Haiti Trip Recap: November 2016

We got back last week from our most recent trip to Haiti.  It was a whirlwind of a time (still settling back in) because we left 48 hours after our Evening For Cause Event.  The timing was incredible to be in Haiti as we were only an hour north of the hardest hit part of the island.  

Haiti has many challenges ahead with the recent hurricane effects.  Numerous self-sustaining agrarian villages have lost all of their animals and their crops.  A Cholera outbreak is underway.  Violence has deterred many aid workers from coming to help.  Planes, canoes, and even aid supply boats have been robbed and/or mobbed. The military operations that were down there helping have left.  It's extremely challenging to get aid to those who need it the most.  

Our trip was focused around dental (two locations, five treatment days total), but we also brought the largest supply of antibiotics we’ve ever taken internationally.  We’re hoping it is helping for those who are getting them.  Of the 300 patients we cared for this visit, as well as the hundreds from the last trip, 99 percent needed some form of care (urgent and/or important).  In truth, we examined only three patients that did not need treatment.  They simply accept life without dental care and suffer.

It was a great time being back with Respire Haiti and Megan & Josh in Gressier. We helped serve their 509 students who are mostly all rescued Restaveks (child slaves). They also have many special needs children in their school as well. Many of these children desperately needed treatment and it was rewarding to be able to help. It was also a special trip because we were able to see a few kids we helped last time!

The other half of our trip was with Believe In Haiti.  A few exciting things developed while we were with Believe In Haiti.  One big thing is that a local board for Believe in Haiti has been developed.  We now have seven amazing and effective Haitian leaders who share the vision!  We also met a man named Wayne, a Canadian leader for MeraFoods, who employs 3600 Haitian small farmers.  I believe there are opportunities to work together and he was very interested in what our dental team was doing.  Further, we were able to treat many, many more patients, many who had never been to a dentist.  There are healthier smiles in Haiti!  

The momentum from Evening For Cause is immense.  We were able to raise over $10,000 that night, but have had numerous people step up and express interest in supporting these organizations in not just financial ways, but physical ways as well.  There are groups stepping up to serve with our local partners and bringing others along as well.  Others have become regular financial partners too.  The event gave us momentum as we went into our trip in Haiti as well.  

We have scheduled our next trip for April 2017.  We have great ideas of how to make the trips better and more effective.  If you would like to learn more about how you can help us prepare for this trip, I would love to talk with you!

Thank you for your support for Evening For Cause, and for our recent trip to Haiti!