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“When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion.” Mat. 9:36
We now have a pint-sized idea of what the Lord felt. He had compassion for the multitudes but most New Testament narratives are about individuals. That is what is most difficult about Haiti. The magnitude of the destruction can blind one to the needs, pain and sorrow that many Haitians are undergoing as mothers, fathers or as a young child left alone.
There appears to be numbness in Haiti. One can easily over-looked or miss it when you first arrive. The piles of rubble with bodies buried under them are too many to even think about. There they sit six weeks after they were formed. Port of Prince has some nice homes. Yet in front, beside or in the backyard you will see atent. Why the tent? Because folks down there even with good homes that are intact are expecting another helicopter-sounding rumble from the earth. It will come charging through in waves that will flatten a three-story building like a pie crust on a marble counter.
We were warmly greeted by a sister [Omaris] who was raised in one of our fellowships in Santo Domingo. She established a triage unit right across from the Presidential Palace six days after the earth shook. The buildings are used by the medical teams during the day but the team members sleep in tents around the buildings or on the roofs. These buildings were the headquarters for the Secret Police for the country. The Secret Police also are headquartered in tents adjoining the buildings. Their tents are right adjacent to the triage tents and tarps. One of the doctors commented that it seemed so strange to him that he was helping the hurting in a place where in the past so many had been hurt for another reason.
Rescue workers seem to have endless energy [sunrise to sunset] that is driven by a sense of kindness that is God-given. The team we traveled into Haiti with has the expertise and history of 47 years of doing this type of work. The doctors, nurses, elders, full-time workers and helpers are a time piece crafted with fine jewels by the Lord Himself. In a matter of four hours they had treated over 150 injured. One concerned mother brought her two month old baby because its twin had died 2 days previously. What a blessing to see the last baby not only treated but provided with medicines and food. The mother said she felt so bad that she hadn’t found the triage unit sooner.
Two of the ladies who traveled with the team spent all their time organizing the medicines as the doctors were stimied by having to find the right medicine amidst a pile of bottles and boxes spread all over a room. Omaris, was extremely pleased with this small job yet well-done as the medicines have been in a state of disarray for quite sometime.
The six doctors that gave up a full-day of work at their practices plus the entire weekend were greeted with almost relief. Omaris had been praying that the Lord would send along some doctors to help. The triage usually has about 600 patients show up every day but with one doctor they routinely get overwhelmed. She told us her prayer the night before had been: “Lord, where are my people? Lord, You know we need doctors, nurses and food.” What a blessing it was not to just be there but it was a privilege to be present to see busy believers secularly-speaking giving up their weekend for those who needed their help. What might surprise the reader is that these folk do this one weekend every month. What an example to all!
The trip from Santo Domingo the capital of the Dominican Republic to Port of Prince is approximately seven and half hours. The crossing at the border only took about three hours. This might sound long but compared to what some have to wait, it was excellent, thanks to the good connections that the brethren have established with the border officials. The Dominican authorities are clamping down more as time passes.
We were very fortunate to be able to travel as a group of 27 on a bus. A flatbed truck was loaded with rice, sardines, baloney, water and pastas at the capital. Once again Omaris was delighted to see the unexpected medicines, and food supplies. When we were leaving the triage unit, Omaris asked if there was any way we could send 5,000 tents? We told her that we would do our best to help in this area. Let the reader note that the rainy season starts in approximately 60 days. How they will manage is a question that boggles the mind and conscious.
Thousands of families are living under tents that have been sent by Canada, Samaritan’s Purse and the USA. However, there is an innumerable number of folk who are living under four sheets of cloth. It is very difficult to even comprehend where, what and how these folk will survive?
Virtually every empty lot in Port of Prince is occupied by tents or poles that are holding up sheets to provide some sense of shelter and privacy. Forty five minutes out of the capital the sheet communities start. Hundreds of people huddle together in camps like a litter of frightened kittens after a lightning storm.
The head of the Secret Police for Haiti came to meet us. He was very appreciative that we had come. He thanked us for the items we brought that would help his people. As we chatted with him, he commented that it was people like us who were helping Haiti now. In his broken Spanish, he said: “The big people are leaving already.” We asked if CNN and other TV networks were present or came around? He said: “Those people are all gone, we are old news.”
Some might be wondering what the cost for such a trip is. The Dominican brethren financed this trip. The cost of the bus, truck, supplies, medicines, food, fuel and donations was approximately $6700.00. They will be heading back on the long seven and half hour trip one way in three or four weeks. These brethren are to be admired!
Traveling with this team of Dominican brethren were Bob Dadd, Phil Parsons of CMML and Al Adams from Tampa, FL. After meeting with 13 elders from the different assemblies in Santo Domingo some tentative decisions were made as to how help. This is not a small endeavor and not an easy project to manage. Much wisdom will be required. The Dominican brethren are very determined that a permanent testimony be gained by the efforts that is being done for the Haitian people in Port of Prince. Prior to leaving Port of Prince we were able to visit a brother’s home who is very interested in starting an fellowship/assembly. He has been in the Dominican capital working [since the earthquake] and has been visiting one of our fellowships and would like to replicate it in Port of Prince. We are praying that this brother will be the catalyst that will enable the establishing of our NT fellowships in Port of Prince. This reminds one of the way the New Testament churches were started as the apostles move into new areas.
On our way back to Santo Domingo, we made a detour to Barahona where there are 9 Haitian assemblies. Due to time constraints we were only able to visit three. However, the Christians received us as they always do with the warmest of greetings. They can sing and enjoy the Lord as few groups do. This particular Lord’s day was special at one fellowship because they had four guest speakers from the other assemblies nearby that unfortunately we were unable to visit due to time constraints. When we arrived one of them was preaching his loudest message. His text which he repeated over and over, was: “Go and sin no more.” John 8:11.
Please pray for much wisdom as funds are transferred to the committee of responsible elders in Santo Domingo. They will be channels as we are but it is so easy for the Enemy to divert the flow of God’s mercy. These are very serious, godly and caring brethren but the war is not against “flesh and blood”. One of the comforting aspects of this great work is that there are no novices at the helm. If we are not mistaken the youngest brother on the committee in Santo Domingo stated that he had been an elder for 19 years.
Thank you for your interest in Haiti. We will have further reports as the work progresses, the help continues, and church fellowships are established. Please don’t interpret any of the below as a solicitation. It is simply there to provide information and eliminate further correspondence. There are five different addresses where one can send financial help if they so wish.
Al Adams
N. 56th Street Gospel Chapel Inc.
12811 N. 56th Street [physical location of chapel]
Tampa, FL 33617
[813] 417-1851 Al Adams [Mobile]
