Haiti - Feb. 24

Great day again today. Saw about 150 kids at an orphanage. Most with stress type complaints - headaches, stomach aches, lack of sleep, lack of appetite ... plus worms and scabies. Afte that we went to restock for the clinic tomorrow and then loaded a truck full of food. Families will be getting 10 kg of rice, 5 kg of beans, ready to eat meals, some oil and other health items (about 17 kg per bag). We loaded around 950 bags for distribution tomorrow.

At a seminar one of our team was teaching on counselling for post traumatic stress a witch doctor came and gave her testimony. I guess she just became a Christian and came to destroy all of her witch doctor stuff in the fire.

Last night we also went down to see a showing of the Jesus film. Our leader, who has seen it hundreds of times said it was the most amazing showing ever! We were within 100 m of three large IDP camps and right in front of the former Presidential palace (think White House), using the fence outside the palace to tie up one side of the screen (perpendicular to the fence - people watch on both sides of the screen). About 500 people watched and cheered! Every time Jesus did a miracle they cheered - at the miraculous catch of fish, raising the little girl, feeding the 5000 and especially when Jesus himself was raised from the dead. A second showing also went on about 500 m from us - we caught the last 30 min. or so and they had the same reaction to the miracles. Apparently the Haitian people are taking comfort from seeing the portrayal of Jesus life, death and resurrection. Even though we were in one of the worst (now) parts of Port-Au-Prince I never once felt unsafe even when the guy in some sor of VooDoo mud facial came and stood about 6 m. from us (he has probably never been prayed for as much as the four of us prayed last night).

Haiti - Feb. 22

Two quick stories:
Judy (the trauma counselor) invited some to come and show a game that kids would play, which could be used to help kids to laugh again and relieve stress. Eventually it was four ladies playing a clapping game. They got faster and faster and faster - when they finally stopped many people laughed. Judy asked, "for how many of you is this the first time you have laughed?" For a considerable number of the 450-500 people it was the first time!

Imagine church service moved to a big tent. Pews moved under the tent. The tent is for shade from the tropical sun. People packed in! Shoulder to shoulder on the pews - again, 450-500 people. All clean, well dressed, articulate. Some speaking English as well as Creole and French. I asked a stupid question, "how many of these people are sleeping outside?". "All of them" our translator replied.

The Adventure you came for...

...may not be the one you get. I read that years ago in regards to adventure travel. The adventure I was preparing for (spiritually at least), since last September was some sort of mission trip from our church. The adventure I am getting, is that I feel lead to go to Haiti. Having spent the last six months training both my body, for a marathon, and my spirit, for ministry, I can't say no to this mission in Haiti.

February 18 I will be leaving with our medical team, organized by Global Aid Network, a development and disaster relief arm of Power To Change, for the area around Port-Au-Prince via Dominican Republic. Once we are there we will connect with Nehemiah Vision Ministry in Chambrun, which has been helping to meet the needs of Haitians since the quake (and doing development work for over a decade). Current Medical Teams have been seeing several hundred patients a day plus helping to feed many more. Two tent cities for Internally Displaced Persons are being assembled near Chambrun by the government and 100,000 people will be moved there. Most likely we will be serving at clinics in these tent cities.

In order for me to go to Haiti I need to raise $2500 to cover travel, meals & accommodation (all-inclusivein the Caribbean) and our ministry needs well in Haiti. If you would like to join into this relief effort for Haiti I would appreciate it. Donations over $20 will be receipted at the end of the year for income tax. Also, the Canadian government is matching your donation until February 12^th dollar for dollar to help in the recovery and development of Haiti.

The details of how to give:

• It is easiest for Global Aid Network to track giving to my specific need if you send a cheque payable to "Global Aid Network" directly to me and then I will deliver it to them. On the memo line of the check please write:
  "Haiti Relief Teams: GAI102TMD1" (The third letter is an "I" like India, do not put my name on it)
  
• If you prefer to send it directly to Global Aid, their address is:
  Global Aid Network, 20385 64th Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 1N5(but it will cost you a stamp)
  
• By phone: call 604.514.2000 (Lower Mainland) or 1.800.531.1106 ask for donor services, say that you would like to make a gift to "Haiti Relief Teams: Source Number GAI102TMD1"
  
• Online: https://www.globalaid.net/give/
  1. I would prefer my gift to be used for: "Relief Teams Haiti"
  2. Order Notes: "GAI102TMD1: Mel Dick"
  
• From the US – make cheques (sorry checks) payable to Campus Crusade for Christ and mail it to:
  Travel and Project Services, Box 529, Sumas, WA 98295 This is a US post for box for a Canadian office, again please write in the memo line "Haiti Relief Teams: GAI102TMD1"
  
  

  
  

Thanks for any help you are able to give – and please remember to pray well I'm gone.

Mel

34915 Champlain Cres,Abbotsford, BC, V2S 5P3