TN late Sunday night. I will try and wrap my part up on Monday morning. Thank you for reading and letting me share our small part of representing Tennessee Baptists here at Medishare Clinic Port-au-Prince. Please pray for all of Team 2 as two members travel home on Sunday and the rest of the team leaves Monday. Team 3 arrives tomorrow.

Pastor Mark Partin headed out this morning so he could return to his church responsibilities for Sunday morning, and Phil leaves Sunday morning so he can get back and finish preparations for www.heartcry southeast.com.

Weather wise, we have been spared the rain for the past 24 hours, but not the humidity.

Last night was a change of menu for us as we took the one mile walk down the busy street to have dinner at the UN restaurant. We heard all about the restaurant from the previous team and other staff so it was our turn to try it out, and it was worth the walk. After the chicken and rice all week it was a great change to our diet. The atmosphere will be one to remember. My best description would be a scene from Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart. One thing we hope was communicated to the other patrons is believers in Jesus can have fun, laugh and have a good time even when you drink a cold Diet Coke with ice.

The clinic has been like a three ring circus with new medical staff coming in and some of the veterans leaving. We have said our goodbyes to those that have left and hello to the newbies. I think these young ambitious doctors and nurses are trying to figure out these guys in the Blue Shirts from Tennessee. They will soon come to appreciate the help they will receive with the medical supplies. We have welcomed all the stuffed animals they have brought with them and some of the other needed medical supplies that the clinic has run out of.

Prior to the arrival of the new medical staff Dr. Barth Green, founder of Project Medishare who TBDR is partnering with made a house call with a large contingency of public relations personnel. He was overheard saying as he walked into the Medical supply tent “this is the heart of the operation.” Well, I agree Dr. Green. We thank you for the compliment and we thank you for the opportunity to partner with you on this platform.

Some of the different sights in both the children and adult wards have been empty cots. Several of the cots are empty because of discharges, but some have been because of deaths. Last night seven little ones were added to our world and three adults took their last breath. When I went around to the other team members and asked each of them, what are you taking away from your time here in Port-au-Prince? Several of them replied “the massive amount of death that still ravages this nation”.

Yes, it is real. But just as real as death is life. Eternal life through having a relationship with Jesus Christ and the new life that God gives through all these new babies. Some of you may be thinking that thousands of people are lined up for adoptions. Well, I have been told that is not the case. These little gifts of life cannot stay here at this clinic while they wait on a long process for adoptions. Talking with the Haitian pastors, I get the impression that extended family members will show up claiming a child when in reality this little gift of life will end up in the hands of dishonest people who do not have the best interest of these little babies.

Today was the day when orphan boys were dropped off for care. Over the past week several orphan children have been dropped off after being picked up from the street for care. Two young boys by the name of Anderson and McKenzie became favorites of the DR staff. Both of these young boys are 12 years old with infections and wounds from life on the street.

Anderson is a bright young boy who seems to have been raised in a hard working family who was able to provide dental care and food. The story that we see over and over is Anderson’s mom and dad were killed in the earthquake and he has no other family. He was an only child. After getting treated in the clinic, Lawrence and Andy have spent time with him learning more about him and giving him some responsibilities around the supply tent. He has a great smile and wonderful spirit of enthusiasm.

We have not seen much of McKenzie. It is our fear that someone from the witchcraft community has come and picked him up. The Haitians tell us that the witchcraft doctors get these young boys for slave work and other dishonest activity. It is very real that the strong take over the weak. The young boys will have a hard time existing in a culture where the younger men will push them out when food and nutrition is available.

In a previous picture posting you saw a little boy on a bicycle with a nurse. I did not have the time to tell you the story.

His name is Sunzin and a worker from Alberta is adopting him. Tamara who was only planning to stay for a couple of weeks until she met Sunzin. She will be extending her stay while the paper work is being rushed for Sunzin to go to his new home in Alberta. Can you just image how that little boy is going to feel when he gets off the plane in the cold air of Alberta? I do not think that will matter because Sunzin has a new mother that will keep that little fellow warm.

One other thought before I quit for tonight and pick this up Monday morning hopefully.

I made my last round in both the clinics and said my good-byes to the ones that have been here since Team 2 arrived. I had time to throw the football one last time with Nick and Robert and I had some extended goodbyes in the pediatric ward. I got to hold, feed and burp a lot of little babies this week and I was able to help one more time.

It was an honor to hang out with an incredible staff of doctors and nurses. Words cannot describe the commitment that these individuals have. Many of them had no idea what they were getting into just like us. We all have strived to serve without complaining, serve faithfully and with perseverance.

Thank you for your prayers again for all the guys on Team 2 Thank you for letting me share these stories.

Phil Taylor, Cleveland, TN

Emergency Care waiting area. The tent cover was put up on Wednesday.
Lawrence Cotton with 12 year old Anderson.
Sure looks like Lawrence Cotton about 35 years ago.

Haitian man being released since the earthquake.

One last photo of the adult ward.

In the back left corner is our football field.

The only neonatal care center in Haiti.

It was a honor to serve along with these great doctors and nurses.

March 20 Saturday Morning

2010-03-20T05:43:00.001-07:00

Phil's last day in the pediatric ward is today, this little girl was born early this morning. So many mother's of these precious children do not stay around after the birth.

It will be a tough good-bye late tonight.

L-R Phil Taylor, Lawrence Cotton, Andy Wallace, Mark Partin

veterans of Tsunami Relief work in Sri Lanka and now Haiti.

Message for future teams be sure and bring small cans of beans and weenie's.

Reminds me of my college dorm room. Tent 39!!

Thank you Ruritan International for providing these Box Shelter tents.

Ruritan International has provided thousands of
Shelter Box tents across Haiti. Millions are still needed.

Mark Partin welcomes this gentleman from United Shikh's who flew in

with a private donation of pedialyte for the children. We were without pedialyte

for several days before this guys showed up from no where.

Friday March 19, 2010

2010-03-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

We were introduced last night to a sample of what the rainy season is going to be like here in Haiti in just a matter of weeks. It started around 7:00 PM Thursday night and it did not let up till around 10:00 AM Friday. We are talking about heavy rain, lightning and thunder. Everything is flooded around the clinic area and especially around the supply tent. A new appreciation for boots and waterproof foot wear.

We can understand the urgency to move fast and get people a dependable cover for their sleep.

Most of what has been seen on the American news channels are the tent cities that the UN and other groups such as Rotary International have provided. The news channels are not showing the makeshift privacy units the Haitian people have put up with bed sheets tied to a stick but still no covers over heads. In the rain last night those precious Haitian people were in the open rain. I will try and upload a picture. We have discovered that food and covering has still not made it out to several areas in less than a 20 minute drive from our location here at the airport.

Four members of our team went out to an orphanage on Wednesday to assist with some construction work and survey the damage that affected several children’s dorms. The orphanage is recognized by the Haitian government but yet they still have not received any of the food that has been sent from other nations for relief. The children are living in tents that an agency from Israel has provided. The tents have been a city of refuge for the children since they are still fearful of returning to the buildings. We discovered when we arrived at the orphanage that the couple who manage the facility is from Maryville, TN. We were glad to give a Volunteer hand.

The ministry by the chaplains has really taken off to the level that Phil and Lawrence are now on 24 hour call. We are sad to learn that no chaplains will be with team coming in to relieve us.

We were told by previous volunteers from another state, the medical staff did not have time to talk. Lawrence and Phil have found that is completely the opposite from what we have found. The approach of leaving the medical staff alone did not sound right. Our approach has been to take every opportunity to share with everyone, pray with everyone and be an encourager to everyone.

The medical staff have responded with open arms and great friendships have been made. Simply asking a doctor or nurse how they are dealing with things has opened many doors for sharing Christ. As you can image we have found staff from all over America with a variety of backgrounds. Many have stood in amazement when we share how we got here and what we do back home. It is a great blessing to be able to share with a young nurse that our relationship with Jesus passionately drives us to serve humanity.

Around 5:30 AM Friday morning the charge nurse for the adult ward came to Phil’s tent and asked him to come and minister to a family that had gathered around a father that was near death. This was the first call out like this and we feel it is a great affirmation of what God is doing all around us every minute and every hour of the day.

My prayer is that God will take these words and press them on other DR Chaplains and send you over here while the door is wide open to tell people about Jesus. Alongside of Phil and Lawrence other DR Team members have been kneeling by the cots of both of many, praying and sharing about Jesus. They have been a great help and it is a break for them outside of the medical supply tent.

Thank you for your prayers

Team 2 Front Row L to R
Phil Taylor, Andy Wallace, Travis Webb, Mark Walter and Tom Hite
Second Row L to R
Jeff Taylor, Don Ross, Terry Webb (Our Team Leader), Mark Partin and Lawrence Cotton

Terry Webb, Don Ross and Mark Walter from FBC Concord
Jeff Taylor and Tom Hite from Alpha Baptist, Morristown
Pastor Mark Partin and Andy Wallace, Indiana Ave. Baptist Church, LaFollette,TN
Travis Webb, Lebanon Baptist, Talbott
Bradey County Association: Phil Taylor, Lawrence Cotton

Mark Walter getting some help from Terry as the team

sorts through a shipment that came in from a group of Firemen in USA.

Tom Hite helping our team leader Terry with medical supply list.

The results of an all night rain for the guys in medical supply tent.

Pictures from around the Clinic Friday March 19

2010-03-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

Under our tents and under tarp expect to find tarantula (big honking hairy spider).

Mark Partin gets ready to cut tarp for distribution to patients

that are being discharged with no home or family.

Our American troops still playing a critical role.
A typical scene for emergency arrival at the clinic.

All hands on the deck for the arrival of ten patients.

Precision and dedication is important 24 hours a day.

This is little bike was found in the middle of all the boxes in the supply yard and one of the team members assembled it for this young Haitian boy recovering in rehab.

Tom Hite taken care of himself. It is always amazing to see how God puts together a team like this with guys from various backgrounds in ministry and business.

Thursday March 18, 2010

2010-03-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

For the past two nights we have had rain during the night and when we say rain, it has been a good old down pour. You can say the rain is a mixed blessing, and with the rain there is higher humidity, but the rain also helps keep the dust down.

You read earlier about the young boy that ate for the first time since the earthquake, his name is Vincent. Lawrence and Vincent are lunch buddies and they are the topic of discussion around the clinic. The Doctor that has been working with Vincent called on Phil and Lawrence to pray through a similar case with a young girl. The Doctor said our prayers were needed more for the mother so she would be as willing to fight the battle like Vincent’s mom. We’ve had a great opportunity to witness to the Doctor through this case and we have talked with him about having a relationship with Jesus so he could pray for his patients like we have prayed for Vincent and the other patients. Keep us in your prayers --God is working.

On a sad note let me share with you how difficult the food situation is around here. You would think with all the military around the airport MRE’s would be plentiful, but that’s not the case, they are hard to find. We found one last night stored in a box and we were saving it for Vincent. Well, tragically, the MRE was also discovered by one of the Haitian workers and he was caught sitting in front of all the others enjoying himself like it was his last supper.

All of us were disappointed in what happened , but the opportunity was taken to teach this young Haitian about serving the least of those among us. Lawrence took all the Haitian workers over to the children’s ward and introduced them all to Vincent. The lesson quickly got across. Protecting your food and other possessions is a challenge and we stay on guard.

Tom, Jeff, Mark, Andy, Don and Travis have been busy with the supplies trying to consolidate all the supplies still under the tarps outside the Medical Supply tent. It has been a hot and dirty job for them. It is hard for anyone to image the normality of their task but it would be like going into Sam’s Club or Costco and finding the peanut butter stacked with motor oil. Travis has been helpful with the fork lift, moving the pilots around that are stacked with different items of medical supplies. We are hoping by our departure all the pilots will be stacked with the same items.

Phil and Lawrence were seen playing football in the adult ward with two young men who are paralyzed waist down, Nick is 24 and Robert 19. Both of these young men were rescued by US Task Force workers and they are adjusting well to the therapy. They will never walk again. When Nick was healthy he was 6’8" and a great athlete. It is amazing to see how everyone gives up individual space so two grown men can stand in for Physical Therapy time. All the patients lay very close to one another, so if could image standing in the mall on Christmas Eve when everyone is running from store to store and you are standing in the middle of everyone throwing a football.

At the end of the day a joyful noise comes out from the adult ward. A brief time is given for a joyful noise. The Haitian translators that work tirelessly with the medical staff and with us lead all the patients in a time of singing praise to our Savior. The room is filled with a blessed sound and tearful eyes. Once again we all know that some did not make it and others were released to join with family or with no place to go.

The internet speed is very slow and it takes a long time to upload pictures. Thank you for your patience. Sorry we can not upload more pictures.

Also please keep in mind that the stories we share are just a small sample of what happens in the daily life TBDR work here at the Port-au-Prince Medical Clinic. Our greatest joy is exalting our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Andy Wallace finds a wheel chair in all the medical supplies outside the tent just in time before for this young boy is discharged.

This is Casimir she was born last night one of triplets, her brother and sister did not make it. This little preemie is 71/2 months.

Phil Taylor and Lawrence Cotton's football pals. Nick is on the left and Robert is on the left.

Lawrence Cotton helping feeding Vincent for the first time since the earthquake.

Jeff Taylor is directing the fork lift in medical supply yard.

Team 1's Final Report - From Haiti to Tennessee!

2010-03-16T17:57:00.001-07:00

The following is Team 1's final post to this blog. Thank you SO much for praying for this group of men.

Please continue to pray for the TN Baptist Disaster Relief Team 2 that is currently in Haiti. Their first blog post can be found below this one. Continue to visit the blog to stay updated with the experiences and reports from Team 2 in Haiti.

------

This last Report from Jack was to come out on Monday night of the 15^th; however we didn’t get home until after midnight, so I’m getting it out on Tuesday evening. It’s also a catch up from the weekend as we wound down our stay in Haiti.

It was great to see the 10 new men from TN Baptist Disaster Relief show up at the hospital compound on Sunday! By then our group had pretty well “shut down” as we were mentally and physically spent. We did show them all the procedures and what we had been doing and what changes had taken place in the last couple of days as the doctors and nurses had shared with us how they wanted to re-organize the shelves to meet subject needs, etc. At any rate, by the end of the day on Sunday we were happy to turn over the computer, printer and phone and go started packing our belongings to head home.

By 6 a.m. on Monday we were basically up and packed for the trip home. It had rained most of the night and the steam was already making it muggy. I don’t think any of us had any breakfast. I tried a tiny cup of coffee, but it was so strong my spoon would stand up in it, so Ken and Jim passed on the coffee. Around 7:30 a.m. they started loading our luggage in an old truck and we started scrambling into Toyota vans like canned sardines.

We arrived at the airport and then stood in long lines about 4 or 5 people wide trying to get into the terminal. We finally got through the Haiti customs and out to the other side of the terminal where the planes came in. Charley found a man selling cold fruit drinks and bought us all a treat and that helped us to withstand the heat for so long. We sat out in the sun from about 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. before starting to load. It was wonderful when we entered the plane and remembered what air-conditioning felt like!

As the plane landed in Miami there was a great applause from the crowd! It truly felt great to be back on American soil! David commented that if he could find soil instead of concrete he might just get down and kiss the ground! Of course we then faced American customs, but by then we really didn’t mind so much. We got through that and headed to Chili’s for an American meal. We had hoped David could eat with us, but his flight was at the far end of the airport, so he decided to not try to come down to our end for a meal. We all four pigged out on big burgers, etc. (I’ve paid dearly for it all day to day…enough said!) We made it to Atlanta, and RUSHED to get to our plane to Knoxville…only to find it was being delayed for about an hour and a half. That gave us time to eat a late supper and still be ready for the flight.

The best part of the trip was landing in Knoxville and seeing a crowd of people holding “Welcome Home and Thank you for serving our Lord” type signs and waving at us. It was a surprise and a real treat! We knew our wives were coming down with Don and Nonnie Owen on the bus, but didn’t know Jim’s daughters and granddaughters would be there too, so it was quite a celebration for a few minutes. Charley slipped off home with his wife during our celebration and a picture or two. Charley, you were “the man” and we appreciated getting to know you better and would go anywhere to work with you again. We know why David Acres loves you like Visa, and “doesn’t want to leave home without you.” It was just a little after midnight when we got home safe and sound.

I can’t speak for the rest of the men, but I slept in the next morning…until 5:55 a.m. and then my body knew it was time to get up and go to work, so I woke right up. Luckily I realized I was home and in my own bed and I was able to roll over and go back to sleep!

In summary, as we looked back and discussed our time in Haiti, we pondered various aspects of the experience and concluded that the work wasn’t so hard that we couldn’t do it; but the environment was a strain on us beyond what any of us had ever experienced. If God had not sent us and been with us, I don’t think we could have survived the trip as well as we did. We were all so thankful that nothing major happened to any of us and that God provided for us daily even though we sometimes wondered how it would happen. As we thought about returning to the comforts of home it also made us think about all the wonderful Haitian friends we were leaving behind and all the people that were just trying any way they could find to survive from day to day. Our hearts will go out to these people for a long time as we remember them in our prayers. We also want to take this one last time to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for all of your daily love, prayer and support that we felt while serving there. It truly meant a lot to each of us.

Please remember the other 10 men serving in Haiti this week and continue your prayers on their behalf.. I understand they will continue on with a Blog report. We thank Don Owen and Allison Young for helping us with our Blog as it wasn’t always easy or practical to get one out, but they were faithful to follow through on our behalf and we take this opportunity to publicly say “thank you” to both of them for all they did to assist us on this trip. I’ll attach a few last pictures of our return adventures.

- Jack

Welcome Home scene that greeted us!

The survivors on the last day

Note the cracks in the airport walls!

Mass jam trying to get into the airport

Ken asks a local to be his wife, she turned him down!

Jim packs for home!

I can't eat another bite of rice!

David meets with the new team members

David makes Gatorade

6 AM Monday - headed home!

Team 2's Tuesday Post from Haiti

2010-03-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

Below is an report from Team 2- Please keep them in your prayers.
Team 2 is comprised of the following individuals:

Team Two

Terry Webb, Team Leader, FBC Concord

Jeff Taylor, Alpha Baptist, Morristown

Tom Hite, Alpha Baptsit, Morristown

Andy Wallace, Indiana Ave. Baptist Church, LaFollette,TN

Mark Partin, Indiana Ave. Baptist Church, LaFollette, TN

Don Ross, FBC Concord

Mark Walter, FBC Concord

Travis Webb, Lebanon Baptist, Talbott

Bradey County Association: Phil Taylor, Lawrence Cotton

-----------------------------------------

Team Two arrived safely and we hit the ground getting oriented around the Medi- Care facility at the Port-au-Prince airport hospital.

We have a great admiration for Team One and for what they successfully accomplished during their two week assignment. We said good-bye to them around 6 AM this morning. The work they accomplished may have not been seen press and hundreds of other relief workers but the real evidence is seen when the doctors and nurses looking for medical supplies. The real appreciate was seen when Team One left early this morning and several doctors and nurses came out to say good-bye and thank you.

Two TBCDR Chaplains Phil Taylor and Lawrence Cotton will be relieving the chaplains from California that have been serving in the Pediatric and Adult Units of Medi-Care. The CA chaplains have been visiting patient after patient on first name bases sharing about Jesus, ministering and bringing smiles to the patients and family members. The hospital staff stays focused on the patients and they are very appreciative of DR Chaplaincy work. Hospital staff has commented several times about how the work of Chaplains has uplifted patients and families.

Patients and hospital staff are sad over the departures and upcoming departures and we are all aware we have big shoes to fill.

- Phil

Team 1:

Left to Right, Front Row: David Acres, Jack Henson, Charlie Jones

Left to Right, Back Row: Ken Sheffield, Jim Wohlwend

Phil Taylor, Chaplain working in the pediatric ward sits with Michele, a Haitian mother of this 27 week old baby that was delivered two weeks ago.

Andy Wallace (Right) and Travis Webb (L)

Lawrence Cotton (right) sharing Christ with Haitian doctor (left)

Jeff Hite (left) and Don Ross (right) giving an overview of the Medical Supply tent to 2 nurses.

TN Baptist Disaster Relief Team 1 Headed Home!

2010-03-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Just spoke to Jack Henson and our Haiti Team is now in Miami ready to board a plane to Atlanta and then on to Knoxville. The team is expected to arrive in Knoxville at 9:19 PM. A bus load of family and friends will be meeting them at the gate to welcome them home.

Jack, Jim and Ken ask that we thank each of you for praying for them these last fifteen days. It was a tough assignment but God has blessed and much progress was made.

Please continue to pray for team 2 including Tom Hite, Travis Webb and Jeff Taylor as they are now in Haiti to continue the assignment started by team 1.

- Don Owen

Nolachucky Baptist Assoc.

Disaster Relief Director

Saturday (Belated) Report from Haiti

2010-03-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

This report just came in today, with the amount of photos that were sent yesterday via e-mail from Haiti, somehow the report didn't get attached. Please check out yesterday's blog post to see the photos that were intended to be included with this report.

I would say it’s Saturday and we only have one more full day to stay, but then you would think we’re counting the days until we can leave, so I won’t say it! We had a big crew of our friends leave this morning and we hated to see some of them go. It’s amazing how quickly we have made friends here. They purposely come look us up to give us hugs and thank us again for being here and doing so much to get the Supply Tent up and running.

Speaking of getting the Supply Tent up and running, we just heard today from one of the big bosses that someone has donated 8 acres of land and they are going to start within the next week or two of building a new compound and the start building metal building, etc. to house the hospital in. They will even have air-conditioning for the Supply Tent! Of course we have no clue how long down the road all that will be. We have heard that where we’re located is in the flooding area of the airport and there can be up to 2 feet of water once the rainy season begins.

Once again the US Airforce sent over about ½ dozen men to help us sort and stock shelving today. They work about 3 hours, but any free labor we get is appreciated. We have knocked a big hole in what needed to be put up for now. Of course there are still tons of supplies outside covered over, but many of them are now duplicates of what we have inside.

Ken and his local Hatian carpenter put plywood doors on our 4 showers today! That will be a luxury for all of us old timers, but all those new ones moving in today won’t even know it or be impressed. It may not sound like a big deal just to hear that he did it, but if you had to take a shower with the curtains flopping in the wind exposing you one minute and then slapping your body the next with the old wet nasty curtain, you would know why we’re going to appreciate it for the next couple of nights. For some reason the wind was cool last night and it made the cold water feel warm to us as we showered and we really wanted to extend our 2 minute shower time...which several people did, but we try not to abuse their water shortage request of short showers.

- Jack

Saturday Photos from Haiti

2010-03-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

There is no written report to post today, however, Jack did send some photos that can be viewed below. This group's time in Haiti is quickly drawing to a close, but please continue to keep them in your prayers as they finish up their duties, prepare to leave, and travel back to TN. Please know that they have felt and greatly appreciated your prayers for them during these past 2 weeks.

Part of the hardest hit area on the mountain side

Our Temporary Interpreter spends most of the time getting out of work!

Open air fruit market

Ooops!! Closed Road!

Nurse signs out supplies as guard watches

Normal street scene

Clothing "store"

Friday Report from Haiti

2010-03-13T04:07:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning with a new meaning to “Good Friday” as we realized it was our last Friday down here!

Once again we’ve spent the day sorting and more sorting of boxes of supplies. It really takes a long time to go through a big box of supplies, especially when the box may have 200 different items in it! If people only realized that it would be better to send cases of one item instead of a tiny bit of a lot of items it would sure help supplies to operate smoother. Our team of professionals have really worked hard to help us re-catagorize the supplies into categories that makes it easier for them to retrieve what they need. They thought it might offend us if they started moving things, we kept assuring them that we were happy for them to move it if it helped them. It doesn’t take all that long for us to change it on the Master Inventory list. Did I tell you we are now up to 21 pages (single spaced) of different types of supplies...and that doesn’t identify all of them seperately as we do put a lot of them into catagories.

I think David, Ken and Charley felt about like Jim and I did about their tour yesterday afternoon. It is an interesting experience, but something you can’t explain or write home about very well. It is so graphic and close to us as we ride through the streets and see all the pitiful sites and realize these people are trying to just simply exist. I can’t imagine what some of them will do when it starts the rainy season as some of their homes are simply cardboard boxes cut open and made into a shelter.

I’m proud that our Tennessee Baptist have collected so many buckets of food to send over and only the Lord knows how many lives it may help save, but I can see a desperate need for tents, blankets, clothes, etc. too. Many come to the hospital with only the clothes on their back. We helped deliver a truck load of used clothes to a local orphan’s shelter last night.

I’ll attach a few pictures from David Acres’ camera tonight. Some are of their tour yesterday and some from around the hospital compound. The one of the hospital entrance with no patients around it must be a miracle because the patients are usually in a long line trying to get in.

Our 12 hour day is almost up, so I’ll close for now and hope I can find a bite of food to eat and go take a nice (but short) 2-minute cold shower. Brrrr, I hated cold showers when I got here, but now I can’t wait to get the dust and grime off me, so I must be getting used to it. I think Jim had the hardest time getting used to it! We had to keep assuring him how good it felt! Ha.

Thanks for your prayers and support and know that we have you in our prayers too.

- Jack

Charley & Ken make bed recliners for patients out of cardboard

David, Charley, & Sarge making a baby bed

Happy Jack, sorting & sorting!

A roadside store

Where we shower & brush our teeth

Thursday Report from Haiti

2010-03-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today has been a very different day as it relates to work. We have had 15-25 people helping us in the Supply Tent. Most are doctors, pharmacists, our Haitian crew and some US Airforce soldiers. It is totally hectic as they are now reorganizing all the supplies into subject and/or alphabetically on the shelves which was our next step now that the shelves are up and the products are on them. They have the help to do it and know the technical and medical terms so we have just backed off, told them to do their things and let us know where they move it to and we’ll have it right back on the Master Sheet for everyone to use. I’ve pretty well taught them to look on it when we aren’t here to show or tell them.

David, Charley and Ken took off at 1 p.m. for an afternoon tour of the city. We hope they make it back! I know they will see the scenes that Jim and I saw the other day of which it’s hard to describe or take pictures because of how personal it is to the Hatian people as they watch us tour their devestated city.

Jim and I have held the fort down. I slipped off and did 3 loads of laundry, two for me and one for Jim. It is so hot and dry with a light breeze today so everything is drying quickly. It is so hot I’m glad we are not doing a lot of physical work today.

I took a moment to go by the nursery to get a picture of the US Airforce guys tenderly caring for the preemies. One young man was holding one when it died and he left crying. Another one with a little more experience in there took the baby and washed it and dressed it after it had died. I couldn’t do that very easily, so I’ll stick with the supply tent. I did slip into the children’s play tent where parents can drop off their kids while they are in the hospital. It’s neat and the kids love it. It made me think of Tim Thompson’s dream of using our newly wrapped bus on Disaster Relief trips for the children.

I got a picture of Jim trying to give away all our free food that another lady had left us when she left last week. I tell you, Jim makes more friends that all the rest of us put together. This lady came by this morning and saw us in the tent trying to scrounge up some breakfast and said something to Jim about food, so he invited her right on in and started pulling all the food our of the storage bag. He’s our TN Disaster Relief Ambassador!

Ken is feeling much better today. He was really dragging yesterday but I didn’t say much about it as he was working through it. I had a rough day yesterday with an upset stomach but that seems to cleared itself up too, so God is good to us and keeps us up and going no matter how rough it seems to get. You might not think having an upset stomach is a big deal...but as Jim says , when it’s over two blocks to the toilet, it can become a big deal! Ha ha!

I hope you enjoy today’s pictures that were taken around the hospital. We may have more from down town when the other three get back later this evening or tonight.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and know we appreciate every one of them.

- Jack

Workers bring in more & more!

US Airforce helps out in the tent

Laundry day for Jack & Jim

Keep smiling Charley!

Jim gives doll away!

Children playing in the tent

Jack is HOT!

Happy Jim sorting & sorting!

David & Charley cooling off

Wednesday Report from Haiti

2010-03-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

Let me start with the ending of yesterday's blog. I think I shared that we would be working late as we had to do a rush job for an inventory of major meds, etc. We didn’t actully do the count as we had pharmacy personnel who knew the meds do it, but we were asked to stay in the tent with them until they finished, so we did and also worked while we waited. We stopped about 6:30 for hamburgers and a drink. We then finished up work about 11 pm and were in bed about 11:30 last night.

It was a wee tad hard getting out of bed this morning and some dragged a little bit, but all made it up and out by 7:30 am. I thought I would be typing the medical report from the night before, so I had gotten up at 6 am and lugged all communication devices to the tent. Luckily the young pharmacist in charge got up early to come see if I was having trouble reading their technical/medical writing and I defintely was, so he volunteered to type it. That suited me just fine.

Today has been one of the hottest days we’ve had and with it coming on a late night the night before it has very much taken a toll on all of us and I don’t know of a one of us that isn’t really dragging tonight. There really isn’t anything new to report today except that we had a lot more volunteer help and they are now already getting busy tweeking the shelves to where what is on the shelf is in some kind of order. Of course that will mean we have to go behind them and re-identify the locations, but that’s OK as that isn’t too hard or time consuming to do and if it helps them find their supplies easier, that’s what we want.

We heard from Allison Young today that we are really getting a LOT of hits on our Blog and also all kinds of indications of people praying for us. We really appreciate that and thank you all for your interest and prayers. I just pray you don’t think all I say is complaining because I’m just trying to tell it like it is and let the facts speak for themselves.

I purposely didn’t say much about the hospital yesterday and don’t really know what to say today. I’ve been in the tiny baby’s ward area a couple of times and I have to get out rather quickly as it is heart breaking to see the babies and the shape they are in. Many are born pre-mature and several have deformaties and medical problems. We go out of our way to save baby blankets, caps, etc. as the nurses are always begging us for things to keep the new babies warm. You should see some of the baby beds we make for them! Hey, we gotta do what we gotta do, so we do! Charley even made a basket ball goal for the older kids in their playground tent. Just to walk by all the hospital action, hearing the screams, seeing the patients in all forms and fashions of physical condition is really hard to take, so most of us stay out of those areas as much as we can. However we do know that it makes our work more meaningful by seeing some of the patients. We are smart enough to know what has happened when they come asking for body bags too. Well, enough on that part of the Haiti experience. We’re just thankful to be in the Supply Tent if you compare it to what goes on in the hospital area.

I didn’t take any new pictures today but have a few I can share from the last day or two. I hope you enjoy them. Once again, thanks for your prayers and support!

- Jack

People look for food or valuables.

Rehab shares our TN Baptist Disaster Relief Office (see crutches, walkers, etc.)

Bathrooms are a block or two away from supplies

Hospital main walkway

My helper on break (in white shirt)

Helpers take a break!

Tuesday Evening Report from Haiti

2010-03-09T17:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends:

Today started out very chilly and within a couple of hours turned off hot and humid and has remained that way throughout the day. Thank the Lord for a little breeze to make it bearable.

As you can see from the pictures attached, Jack got a little private corner he can hide behind...if he finds time to communicate with you guys and also keep up with the entire inventory.

Jack in the new "office"

David and Charley got more shelving moved in and Ken worked at putting up supplies today.

Ken processing a box of goods.

Ken has been busy until today building something for the hospital beds to raise one end up to help the patients sit up better. Jim helped doctors and nurses and helped Jack inventory items to put on the shelves, this is a never ending job.

Jim and Charley loading the new shelf!

We already have 15 pages of single spaced items inventoried and on the shelves.

Work area for sorting

Here is a picture of a hole we’ve made in the lot beside our tent where we’ve moved loads of items into the tent.

Open spot on the lot!!

We took off about 6 p.m. for dinner, which we got from some local Haitians who buy food at the UN and come over here to the hospital and grill us hamburgers, and chicken burgers. It’s really good, but a little expensive. It tastes soooo good after eating MREs every day!

Tonight we’ve got to pull a long night and take inventory of all the prescription medical supplies for the big boss. He doesn’t want to run out and needs to know if he’s got enough to keep the hospital running, etc. For some reason he needs it by morning...so we will work till who knows when. Doctors and pharmacists have helped us classify the drugs so we’re hoping it won’t take too long as we’re all very tired.

I was trying to think how I could share the atmosphere here and I’m not sure I can, but let me try a little bit. First of all we’re located right beside the airport runways which land big planes and helicopters day and night so you know how loud that is. Secondly all the big tents are air-conditioned for the hospital (not our supply tent) so there are very large generators running 24/7. There are day shifts and night shifts and of course we live right beside all this so we hear people all night long, especially the locals who seem to really come alive and love to laugh and talk from around 10 to midnight.

For atmosphere we are surrounded with a large block wall that backs up against a heavily traveled road where cars and trucks beep their horns constantly...it’s a way of life for them! We also have chain fences wherever there isn’t a block wall. Haitian guards are watching those areas.

Our row of out door latrines goes for about a block and a half along the block wall. Right behind the big sleeping tent for the doctors and nurses is a urinal location for men to use. It only covers up to your waist! I only tried it once and that was enough for me. Of course the showers are just 4 showers that have a piece of plywood in front that covers from your knees up to your chest. We teased big Charley and said we could see all the way to his navel since he’s so tall. The water is very cold and we usually have a breeze by the time we get to shower and that makes it difficult to keep the curtain covering your body and also makes it colder getting out. Of course we all wear bathing suits...not everyone does and you have to watch or you may see more than you want to.

Food is never certain. One night Jim had a chocolate shake that he made out of an MRE package and I had a chocolate brownie. We both were still hungry, but made it OK. I’ve gotten brave enough to eat some of the local meals they bring in for the hospital staff, which is usually rice with a touch of some kind of meat (could be pork, beef or goat) but who knows? They also serve a corn mush with about 3 pieces of pork on top of it as one of their other basics. If you’re hungry, it tastes pretty good. The MREs now taste better and better as we get more used to them and get hungry. We drink a lot of water, Gatorade, and fruit drinks that we make up from the MREs. We can get a regular Coke or Sprite, but no diets when the UN fellows grill for us.

Now that I’ve tried to share a little of the sights and sounds, please don’t think I’m complaining. We all know we are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing and God is blessing our efforts. We do appreciate your continued prayers and do need them to help sustain us. The pictures won’t be very exciting today as I’ve not been out to take any others.

- Jack

Tuesday Morning Report from Haiti

2010-03-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

We heard the weather in TN got up to about 64 degrees yesterday. Well, it got down to 64 or lower last night and we with no cover except a sheet got a little cold!! However, to make up for it, it is only 8:45 a.m. and extrememly hot and muggy now, so guess we're back to normal.

The men finally got a little corner set up for me to have a tiny bit of semi-privacy so I can half way concentrate when I sit down at the computer. 99% of the people coming in the door came to me when I was outside and of course since it's doctors and nurses needing help...sometimes emergency help, we always stop and help. I'll be out front most of the time but at least I might be able to slip in once in a while and work on updates. As you may have figured out, we can leave NOTHING we want to have the next day in the supply tent...even with a guard as things "disappears" out of here all night long. That makes it hard to have access to the computer, telephone, etc. after closing time.

All is well with everyone and yes, David is working extremely hard...too hard sometimes, but it's amazing how much we're getting done. Big Charley Jones is unreal with his strength and endurance. He is like a bull when it comes to moving those heavy shelves and he knows how to motivate the local guys!

That's about it for now, I need to be working!

Have a great day and thanks for all the prayers, we need them!

- Jack

Monday Evening Report from Haiti

2010-03-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

Today has been a BUSY day! It seems we have accomplished a lot and have a renewed vigor. We got several more shelves in and got some plywood walls up towards making a private office area. We hope to have a nice size office area and possibly have it air-conditioned soon. It will be large enough for one or two to be able to sleep down here. We really have a problem with theft at night, even though there is a Haitian guard at the door. Does that tell you anything?

Today has been sunny, but we've had a nice breeze so it hasn't been too hot to work...either that or we're getting more used to it.

The BIG man from Atlanta was down today (the one that sent us down here!) and he was very impressed with what we've got done since he was here last.

I'm simply too tired and my back is hurting so this will be as close to a report as I can give you today. Below are some pictures- most are from our tour on Sunday. One is showing the Haitian workers helping our men move a shelf into place today as they build the office. The Catholic church only has the front standing and the high priest died. The place is totally destroyed. All around it is tent city. The nursing school killed almost every student. You can see my laundry, so we do have laundry service...it just happens to be self serving! :)

- Jack

Haitian workers helping to organize the office

Haitian President's Palace

Catholic Church

Nursing School

Home Sweet Home

Laundry Day

Monday Morning in Haiti

2010-03-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

Good morning,

Today is "hump day" and after that it will be down hill or short timer as we say.

I did 3 loads of laundry yesterday and then stopped to take a tour of Port-a- Prince. It was not a pleasureable trip, but did show us the pure misery of how these poor people are trying to survive on the streets, broken down buildings, etc. We saw where there had been pretty parks, etc around the president's palace, but any where there was open space it was filled with tent cities.

We did end the evening by going to a pretty nice restuarant right across the street from our compound, but of course we had to walk about a mile around our side to the gate to get out and then back down the other side to get there. Most of us had some kind of seasoned chicken that was pretty good. I didn't want their warm coke as I was afraid I wouldn't sleep, so I had bottled water...but noticed it was bottled in Haiti, so say a prayer that it was OK. Last night it got cooler than any other night and most of them were scrambling for extra sheets, towels, etc. to put on them. I just hunkered down and made it.

People have been so nice to us and as they leave they their left over food, sleeping mattresses, pillows, etc.

Well I need to get to work so I'll sign off for now.

- Jack

Sunday Report from Haiti

2010-03-07T12:34:00.001-08:00

Hello from Haiti. It is Sunday and we will have completed our first week tomorrow! It was a nice cool night so we all slept better. Today is cloudy and cooler, but still humid. Jim, Jack & Ken thought they were going to the UN and do their laundry...as we had been told we could. A fellow Disaster Relief friend got us an interpreter and we took off to the UN. Of course the ride was an interesting experience in itself. We arrived and after explaining why we were there we followed our guide to where they told us to go, but it was only a toilet with a tiny wash basin in it. We finally found the head man and he told us there were no facilities for non-UN personnel to use, but they were working on it. He showed the laundry services being built to our guide and we thanked him and left. Our guide said we would not want to wash our clothes there even if it was finished. By then we had walked over a lot of the UN compound and were tired of toting bags of dirty laundry around. We loaded back up and came back to our hospital compound. We had purchased some kitchen size garbage cans, so Jack started washing and rinsing clothes and hung them on lines he had stretched from tent to tent. He took pictures, but didn’t have his chip in his camera, so they are not available to show. He will catch Jim or Ken washing and get pictures later.

We are supposed to go on a tour of the area at 1 p.m. so we’re hoping it goes better than our trip to the UN.

Ken has taken on a project of building braces to elevate the heads of the beds for the patients. He also got up at 4 a.m. yesterday and added a line of electrical lights that he spliced and created for one of the hospital tents.

Charley is helping Dave daily put more and more supplies up on shelves as we can get new ones made. The US Airforce sent some men over yesterday to help us and they brought a front-end loader to move pallets around and also did a lot of man power in unloading boxes, ect. for us. The Supply Tent is shaping up more every day. Jim and Jack have inventoried everything that has been put on the shelves and labeled all the shelves and made a data base to use in helping the doctors and nurses find what they need. They think we are the greatest and keep our spirits high bragging on us. Since it is Sunday the men building the shelving are not working, so that slows us down a little today. We were told there would be devotional services for everyone this afternoon...both non-denominational and Catholic. That may be an interesting service to attend.

Medically we all seem to be existing fairly well. Jack caught poison ivy and had to have a shot yesterday. David’s fingers became swollen and he had to have his ring cut off, but it hasn’t slowed either one of them down.

We’ll report later on how our tour experience goes. We almost feel like we’re taking our life in our hands just to ride anywhere on these streets, so it should be an experience to write home about!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Message from Jack

2010-03-05T14:36:00.000-08:00

HERE IS A REPORT AND PHOTOS THAT WE RECIEVED FROM JACK...CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE SERVING IN HAITI.

I apologize for the delay in getting started with Haiti Reports, but it has been a little of a struggle to get up and running! First, let me say all is well with us. I’ll try to start with our flight over and then catch up on some of our daily activities...

We left Morristown Morristown at 3:30 a.m. on Monday, March 1^st and had no problems getting to Atlanta, changing planes and getting to Miami Int. Airport by a little after 9 a.m. All is going well as we are supposed to leave for Haiti at 1 p.m. For “unknown” reasons, our chartered flight was delayed from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. then 6 p.m. and we finally left for Haiti at 7:05 p.m. That means we spent around 10 hours visiting and eating 3 meals in at the Miami Int. Airport. We had a nice flight on to Haiti and arrived a little after 9 p.m. Getting our luggage was a new experience too as they simply start unloading the plane outside of both passengers and luggage.

Getting luggage at the Haiti Airport

After getting our luggage we knew we should go thru Customs, so we ask a “local” and he said for us to go to the bright lights. That was about a quarter of a mile across the parking lot, so here we all go pulling and toting all of our heavy luggage. When we got there it was the front gate of the airport...guarded by American soldiers. They told us we had been told incorrectly and took us back across the same path and to the far side of the airport...to another wrong place! Finally we figured out that Customs was somewhere inbetween the two original places and had shut down! We finally got some unhappy man to check our Passports (not our luggage) and give us a green ticket to get back out of Haiti. We were escorted to the front gate of the airport but warned to not step out until our ride arrived as it was too dangerous. Finally a truck and a van arrived and carried us to a compound operated by Campus Crusade. (The Florida House, where we were supposed to stay was already full.) We rode over the most unimaginable roads...if you could call some of them roads that your mind could conjure up. We arrived a little after 11 p.m. and they escorted us into a bedroom almost full of men and found just enough empty bunks for us to spend the night. The next morning I couldnted 16 beds in that bedroom! Rather tight quarters. They served us a quick breakfast and we headed back to the airport and the emergency tent hospital.

Jim and Charlie in the CC Compound

At the hospital we checked in with Carla, the Logistics Officer and headed to the Supply Tent. Upon arriving a the Supply tent, it looked like a hurricane might have hit inside the tent. There were a few shelves up with a few supplies on them. Everything else was in the floor our on palets. Both the tent and a compund area outside were both full of palets full of supplies. We had a meeting, starting our day with prayer and then set some priorities. First priority was to get shelves installed and then get all the supplies off the ground. After one hot day, the doctors and nurses were amazed at how much we accompolished in one day. That made us feel good. We stopped work that Tuesday around 4 p.m. as our ride was there to take us back to the Campus Crusade compound. David Acres talked with us and we decided we had rather stay at the hospital in tents then to have to travel to roads back and forth to the Crusade compound. Not only was it rough, it was extremely dangerous to be out on the roads after dark. So we went over to the compound, gathered up our luggage and came back to the hospital.

David Acres gives directions!

First day in Supplies

First attempt at organizing supplies

We were given two medium size tents that would hold 3 cots per tent. Jim Wholwend, Ken Sheffield and Jack Henson are sharing one tent. Dave Acres, Charlie Jones and Tim Key are sharing the 2^nd tent. Day 2 was over with exceptions that go on at trying to exist under these conditions. We were shown the outdoor portable johns, the 4 plywood portable showers that cover your midsecton and that’s all. Nice cold water to shower in too!

In summary, the work was hard, but the heat drained us more than the work, but God was good to us and after two days w were all still doing well and thankful to be here doing what we could to help. The hospital is extremely busy day and night and I don’t think I have to tell you how tragic some of the patients are and the situations are, so the doctors and nurses are having it rough too.

- Jack Henson

URGENT NEED ! !

2010-03-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

Jack Henson indicated their most urgent need to help in the development of systems for this operation is for pharmacists to be able to identify medicines and put them in proper categories, and also RN’s to help the pharmacist and doctors. If you are a Pharmacist or an RN and are Disaster Relief Trained and would have an interest and desire to go to Haiti, a second team is now being organized. SEE BELOW!

Limited Call-Out for Disaster Relief Volunteers

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) has been asked to assist a hospital currently working in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with logistical and warehousing support of medical supplies. David Acres and four other Tennessee Volunteers are currently in Haiti as an advance team making arrangements and plans for future teams. The hospital and warehouse are actually tents located within the Port-au-Prince airport compound. Conditions are very, very, primitive. The work is extremely hard and all manual.

TBDR is currently seeking volunteers to staff the medical supply warehouse on a 24/7 basis in teams of 10 people for one week at a time. The first team will be led by Terry Webb of Maryville, a retired pharmacist, and will need to arrive by Friday, March 12 and can expect to leave on Saturday March 20. Additional teams are being formed to follow on a similar pattern of arriving on Friday and leaving the next Saturday. At this point, this is a limited call-out. Once things get settled and the work standardized, we will broaden the call-out.

Volunteer Requirements: All volunteers going to Haiti must complete a “Volunteer Application Packet.” Because of the unique nature of this response, it is necessary to ensure that we send only spiritually mature and physically fit volunteers. We cannot stress enough the extreme physical requirements of this work nor the emotional and spiritual drain it will have on the volunteer. Please note that there is no guarantee of electricity for CPAP machines or other medical necessary equipment. Because of the housing situation, at this time, we are requesting that only male volunteers be recruited.

Travel: TBDR has made arrangements with Wilcox travel to assist our teams in making travel arrangements. Included in your payment for airline tickets will be the required purchase of travel accident insurance through Adams and Associates. Once teams have committed to go, additional information on this will be sent. Prices are fluctuating wildly at the moment, but expect tickets to cost between $500 and $1,000.

Accommodations: Teams will be sleeping on cots in a tent on the airport grounds. There will be limited access to showers and it will require a bathing suit.

Attire: Please do not wear jeans or shorts. Khaki pants or lightweight pants are recommended.

NOTE: Teams are limited to one laptop and 2 cell phones (only works if they are global phones).

Contact: If you have volunteers who can go, contact Elizabeth Holmes, 615-371-7926, eholmes@TNBaptist.org. If you have further questions, contact Elizabeth or William Maxwell, 615-371-2023, wmaxwell@TNBaptist.org.

Please be in prayer as these teams are formed.

Thursday Morning Greetings

2010-03-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

Our team in Haiti is off to a flying start. Jack Henson called (3-3-10) and gave an update on their situation. Here is his overview:

It’s hot, the misquotes are thick, supplies are stacked everywhere and organization is non-existent. That being said, he went on to say that the Doctors and Nurses are praising them (our team) for in the short time they have been there (one and a half days) they have already made a big difference. In other words what was taking hours to find in all the mess is now being found in minutes. The guys are staying in pup tents with three people to a tent. They have no hot water to shower in and they will be doing their laundry in a five-gallon bucket.

In a followup email this morning, Jack says they will try to keep in better touch now, but the Internet is VERY slow! It rained hard in the middle of the night so it is VERY muggy this morning!

Phone Update from Haiti Team

2010-03-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Due to primitive conditions, the team is currently unable to blog from Haiti. Below are clips from some phone conversations we have received today.
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David Acres called in and said the team was doing great. There is a lot of physical labor involved. (He sounded tired, but he said he was doing well.) The team is staying in a tent on army cots. Only physically fit people need to volunteer for future trips. He said they were getting enough food and plenty of water; everyone is taking their medicines.

Jack called after finally getting the satellite phone hooked up. He said they are sleeping on cots in 3-man tents (he, Jim and Ken are sharing a tent) just outside the main medical supply tent. They do have access to showers (no hot water) and port-a-potties, but no laundry facilities. Their main priority right now is to help organize the supply tent. He said the supplies are in huge piles inside and outside the tent, and the doctors and nurses are constantly needing help finding things. It hasn't rained since they got there so that is a blessing. He will try to get the computer hooked up tonight or tomorrow so he can send emails and pictures.
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Continue to keep these men in your prayers- please pray for their health and safety. Hopefully they will be able to get an Internet connection and will be able to actually blog from Haiti.

Tuesday Report - Arrival in Haiti

2010-03-02T09:33:00.001-08:00

WE RECIEVED THIS VIA E-MAIL AT 6:52 THIS MORNING

I have about 30 seconds to write this. Please pass the word to all that we got here safely...a little after 11 p.m. last night. It's a LONG story you may not believe, so I'll tell it later.

We still don't know where we're staying or whether we'll have electricty, etc. Very rough conditions. We had 16 men in one tiny room last night!!

I've got to run grab a snack and get out of here as we don't have time for breakfast or don't know about lunch!

Share with all!

- Jack

Monday Report - Departure to Haiti

2010-03-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

The TN Baptist Disaster Relief team flew out of Tennessee early this morning and had a lay-over in Miami. Unfortunately, the flight from Miami to Haiti was delayed and as of 5:00 p.m. ET, the team was still in Miami. Everyone is safe and well and ready to proceed to Haiti and begin their mission endeavors. Please keep the team in your prayers- that God will give them provision and strength in all that they encounter.

Please check back tomorrow for more updates from/about the TN Baptist Disaster Relief team in Haiti.

Thank you.

Message from Don Owen

2010-02-28T18:22:00.000-08:00

Greetings Everyone,

On Monday February 22, David Acres, our State Director of Disaster Relief, called asking if we could field a crew to leave for Haiti on Monday March 1^stfor a 15 day long trip. By God’s mercy and grace the Nolachucky Baptist Association will have three men accompanying Mr. Acres and two other Tennessee volunteers, Monday (March 1^st), as he and the team leave going to Haiti. The purpose of the trip is to set up operations for all of our future Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief trips as we attempt to assist this tiny country in rebuilding.

Please lift up in prayer Dr. Jim Wohlwend, Jack Henson and Ken Sheffield as they begin the process of charting a course for many more teams to follow in their footsteps. This team will fulfill a critical mission by designing a command center, a pharmacy, and putting into operation a large warehouse facility to be used by future Tennessee teams for up to three years. This team will also make the lodging and feeding arrangements for all the volunteers to come on future trips.

If you would like to keep up with our three men please visit this web-site: www.tnbdrhaiti.blogspot.com as Jack Henson is hoping to send back daily reports about Haiti and their progress during their 15 day stay.

Chile

As I am sure most everyone knows by now about the magnitude 8.8 quake that struck Chile over the weekend. With the death toll now over 700 we have just been notified by David Acres that Disaster Relief teams from South Carolina and California are now on standby to go to Chile if the call comes for help from BGR. Please, if you have not already; add the people of Chile and those who are offering assistance to your prayer list. To get the latest news link click on the tab below:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35615455/ns/world_news-chile_earthquake/

- Don Owen

New Blog

2010-02-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

This is the blog for the TN Baptist Disaster Relief teams in Haiti.