Back in Port Au Prince

Courtney is back in Port Au Prince. They leave for Miami tomorrow morning. Back home Monday afternoon. She said the trip has been really good. They have been able to help so many and hang out the adults there, along with playing with the kids. Continue to pray for safety for the rest of the trip home.

Thanks!

Update from today (Friday)

From Courtney...

We didn't have clinic today because we were out of what we needed. We hiked up a range of mountains in the afternoon and it was incredible. Tomorrow we head back to Port Au Prince for the night because we fly to Miami on Sunday.

Keep praying for the team. Keep praying for the people there in Haiti. Pray that the people continue to be receptive to the hearing about Jesus. Pray for all the relief workers that are in Haiti as they work to help rebuild buildings and treat the sick and injured.

Thanks again for your prayers!

Update from Haiti

From Shaun...I received some text updates from Courtney...

This is from yesterday...

I'm absolutely baking! I can barely drink enough water to keep up with how much I'm sweating, but I feel good. We saw 75 more people today, almost 200 total in the clinic in 3 days and we've run out of some meds. So many children who are severely malnourished, covered in boils or have malaria. Our help feels so temporary, like a band aid, but for the most part, these people are just thankful to be cared for and loved. And it is a privilege to help in a practical way, even if it is a band aid. I really do love the people of Haiti so much.

Thanks for your continued prayers!!

Well, it was a long 24 hours of travel as Shaun said, but we're in Haiti! I can't believe it! Flying in yesterday, all I could see out of the window of the plane was multi-colored makeshift tents for those who have been left homeless or are too afraid to go back into their homes. As we drove through the streets of Port Au Prince, it was just as bad as the pictures on the news. Piles of crumbled cement...mounds of trash burning on street corners...and beautiful people with the resiliency I don't think any American can understand.

When we arrived at the missionaries' home where we slept last night, my friend Lexie and I walked over to a boys' home that they've converted to a hospital. Thirty beds, patients ranging in age from 17 days to 70 years. Broken bones, malaria, infected wounds. On one of the cots was a woman who had been literally crushed in the earthquake. She had suffered an open pelvic fracture, and both of her legs had been shattered...one had to be amputated and one was stabilized in an external fixator. While she herself was a miracle, she also held in her arms a miracle. At the time of the quake this woman was 9 months pregnant, and after her rescue, she delivered a perfectly healthy baby girl via C-section. She's beautiful.

I don't get how God can bring something so good from something so bad, but that's what He does. It doesn't change how painful and horrific the situation is, but He brings beauty from ashes.

We're headed out to Desallines this morning...I hear it's a bumpy 4-hour drive into the hills where we will be staying for the rest of the week. I doubt I will have internet or cell reception, but we'll see. I'm so, so thankful for the opportunity to be here...to serve...to learn. Keep praying!

Courtney is safe in Haiti

My first official post for Courtney...:) I received a text this morning from her. They made it to Haiti safe and she is so excited for the opportunity ahead. The first prayer request is for energy and strength. They had to "sleep" in the airport last night, which meant about an hour of sleep. As I understand it, they are in a vehicle on the way to the town where they will be helping the local pastor with some building projects and setting up a clinic to treat people medically. Pray for safety in travel. I believe the town they will be at is about 90 miles north of Port Au Prince. Lastly, pray for cell service so I can receive updates (this is a selfish request). Thanks for all your prayers, as well as financial support. I believe that Courtney has raised about $6000 so far. That is a big blessing that will be used in mighty ways in Haiti. Thank you for giving.

Crisis averted. Phew. We actually booked tickets today for less than our Delta flight. God is so good! We now leave early Saturday morning. Definitely time to pack!

Please pray! Delta just informed us tonight that they've cancelled all flights into Haiti, and that's who was going to get us there. We're scrambling to find another carrier and flight and have some good options. I'm confident that if God wants us in Haiti, we'll get there. I'm a planner, though.