Hi All:
I know that we have sent out a lot of requests for help in the last while, but Dan Boerman called me last night to ask if I would send out another request for some more assistance.  He is at the hospital with Duane, they and their Haitian coworkers have repaired the hospital roof, have been clearing all the fallen trees (normally, looking out the back of the administration building towards the town, there was a line of trees along the border of the hospital property, and, if one was a bit discouraged with all the poverty, disease and devastation in Haiti, one could just sit there for a bit and think more pleasant thoughts) and planning on ways to help all the suffering folks around the hospital. Unfortunately, he says all the trees are down, taking down the hospital fence with them, so security is compromised. I think Dan is heading to the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse today to see what he can beg off them in the way of supplies for the folks of the hospital area. Pray for wisdom for Dan and Duane as they prioritize all that needs to be done for relief of suffering and in a way that brings God glory.

So, his request is that I try to recruit some more help for our November 5 trip to Haiti. It has become our custom that a mechanically trained individual accompany me each trip, ostensibly to repair the hospital physical plant, some of which is 70 years old and a bit decrepit, but also to keep an eye on the feeble medical aspect of the team and help him lift his suitcases (I try to convince them I am just fine, they don’t always agree). However, they would like more help for Micah Baxter in repairs to the hospital and surrounding houses. It seems that all the hospital employees are safe, but almost all have lost their tin roofs and thus have no protection for themselves or their belongings from the rain, sun and robbers. As a result, one of our immediate goals is to try to cover their houses as soon as possible, as we need them work at hospital but they also need to provide safe housing for their families. As someone may have the time and ability to go but not the finances, contributions toward the generalized effort would be greatly appreciated.

Dr. Moise and Dan report that the hospital really survived physically quite well, some wet supplies, but nothing significantly damaged. He said that they are overwhelmed with work as many of the injured have nowhere to go, as the government hospital is deep in mud and the staff have gone to their homes in Port, etc to ride out the storm’s effects. So, we are thankful for God’s protection and provision for our people and are praying for his guidance for all of us as to how to best proceed.

On a personal note,  I am lean, mean and hungry this morning, remaining without the ability to eat (and now also drink) anything, waiting for them to replace a port in my left chest (they pulled the one in my right chest Wednesday evening, waiting 48 hours to put a new one in in case it is the source of my infection, so far, no one knows for sure) for continued IV antibiotics at home as well as TPN. Then I will be released from prison some time this evening and hope to return to work on Monday. Pray for my coworkers here as my sudden, unplanned sick leave has put a strain on their workload and patient care and I have chemotherapy in another week, then back for a week and then off to Haiti, hopefully with some newly recruited help.

Once again, many thanks for your prayer and support of our work for Him in Haiti.

In His Service,

Bill, Karen, Dan and Duane and the rest of the Haiti Team