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 24th 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
