Life Circle Feb 28 2015 – Blizzards of Grace

In Haiti, February was filled with activity for Lifeline’s health care ministry. Two medical teams of over 60 medical professionals served every week-day at the Grand Goave Christian Health Center seeing patients.  Many children were treated for viruses, skin conditions, and malnutrition; many patients received ultrasounds; and several hundred pregnant women received pre-natal care.  In addition to caring for hundreds of patients each day, they performed minor surgeries.  

The teams also held Mobile Clinic at 5 of Lifeline’s outpost schools, providing health care to children in our schools and to their families.

During the first health team, a little guy was brought to clinic by his father.  The boy had sustained an extremely serious knee injury. Dr. Bill performed surgery to clean out the dead tissue and infection in the knee and in the process was able to confirm that the boy had a torn tendon in his knee.  Lifeline was able to help by providing transportation and funding for him to go to an orthopedic surgical clinic in Port au Prince for the tendon repair. At the time of this writing we are awaiting more news on his progress.

Last week’s final day of clinic found our doctors examining and treating some kiddies from our new Children’s Home in Grand Goave, where we have an outbreak of mumps! 

But one thing that is also exciting about these medical teams is they don’t just come to provide medicine…they participate in all of Lifeline’s ministries, including home building, food/clothing distribution, home visits to minister to those needing prayer, and spending time with precious, sponsored children and the children at the Children’s Home.

We thank God for all the members of these teams, medical and non-medical alike, who come with servant hearts and allow themselves to be used to share Christ with everyone they come in contact with during their 10 days short-term work trip.

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• John Dickonson, a member of the work team, was baptized last Sunday at the beach in Haiti.  We praise God for his decision.  He will never forget his baptism experience! 

• We’re thankful that our “Chick Chalet” poultry program in Haiti has successfully advanced to the point that we’re now about to add additional coops! More coming on this.  Continuing prayer will be appreciated.

• The Ocotillo Christian Health Clinic has a new look, thanks to Okolona Christian Church (Louisville, KY)!  The clinic pharmacy was remodeled and upgraded with air conditioning, a pass-through window, and a sun-shade, among other things.  Thank you!

• We are thankful for the good staff meeting last week.

• Staff update: JD Hite, Lifeline’s Advancement Director, has been with Lifeline for the last five years.  We praise God for the wonderful blessing he’s been and the positive impact he’s had on our ministry.  He joined our staff shortly after the earthquake in Haiti and has used his many talents and skills stateside and on the foreign fields where we serve.  We’re sad to see him leave, but happy that he’ll be following the desire of his heart, to be more actively involved in preaching and teaching, and just be more available to his family.

• Our ABC food program continues to grow.  We’re blessed to have 12 packing events next month. They will be held at churches in Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Indiana, Virginia and Kentucky.  Matt and the ABC food “Action Team” have been doing a great job.  As you can see, there’s lots of travel involved, so please keep them in your prayers.