Friday July 2, 2010 marked a historic day in Haiti for lovers of God’s Word the Bible.

At the first in a series of 12 District Conventions to be held in Haiti by Jehovah’s Witnesses, the visiting speaker from World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, William Malenfant, presented to an audience of 2,197, the release of “Labib: Matye – Revelasyon” in Haitian Creole. This Bible is a translation in Haitian Creole based on the English edition of the New World Translation – Greek Scriptures.

A powerful roar of applause filled the Assembly Hall. Brothers and sisters lined up to get their personal copy, and many in the hall were seen examining it in detail as soon as it was in their hands.

This new release will be a powerful tool in promoting Bible education in the Haitian Creole field.

Here is the PDF version of this report. You can see a bigger version by clicking on the “open in new window” button on the far right of the bar below.

We just had a visit from the construction overseer for the DR and he gave us some stats on the relief work in Haiti. The government at this time will not allow cement buildings to be built. We have many brothers that have lost there houses. Our 2 construction groups are working with the Haitian construction groups to build modest houses. The DR groups rotate every 2 weeks. One group goes for 2 weeks then the other. For reasons of security white folks like me are not involved over there. The Haitian branch is prefabbing panels to build the houses. They are working 12 – 14 hours a day. 2 Brothers lent there own trucks for the work making 4 trucks to move the building materials. 4 brothers are assigned to each house and using this method 30 houses are made a day. 400 houses have been made and 700 more will be done making the total 1,200 houses. 4 halls are damaged but nothing has been done to them. One reason is because there is a lot of people using them for refuge. It would be nice to help everyone but it is impossible as thousands are still living under blankets. It’s nice to know that Jehovah takes care of his sheep.

- This report was from a brother who serves with his wife in Cutupu. He works on construction at the Society´s workshop in Santiago.

See how these huts are being built. Here is the PDF version of this report. You can see a bigger version by clicking on the “open in new window” button on the far right of the bar below.

Knowing your keen interest in Haiti and its current problems, on reading this report this morning I felt you would enjoy it as much as me. The Canadian individual writing has lived in Haiti as a missionary for Jehovah’s Witnesses for 24 years. We have been working closely through him since the beginning. The Customs agents offer some very kind words. We hope to get up to 180 houses per week with a goal of about 1,500. The beauty is that absolutely all our workers are volunteers and the shelters are given to the recipient families at no cost nor commitment. It gives new meaning to Acts 20:35.

/R

An interesting report was just released by OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), giving a summary of the conditions in Haiti since the earthquake (you can also download a PDF version here).

It is refreshing to see the protection we are providing our brothers and sisters and their children by keeping them out of the camps where violence and crime is a growing problem. We stressed that point in our last meeting we held with our Circuit Overseers, and we will have that on our agenda in our meeting we will be holding this Saturday with all of the elders from the quake zone. Our Circuit Overseers commented on the wisdom of keeping our brothers out of the camps. They are working closely with the elder bodies to find a safe spot if families have nowhere to place their transitional shelter.

Yesterday, Charles and I were at the border crossing point of Malpasse, between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, clearing the sixth trailer load of materials for the construction of transitional shelters. While in one of the offices, one of the customs officials said to other employees while talking about our work, “Jehovah’s Witnesses were the first ones across the border after the earthquake getting help. They don’t just talk about helping, they really do it.” After that, she shook my hand and said, “Congratulations for the excellent work”.

Those people really see the difference with all of the other organizations out there. As of yesterday afternoon, we have fabricated 275 transitional shelters, and erected 214. To see the joy and satisfaction of the families of our brothers as they move into their new shelter is so beautiful. All glory goes to Jehovah who is directing every step.

/JG

After a 7 hour drive I arrived at the camp in Haiti on Monday, March 1st at 5 p.m. There are between 6-800 refugees there. Almost every tent sleeps 6-8 Haitians. Usually an injured person and 1 family member who looks after them. There are 2 camps about 1 mile apart. The one where my return visits are staying is being run by Harvard University. It is on the “Love a Child” orphanage property which is sponsored by Christendom; run by an american couple. I packed an inflatable mattress, a weeks supply of sardines, nuts and bottled water. I prepared myself to sleep almost anywhere including my truck.

I was greeted by dozens and dozens of grateful Haitians who remembered me from the Jimani hospital and asked for other brothers by name. Many whom we witnessed to.  I was finally allowed on site only after talking my way in. They enforce visiting hours from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. I explained how far I drove to see them etc. So once night time came, I still didn’t know where I would sleep. Probably in my truck. But I knew that if I left the grounds, then I would likely have the same difficulty getting back in the next day since I was not with an official volunteer organization. And if I slept in my truck in the visitors parking, I ran the risk of the camp coordinators telling me to leave.

Jean Simon and the 5 others who shared tent 1.4 insisted I stay with them in their tent. Kind of like Lydia in Philippi. So I did. In this tent there are 6 people. 4 injured and 2 family escorts. All people I remembered from Jimani Hospital, but didn’t have much of a rapport. These took me in and were very hospitable. So I slept their in the tent with them for 5 days. Hardly ideal, but I’m glad I did. It was easily the funnest 5 days of my life. I was able to preach informally all day, everyday for 5 days. No tie!!! I formally started a study with the boys. Among the adults, our bible discussions in the tent would last until midnight at least.

One morning at the crack of 5 a.m. Roslene asked me if I was awake. “I am now”. Are Jehovah’s Witness women allowed to wear pants? Who asks that at 5 a.m.?

Side note: at about 5 a.m. a few haitians would start signing religious songs. The group would get bigger and bigger as people woke up. I couldn’t understand all of it but they were actually kind of nice.

During visiting hours I would sit in the common area with my bible out and have amazing discussions with big groups at a time. Other times I would go tent to tent and just say hello and stop for a visit. Many were just sitting around reading their bible anyways. At this point I was not placing a lot of literature since my supply was not abundant. Rather, I was trying to get a feel for who was genuinely interested. After a few minutes of a great conversation, I’d say: “I’ve got a book you NEED to read, wait for me right here.”

By day 2 and 3, the cat was fully out of the bag and people were approaching me for literature and with bible questions etc. Most of the Haitians knew I was residing in tent 1.4, but I told them to keep that info to themselves so that I would not be asked to leave. They loved the idea and laughed that “yon moun blanc te vini isit pou pase mise avek nou pou preche bon nouvel la.” (That a white man came here to “suffer” with us to preach the good news)

After visiting hours I kept a lower profile and would show our Watchtower dvd’s on my laptop in the tent. We saw almost all of them, and a few times over. Word got out as well and our tent received more visitors for movie viewings. I started to regret showing one particular video about 1/4 way through. “Respect Jah’s Authority”. Oh yeah, this is the one where Jehovah opens up the earth to swallow up Korah and his posse, kind of like an earthquake. Great choice. When that part came, people shouted out: “That’s just like our earthquake”! So after I had to explain the difference. First and last time I showed that one.

After sun-down, I had more freedom. At around 6 p.m., all medical staff would finish their days work and would spend time together in the staff buildings, about a 200 yards away from the tent areas. So I could mingle and preach freely with no hassle. It was really only 1 organizer that gave me a bit of grief. A hero from Boston who would remind me everyday at 1 p.m. that visiting hours were over. I’d say: “Right, O.K., no problem, thanks man”. And then I would go underground. I’d move my truck by some trees.

By the 3rd day most of the Haitians knew. Some would ask me where I was all afternoon because they wanted to talk to me. So I explained to them the policy. But that I came from 7 hours away to visit my friends and that 4 visiting hours per day was hardly enough time to talk about the bible with people. Everyone agreed. They found it amusing that they were hiding a white guy, from a white guy. prayed and basically told Jehovah that he and I both knew what I was accomplishing at the camp and that if it was his will, that he make it happen that I get to stay there; whether with permission or under the radar. I’m fine with either. I lasted the full 5 days I intended. Boston never caught me past 1 p.m.

At our tent, Roslene was helping her grandson into a wheelchair to take him to the outhouses. I offered to help. So I scooped him up and put him into the wheelchair. And we started to walk. 2 Haitian men came asking for me to see about a book that I had given someone they knew. Roslene went ahead to take her grandson to the toilets but I was meant to help transfer him in and out. But I got caught up and distracted getting these guys a book. When I got to the outhouses, I was late and they finished. Roslene just laughed and said don’t worry. “That is what you came to do and it’s more important”.

One night I was unable to sleep because of the mosquitos etc, so I woke up around 3 a.m. I observed that a small group of people were outside at a common area talking. Some just couldn’t sleep, others were security guards; all Haitian. So I asked them if they wanted to watch a movie. So we watched the “Whole association of Brothers” dvd.

Every night, there was a church service in the common area under a tree with benches. About 200 people would sit and listen and the rest would listen from their tents. There is a microphone and drum set. I suppose it was open mic night. I have never been to an evangelical church so this was my first exposure to it. People took turns ‘preaching’. Most spoke a mile a minute and got everyone all wound up. Many of whom ranted about how “We’ve lost houses, we’ve lost belongings, we’ve lost mothers, wives, children, we’ve lost arms, legs etc. But the Lord knows why he does this! Everyone would shout AMEN!!!” Meanwhile in my tent the 7 of us would be visiting but could also hear the church service wether we wanted to or not. This set the stage for nightly conversations on how untrue and unbiblical everything the pastor was saying was.

My favorite thing was to gear conversations towards the topic of heaven. I would ask people if they hope to go to heaven after they die. Once everyone said yes, then I’d say: “Somebody ask me right now if I want to go to heaven when I die, or ever. Go on, ask me.” People laughed, but I kept saying “ask me”. “Do you want to go to heaven when you die?” “Nope!” – I answered. Everyone would laugh in disbelief. Now ask me why. “Why?” Paske li pa gen banan na ciel la, (which is funny coming from a fat guy) li pa gen futbol, li pa gen timoun, li pa gen rivye pou nage ladan. Pa gen anyen konsa!” (Because there are no bananas in heaven, no soccer, no kids, no rivers to swim in. There’s nothing like that.) Then I’d say: “someone, get me a bible quick!” And we would read Ps 37:10,11,29. Its like some had never heard of this before.

About an hour before I left on Friday March 6th, a man came over to me with a well dressed Haitian man. “Here he is”, one told the other. The well dressed man was an “Assemblies of God” pastor. He said he had heard that I was a pastor. I just told him I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was very humble and meek. I highly doubt he was one of the ones shouting in the church service. There was another speaker who was calm, serene and logical. He actually said some accurate biblical things. Since I only heard the voice, I cant be sure, but I would guess that this was him. Anyways, if I understood correctly, he was interested in us preaching together. I thanked him for thinking of me and respectfully declined and explained that we don’t participate in interfaith. He understood.

The bathing situation was, in a single word: Gross, uncomfortable and awkward. But I prepared myself and went for it, since I didn’t have access to where the white people bathed. The rest of this conversation has to be had in person. Next topic.

Side note: I was the only one with a shower puff.

At night, I would go back for another shower before bed. It was pitch black, with an average of 5-10 Haitian men waiting for their turn, in towels. As soon as I would walk up, the bible questions would start. I explained why we don’t go to war and in what way do we demonstrate the love Jesus referred to at John 13:34,35, why observing the sabbath is not a obligation for Christians….all in Creole. I would start every explanation with the disclaimer: “Bon, mwen te jamn esplike sa nan kreyol la, men pou ou, mwen ka fe yon ti efo.” (Well, I’ve never explained this in Creole before, but I’ll try for you.) And I would have a captive audience for as long as I wanted. At this camp, no one is in a hurry or going anywhere! One Adventist was satisfied with my answer before I finished and wanted to go on to another question and the others shhhh‘d him to let me continue. It made standing in an inch of murky bath water so worth it. (This conversation was before bathing, not all standing there naked)

Many of these people will be [in the camps] for a long while. No one knows for certain. Even after they recover physically, many have no where to go. So I assume some will get shifted to the other camp not far which is more for displaced people who are not necessarily injured. Its run by another American group and seems to have less rules. I made a good impression with one of the coordinators and offered my limited nursing and interpreting skills in the future. Not that those are my intentions, but it could give me freedom to preach and visit with no visiting hour restrictions.

On thursday, I started telling people I was leaving tomorrow (Friday). Minor mistake. All morning, people were asking me are you leaving yet? Are you leaving yet? Come by tent #____ to say good bye before you go. Which was an impossible request. Plus my ‘family’ in tent 1.4 were wanting to visit a bit before I left. Also impossible. I had the bulk of my literature to get in the hands of people I had visited with. And it was 12 p.m. and I had a 7 hour drive ahead of me, including a border to cross. So I took what was left of my magazines, bibles and books and randomly left what was left with anyone I saw reading their bible.

In tent 1.4, by weeks end, Roslene (the grand mother) and Jean Simon (the older man), were telling others that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses. We did the days text consideration every morning and read from the bible together. I gave Roslene her own day’s text so they can continue doing it together. Keeping comments to 30 seconds was impossible. They must have understood 30 minutes or less.

They were thanking me for the visit. She said. “This is what we need! We don’t need money, we don’t need food. We can get by with small things. We need this, we need God’s word, we need Jehovah!” At the very end, when she saw me give her 12 year old grandson Lui Marc a hug and kiss on the cheek, she covered her face with her shirt, embarrassed that she was crying. She listened in and participated on most of our studies, right in the tent. Although I didn’t formally start anything with her, Roslene is a sure bible study, no doubt. She lives in Cape Haitian, and demands I go visit. I agreed to visit on 1 condition. Only if she shows me where the kingdom hall is and comes to the meetings with me. By the look on her face, I think she expected me to say something else. “Of course I will go with you!”

I have no idea where the Delma area in Port au Prince is. I guess it’s like a long route which goes up by numbers 31,32,33 etc. But 9 out of 10 people I would meet were from Delma # something or other. So I can’t wait to walk around the Delma area and see how many people remember me.

The interested ones? Their contact info is in good hands. Bethel will determine what can be done to give attention to these camps. The rest is up to Jehovah. Good hands indeed.

Enjoy!

Jehovah’s Witnesses’ relief efforts in Haiti highlight international unity

Poverty – 4 March 2010 , 10:13 AM

EXCLUSIVE FOR DOMINICAN TODAY

Santo Domingo- When a woman in Haiti accepted a study of the Bible from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, she may have expected it to improve her life. Little did she know, it would literally save her life.

Reports indicate that this woman’s Bible study teacher literally sacrificed her own life to shield her from the death-dealing debris during the magnitude 7.0 earthquake on January 12th.

Read on:

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/poverty/2010/3/4/34997/Jehovahs-Witnesses-relief-efforts-in-Haiti-highlight-international-unity

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, an earthquake hit central Chile and the city of Concepcion. The coastal areas were hit the worst as a tsunami followed the earthquake. including Concepcion, where the international convention was held. Although one sister suffered a broken arm, none of the brothers suffered major injuries or died. The branch buildings physically had no damage. The Bethel family there is fine. The Branch formed relief committees. Two trucks with 13 tons of relief including food, mattresses and drinking water left the branch to the affected areas. After distributing to the friends, they enlisted the help of the military to distribute the remaining drinking water to non-Witnesses. The military arranged the distribution at gunpoint so everyone got 20 liters of water each. The brothers thank us for all the concern, interest and prayers.

Meanwhile in Haiti relief efforts have continued. About a week ago brother Splane from the GB visited and gave a very good and encouraging talk to encourage the brothers and sisters involved in the effort.

Since his visit a small but powerful reconstruction effort has begun. Small groups of hand-picked brothers from all over are entering Haiti for a few days at a time and quickly build a few make-shift huts for our brothers. These are just temporary accommodations so they don’t have to live in tents or the KHs. The real reconstruction will begin at a later date, depending on the economical, political, security situation in the country (and I use the term loosely) of Haiti.

More and more brothers and sisters are returning to Haiti from the recovery houses in the DR. Last number as at 40 brothers still recovering, but even that is shrinking. In total, 3 home centers were established (still running at the moment) , one in San Cristobal, in LaVega and the Capital. Our brothers quickly acted to help in the hospitals since they were understaffed and overloaded, our brothers helped both our brothers and other patients who were not.  In the first 2 weeks after the earthquake, over 88 tons of food and supplies were sent from our branch in thew DR to the branch in Haiti.

Interestingly enough, the days text for January 12th (the day of the quake) spoke of Jehovah’s promise to never leave us or forsake us. It is evident how Jehovah’s spirit is taking care of everything and fulfilling said promise.

We just got word from Chile from the brothers that so far there is no confirmed news of brothers losing their lives.  We heard from some friends in Chillán (Christian Schmidt) that everything movable in his house fell to the floor.  He had a tsunami in his swimming pool and half of the water spilled out, but the family is fine.  They were without electricity until yesterday (Feb. 28).  There are about 10 families in that city that had damage to their homes.  He said that the tsunami of Pelluhue, Cobquecura and the zone of Concepcion took homes and Kingdom Halls.  They have no confirmation of reports that brothers in Coronel lost lives.  However, some brothers there lost their homes and all their possessions.

A brother from the Branch wrote that the greatest number of dead came from Constitucion, a coastal city that was hit by the tsunami without warning.  Only those who on their own suspected the possibility of a tsunami, and went to higher ground were saved.  In the same area all the adobe houses were destroyed including the hundred year old homes that survived the 1985 7.7 earthquake.  He said that well constructed, newer homes in that area and even in Santiago sustained some damage.  He said that the 8.8 earthquake at the epicenter was 8.3 in Santiago.

The brother confirmed that vandalism and theft have been a serious problem wherever there has been damage.  Supermarkets have been left empty by unscrupulous, greedy individuals who try to benefit from others´ loss.

He reported that on Saturday the Branch sent out trucks to the south with water, food, clothing and mattresses for the brothers.  Other vehicles were sent to the Santiago area to investigate the needs and to take water.  Letters were prepared to be sent to all the congregations of the country to inform them of the best way to help those in need.  Half of the population of Chile is in Santiago.  So those brothers take the lead in helping the affected ones.  The brother says that tons of aid has already been collected.  Committees have been set up in the zones of greatest need and they are making preparations for reconstruction where the brothers need help.  They are receiving the reports of the Circuit Overseers from all over, so they will get the bigger picture soon.

Communication has been a problem since there are still areas without water or electricity.  Therefore the Branch is sending out representatives to get the needed information.  Even this is difficult because roads are blocked and broken and getting gasoline is a problem.

That’s what we know now.  This is a brief translation of the e-mails we´ve received.  We will keep you posted as well as we can.  We send our love to all of you.

Your Chile Reporter,

Ruthie T.

But many have also been underestimating the relief efforts going on there. In the news for example a common image in the days after the quake was that of foreign rescue teams and crews pulling people out of the rubble and star reporters rushing around interviewing American and European doctors and relief workers and sometimes news-worthy locals — often with amusing results since many didn’t realize that the spoken language in Haiti is Haitian Creole and not French. There is no doubt that foreign aid is playing a big part there, but what was entirely missed was that the vast majority of rescue operations were performed by Haitians themselves and the foreign teams for the most part assisted, only sometimes taking the lead due to experience. The sensationalism has gone a bit too far: Haiti may now be a shadow of a country and in need of foreign help, but it is by no means helpless.

Similarly it should be noted that although on these pages we have published experiences of a lot of foreign brothers who had (and have) the privilege to assist in the relief operations, they will be the first ones to tell you that they only assisted. It is interesting to note that the brothers (Haitians, Dominicans, some foreigners) running and handling the relief efforts are rarely if ever mentioned in the many letters and forwards that are haunting the net. The number of foreign witnesses actively involved in Haiti and the Dominican Republic is only of a few dozens while literally hundreds Haitian brothers and sisters have been carrying most of the work all over the country and especially Port-au-Prince in excellent coordination. Their experiences are yet to be told and in the coming months we are certain to hear of many of these. Of course, the foreign help has been invaluable to the point of can’t-do-without, but again, although much help was needed, our Haitian brothers are by no means helpless.

The influx of help has been overwhelming. Thousands of brothers and sisters from quite literally all corners of the globe have written and called to offer their help and expertise for Haiti, even offered to adopt orphaned children, fly down in private planes, send loads of money, clothes, etc, etc, etc. Some loving brothers even traveled to Jimani and other places to help on their own accord, albeit it was superfluous.

It’s been a breathtaking display of brotherly love that must make our Heavenly Father proud.

To clarify a few matters, there are currently approximately 60 Haitian brothers still being taken care of in the Dominican Republic in some hospitals but mostly private homes, and about 25 in the Assembly Hall Hospital (please note: numbers are approximations and subject to constant change). Many of the foreign doctors we heard so much about are being sent back since all that could be done has been done.

The resilience of our brothers is impressive. Where many of us spoiled westerners would have broken down in desperation our brothers are shrugging it off with a smile and a joke. Although many are still living in tent cities either outside their own homes or Kingdom Halls, nobody is in despair or in want of anything. The sad and heart-breaking images on the news do not entirely apply to our brothers. Even those who have lost loved ones, limbs and houses are being helped though these difficult times  materially, emotionally and spiritually.  Nothing is easy, but everyone is coping.

Regular supply convoys are traveling between the Haiti and Dominican branch and everything is working, as they say, like clock-work.

All operations are being handled by the emergency relief department in Brooklyn and with fantastic speed and expediency, and thus all questions regarding help should be directed towards Brooklyn (Matt. 24:45). The organisation is retaining a list of brothers and sisters with various capabilities and expertises and are calling them as needed. You can believe there are representatives of all walks of life to be found, everything from world-class surgeons to emergency response experts, certified and specialized nurses, doctors, and so forth, so the best possible human help is reaching those who need it and everyone in need is being taken care of.

For those who still want to help you can contact Brooklyn preferably through your body of elders and let them know what you can offer. Although many loving brothers have tried to contact witnesses in Haiti and the Dominican Republic through private means and on their own accord, it is much more efficient and helpful to do it through the organisation and wait to be called. Even if we may feel we are the most qualified person for a particular effort, we can trust that the slave is doing the very best in handling the situation and everything is taken care of.

We recommend you don’t forward letters and images that have gone through dozens of senders. Often the information and images have so often been edited and shortened, a lot of the material has become very distorted and inaccurate and are painting a picture of desperation and panic that is by no means accurate.

In closing I would like to mention a brief experience I had in the weeks following the Hurricane Georges Relief Efforts in the Dominican Republic in 1998 to put these things in contrast.

I had the privilege to work in the branch yard when a convoy of black government vehicles paraded up to the branch office, a squad of pretentious government officials climbed out, shoved their clip-boards under their arms and dark glasses onto their noses and goose-stepped into the reception. I understand they came to offer help to private and non-profit organisations for disaster preparation and mitigation. Many organisations (religious and otherwise) had been caught off-guard after the hurricane and were struggling to recover, an so this group offered their help (in exchange for some terrific pay of course) to be more prepared for next time.

About 2 hours later the squad had disintegrated into a confused flock and waddled out of the offices, retaining with difficulties what little pride they had left. They crawled embarrassed back into the cars and rolled out of the yard, back into the “organized” world. I was later told they had been so impressed by the relief operations that were going on at the time, they admitted defeat and said that if anyone could learn anything from anyone, it was them from us.

I’m not surprised. From a receiving side point of view the organization and its expediency is truly breathtaking, and again that is what we see in Haiti. Even errors in logistics that occurred were quickly corrected and continually refined and nobody is found to be in need.

In our imperfection we often forget that it is not a human effort guiding the relief work, and once again we are only assisting…

________________________________________

He also mentions some of the people he met and how they are doing, including Jamesons.

——————————————

This one’s a bit less than 20 pages; its only 18 and a half.

The Nursing Crew

Here in San Cristobal, about 35 minutes from Santo Doming, DR, two recovery homes have been established for our brothers, bible students and “friends of the truth”. San Cristobal is a bigger sized city here in the Dominican. To my knowledge it has 4 kingdom halls and 9 congregations. 2 congregations stand out for their odd names; “Madre Vieja” which translates “Old Mother” and “Lava Pie” which means “Wash feet”. Both are named after neighborhoods, or so I’m told.

So there are 2 of these rest and recovery homes. The one I’m in is a very spacious 4 bedroom house owned by some Jehovah’s Witnesses who currently have it for sale. It was not being lived in, so it had no water service connection or electricity. The ?rst two days with no running water or lights was less than fun for the 10 patients and 2 volunteers, 8 of whom were women. So the owners lent it for this purpose. When I got here on Feb 1st, it was just getting set up. The overseers are a 40-something couple from Atlanta, USA but of Puerto Rican and Cuban decent. They have been serving here as need-greaters for years.

Javier and Amarylis Gonzalez. A better combo you will not find. He is organized, hilarious, warm, compassionate etc. She is all heart. She threw herself into this project 200%. She held absolutely nothing back. Borderline neurotic and dramatic. (Y no lo niegues!)

Upon arrival and at present we have 10 Haitians. 6 patients and 4 escorts. Of the 10, 5 are baptized and 5 are “bible students”. (Term bible students used loosely) We are expecting more from Azua, Bani, Barahona etc. Other homes with the same purpose have also been set up in La Vega and Santo Domingo. Its basically for ones who are post and pre operative. They’ve had their surgeries, amputations etc, and need to rest and recover and have someone to clean and dress wounds and monitor their meds.

Many need corrective surgeries since many of the frst ones turned out to be botch jobs. Others need some counseling and professional help with post traumatic stress syndrome. But it’s unreal how Haitians cope; they are no strangers to hard times. America would be crippled, but they just deal with it. Some could go back to Haiti relatively soon, but many have nothing to go home to. Their families are sleeping under tarps in the streets. So our Dominican brothers do Haiti bethel a service looking after some of our brothers over here while they continue to provide aide to the many affected brothers over there.

For the hundreds if not thousands of unfortunate ones who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses, they have been taken to a refugee camp just across the Haitian border to recover from surgeries. Its hardly the appropriate place for a lot of these people given the nature of their injuries and the continued care they need. It’s amazing how Jehovah keeps his promise in 2 Sam 22:26 to all those loyal and even to a few who are “friends” of someone who is loyal. (Tongue in cheek) Many of our brothers (to not specify and then be wrong) are sleeping in Kingdom Halls throughout the country.

I went to visit the brothers we have in the San Cristobal Hospital. They are being so well looked after by the local brothers. At least 1 or 2 sisters are at their bedside approximately 16 hours per day, most of which speak creole. Others sit with them and hold their hand and have learned to say a few words. But it’s still comfort. No hospital food for our brothers. They have home cooked hot meals delivered to their rooms 3 times a day + snacks.

There are a few delicate no-blood cases. We are waiting for surgery and trying to raise blood volume naturally with natural juices and black beans. If their hemoglobin can go up in a few days, then they can proceed with surgery, and can afford even a little bit of blood loss.

We have a sweetheart 75 or so year old sister named Liliane. She has been baptized for 32 years. She broke her arm and has a cast bigger than her entire body. She also has a nasty wound on her toe. She almost had to have it cut off and still might. We keep monitoring it and cleaning it. But she is amazing. So sweet and never complains. She sings kingdom songs too. I’ve got some awesome video clips of it. A spiritual daughter of hers called Stephany escorted her. Stephany is 19 years old and has been baptized for 4 years. So helpful around the house. Evelyne is another baptized sister mid 20’s or so. She came as an escort for her injured, sister, brother and mother; none of which are JW’s. All have or are currently students of the bible, although for 1 of them it’s been years. Injuries vary from just a mouth abrasion, to awful skin tears and a leg with lots of steel pins in it.

Only a few days ago Evelyn explained how she found her mom after the quake. She found her unconscious in a big pile of dead bodies. Someone dragged her unconscious mom out of some rubble and mistook her for deceased. So who knows how long she was lying under or on top of a bunch of corpses. And who knows how many others died that way after being mistaken for dead. Unimaginable.

Then we have my current favorites: A married couple called Mysson and Miriam Dorcy. Mysson is 26 years old and serves as Ministerial Servant. He also graduated from the 10th class of Ministerial Training School in Haiti. His wife has some minor hearing problems, unrelated to the earthquake. She escorted him. They have only been married for 2 months. Some honeymoon. Both are regular pioneers. They currently have a room to themselves but I told them to enjoy it while it lasts because we expect many more to arrive over the next few days and weeks as they get released from the hospitals they’re in. Mysson has a broken leg which is currently in a cast. The cast isn’t really doing much and he will likely go in for surgery this week.

The day after I got here, we still needed a lot of odds and ends around the house. So I was able to go out and buy wash basins, face cloths, cleaning supplies, garbage cans, board games and other random household supplies. This also coming from surplus Brookswood congregation donations. Thank you so much. Before I left I went to each patient and asked them if they needed or wanted anything form the store, like something sweet etc. At frst everyone said No, just to be polite. After I insisted, someone bashfully said “Chocolate”. Another said ice cream and another a can of Pringles. So I hooked them up with lots of sweets. Like a fat kid in a candy store…literally.

A lot of the big things are coming from the Worldwide Work funds, but LOTS of other stuff is coming from private donations from brothers both local and abroad. 1 brother furnished one of these houses. He bought 10 brand new beds and mattresses and tables and chairs and a stove and fridge. I don’t even know his name, not important. Another brother came today and without even identifying himself asked to speak to me and asked what else I felt we needed here. I said 4 rocking chairs for staff. We have 5 plastic chairs to sit on and nothing else. I said we also could use 8 more fans, a book shelf for a theocratic library I’m working on and a TV and DVD player. I brought my laptop and all of the societies DVD’s. I showed a few of them like 6 times in one day. My laptop will burn out if I keep that up.

Anyways, within about 3 hours a truck pulled up with 3 guys on it. The original brother was not with them. They unloaded 4 rocking chairs, 8 fans, a 21” TV and a DVD player. No questions asked. Im still waiting on my bookshelf.

All cooking is being done at the “Madre Vieja” house and they send us 14 or so, hot meals 3 times per day. Although we should be up and ready with a functional kitchen soon since a stove was installed today plus some gas tanks. We have had some construction going on as well. 2 hired laborers built wooden partitions for the rooms for more privacy.

We were in need of some bed linen and pillows and towels. I saw some at the store but they were too expensive. So I called up World Bank Jordy since he has access to
storehouses with goods and funds. I had in mind around a dozen of each. He asked me how many I needed and I told him to do what he could do. “How about 30 of each?” 30 will do. He personally delivered all the goods within 24 hours with his mom. They also told me to inform them of 5 amputees. They have connections in Columbia where they’re from to assess and fit 5 patients for prosthetic limbs for free! So I’ve passed on this info to my superiors so that at least 5 of our brothers get this opportunity that otherwise wouldn’t happen in Haiti. Keep praying so that this works out. This Alvarez family is and has been so amazing. So willing to help those in need with no expectations of reward. Genuine love for others. He later told me that these donations were not even from their World bank resources; rather from private family and friends’ donations.

You really notice the difference between our baptized brothers and “bible students”. Everyone is grateful and “Please” and “Thank you’s” have never been a problem but some of the healthy ones who escorted a loved one help out around the house more than others.

Here’s an example:

We need constant cleaning, sweeping and disinfecting since infections control is proving to be an uphill battle. Hygiene both personal and general is not at the same standard in Haiti as in other parts of the world. Let’s leave it at that. Its a bit of an education for some. Mysson’s wife Miriam is amazing. I needed 2 volunteers to sweep and mop an area where the construction guys had left lots of saw dust. Since it was in Miriam’s room I figured she could sweep and another could mop. So I went into the Ladies room and asked someone who will remain unnamed, who is not injured but rather an escort for her injured daughter who is a bible student. I specifically asked her since she was the one who was lying around all day the most. She flat out said “No” in front of everyone because she had a headache. I said it would only take 5 minutes. A Haitian JW nurse visiting from Texas who was dressing wounds asked her in to cooperate and to obey when your asked to do something. She said No again. One of our sisters stepped up and said she would do it in her place. So I take her to the mess, which is where Miriam (our regular pioneer with the injured husband) is. I instruct/ask Miriam to clean up the mess along with the other sister who stepped in for the lazy one. Miriam tells me that she doesn’t mind doing it on her own and doesn’t need help. What a difference in attitude.

To her credit though, she obviously felt bad after. I researched comments in Creole about “cooperating and serving one another and obeying direction from those taking the lead and theocratic order” etc and dropped them all, back to back to back, in my next meal prayer. After lunch she was sweeping inches behind me all afternoon with a big smile on her face. Bless her!

This house is getting better and better by the hour…literally. I reckon lots wont want to leave. Most will put on weight here.

This morning I conducted morning worship in Creole. It wasn’t terrible but far from great.

We did the days text with a few comments and read a chapter of the bible together in
French. Myself and Mysson (injured MTS grad) are the only baptized brothers in the house who speak creole / french. And he is stuck in bed “avek yon jam krase”. (broken leg) Javier is an M.S. as well but speaks no Creole. So i’ve had to pray before meals in Creole in the womens room since Mysson is in his own room with his wife and they pray together before meals and at bedtime. I always had a standby prayer memorized for opening and closing a bible study, but I’ve never had to pray for a meal in Creole. I got nervous when the first meal prayer was sprung on me short notice and I used my bible study prayer. So I ended up thanking Jehovah for his word the bible and I said that we were gathered here together for the purpose of understanding it better. Could be worse I guess. Let’s eat! My 2nd and 3rd meal prayers were a bit more occasion-appropriate.

Im excited to have Mysson here. Even though he has a broken leg and will need surgery, he can help out on the spiritual end of things. Although there is a plan to set up telephone tie in with a local Creole congregation, we can do a weekly Watchtower study ourselves and he could conduct it with his leg elevated. Also, the only other male patient at the moment who is lightly injured in the mouth has studied in the past. Sounds like its been years though. But with so much free time, i’ve seen him reading the bible loads and reading the book of bible stories book. I was going to start a study with him, but maybe it would be good for Mysson to conduct it.

My sister arrives tonight from Canada to help out for 10 days. We mostly need medical and nurses assistants. We are doing lots of wound care, patient transfers, escorts to the hospital for x-rays, and general bedside care. (Side note: The local hospital ran out of those large x-ray sheets. So they’ll do your x-ray no problem, but it’s on B.Y.O.X.S. basis.

) We hand out meds and make sure everyone takes their drugs at the right time. So I’m a pill pusher, which is a scary thought. We need some firm but loving characters to help establish house rules. Im going to propose that rule number 1 be that no one is allowed to streak past me half naked in the middle of the day running to pass someone the mobile phone, under any circumstances; not even for a long distance phone call.

Myself, my sister Christine and likely Jared and Jael Kekos from Kansas USA are going to Jimani and the Refugee camp over the border this Sunday for a few reasons. I want to check on Jameson Denis and on my “no blood” guy who’s wife is still in the hospital. And I’m dying to spend an afternoon preaching at the refugee camp. Its a ripe territory with 200-300 injured Haitians doing nothing but waiting to recover or be reunited with family. Im taking my laptop this time and can set up a tent for viewing our DVD’s. Should be fun.

I got Mysson (injured Haitian MTS grad) to speak to Jameson over the phone for me. I have a hard time understanding him over the phone. An injured man beside him in the tent who knows him from the neighborhood told us that his mom has surfaced. She is not dead after-all. Good news right? Yeah I thought so too. Well, she apparently was told about an “american” (me) who has been looking after him and got him a mobile phone etc. She sent word for me to just take him, that she lost everything, her home etc. She knows he has a fractured everything below the waist and cant look after him since she is likely on the street. Heartbreaking. I’ve not seen the news in weeks but I’m told that there is a lot of child abduction for human trafficking going on. I was looking into getting Jameson from the refugee camp and bringing him here to recover with us, but I got shut down on that idea.

I’ve even got the Alvarez family working for me trying to get paperwork to temporarily get him back into the DR at least while he recovers on the condition he’s taken back later.

Unicef is apparently on a mission to locate and look after kids affected by the quake because of the alarming number of kids who have disappeared from Port-au-Prince hospitals and shelters and has already rang Bethel inquiring about any kids we have under our care. I’ll say it again, I’m well impressed with some of these charitable organizations.

I get 5 hours of talk time on my mobile each month. It’s February 3rd and I have only 2 hours and 21 minutes left to last me until March 1st. I’ve used half my months phone credit in 3 days.

Anyways, it looks like I could be here for weeks at the very least, if not months. More than likely this group home will be running for months and months. At the moment I’m loving it and would love to stay for the long-haul. Ask me later if it’s still the case. At the same I feel bad for Victor back in my home congregation. There’s a bit of a work load for him and Kerry.

Since I wrote that last paragraph. A few days have passed. Instructions from Bethel were to reduce everything and everyone. So the house I was working at was temporarily closed down along with it’s staff. 1 of our patients was sent to bethel in Haiti to be examined since his injuries were minor. The rest were transfered to House #1. I believe its at max occupancy. Approximately 20 patients and escorts. We were really disappointed when we were informed as to the decision and so were our patients. Some were in tears. But we felt so much better when we visited the next day, (Sunday, February 7th) and saw them settled in nicely. Im not gonna lie, our house was much more fun and I doubt they’ll doing “movie nights” any time soon, but they are being well cared for and thats what matters.

At one point 3 representatives from the Haitian consulate came to our care home. Looking very official in sharp suits and pant suits for the women. They drove up in a ‘not so official’ beat up Toyota Corolla. They asked for a tour of the house and we gladly showed them around. They asked to speak to the patients and we took them to the main room. They asked the patients how they felt and how they were being treated. 1 or 2 of our patients spoke and said right away: “We are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and so are all the ones taking care of us. They have been kind and caring and we have everything we need and more.”

Yeah you do! Pringles and ice cream! The consulate thanked us.

On Friday night we had the meeting in Creole thru telephone hook up. Over a cell phone and thru the TV speakers. We transfered everyone into chairs in the dining room and we listened. The sound was as good as it could have been but still not great. Most understood about 50%. I, about 4%. It was one of the longest meetings I’ve attended. We were sat down for the first time that day after about 13 hours of nursing and patient transfers to the hospital for x-rays etc. So the minute the meeting started, so did the yawns. But our Haitian brothers enjoyed it. One of the main reasons for merging the 2 houses was for the spiritual feeding program. Under one roof, they will now have ALL the meetings done in person. All 5 meetings will be conducted at the house in Creole. You can’t beat that. Plus, under one roof, nurses and doctors and others only have to make 1 house call to assess and care for all.

This week was slightly less of an adrenaline rush than was Jimani. But it was still action packed. We worked 16-18 hours a day. We got to know our haitian brothers a lot better. I didn’t get that in Jimani.

I was able to bring in Julie Laviolette and Beatrice Marin to join our House #2 staff. I think the deciding moment was after I had to interpret, instructing a Haitian sister what to do with a vaginal suppository, and that it was supposed to be that big. I used more gestures than words, since its been a few months at least since I’ve explained that in Creole/French……or never. Get me some female interpreters!!!

Since these 2 sisters pioneered in Haiti for 8 years, they know not only the language, but almost more importantly, they know the culture. They were able to explain to me why almost everyone turned their nose up when at movie night, I offered honey roasted peanuts with a mini snickers bar. And why on earth they would prefer spaghetti with fish at breakfast time. They were invaluable to our team. Not only were their language skills so effective, but they exude love, warmth, compassion and personal interest.

I was able to speak to 9 year old Jameson Denis a few times over the phone this past week. His mom has made contact once. But she insists that the ‘American’ take him. It doesn’t work that way. There are Haitian laws that say otherwise. There’s a local process for adoption and then it goes international, since they feel it’s best for a child to stay in familiar surroundings (country of origin) if possible. I feel like that might be “the best” for almost anywhere except Haiti, especially now. I was trying to (behind the scenes) see if I could get legal permission to bring him back onto Dominican soil and bring him to our house #2 to care for him myself until he was walking again. But since my house was shut down and beds are at a premium, this will not be possible. I was going to go see him, but at the last minute I decided not to go. I don’t think it would be healthy for him or me. I’ll justfeel bummed out that I can’t help him.

My other reason for going to Jimani and the Haitian Refugee camp was also to see Trastama, the no blood guy and his injured wife. He phoned me several times during the week and was no longer in Jimani, rather in another hospital in the south of the Dominican Republic. His wife was not doing well at all. I still don’t know the specifics.

On Saturday Feb, 6th I was asked I was asked to return to my assignment in Pimentel, San Francisco de Macoris. I’m on stand by for now. Hopefully I get called back. My no blood guy from Jimani called me about 2 hours ago. His wife passed away yesterday. It was a 2 minute conversation since we were both out of minutes. But he sounded ok with it. And I quickly told him he did what he could and that most importantly he didn’t violate God’s commands. Jehovah will resurrect her. I urged him to keep reading the Bible teach book along with the bible we gave him and to study the bible with Jehovah’s Witness as soon as possible. He eagerly agreed. I’ll call him in a while and have a better conversation.

Im trying to give a positive spin to this report on purpose. The truth is, it was a positive experience and we had a lot of fun and laughed a lot. We had some really low moments as well. Beatrice and I went thru something pretty brutal at the hospital that was on par with anything at Jimani. Only she and I and the young brother with the amputated leg will ever know, aside from the obvious rest that are watching from heaven.

Telling some that they were being transfered back to Haiti wasn’t fun at all. With limited language abilities, I had to reassure them that they would not be dumped at the Haiti border. Rather they would be taken to Bethel in Haiti, be checked out by doctors and have breakfast. Immediately I was told that they had no home to go back to. I had to make it clear that they could not stay at Bethel either, but that there they would be given suggestions on where to go from there. The unfortunate thing is that at least hundreds of our own baptized brothers are currently sleeping in streets or on Kingdom Halls properties; many too frightened to enter the kingdom hall itself because of the aftershocks.

At any rate, it’s all training and it’s all experience for future things that may come. Thank you for your continued prayers and emotional support. And for your generous
contributions.

Liliane the elderly sister was everyone’s favorite. One morning she said: “Frere Steven, you forgot to do morning worship today. We did it on our own”. I hadn’t forgotten, but that one day things got crazy right from 8am and didn’t stop. The kind of older sister you love being around and want to put in your pocket.

If anyone would like to send Brother Mysson Dorcy (the 26 year old MTS grad with a
broken leg) an email here’s his address, although it could be weeks or months before he checks it. >> mysson_d(at) yahoo.fr <<

He is a quality brother and I’m looking forward to visiting him in Haiti once he’s recovered. Maybe we bonded since he was the only baptized male patient we had at my house. We were vastly outnumbered. It was the ‘estrogen zone’ for sure. Or maybe we bonded as fellow MTS grads. Anyway, when I visit him I’m going to lay in bed and ask for ice cream and I’m going to kill him I get fish spaghetti instead.

Not to be forgotten is the amazing display of love and hospitality shown by the local San Cristobal brothers and sisters. I had the privilege of splitting my time between 2 different lodgings. I was treated like a king at both. The Diaz family were the first ones to take me in. Myself and Joaquin bonded instantly, another fellow MTS grad.
Then I switched over to accommodations much closer to the house I was assigned to.

Roger and Anita Montero bent over backwards for us. My sister and I were well looked after. Definitely friends for life. 2 of the many examples of “following the Christian course of hospitality.” (By the way Roger, I didn’t mean to steal your bible, song book and bed linen.)

In closing, I’m sorry to those who sent really nice emails from other continents as a result of forwards, but I’m only writing in english at the moment. But thanks for the kind words even if I can’t read polish, portuguese or australian. Your words reaffirm just how united we are. When one of us suffers, we all hurt. That’s what empathy means, your pain in my heart.

Warm Christian love,
Steven Serrano
steveserrano1914(at)gmail.com

———————————–