The emphasis and focus of this second team will be much like that of the first. Looking for every opportunity to let our Christian light shine in everything we do and say, with just a little more focus (with our called workers along) on missionary work. This harvest field is so ripe. I know you join us in praying for these folks to be able to boldly bring God’s comforting and saving word to these spiritually starving people.

Mark Vance
WELS Committee on Relief
Director of Operations
mark.vance@wels.net
cell:  414-416-6396
Office: 414-423-5289

Day four started as a day of finally settling into somewhat of a routine. Our team was asked to split up to help handle the many facets of the ongoing project. Three of our nurses (Rebecca Vance, Joan Schuetze, and Jennifer Kraft) and our podiatrist (Twila Fickel) were asked to return to the orphanage/tent city called Love-a-Child to continue care for the injured refugees. Two nurses (Pat Schlosser and Joanne Hewitt) were asked to stay at the hospital and cover the day shifts for the burn patient and to assist with the clean up and reorganizing of the medical supplies on hand. Rueben Ruch, our handy man jack of all trades, and assistant project coordinator was given a list of maintenance projects to attend to and I spent most of the day in the air conditioned admin office making logistical arrangements for our teams. (Tough job, but somebody has to do it.) Another wonderful day of serving God’s people. As night time came upon us, this was the first night that our nurses didn’t have to pull any shifts so, they all got their first good night’s sleep. But, for some, not before a little fellowship time. The president of the managing organization (IMA) invited everyone down into the town where she and her husband are staying for a small reception to say thank you to the many volunteers who had come and worked so hard. (Some of the teams were leaving the next day.) There was salsa music and most took their turn at showing how bad we are at Latin dancing. It was a very short reception (about a hour), but just enough for everyone to relax and smile a little bit. The volunteers got IMA tee-shirts to take home and many heartfelt thanks for their service. After a quick late night bite to eat, it was off to bed.

Mark Vance
WELS Committee on Relief
Director of Operations
mark.vance@wels.net
cell:  414-416-6396
Office: 414-423-5289

Day three started with our team rising at 7 a.m. to the sound of the local roosters. (There are many). We did not have our assignments for the day, so there was great anticipation as to what the day had in store for us. Breakfast was interesting to say the least. (It is prepared daily for us by the hospital staff made up of local DR employees). This morning their offering was a hot dog, bologna, and plantain kinda soup. We all had to give it a try because of its uniqueness but, we had a good laugh when we said we couldn’t wait to tell the folks back home what we had for breakfast.

The president of the IMA got to the hospital at 8 a.m., and gave us our assignment. We would be traveling to the Bateys (Barrios) to help do a census of the people, so that later in the week we could come in with medical and humanitarian supplies. We were very excited and eager to visit these poorest of Haitian refugees. The roads to these areas were very bad and the only way in was with a flat bed pickup truck. So, we threw three hospital bed mattresses in the bed for seat cushions and loaded 14 nurses, and others into the back of this truck and away we went. It was another sweltering day and the ride took about 45 minutes. As we drove into the Batey, we picked up Haitians along the road who were walking back from town with supplies and children. (This had to be about a seven mile walk in the sweltering heat.) By the time we got to the Batey, we had 20 people and supplies in the back of that truck. It was quite a sight.

Words cannot adequately express what we saw and experienced when we got there. I was warned that the conditions were bad, but I have never seen anything like this before. It was the bush country of Africa right here is the Dominican Republic. Stick houses with thatch roofs, children running everywhere with little to no clothing on their malnutritioned bodies. No electricity, running water, or plumbing. Dirt floors and walk areas everywhere. Families of eight to ten men, women, and children in huts the size of a one car garage. The smell of burnt wood in the air was so strong that it stuck in your throat. (I found out later that this was for making charcoal for their cooking.) Everyone in the village came running as we arrived and greeted us with smiles, handshakes, and anticipation. The children wanted to hold your hand as you walked along and of course, wanted to know what was in your pockets that they might have.

The non-medical staff began the census right away going hut to hut with an interpreter to see how many people were living in each hut and what their ages and sex were. All of this was recorded so that packages of relief items could be assembled and delivered to each family rather than just dumping supplies and causing a riot situation. It was very orderly and we were never in any danger. However, disputes did break out among the villagers as to what kids belonged to who. It did not take them long to figure out that the larger the family they had, the more supplies they would receive. So, after a little of this, one of the village leaders stepped forward and said he would go hut to hut with us and verify the families. This put an end to the disputes.

The nurses and medical staff walked among the huts with interpreters and checked on medical problems. There is no birth control, so many of the women were pregnant and/or had many children. It was emotionally tough on the nurses to see these conditions and women and children struggling as they were.

The census took about four hours to complete and we all were in the sun for a long time. We climbed back into the truck with the promise that we would be back in a couple of days with supplies and a full medical clinic. The villagers sang a song for us and waved as we drove off. We were tired and sweaty as we headed back to the hospital. I asked the driver to stop somewhere where I could buy everyone a soft drink (we have had nothing but water to drink for two days). Boy, did that taste good! We returned to the hospital at about 4 p.m., took our shower for the day, and ate our dinner.

Devotion was at 7 p.m., and we studied God’s word from 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. God’s compassion and comfort. It was an emotional day for all of us and our discussion bore that out. We rejoiced in both the sufferings and comfort overflowing from our Lord so that we could have the opportunity to share the physical and Spiritual comfort and compassion of God’s Holy Word with these wonderful people.

Day three complete. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.        

Mark Vance
WELS Committee on Relief
Director of Operations
mark.vance@wels.net
phone:  414-423-5289
Cell: 414-416-6396

Day One:
Our relief trip to the DR started off with a phone call from Pastor Tim Flunker (Spanish Interpreter) at about noon on Monday saying that his wife had taken ill and it didn’t look like he was going to be able to go. He confirmed that about three hours later and I immediately got on the phone to American Airlines and informed them of the change so we did not lose his ticket. (He hopefully will be able to make the second trip with us if his wife is better by then). At 2:30 a.m., four of the remaining eight volunteers headed out of Milwaukee down to Chicago-O’Hare airport to catch our 5:40 a.m. flight to Miami and then onto Santo Domingo. The four volunteers were myself, Mr. Rueben Ruch for El Dorado, Wis., Mrs. Joan Schuetze from Mequon, Wis., and Ms. Twila Fickel from Western Nebraska. We met up with two more volunteers in Chicago, Mrs. Rebecca Vance and Ms. Jennifer Kraft. (Both from the Chicago area). All of these ladies are RN’s and Rueben and I are project coordinators. The last two members of our team, both RN’s, Mrs. Patricia Schlosser and Mrs. Joanne Hewitt, from Menominee, Wis., flew out of Minneapolis and met up with us in Miami. As soon as we were all assembled in Miami, we were informed that our flight to Santo Domingo was delayed for about three hours. We arrived in Santo Domino at about 5 p.m., and finally got on the road to Jimani at 6 p.m. (It is a hard six hour bus ride). We arrived at the hospital just after midnight. Totally exhausted, we got settled and to bed at about 1 a.m. First Day complete, but not exactly uneventful.

Day Two:
Today started at 7 a.m., with quick showers and a bite of breakfast before climbing back on a bus and heading to the orphanage/tent city called “Love-a–Child” about 10 miles away. It was about 9 a.m., when we arrived and it was already about 80 degrees and getting hotter by the minute. We did some registration paperwork and got our work assignments for the day. The nurses were assigned patient tents, which were in rows to visit and tend to the patients. (Change dressings, check blood pressure, give meds, etc.). Rueben and I were assigned to the supply building and spent the day sorting and organizing supplies. We both now know every size of disposable diaper ever made. (Part of our day was sorting these diapers for distribution). By noon the RN’s were close to overheating as seeing these patients in these hot tents was really getting to them. They were real troopers though and drank their water and took their brakes to stay at it as best they could. Lunch was served to us at about 2:30 p.m., (beans, rice, and an anchovy sauce). I skipped the sauce. We were back on the bus by 4 p.m., and headed back to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at 5 p.m., and headed straight to the showers. Our first devotion of the trip was at 7 p.m., and I chose John 13, “Jesus washing the disciples feet” as our meditation. After some great discussion and a closing prayer, the hospital staff came to us and said that a woman with bad burns to her face and chest had just arrived at the hospital for treatment and she would have to be treated here and stay overnight before being transferred to a burn unit tomorrow. They asked our nurses to take turns pulling three hour shifts through the night to monitor her. As tired as they are, there was no hesitation. They would be glad to do it. Christ like, servant attitude and a light to lighten the Gentiles. This is what relief work is all about.

We don’t know for sure what tomorrow’s assignment for us is. We could go back to the orphanage, we could go out to the slums in the country side to bring medical and humanitarian aid, we could stay at the hospital and help transition it back into the eye clinic it was before the earthquake, or a combination of all of that. It doesn’t matter to us, we just want the opportunity to serve and be our Lord’s example to all we meet and compassionately attend to. Day two complete. This old man has to get some sleep.

Mark Vance
WELS Committee on Relief
Director of Operations
mark.vance@wels.net
phone: 414-423-5289
cell: 414-416-6396

The International Medical Alliance (IMA) Good Samaritan Hospital was impressive: a large white building with the Dominican and US flag flying in the breeze on the second floor balcony. Our drivers waited with us while we found out where we would be staying (they also wanted payment for the long journey). They were friendly and talkative even though we didn’t speak the same language. We were thrilled to see bathrooms right in the hospital lobby since we weren’t sure there would be any working ones. Our room assignments were right at the hospital so we didn’t have to travel any further. Becky Carey, Pastor Schupmann and I would stay in the Baton Rouge room where all of the other volunteers were from Louisiana. The room was large and had about 12 bunk beads. We all slept in our scrubs or clothes. Mark Vance was assigned to the Vermont room. The hospital had five large rooms with bunk beds and a private bathroom with a shower. We later found out that the water was cold and would be shut off from time to time but that didn’t matter – there was indoor plumbing! Everyone brought their own pillows, linens, towels and anything else you might need . . . toilet paper, baby wipes, etc. We had expected mattresses on the floor and maybe one working bathroom and port-a-pots. This was luxury.

Tue. morning Becky and I received out nursing assignments. Becky worked in the white tent that had a dirt floor where adult patients were cared for (the brown tent also housed adult patients). I was assigned to the pediatric area which was in the chapel. This area had a cement floor, a roof and blue tarps were used to provide privacy on each end of the structure. The pews were pushed to the side and the walls were now lined with beds. Each child had a parent or relative with them; that person slept right next to the patient. As I arrived, the children were awake meaning there were many smiling faces to greet me. Noah, who was from Vermont, was the nurse in charge. He had been a volunteer for over a week and assigned my duties. I was reassured that he knew what was going on with each patient. There were medications to be given and dressings to be changed. Two boys needed to be readied for surgery (skin grafts) and several children needed follow up x-rays. The rest of the children would receive physical therapy to learn how to walk with crutches and braces.

Riglord is about six years old, after injury during the earthquake; he cannot move his right arm and leg. The doctors think the feeling may possibly return but are not hopeful. He is a frail little one but propeled his wheelchair well with one hand. His smile just melted one’s heart. I was told that he just started to smile this week. He was now adapting to his arm and leg braces and was happy to be learning how to walk with crutches. Katiana, Joseph, Manuella, Francesca and Manite were the girls I helped care for. They had casts or dressings on their arms or legs. They were happy little 8-9 year old children who enjoyed playing cards or coloring pictures during the day. The boys loved to watch TV which was allowed in the afternoon for about an hour. Roody and Delano had learned how to perform their own dressing changes and enjoyed helping with this task. They regularly came up to the staff to ask if it was time for the dressing change. Delano loved to be clean and used baby wipes to wash himself every morning. There wasn’t any running water in the tent areas but we would help bring basins of water or bottled water to wash faces and hands. Delano wanted to take a bath in the lake and his brother said he would wheel his chair over to it. We were concerned about keeping his dressing clean but reality dictated we should teach Delano how to do this since this is how he will be bathing in the future. Delano assisted in the process of cutting and securing a plastic bag to protect the dressing on his leg. He took his bath in the lake and came back a refreshed little boy with a dry dressing.

The IMA team and doctors came for rounds to determine who could be transferred to the hospital across the border in Love a Child, Haiti. It is a tent hospital of about 400 patients that is staffed by volunteers. The tent hospital was taking daily admissions. Two children would be discharged Tue.; four were to leave on Wed., and more each of the following days until all have been transferred. The Dominican Government has decided that all Haitians were to return to their own country. This meant the IMA operation in Jimani would be shut down. The IMA Good Samaritan Hospital will continue to operate their eye clinic, but not the temporary trauma hospital. The transfers were difficult on the patients, family and staff. The children and families liked it in Jimani. It was safe; there was food, shelter and medical care. It was easy for all of us to bond with these patients and families who were friendly and very appreciative of the help given to them.

Vanessa was scheduled to go home Tue. I had to inform her sister using an interpreter. She didn’t want to leave and became upset, cried and spoke loudly in Creole. She stated they were traveling with a person who was a patient in the white tent. Was that patient being discharged? We found out she was and the families talked. The situation was diffused. Vanessa’s sister packed everything even the mattress. The patients were all concerned about the conditions at Love a Child. They spoke to other relatives and friends at Love a Child via cell phone who stated the food wasn’t as good. We allowed the patients and families to pack whatever they wanted and helped reassure them they would be cared for. Sheets, pillows and bags have all been donated. The children got cold at night so a plea went out to the volunteers for light weight blankets. By the time the children left, suitcases and blankets were found for each of them. Peter is a boy with a fractured left leg. He wears a brace on his leg and is using a wheelchair for now. He really wanted a suitcase to pack his clothes. He asked me several times if I had one for him. I shifted some belongings and donated others to empty the royal blue, side zippered, wheeled suitcase that I borrowed from my son, Jacob. It was perfect for an eight year old boy. Peter loved the bag and as I taped his name to the bag, he grinned from ear to ear. He kept saying “for me, for me” and quickly drew hearts with the words “I am happy” and “I love you” on them to give me. I will always cherish those hearts. He was surprised to find a bright yellow T-shirt and a sleeping bag inside. It didn’t seem like much, but it meant the world to Peter. He owned some donated clothes and shoes but not much he could call his own. Tears still come to my eyes as I remember that little boy. As I write this, I notice my calendar today states a kindness shared is a kindness doubled . . . Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not forget to do good and to share with others.”

Ramstrong returned from surgery and was in a great deal of pain. I was sent to the pharmacy to get his medications. Good Samaritan Hospital had a well stocked pharmacy – all from donations. We also needed some gloves and dressings which were kept in central supply near the operating rooms. The room was filled with many donations way beyond what anyone could imagine. Ramstong was able to rest after receiving his medications. Ernst returned from surgery – his mother stayed at his side. Ernst had five brothers and sisters who died in the earthquake. The night nurse told us that Ernst’s mother had nightmares while trying to sleep and called out for her children. We had to make sure that Ernst was well taken care of. Both boys needed cool compresses to their heads and medication for fevers and we continued to monitor their vital signs. Emesis basins were given and used. The boys gradually improved and their fevers went down. They were able to eat, drink and draw some pictures with the rest of the children by the next day.

I was giving medications to Manite when Lola (Manite’s relative) a 3 year old girl sat on the bed beside me and started to speak in an excited manner. She was using French, Creole and some English. I could understand that she was talking about God and was pointing to Manite’s cast. Lola’s father was one of the interpreters and also a pastor in Haiti. I asked him what Lola was telling me and he said she was talking about how Manite would get well and was praising God for it. All of the children loved activity time. They sang beautiful songs of praise to Jesus in French and Spanish. They had the Message and understood it. They were grateful for the candy and gum we brought to treat them, the markers and paper to draw with and for the rice and beans they were served every day. There were no complaints during painful dressing changes and when given yucky tasting medication. The children set a wonderful example for all. They now own donated worldly possessions and sing praises to our Lord. They lost almost everything but their faith remains.

This experience has been faith strengthening for me. It has been a lesson to be satisfied with what I have, to value my family and friends more, to be eternally grateful for faithful pastors and teachers, for WELS and the leaders who do not stray from the Bible. I cannot imagine a world without our churches and we must not let them disappear.

Thank you to the Committee on Relief – Mark Vance for his well done logistics and for allowing me to serve on this medical mission, Pastor Philip Schupmann for his descriptive photography and pastoral wisdom and to my friend, Becky Carey, for traveling with us and sharing her vast amount of knowledge and savvy demeanor in difficult situations.

Matthew 25:40 – “I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Tara Brennan
COR Nursing Coordinator

View more photos from the trip.