Haiti Revisited

view overlooking Oriani

It’s really hard to believe it’s been over 7 years since we left the clinic in Oriani! A part of us never left… it seems. Our hearts were knitted together with these dear people as we briefly walked their mountain trails, admiring their strength and resilence. Now 7 years later, we are back again with our family. Bodie is now 19, Alyssa 18, and Dawson 14. We are happy it worked out for all of us to come. Since Jonathan’s left last May, the clinic has been operating without North American staff onsite. We are thankful for all the systems Jonathan has put in place and it’s working well. Fre Eldar has been performing some administrative tasks for us and the board is in contact with clinic staff almost daily. We are still actively seeking someone to fill the admin position! In the meantime, my family and I will be spending a little time here in Haiti, supporting the clinic however we can.

Life here is a lot how we remembered it. Though the little boys that used to play in our yard and do odd jobs for us, have turned into strong young men! And yet there is another generation of little boys to take their place! It’s a joy to see the children walking to school in the morning. Cheerfully talking and laughing.

Boys walking to school

In light of the current insecurity here in Haiti, life here on the mountain is a lot the same. I’m under the impression they aren’t suffering here as much as other areas around the Capital. Here they still have a secure place to live and food in their gardens. The markets are thriving with beautiful produce. Some may still experience periods of hunger during dry season, but that’s not a change due to the unrest. Marketing their produce to Port has been more difficult and costly, but they have further developed markets in other southern towns. January has brought some earlier rain than usual and people are eagerily planting gardens. We have still been getting frequent showers and the gardens are beautiful!

Oriani Market

The clinic continues to operate well and I’m very pleased how well our staff work together. Each morning begins with devotions out on the porch, led by Pastor Willi, who also serves as our receptionist. It’s a time when the patients and staff can connect with God and acknowlege that He has the power to heal us both physically and spirtually. There are two other church brethren employees that will help with leading a song and praying too. It’s the part of the day you don’t want to miss! Our three Haitian nurses provide patient care with skill and compassion. Mis (Nurse) Yolette and Mis Vitanie both handle the daily consults with patients. Mis Vitanie also specializes in obstetrics and handles deliveries. Mis Rachelle is our vaccine nurse and also supports the pharmacy as well as working with the other nurses too. We have additional support staff filling various roles, and of course a driver on standby… ready at moments notice to transport a patient by ambulance!

This time, it’s feels odd tho because the clinic operates like it’s on auto pilot! Last time we were here, I was frequently awakened at night for clinic emergencies. Now these after hour calls are handled while I sleep. When there is an emergency, people will find the nurses and they are ready to help. The other evening was an exception, though! It was Saturday and market day in Foret, which can bring extra activities and more limited availibility for the nurses. For whatever reason, I heard the familiar honk of a moto and then a knock on our gate. Arriving at the gate, I found only a moto driver letting me know there was a woman in labor by the clinic gate. Hmm not my favorite kind of clinic emergency! I tried to call a couple of the nurses but no luck reaching any of them! Ok… I’ll just have to attend to this situation myself and hopefully a nurse will arrive soon to help me out. It has been JUST a few years since I worked in this speciality! Jumping on a moto I soon arrived at the clinic gate. There was the usual crowd of people and one woman crouching down in the dirt. Opening the gate, I tried to narrow the group down to those that were actually connected to this laboring woman. Probably about 6 people stormed through which was certainly better than 50! We marched back to L&D room and I got her settled on the delivery table. I then turned to the doorway…only to face yet another group of people with another laboring patient! How did I miss that detail! Anyway, what choice did I have but to get the 2nd patient settled on our gurney just outside the L&D room. My hunch is the 2nd patient is about to deliver! I scrambled around trying to locate the needed supplies…and then Mis Vitanie appears! I am so grateful! We take some vitals on the patients and very soon after Mis Vitanie delivers the first baby girl…the patient on the gurney. Everything went well and I was able to just assist instead of being in charge of this multi-patient-laboring situation. As it turned out, things timed well and we were able to discharge the the first mother and baby before delivering the 2nd girl. Both babies delivered without complications and we were so happy for that. Mis Vitanie is so kind and compassionate with her patients and she really has a soft way of educating and acknowleging God too. It’s amazing that most times… within a hour or less these mommas are getting on motos and heading home!

One way the unrest in Port is severely affecting us is the lack of hospitals when we need a higher level of care. There is a small hospital and a couple of clinics in Fon Parisien, which is 2.5hrs drive down the mountain. Sometimes it’s possible to get a C-section or a minor surgery done at this hospital, but it’s never certain and not a reliable solution. The clinics down there can also do some basic lab work, but again they are difficult to rely on for challenging cases and have their limits too. Most of the hospitals in Port we frequently transported to in the past, have either been destroyed by gangs or forced to close because of violence. Currently, for safety, our ambulance will not travel past Fon Parisien. This is one of the most difficult and saddest things we are facing. It forces us to treat illnesses and trauma the best we can locally, even though a higher level of care is what’s actually needed. Just the other day, an elderly gentleman came to the clinic from a very poor area. He had the largest inguinal hernia I have ever seen. He has been suffering for a number of years with it and has no means or way to get help for it. The clinic has provided some small financial aid and has consulted the hospital in Fon Parisien. There is a surgeon that seems willing to operate…so pray this surgery will be possible one day. The clinic is very much apreciated here, and I’m so thankful for the services we do provide with the help of all our donors.

We have some projects we are working on while we are here. Bodie has been working on maintenance with the clinic vehicles and motos. Seems like there was also a backlog of computer and technology issues at the clinic…so he is also learning how to troubleshoot and re-install operating systems. Another thing we will be doing is installing a new solar power system at the clinic. Having enough reliable power is key when operating oxygen concentrators ect. We were able to bring a new inverter with us and have sourced the rest of the items here in country. Surprisingly, with the right connections, you can purchase and have items delivered from Port! So stay tuned for updates on this project. Other needs I see…the clinic roof is in poor shape with multiple leaks. It’s been repaired a number of times and it seems that replacing it might be the best option. It takes some strategy by staff to keep medications and supplies away from all of the leaks! We are assessing funds and looking for ways we can realistically make this happen. We thank you all for your continued support and may you all continue to pray for the clinic and of course the people here in Haiti.

Year-End Comments

We thank you for your continued support for the ongoing work of the clinic. Jonathan and Julie and family were admins but their allotted time was up so they went back to NY state in summer. We thank them so much for the time they spent in Haiti!

Jon helped set things in motion for the continuation of the clinic operations while we wait for God to provide us with a new admin family. 

When people ask me how its going down there, I just tell them that I am enthused that the nurses and employees are working, patients are being seen, the sick are being healed, and the poor have the gospel  brought to them. (Sorta like Matt 11:3.)

As I look back over the year, I see how God has protected and led many aspects of the work of the clinic. He continues to make ways for us to get all the medical supplies and medications we need. With all the challenges Haiti has come through it is really amazing that we have never lacked much of anything! Our old ambulance is still holding together as we continue to raise funds and hunt for another. Our nurses and staff are working well as one united group and local trust level in their capabilities and our medicines is very high. We don't drive into Port au Prince, but our vehicles are able to travel all the southeastern mountain roads, from Fond Parisian to Oriani, down to Thiotte, out to Bel Anse, and even Jacmel. There have been no danger or safety issues. God is good! 

We as a committee have been in touch with our clinic workers every few days and have been able to go visit them as needed. (We come in through the DR.) 

Thank God for email and WhatsApp! 

I can also report that the Oriani community is doing quite well, considering the country's problems. The farmers have sometimes struggled to get yields to their satisfaction, but there is enough to help keep the community going.  Everytime I go back, I'm amazed how much construction is happening and how many more houses are built. 

One Haitian friend said to me,  "Yes, those who have a little money will keep getting a little. Those that have a lot of money continue to make more, and the poor... they can hardly find a way to advance."

We can't help all the country's issues but we feel happy to fill the role God gave us to fill... helping show the gospel and love to the poor and healing them from their diseases ("dis" "eases") while pointing them to the Great Physician! 

Thank you for your prayers and monetary support this past year, and please keep on helping with this exciting endeavor! 

Some are again asking how to help. Here is a link that gives info.

Farewell to Haiti

Well, time goes on and the responsibilities of life beckon. One can’t spend their whole life as a volunteer. The first of June finds us back in New York. We are setting up life in another house and I’m preparing to go back to work in the Emergency Department at Upstate in Syracuse. It was 2 years and 3 months ago we were preparing to go to Haiti, not sure what we would find there and how God would use us. We knew the stories of the difficulties and dangers in Haiti. We knew the clinic was closed. I had no idea what it would take to reopen. But, when God gives a conviction to do something, we can follow in confidence He will open the doors. Keith and then Matt came to help with hiring staff and finding sources for medications and supplies. Looking back over the last 2 years, I want to thank those who have contributed to the success of the clinic.

One of the most amazing things to me is that in the first week we made contact with the 2 men who would be essential to supplying medications. Riky, a Haitian from Fond Parisien, living in the DR. Gabriel from Croix de Bouquets. Riky has his license to buy medications in the DR and import them into Haiti. This meant we only had to go to Fond Parisien to get medications from him. He took care of the hassle of bringing them across the border for us. Gabriel organized purchasing medications from Port au Prince and arranging transport to Oriani for us. He told me he could get us anything we needed and as long as the road was open, he always came through. He said he just had to wait for the shooting to stop before going out, but when it was quiet he could travel into Port to find things for us.

Quentin and Krystel were living in the administrator compound when we got there. He did a lot to help me learn where to find things, how the clinic systems worked, and how he was able to buy parts for the vehicles. Krystel helped us learn to buy in the market. Rosemard and Carmina. Carmina as a former nurse at the clinic helped me learn how to care for patients in Haiti and to communicate with them. She spent a lot of time working with our Haitian staff and training them in the clinic. She also helped me review and rewrite the clinic protocols. Rosemard was always willing to go with me when I needed an interpreter or someone to take the ambulance to Fond Parisien. Our 2 Haitian nurses, Mis (nurse) Yollette and Mis Vitanie. They both fit in well with the local staff and are happy to help with emergencies after hours. Mis Vitanie especially deserves a shout out for her calm demeanor and expertise with delivering babies. Mis Rachelle, who came to us from MSPP and continues to do an excellent job with vaccines. Fre Willy who opens the clinic with devotions every morning, does registration, and helped me work with families and patients and understand their needs. The 3 nurse aids, Se Papi, Se Berlin, and Se Emanualla, who work together to help the nurses and in the pharmacy. Fre Roosevelt who manages the pharmacy and arranges medication orders. Fre Dieu Met who opens the clinic gate every morning and hands out numbers to patients as they arrive so they can be seen in order. Se Jean Claude who keeps the clinic clean and the laundry done. And now Fre Eldar who is learning to oversee everything for us and provide us with reports and serve as eyes on the ground for the board. Finally, Jenel, who worked many long hours in our yard to keep our vehicles running. These all work together well to keep the clinic operating, and in exchange the clinic gives them a stable income.

There are many other people who helped us in many ways. Carlos, the Dominican who is always available to help bring things to the border, give us rides to the airport, and assist with anything we need in the DR. The Haitian advisory committee who were often willing to drop what they were doing and help me if I needed it. The clinic board does a fine job of coordinating money and supplies from here in North America and does a lot of work behind the scenes with fundraising. And the donors, without whom none of this would be possible.

I often felt like the least of these. Nothing we did was extraordinary. The most extraordinary thing was how God opened doors and enabled the clinic. Without Him it would not be possible. We got to visit and learn to know a small corner of Haiti and some of the people there. The resiliency of the Haitians is as amazing as the beauty of their country. The memories we made will be special to us the rest of our lives. I am happy we had the opportunity for this experience and to help in some small way. One thing I often thought about was that we weren’t so much helping Haitians, as helping Haitians help Haitians. There are many talented people there who simply lack the resources to work. Enabling them and watching them work was very rewarding. We found a Haitian, Fre Eldar, who can serve as administrator and keep things running, but it would be best for another North American to come fill this role. The house is ready, the pieces are there. All that is needed is for someone to say, “Here am I. Send me”. - Jonathan Kurtz

Clinic Update: Your Support is Urgently Needed

Hi from Haiti. The sky was clear in the morning with a beautiful view of Pic la Selle to the west. But it is clouding up by mid morning. This is the weather pattern moving into rainy season. Sunny mornings with cloudy rainy afternoons. This makes it hard to keep the clinic batteries charged and we have to rely more on generators. We had a little Honda generator that was much too small for the job. We worked with a businessman from Thoman, just above Fond Parisien, to help us buy a diesel generator from Port au Prince. They agreed to accept a check from the clinic's Unibank account in Port. We haven’t been able to use this account since our access to Port has been cut off. There was enough money in it to cover the cost of the generator. The first generator we arranged to buy was still in customs when the driver went to get it. They weren’t sure when it would be available. So we arranged to buy another one that was at a depot in Port. The driver was delayed for a week due to the violence in Port, but was able to finally pick it up and get it to Thoman. I picked it up and brought it to the clinic on April 10. The next day I went to the border to pick up Matt and his son Bodie. They spent a very busy week here working on installing the generator and on repairs and maintenance for the clinic motos and vehicles. It rained almost every day they were here. But they were able to get a lot done despite the rain.

The rain is very welcome despite the nuisance as the cisterns were getting dry. It also made the gardens grow. The locals have a lot of hope pinned to this harvest as the road to Port is still open. The gangs are forcing drivers to pay around 80,000 ($625 USD) Haitian gourdes for a truck to get into Croix de Bouquets. Despite this, this is their best market to sell their produce. Pray the road can stay open. The people desperately need the money. The man who buys medications for us in Port was able to come up from Croix de Bouquets with medications. He tells me the gangs are fighting in downtown Port, leaving his area quieter. The gangs attacked Mirebalais last month and looted the hospital there. It is another blow to the health care system in Haiti as this was a good hospital that provided reasonably cheap service.

With the quieter situation in Croix de Bouquets, MSPP is holding a meeting this week. Mis Rachelle is our designated coordinator with MSPP. She asked if she could go. I told her I wouldn’t tell her yes or no, but let her decide if she felt safe enough. She decided to go and will come back this weekend. The other nurses have been busy both with normal consultations and emergencies. They delivered 8 babies this month, including a set of twins!

In the last months I talked about different needs the clinic has. For an ambulance and for a generator. We have been able to solve the generator problem. People have also made donations toward the ambulance. This is greatly appreciated. However, we need operating funds for medications and wages. Everything is more expensive. To get medications from Port is more expensive as the gangs extract a toll. The Dominicans have also increased the cost of importing medications. The spike of patients we have seen this year has increased the amount of medications we need to purchase. Our operating fund is very low and barely able to cover for May. If you can donate, please do so. The need is greater than ever. Thank you very much for your prayers and support.

The Link Below Will Take You to Our Donation Page