- by Beth Wittmer (new CFM board member) – on behalf of the group

On June 5, CFM board members Randy Shrock, Rich Shue and Merlin Wittmer along with his son Amos, flew to Port Au Prince to begin work on several projects.  First and foremost was getting the vehicles in running condition.  Rich Stutzman, an incredible mechanic, joined the group on Monday, and was able to get the green truck and the small van running smoothly. This group also knocked out part of the wall in the big sleeping room of the mission house, installed a new A/C unit, worked on the generator, and added a new transfer switch between the road power and the generator which now allows city power use.

Several days later the Medical Team arrived, consisting of:  Dr. M. Claudia Mallarino, her husband Dr. Guillermo Villalona and their 2 teenage daughters Carolina and Claudia from Sarasota, FL, Dr. Lisa Gonalez-Abello with her teenage daughter Nikki from Sarasota, FL, Sonya Miller RN from Myakka City, FL, Carolyn Lopez and her 2 teenagers Natalia and Diego from Vermont, and myself (Beth Wittmer RN) with one of our daughters, Andrea, from Sarasota, FL.

This was the second time this group of doctors and nurses traveled together to Haiti to help in a clinic established shortly after the earthquake with the help of our Haitian Doctor friend, Nono-diagano Charles.  We first met him 5 days after the devastating earthquake, and he led us in to an area of Citi Soliel (Terre Noire) to help his people. That trip was the first trip to Haiti for me, and one that I knew would continue to draw me back again and again.

We set up clinic again for 3 days at Dr. Nono’s father’s home in Terre Noire, and saw some familiar faces from our prior visit.  The kids helped us with setting up the pharmacy area and got some hands on practice of assessing patients with the doctors and nurses as well. We saw the beginning of hope for a new clinic site in Terre Noire which Dr. Claudia has further plans of building on through their Amigos of Latin America not for profit organization.

We spent several hours at the CFM Girls Orphanage where Dr. Lisa did a thorough assessment of all the girls, and provided medication and instructions for Jared and Jalayne.  It was very evident that the girls love the Coblentz’s.  We enjoyed holding the girls and visiting with the staff on hand.  All of the teenagers along really enjoyed this as well.

Saturday we set up our mobile clinic at Papa Charles’s church, just down the street from the mission house.  There we saw a number of local people from their church.  That morning we drove over to the boy’s orphanage to meet Occius and see where the boys live.  We brought all of them back to the clinic where they were examined by the doctor’s and treated as necessary.  They all looked great loved the treats we gave them.  We were able to see our little baby Sampson, who was 2 days old and abandoned and left in his grandmother’s care that last time we were there.  He’s so big now and walking.  Saturday evening ended with a pizza party at the Coblentz’s house, which we all enjoyed.

The doctors that go with us are very special.  They have compassionate hearts that are always open to helping those less fortunate.  It certainly won’t be the last time we go together as a group.

Blessing to Haiti!

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