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
