Hi All:

The week wrapped up very nicely with us getting most of the projects done in a reasonable fashion. I remain impressed by how well the team worked together as we were quite a mixture of backgrounds and skills tossed together for a week of work in the warmth. Several souls decided to pull an all nighter on Friday evening, as we left at 1 am anyway, the tireder ones like myself caught a few winks before departure. Usually, it is my job to keep an extra set of eyes on the road while Jean Eddy drives, as there are many vehicles without running or brake lights, some even without headlights and blinkers, that is just a superfluous commodity that is not worth maintaining. Plus, there are animals and people who wander along the sides even in the wee hours, so we keep each other awake and alert and looking for surprises. However, this time, due to the size of our group, we rented a bus. Jean Eddy had left the day before to get Duane and the 5 others who are still there laying tile and other improvement projects, he got stuck in the protests at the halfway point for several hours as the commercial truck tires had been slashed and the road totally blocked. Thus, he wanted to leave early and try to run through the blockades before they were fully awake. He also refused to let us go alone as he is very protective and responsible for all the travelers he guides in and out of Port and to Cayes.

So, as I didn’t have to look for interesting activities on the road, I briefly closed my eyes and woke up 3 hours later in Port au Prince. Needless to say, I didn’t give him the promised $50 US bonus I always offer to give the drivers if they will go more cautiously. So far, no one has taken me up on the extra money. I worry about accidents and also hitting some of the pedestrians, who often don’t show a lot of street smarts and add to the list of trauma victims. We had one 3 years ago, were sure she was probably dead but one cannot stop and help/check out things, as the mobs will lynch you. You go to the next police station and report the situation and let them handle it, similar to what we had to do in Africa. Fortunately, she only had a broken leg, not that that is to be belittled, but safety is not high on the list of priorities for either drivers or pedestrians, it seems. As we were at the airport at 4:15 am, we cajoled him into letting us sit in the comfort of the bus for a bit as he wouldn’t have to go to his loading station til 6 am and that was maybe 20 minutes away. It beat sitting on the dirty cement floors in front of the airport.  As he had the door open for air, the mosquitoes invaded, but they would have troubled us in the open air anyway.

Flights home went well except for delays in Chicago, not sure why, and we got home well after midnight. I got my IV antibiotics in by 3 am and then did the TPN, rather late, but not a lot of choice. I can run the fluids going down to Haiti, as the Grand Rapids TSA folks are friends and, though thorough, they do expedite the process by having 2 people search us and our carryons and send us on our way, thankfully. Not so much on the return trip, so try to drink as much as I can to stay hydrated and make up for it on Sunday if possible and leave myself unhooked for the trip. Pray that Duane and his crew can get the tiling done decently and in order in the time frame allotted them.

I ran the IV antibiotics all the way to and from Haiti and during my time there and for 2 days after the return. I then rechecked the infection count (WBC) and, although better, is still elevated. I have run blood cultures from both my central line and from my arm, they return negative, but I still feel and act like I have an infection and the Haitian donkey drags himself around a bit slower than he would like. Pray that we can resolve this and get me back on the road to recovery. I have been able to work pretty much full time both here and in Haiti, for which I am VERY thankful to our Lord, as I don’t sit still all that well. I had another consultation with my oncologist, he wants to do immunotherapy, but will look into things before committing myself to this, especially as insurance doesn’t cover this and not sure if it will even help? Needless to say, this also needs prayer for wisdom and direction from our Lord.

Once Again, Thanks for your prayers and support for our work for our Lord in Haiti at CSL.

In His Service

Bill, Bob, Brad, Brian, Butch, Craig, Gord, Heather, Ian, Julie, Kathy, Margie, Montana, Sarah, Sawyer, Terri, Theresa