God's Heart for Haiti

Steve Palisin – For The Sun News

After returning this afternoon to Myrtle Beach from a week in Haiti, a former Pawleys Island resident was frank in his reasons for his trip to help deliver hundreds of pounds of medical supplies donated locally for earthquake relief..”I went down there to be with my friends,” said Thomas “T.J.” Johnston, an Anglican bishop from St. Peter’s Church on the north side of Mount Pleasant.

Johnston and his wife of 28 years, Rees, have been active in mission work, and making many friends, in Haiti since 1987. He said he sees a resiliency in the Haitian people, “who have nothing and face overwhelming odds.”  He views the earthquake that struck last week as one huge “equalizer” in what he called a caste system in a country that has remained in decades of decline, of “haves and have-nots.” “For the last week, no one’s had anything,” Johnston said.

He desribed the density in the capital of Port-au-Prince, where “hundreds of thousands “of homeless people have filled all open spaces on streets into makeshift camps.

Johnston said the eight seconds of the 6.1 maganitude aftershock this week rocked him in bed, but that all the tremors make people scream en masse.

“I think to myself, ‘This his how it ended for some folks,’ ” he said.

Johnston said he hadn’t seen any news reports when in Haiti, but he felt encouraged by the increased organization and flow of relief he saw in the past 2 1/2 days from people from around the world, especially the generosity of Americans.

“I think the response has been remarkable,” he said.

Standing in sandals with a long backpack slung on his shoulders, ready for the ride back to suburban Charleston, Johnston said he brought only three sets of clothes along with two other duffle bags. His wife, Rees Johnston, did the driving for their trip home, where her husband was quick to answer to what he was looking most forward, after bathing with only a bucket for a week: “To take a bath or shower.”

Source:
Local Help Back in Town after Trip to Haiti, January 23, 2010, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC

You go Arriette..!!!! Another job feather in your hat.  Please thank Katy again for allowing us to place supplies for Carmel’s medical clinic on her plane. I know weight and space are an issue. Carmel is right in the heart of things with her little clinic and has two doctors working with her…so the supplies will be used. TJ told  me that she has not missed one day of the nutrtion clinc since the earthquake.

I spoke to and saw TJ last night on Skype, as well as Carmel and Pere Val.  They all looked exhausted, TJ especially, but  TJ was able to smile. He has had a bucket of water to bathe in each day for the last week becuase of the lack of running water. His comments were to thank everyone for their support and to say,” Send that plane. He is waiting.” He said seeing the face of someone back home was reassuring..and that all that he had hoped to accomplish  had been done. He met with the bishop and has a plan. I am sure we are all a part of it. Thank God he had the courage and stamina to go. He has been a great comfort, encourager and go getter for Pere Val, Carmel and the people of Haiti.

They are all in my prayers,
Jeanne

(Dr. Jeanne Fourrier)

The plane loaded with meds, supplies, Stoney Miller, Matt Stover, pilot Ted Richardson and co-pilot Chuck is in Marsh Harbor. They are headed out tomorrow (6 AM Friday) from MHH, refueling in Porta Plata,on to PAP. They will unload plane and leave Katy and 650lbs of supplies and pick up TJ. This is to take place in the space of an hour. Those of you that have spent time in the airport in PAP understand what a challenge this will be. Please pray esp between 9:40 and 10:40. The plane is scheduled to return to Myrtle Beach at 3:00.

Katy will then meet up with Pere Val and Carmel to give them their supplies. Then she will meet up with her brother, Buck, to give him supplies for nuns and orphanage and then go to Des Chappell to work at the Hospital Albert Schweitzer. Wow. Please pray for her.

Thank you to all who prayed, sent supplies, money, filed patient records that fell out of the box late last night, phoned, sorted and made trips to Pawleys Island pharmacy, the Dollar Store and picked up SAT phone batteries.

Margaret Manning Vaughn, I owe a huge thank you. She sorted, labeled and shipped 81 boxes (that did not make the flight today) in time to make the Fed Ex flight tonight. Bernice, Fed Ex employee, was incredible. She was by Margaret’s side for two hours. The job got done.

News 13 interview before they left.

Please continue to pray for Ted, Chuck, Matt Stoney, TJ, and for Katy.

Ke Bondye beni nou
God Blees you,
Arriett

(Harriett Miller)

This day has turned out to be a gift from God, although I had hoped to be on my way back to the US today.  In many ways a week’s worth of work came together along with some clarity on next steps in my (and our) work in Haiti.  By the way, I have been blown away by the Nationwide interest that has been expressed in my trip to Haiti and the incredible outpouring of support.

I had a second meeting with the Episcopal Bishop of Haiti today and we clarified some short-term, medium range, and very long-term goals.  I will set these out on my return in a note to all who are interested when I have access to my own computer and a better work environment than this garden with a variety of animals watching me as I type.

Carmel is amazing and has not missed a beat with the Lespwa Timoun clinic since the earth quake. Her focus today was on malnourished children and their mothers. I believe much of what she is doing in that program can be built on as we move toward the future. We were able to get all her medical supplies out of customs in the Dominican Republic today with absolutely no trouble ( a far cry from our experience last Sunday).

We also completed and brought on line two sources of water today – one being  a major distribution center at Croix-des-Boquet (St. Simeon’s Church). That was a miracle given the fact that we had neither the necessary parts nor the skilled labor 24 hours ago.  God has done some amazing things today.

There is much work – even some incredibly exciting and challeging work - to do in the days, months, and  years ahead – but I rejoice this afternoon because the work has begun. My conversation with the Bishop today indicates to me that he invites us to be, and sees us as, a major partner in what lies ahead.

Pray that I will sleep in my own bed tomorrow night.  Although I am excited about our work in Haiti in the days ahead -my passion remains St. Peter’s Church and all that God is doing and will do with us in Mt. Pleasant, the Low Country, and far beyond.

See you Sunday,

TJ

I have just come back from Port-au-Prince city center and for the first time there seems to be widespread and organized relief across the city. A number of major suppliers were open and we were able to buy an important part to get the water distribution center back on line in Croix-des-Boquets.

I saw several Marine units and security seems to be in place for the first time since the earthquake last week. Road clearing and removal of debries has begun in a significant way.

There remain huge “refugee” type camps all over. I have seen the Salvation Army, World Vision, and the Red Cross heavily involved in immeadiate crisis relief. I went by the Salvation headquaters in central P-au-P and they were very busy. They would be good groups to support in these early days of relief.

TJ

Dear Friends,

I spoke with TJ a little while ago and he is fine as are all the Valedma’s. Unfortunately, they have heard there could be damage on LaGonave this time and the areas north of Port-au-Prince. Please keep everyone in your prayers.

American Airlines canceled TJ’s flight for tomorrow (Thursday) and does not plan to fly until Friday, January 29th. A friend who works with an orphanage and hospital in the Artibonite Valley north of Port-au-Prince plans to fly in on Friday with medical supplies. If she does, TJ can fly home on her plane. Please pray that this is so.

Also, TJ said he has done about all he can do as an encourager from there right now. He is eager to get home and start making plans with all you who want to help. After two meetings with the Episcopal Bishop of Haiti and other leaders, he has some short term plans as well as long range plans. If you or someone you know wants information on how to help, stay tuned. I will post them on this blog site.

God’s grace and peace,
REES

I woke this morning with my bed rocking back and forth as another quake rolled through the area. We are getting reports that areas previously not affected by last weeks quake were hit by a 6.0 quake this morning.

This situation in Haiti continues to be chaotic and desperate. My hope and plan is to be back in Mt. Pleasant tomorrow or Friday – all of which depends on finding a plane out of Port-au-Prince.

Thank you for your prayers – please continue with them. I look forward to being with you on Sunday.

+TJ

I just spoke with TJ. He is at the Haiti Diocesan office of the Episcopal Church with Pr. Val to meet with the bishop and other leaders to strategize and make plans. This should be helpful. He will sleep in Pr. Val’s house tonight instead of out on the ground. TJ thinks the house is safe and they can move back in. Please pray they will not worry all night.

It is very difficult to see and experience all of this. Gas for trucks to get supplies and people moved around is running out. God provided fuel for Pr. Val today through one of his parishioners just as he needed it. The Lord is there in Haiti, even though we see the devastation all around. We have to trust he will get these people through this and turn many more to him.

Thanks for keeping the Haitians, TJ and me in your prayers. I am feeling very peaceful and know TJ is where he needs to be. His ankle is still very swollen from the heat. If you could pray that the fluid would go away, TJ would be grateful – I would, too!

Rees

Rees and I have a strong sense of God’s leading and provision in opening up this opportunity to engage in this mission.

I am providing / leading getting Water Missions personnel into Haiti. When I got to the airport I realized that it was up to me to get us and our gear across the DR border and to P-au-P.

I am bringing basic medical supplies to Father Fritz Valdema. I have worked with he and his wife for over 20 years. She is a nurse and they have turned their home into a clinic. I will be staying with them. Pray that I can get to their home.

I am transporting emergency funds to support the work of the five churches / schools / and clinics under Pere Val’s charge.  I will be coordinating with a wider network of Haitians (the Episcopal Church and 2 relief organizations) to establish a support structure for medical teams coming into the Country by late next week when the commercial flights resume. We already have a group from Birmingham sitting on go.

I am going to support and encourage Haitian friends in the same way that any of us would if one of our friends experienced this kind of tragedy.

Finally, I am sure that I will do and see things that I can’t even imagine as I sit here on my flight to the DR.  We have a Fund at the Church / St. Peter’s Church (Haiti) / if people want to support this effort.