Back on the Island of Hispaniola

Dear Friends,

It's difficult to put my finger on it, but there is something to this new endeavor of Haiti for Mercy League and the Mattenleys… that has taken me to a new place in my faith. I can honestly say that there was nothing that could have prepared me for this turn of events. We are planning to move to Haiti and work for Mercy League—an extension of our heart to share mercy with those in need. This has shocked us and brought us back to our faith to a place that we used to live both literally and figuratively. It is an interesting lifestyle to feel so many things out of control… things that are taken for granted in the developed world. Running water, the availability of food, fuel, medical personnel/facilities, law enforcement, electricity, political stability, storm drains, passable roads, refrigeration, open schools, personal safety, after dark security, social status, car/health insurance, land ownership, building codes, traffic laws, speed limits, federal employee conduct, and the list goes on and on… These things are the tip of the iceberg. Life is just plain unpredictable in the developing world, and then there is Haiti. Haiti is special. It is as close to Africa that you can get without going to Africa. It is an interesting mix of Carribean-African culture with expressions of France and the USA throughout the city of Port-au-Prince. This, of course, is an oversimplification, but it gets you closer to understanding what it is like to live and work in this country.

Lonne, Tyler and I left the evening of Feb. 25^th and flew from Portland to New York, only to be trapped in an East-coast snow-storm. We were delayed, but what could be done, so I caught up on my reading. Once on route to the Island of Hispaniola (The Dominican Republic, and Haiti) we watched the sunset over the clouds across the western wing of our Jet Blue aircraft. It was beautiful. Once in Santo Domingo Lonne, Tyler and I gathered our supplies (Tents, tarps, cots, medical supplies, camping gear, and a few small gifts) and headed for the exit. The border agents simply waved us through and away we went—five hours late, but with all our supplies!


We will stay in Santo Domingo until Sunday morning (5 am) at which time we will charter a small van to transport us and our gear to a friend's guest house in the mountains above Port-au-Prince. Tomorrow we will spend much of the day shopping for our Daihatsu truck (even though we haven't enough to purchase (hint) it—yet.


Too tired to continue…


Shane, for Lonne and Tyler

Dinner at the Hotel Hamilton - Santo Domingo

Post Haiti Earthquake Report: Big Changes for Mattenleys and Mercy League

Dear Fiends,

It has been awhile since my last post. I have been trying to catch up with work and negotiate the variables of preparing for a return to Haiti. It has been a week and a half of public speaking, sharing the vision, modifying our goals in Haiti, raising funds for a truck (hoping to have enough money by Wednesday), caring for the family and making big decisions.

Speaking of big decisions… Here is one. The Mattenley family has decided not to move to North Africa (Morocco) this summer. On paper it looked good for us to move to Haiti, but the one thing we were missing was a "call." I was supposed to be in Morocco now, but we all know why we went to Haiti.

We feel a call to Haiti, so that is the new plan. After the second week in Haiti I could sense a call. I did not look for it, but there it was. When I returned to the US I kept it to myself, but there was no fooling Kristie. She knew something was up. After about four days she sat me down and said, "I think that God is calling us back to Haiti." Of course I was stunned, and perplexed. "Who is this woman and where is my wife?" She reiterated it again the next day when she said that she was fully on board with Haiti. 

I don't know where to start… I leave for Haiti again on Thursday with Lonne Morse and Tyler Newman. We are heading back to do some recon on some areas to serve in the outlying areas in Haiti that are not being addressed by the international community. We will also be looking for a place to set up shop as an organization for the long term, and a home for the family. Thank you to all of the people who have come out and offered to support our family financially and in prayer.

I know that Haiti needs discipleship not just more evangelism. What I mean by this is that the best thing for Haiti is the people of Haiti need to rise up and care for their own… with our help. I hope to be involved in volunteerism and discipleship training for the youth of Haiti. What this will look like I am not too sure, but this much I know; I want to serve, so here we go…

Mercy League in Haiti 24/7

The good doctor and his lovely wife needed to get out of Haiti last Friday… The problem was that there were hundreds of volunteers lined up to leave and a constantly declining number of flights out of the country. It was two days of trying to find seats out from Port au prince, and I was still drawing a blank. Finally, a helicopter pilot working with some friends of mine at the airport assured me that there was a small single engine airplane flying in that could carry the three of us back to Florida, either Thursday or Friday. As per much of the promises in Haiti, there was no substance behind the offer, and we were again stranded. Eventually I was able to find a small Caribbean airplane to get us out to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. We spent the night in a hotel in Santo Domingo and flew out the next morning. It was a whirlwind of activity that last day in Haiti. We were not able to say goodbye to many people on our way out.

We are almost completely self-contained in Haiti. We have a mobile camp (fully staffed) with a cook, driver, security guard, and have tents, beds, table/chairs, shower, bathroom (portable), generator, fans, food and medicines. We are, however, lacking one big component.
We believe that it is not good stewardship to rent trucks for the long terms. We were asked to pay $3600 per month to rent an old truck to replace the one we have been renting at a special price from friends in the Dominican Republic. They need their truck now, and we need to get our own… thus one of the reasons for my return.
I need to shake the bushes and collect all the support I can to raise the money for a truck before the 24^th of this month. We need to get back to the fray. We plan to purchase a Daihatsu 2 ton 4x4 truck with a dump and a removable cage for transporting passengers. I previously quoted a price based on a US market, but have since found that the local prices are much higher. We are shooting for about $18,000 - $20,000 for a good used Truck. This may sound like a lot, but the alternative is renting monthly at terribly high prices, which would pay for a brand new vehicle within a year. This is an investment into the future, and we will save lives and aid in the suffering of thousands with this one truck. Talk to someone you know! This isn't for us to use for parties to the beach… It will save lives!


You may be reading this and think that someone else must have the ability to help… or that someone else must know someone. That is not the case! You are the one who can make a difference. I am in the same situation as anyone else. I am one person. I do what I can too. Please take some time to do more than read this blog. Also, don't just give money… give of yourself and make a difference.

When we left Haiti, Luke Wilkerson, the director for Mercy League in Haiti, took up the baton for us. He will be there until Friday and will pass the baton to another member of his board from Tennessee. We are in need of immediate medical volunteers, and each week for the next several months. If you are interested in building, communication, web/blog, or medical, please contact me at admin@mercyleague.org.


There are so many stories to tell. We are not able to characterize all of the things that we experienced or the people we met in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We have people volunteering from all corners of the world, and expect a team from the neighboring Dominican Republic this week.


One story… The day I left, an old man from Gonaives stopped me on the street and began to share his deep seated beliefs about what was wrong with Haiti and how to fix it. He invited me to his house when I return to see what kind of man he is. He said, "People need to go back the countryside and remember what Haiti used to be about… agriculture!" He wants us to come and visit him in Gonaives to show us how Haiti used to be. I wish you could have been there to see the resolve in his voice and the spark in his heart.


Another Story… Our first night in PAP we arrived at the medical compound on Delmas 75. One of the first requests was from a group of doctors/nurses frantically looking for insulin and morphine for a small boy whose life was hanging by a thread. Dr. Buie was able to locate a small supply that he brought, "just in case." Dr James Buie and Nancy Buie were able to save a life their first day in Haiti… and wept for joy.


Don't forget about Haiti… even when the media does!


Shane