25 Apr Update from Luanne Brooks

Luanne Brooks, a UB missionary serving in Haiti with OMS International, sent this report on April 24.

“Sometimes I feel like one of the most blessed people in the world. God has given me the rare opportunity to share his love in places where many cannot go. Thank you for sending me. Thank you for being my support.

“I’m sure you are all wondering what Haiti is like now after the change in government. Let me share with you my first impressions upon arriving. First of all, we had to go to Port au Prince to clear immigration, because it is not up and running yet in Cap Haitian. As we flew closer to Cap Haitian, we could see that there had been some flooding. But what was not under water was green and beautiful. I had tried to prepare myself for what I might see when I arrived. But I was still saddened by the shape of our little airport. All of the buildings were either destroyed or severely damaged. We had to wait for our baggage in a large concrete building that was missing one entire wall. I was prepared for the worst as we drove through the city, but was pleasantly surprised that it was pretty much the same. Cap Haitian was stillwellit was still Cap Haitian. We had to take an alternate route home, because the severe rain and flooding had washed out part of the main road back to our compound.

“I was welcomed home by all my friends. Everyone has either stopped by or called me. They are genuinely happy I am back. On Wednesday I stopped in to the clinic for a few minutes to say hi before I returned home to unpack, and it was a virtual love fest. There was a flood of tears. To be honest, most of them were mine. I was welcomed home like I have never been in my life. It was wonderful.

“Yesterday some of the French army stopped by the compound. They were here to meet us and assure us that they were looking out for us. They took our names and phone numbers. They were so young. God bless them. They have a very hard job to do.

“I returned to work, part-time, on Thursday. I was immediately given a man by the name of Sannafer. Sannafer is very ill. He is malnourished and completely emaciated. He has tested positive for tuberculosis. He was brought into the clinic in a wheel-barrow by his children. He was unable to walk or even stand without complete assistance. He was literally knocking on death’s door. He was first brought to the clinic on Wednesday and was told by the clinic staff to go straight to the hospital. But he did not have any money and so he could not go.

“The clinic staff treated him on Wednesday and sent him home with some money for food, telling him to return and be treated at the clinic every day, but truthfully, they really didn’t expect him to make it through the night. Well, he did come back and on Thursday, I gave him a liter of IV fluids, a antibiotic injection, some vitamins, and medication for the TB. He was so weak, he could not hold his cup. Yesterday, he came in and was able to walk, with only the assistance of two sticks. We helped him into the bed and repeated Thursday’s treatment.

“He told us that he was a Christian many years ago, but turned his back on the Lord. He now realizes that the Lord never turned his back on him. He has rededicated his life to the Lord. Gras a Dieu (Thank the Lord). His three young sons also asked the Lord into their lives on Thursday. Friends, that’s what we are here for.

“I am currently waiting for him to come to my house today, so I can give him his medication and a shot of antibiotic. I made some berry muffins for him and his boys. He will return here tomorrow and then to the clinic on Monday. Please pray for this family.

“I have started back in language study with a new teacher here in Cap Haitian. Her name is Lilibet. She speaks four languages and is a lot of fun. She teaches French at the Cowman International school. I have been meeting with her at her lunch hour and again for two hours after she gets out of school. Yesterday, she had me tell her, in Kreyol, how to make pizza and directions for driving from her house to the beach. My Kreyol is coming along. I can get the gist of most conversations and can make most people understand what I am saying. Please pray that God will give me this language quickly. For the safety of my patients, I need to be able to understand every thing they say, not just this gist of it.”