Hi All:
This is an attempt by the technologically challenged Haitian Donkey to revise, update and get the lists on the new Haiti computer. After 14 years of travel back and forth in my backpack, as well as doing some work here in the US, my laptop expired in the process of trying to revise it and everything was lost, including my Medical Committee Notes, etc, though much had been printed off, but frustrating. The biggest loss was all 6,000 of the cases I had logged for governmental documentation, we have the hard copy in the OR log book, but sometimes a bit hard to decipher (I am NOT allowed to write it in, so don’t laugh too hard).

Dan Boerman obtained a new one and I think, with help, of course, that I have installed the update list on the computer and this brief note is to see if what I think happened really did. Then, Lord willing, I can send updates directly from Haiti instead of sending them to the US and Karen having to send them. A down side for you is that she often edits and corrects them, so you have more the unvarnished copy, so apologies. My skills in the grammar department lack some.

The other reason is to update you on my dear friend and colleague, Dr. William. As I mentioned, only 2 of the 6 surgical residents in his year passed the test, who knows what the lack of legibility in the writing of the test contributed to the situation. However, one wonders about the quality of the system when less than half the students pass a test? This was a blow to him, understandably, as we operated together last week and spent a lot of time being able to share struggles for him. He misses his family, though as he goes to the higher levels, he will be able to come home more often on weekends and some of our supporters have been gracious enough to donate funds specifically for this project, a real answer to prayer that I had not even thought about. His car is a bit cobbled up, so pray that that will continue to function, though he does often take the bus back and forth and he can sleep in it on the way (he, like me, can sleep standing up or anywhere the opportunity arises). But, the government still has not given mattresses for the beds for the patients nor any sort of regular water supply to enable the cleaning personnel to clean the hospital and beds, etc on any sort of reasonable basis, and they are threatening to strike again, which would only slow him down further. Pray for a realistic solution to this problem that will allow him and his classmates to progress correctly. He has to retake the exam in a bit, I don’t think that has been determined yet, but just pray for God to sustain and encourage him in the days and months ahead.

Thanks so much for your intervention for him before His throne,

Bill for the Haiti Team

(PS: Let me know if you have another contact that needs to be added and will accommodate)