The Haitian Donkey’s Thanksgiving

Hi All:

I know it is already 10 days past Thanksgiving, but the Haitian Donkey plods a lot slower than his more quick footed counterparts.  Also, as I left Haiti only 2 weeks ago, things have been a bit hectic trying to get things done in the US before my return, both in taking care of my patients and getting things ready to take back, etc and enjoying the Thanksgiving special events. So, am just going to give you all a belated thanksgiving update.

First of all, I am thankful that, by the grace of God, I am healthy and able to do almost anything I feel that I should do on either side of the pond. I wake up each morning thankful that I am alive and that I have the strength to do what God has for me to do each day.  Although work isn’t perfect, I am very thankful that I have a job that I can enjoy, helping people as much as possible with their health. For the most part, it seems that it is a mutually beneficial arrangement, again, something to be thankful for. The vast majority of patients choose to work with us and that is a joy also, not to be forced to put up with each other, surely a detriment to proper patient care. My coworkers all are great to work with, a real blessing, and I have a host of extra mothers to replace my own, who passed away now over 30 years ago of colon cancer. They keep my nose to the grindstone, so that I can’t slack off much on work production and even less on food consumption and I appreciate them all more than they probably realize. So, I am very thankful for a good job (especially one that isn’t outside in the nasty cold and snow), good health being restored and great coworkers.

Coming to Haiti also makes me greatly appreciate the fact that my parents immigrated to the USA and I could grow up in a country where the opportunities for work and advancement were afforded me, as well as the fact that we have such food in abundance.  Thanksgiving Day was special, given my somewhat more tenuous health situation, the family get togethers are even more special and treasured each time now, and I was able to load my plate in the usual fashion and ingest it over the next 5 hours, no time for the previous year’s seconds, etc, though took the pumpkin pie my mother in law made home to savor later. Lots of tasty treats that just have to be consumed much more slowly due to the reengineered GI system, but that only spaces out the flavor for a longer period of time. It is very special that our country’s forefathers were willing to set this special time aside to thank our God for His great blessings of abundance, especially in His provision for our daily bread (and pies, stuffing and salads i.e. just so much extra).

At this time of year, I am especially thankful for the many of you who have contributed to the work here, some all throughout the year and then especially at this season, as I have tried to give something extra to our workers at the Christmas season. Many special people have given regularly to help us be able to provide a goat, greatly appreciated, and now there has been a tremendous response to the request for extra “rice and goat” funds. Thanks to your generosity, we will be able to give a large bag of rice to all our employees and a little goat to those who earn less than $100 USD per month. We were also able to take the employees and their families to Rod and Debbie Wray’s camp Saturday and let them celebrate and enjoy the various activities there. They went out there early in the morning and spent time on the water slides, in the ocean, doing a bunch of games they enjoy together as coworkers and their families. As the financial situation in Haiti grows more grim, I hope that these bonding experiences will keep us continuing to serve our Savior together despite the difficulties. Rod and Debbie and their staff also provided a plentiful and tasty lunch, which I was able to enjoy as I arrived about 3:30 in the afternoon on my way in from Port au Prince. I watched some of their games, including the apple on a string that you have to eat without using your hands. A very slim guardian managed to stretch his mouth out widely enough to catch the whole apple in it and thus could chomp it down with ease way ahead of the rest. Impressive.

I am also thankful for Dan, Duane, Jeff, Micah, Theresa, Ruth, Kim and the great number of unnamed men and women who make up the “Haiti Team,” so many of whom give generously of their time and resources to help keep the hospital going, both in fixing the ever breaking pipes, equipment and wiring, as well as in gathering and getting supplies out here. It is humbling and exciting to be a small part of God’s great plan to spread His compassion, love and gospel here in Haiti. By the grace of God, we were able to get our 8 suitcases to and through Port without much difficulty, American Airlines even allowing us the extra baggage without charge. This was previously the normal policy for missions groups, but things are not as clear since the merger with US Airways and we cannot be sure at this point that this will always happen. We arrived in Miami on time and the shuttle to the hotel arrived just as we left the airport, so we were able to get a good  night’s sleep before our 4:30 wake up to leave for Port. I can’t speak for the others, but Gail and I zonked off within minutes of hitting our beds, he didn’t accuse me of snoring but did say I was out like a light immediately. It is nice to start the week off with a good rest instead of a bit short in that department.

The five of us had a good drive from the airport. There was a fair amount of traffic again and a visible presence of the UN and other law enforcement personnel as many trucks were on the road trying to profit from Saturday having less rioting, such a counterproductive activity in a country already riddled with difficulty. There are many new holes in the already bad roads where they have burned tires in protest, trying to cripple the commercial efforts of what little business progress we have here. Duane has managed to get water going again to the places that need it, an extra thank you to him, and I was able to continue on to Rod and Debbie’s camp to spend  some time with the employees. I rode back with them in the brightly decorated bus we had hired for the occasion, thankful that that ride was only 15 miles with 17 1/2 speed bumps as we were packed in there (no rules as to numbers of passengers allowed) and my knees were at least 3 inches longer than the space behind the seat in front of me. Glad Duane didn’t come with, he has another 2 inches in that department.

So, as we start another week of service here in Haiti, I wanted to let you all know how much we thank the Lord for your laboring with us in doing God’s work here for His glory. Thank you so very much.

In His Service,

Bill, Duane, Sam, Gail and Ken