Today I was able to break loose from the kitchen and help a small group of medical personnel set up a mobile clinic. I had the responsibility of driving the small group of doctors and nurses out to a location here in Haiti called the 5th Section. The 5th Section has a similar resemblance to that of the Bush (the wild outback) in Africa. Just being in the 5th Section feels like a different country. Anyway, I was given the keys to our ambulance and told to go have fun (meaning have fun being away from the kitchen and enjoy my time out). Unfortunately, when I arrived to the clinic to load up supplies and grab the medical staff I noticed that the airbags in the rear suspension were not fully inflated. Come to find out the air compressor used to fill the airbags wasn’t working properly. So, we had to swap vehicles and take the flatbed.

Once we arrived to the property where the mobile clinic was to be posted people began to gather, and fast. I parked the truck and immediately, with the help of some volunteers from YWAM Kona, began to organize the crowd into a waiting line. We had only about three hours to see fifty patients. So we had to walk down the line of at least two hundred hopeful hearts and weed out the more severe victims and treat them.

Now, a mother brought her five year old boy forward. With only a T-shirt and his pants missing he stood there crying, a sound of terrible pain. One of the nurses quickly rushed him to the doctor, and with a sudden gasp and sure response he diagnosed the problem. The boy was suffering from a rare flesh eating bacteria eating away his flesh in his private area. Doc was only able to administer temporary pain relief, but since the disease is so rare he was not able to give long term treatment. As many were still waiting to be seen by Doc a woman in old age caught my attention. I asked one of the personnel what her condition was, only later to find out during prayer that she was suffering from a cancer in the stomach. Karen (a nurse), Jasen (YWAM Kona) and I prayed and prayed for this woman. I could, but only imagine the pain she was going through (not to mention the little boy’s as well). Doc checked her out and said it was severe and still growing that all we could really do now is pray for a miracle to happen. She left the clinic with only a few pain meds and told there wasn’t anything more that could be done for her.

It was tough, very tough, knowing that many were suffering and had been waiting, hoping to receive treatment and healing. In three hours we were able to diagnose and treat fifty patients. But, God is sovereign and He will see to it that those who need healing will receive it according to His purpose.

In America, when we experience pain we have pain relievers and pain killers to turn to, to ease the pain, numb it and even sedate us. We literally pop a couple pills and the pain subsides or even goes away. We don’t know what it’s like to TRULY suffer; we don’t know what it’s like to be told that we can’t be treated or that nothing more can be done for us. We are not familiar with the lasting, bone piercing pain that we treat so quickly. Therefore, I believe we don’t know the true pain of being hurt of being helpless. Here in Haiti, pain is very real. It is probably one of the most realistic aspects of life. So, the next time we pop some pain relievers or hit up our prescriptions let’s remember those here in Haiti who are hurting and dealing with such pains. Let’s remember them in our prayers as we pray for our so-called pains.
 
From a nation of hope,
Joshua Miller
Staff
YWAM Orlando

A few words by the long term team that we workeded with in South Africa:

Yesterday was a special day. The Home that was built by the YWAM Orlando team was dedicated prayed over. There are still a few minor things to be done, like a door to be hung, the floor to be poured in the old room & a few more panes of glass to be put in. But with the team leaving today for Rustenburg, we wanted them to be able to bless the home & the people they have worked so hard to provide a home for.

The Orlando team did a fantastic job with the help of 2 of our favorite workers, Steven & Simbisiso. I must say, I think it is one of the prettiest homes we have built. And during the building process, the team took the time to build relationship with the ladies that live near by. The kids loved playing with everyone & would often bring them mangos.

The team decided to take up a collection to get a home warming present. They were able to get quite a few necessities as well as some special treats for the kids! After the prayer time & presenting of the gift, the gogo thanked the team& told them that before they built the home, every time it rained she would not be able to sleep. Just seeing her smile blessed the team. I think they were as blessed as the family. And that´s what it´s all about!

Posted by John, Carla & Rae Shaw 3-5-2010 read more posts by the Shaws at http://shawsmissions.blogspot.com/

Current activity on base: Food and clothing distribution

"All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what The Lord will do for you...´ Micah 7:16

It has been almost two months since the nation of Haiti was hit with a devastating earthquake that left millions homeless. Since the ´quake YWAM Saint-Marc has taken on the task of registering and issuing photo identification cards to thousands of people left homeless by the earthquake. Due to such a consistent and high demand for these I.D.´s registration has been put on hold until a more efficient system of operation can be developed. This new system should be up and running in a couple weeks.

Until then we have transformed the arena into a food and clothing distribution center. In the last two days we have received about five containers/trailers and distributed food and clothing to over 1,600 refugees. This number does not include the literal tons of food given to local Pastors for church wide distribution. Here is a story of how God has provided for today:

This morning before distribution we took time to pray together and ask God to supply for us with what we needed for the day. We began the distribution process at about 9 a.m. and as time went by and the afternoon approached the food supply began running low and we had run out of clothes. At about 1 o´clock volunteers began to worry about the current supply of food and were sure we were going to run out. We weren´t going to have enough to feed the remaining few hundred refugees. And then, out of nowhere, I mean nowhere, a couple of trucks loaded with Mexicans and food shows up! YWAM Mexico has been here in Haiti distributing food to Port Au Prince and apparently they were passing through town today on their way to Port Au Prince. As they drove by they saw the YWAM sign out front and decided to stop in and see what we were up to. Well, when they discovered we were running a distribution program and about out of food they unloaded everything they had, right on site! The food they gave was well more than enough to feed the remaining refugees. It was a sheer blessing from God. And, while volunteers were waiting with refugees, praying with them, a person in line claimed to have regained their sight! So, not only is God supplying food, He´s also healing people as well! And this isn´t even the clinic! Though numerous accounts of miracle healings at our clinic have been reported.

Feeding the masses and healing the afflicted...I would say God is very much alive and at work here in Haiti!

From a nation of Hope,
Joshua Miller

Property Update

I write all of this as I fly back from Texas where I had several meetings, sharing the vision of YWAM Orlando and the extraordinary opportunity of purchasing our new campus that will allow for 10-fold growth.  As you know, we are in contract and are moving toward the closing on June 2nd.  We have seen God provide over $160,000 of the $1.25 million that we need by the end of May, and we are encouraged but know that we have a long way to go.  Darla and I will be traveling to share current life-changing stories from our ministry and explaining the details of the campus and how people can partner with us.  If you would like to have us come to your area to share with you and some of your friends, please let us know as soon as possible.

Until all have heard,
Michael Berg

Hey!
Things here are coming along in Port-au-Prince.  We have two teams here right now and have one coming in next week from Switzerland.  Also, we have some medical individuals coming in.  Please be praying that we get a generator that works, not having a reliable one is preventing us from having water, reliable electricity, internet, etc.   I’m really enjoying getting to know Peterson´s full vision and talking with him about plans here.  There is such a need for people to come and take leadership positions here and to train the Haitians and raise them up to take responsibilities here.
Chelsea Evans

Our first day at Freedom Park, squatter camp, we went around to the patients houses with the nurses that work at the clinic within the park. We would visit the patients and ask if they needed prayer for anything. Our last house for the day was a house with a married couple. The woman wanted prayer for the pain she was having that started in her foot and went all the way up her leg to her back. The man wanted prayed for pain in his eyes and that he would be able to get a job. So as a team we prayed for both of them. After we prayed Hailey felt like God wanted the girls to pray for the woman and the guys to pray for the man. We separated, Hailey and I began to lay hands on the woman and pray. We ended our prayer and the woman immediately grabber her foot and started squeezing it. Then she stood up and stomped on it. Hailey and I looked at each other not knowing what she was doing. I asked her “does it still hurt?” She looked up and said “the pain is gone!” Hailey and I just started to cry. We couldn’t believe what we had just witnessed! We saw God using us to heal one of His children and even more, we saw that woman experience God, His love, and His power! One thing God taught me that day was through obedience, faith and prayer someone was healed and free from pain. - Lyndsey Sharpe