Worn out, sticky, dirty, mosquito-bit, and ... ... Happy

Dear Friends,

You only live once. This sojourn (trip) has been an exercise in patience and perseverance. It seemed that if it could go wrong, it did, but hey, this is Haiti. It was actually more a concern of not seeing who was in control. We are doing fine, however, the road from impending failure to the completion of our goals taught us to trust in providence more than our own abilities to "deal" with the collateral issues.

Our plan was to come to Haiti with a medical team and a few people capable of contributing to a small house restoration/repair crew. We soon realized that our main medical lead was unable to come with the rest of the team. Another medical member left early, two other members relayed the news that they could not come until a day before I returned home. Are you following this? Now get this... There is an  organization in Leogane (the worst hit part of the country) expecting a medical team in two days. I have exactly one medical person, but she is leaving early. I have three translators hired for the trip, but no-one to translate for, and shy on medicine. Now... I have to hire a Haitian doctor and two Haitian nurses, keep the translators (can't break a promise to hire), hire a cook, helper, load tents, generator, cooler, cooking supplies, food, medicine and... oh ya, now I have too many people for our transportation, so I have to hire a bus to transport the people. The field clinic was exhausting and fraught with difficulties--too many to list--that tested our mettle, but we did some good. In the end the real essence of the work here in Haiti, for me, is about the relationships we are building here. This is substantive. What we can "do for people" in a physical sense is valid, but temporary. Relationship building, spiritual formation, education and character development in the young Haitians who are within our sphere of influence are the most valuable work.

Much has been learned throughout these last few months as we forge a new program here in Haiti. We are really just starting out here, so we should expect growing pains. Some days I winder why I am here, and other days I feel a strong sense of purpose. That's life, I suppose.

A message to Crow HIgh School!!

Your Tap Tap is purchased.... and man does it look bad right now. We purchased this truck (old Toyota tacoma) with some hot rims and unpainted body. We have been spending the last several days fixing it up with AC, new master cylinder, side-view mirror, rod-iron frame on the back, and much more (too much to mention). Even as it is now, we have been offered more for it than we paid ($1000 profit) but it's not for sale. The plan it to paint it white with Crow Cougars along the sides of the truck. I hope to get some pictures as we go along. I drove it last night and realized that we also need new wipers and for the headlights to actually point at the road... Wow it is a crazy rig.

Hope that this finds you all well. Keep up the good work!

I will be back in country in two days.

Shane

 

Proud owners of a Tap-Tap!

 

Thanks to the generous donations of $3500.00 from Crow High School and numerous others, Mercy League is now the proud owner of a Tap-Tap. For those of you that may not know, a Tap-Tap is basically a small pickup that is used as a taxi in Haiti. This truck will help with the transportation issue when the teams arrive in Haiti. It has been very expensive and difficult to rent vehicles that are not very reliable, so Shane is very happy to report that this truck will be put to good use immediately!!!

Please keep Shane and the team in your prayers as they gear up for the medical clinic in the province on Monday. They have come against several obstacles this weekend including canceled flights, a change in doctors and nurses, broken down vehicles, and various others. This could be a cause to get discouraged, but the team is pressing on in perseverance, because God is in control!

Seven Days on the Mountain

Dear friends,


I must apologize for the latency of this blog. I have been in Haiti for a week and have not been able to find a time and place to gain internet access and get this message out.

I love Haiti. I see the faces of each person while I walk in the market full of people. I see their inherent value and feel a renewed call in my life… I cannot explain to you how powerful it feels to be here and experience this connection to the call in my life. Though there is much in Port-au-Prince that lacks the ease and normalcy we experience in our North American/European lives, none the less, there is a connection to the hard realities of life. I forgot how easy it is to greatly impact someone for the better here.

As we were descending the mountain this morning and passed through a very large outdoor market, there was literally a "sea of people." I noticed middle school aged children standing in the midst of the crown, by the thoroughfare—you can't imagine how crowded and loud it was—and there they were, three young girls about 11 or 12 years old. They were standing behind small baskets of potatoes and yams, looking for an opportunity to sell something to ease the problems of the day. Two young men further down the route, at the far end of the market, also stood in the crowd holding up their wares. Their presence was lost in this jumble of food, trash, people and noise.

I see these faces and can't help but want to take them in, care for them, raise them up to be people who are well loved, educated, and useful to their families, neighbors and country. This is in the very fabric of my heart. I think it is my calling in life no matter where I am. My life—as the Good Book says—is a vapor. I might as well as use it to lead my own family in the way of mercy. This will do more for them than the best schools in the wealthiest communities in the world. Character and obedience to truth and love… this is what is important in life. I am so humbled that my wife answered the call to come to Haiti. We were derailed from our plan for North Africa, but it makes sense to me now.

Lonne Morse and Tyler Newman love the people here. I think they are having the time of their lives. They are working hard repairing houses (they are doing that right now while I write this) and caring for the people here. They are a breath of fresh air to many traumatized Haitians after the earthquake. Tyler plays with everyone constantly. He is a natural born missionary… the woman who cares for us at our guest house calls herself Tyler's Haitian momma… He likes it. Lonne is a touchy feely guy who lavishes hugs and love to everyone he sees. Everyone loves him here. He cares, and it shows. We have conversed much about his feelings for the people of this country. He gives and gives and smiles when he has to suffer in any way. He is a man you want with you on one of these sojourns.

There is more to tell than you may want to read, so I say… Thank you for your prayer – I could feel it last night as I walked alone in the dark up the mountain after a full day in the city.


In His hands,


Shane, for Lonne and Tyler.