An adventure lay ahead of us, no doubt about it. We had made plans to move down to the Dominican Republic on January 19th, and from there were going to Puerta Plata. God had different plans for us, however, when the Haiti earthquake occurred on the 12th. Makarios immediately sent teams with supplies, and put together a small team of an ER PA and nurse who had previously worked with them in the DR to come down and take the trip to Jimani, a small border town 5 minutes from the Haitian border. We were asked to join the team and so our plans changed. I spent the last few days prior to the trip asking for donations of sutures, one of the medical supplies which are hard to come by, and God provided the exact amount that we had space for in our suitcases.
As we were on the planes from Austin to Santiago, so many emotions and thoughts were running through our heads. Excitement mixed with a little fear. Things like “I’m a new graduate PA, how on earth am I going to be competent enough to take care of patients?” “What is this new country going to be like?” “I don’t speak Creole… how will we communicate with the Haitians?” “Will my Spanish be good enough?” “Where are we going to sleep for the next few days… what will we eat… what is life going to be like? We were prepared for an adventure, waiting for God to use us in the way he saw fit.
We got to Santiago at night, and the first impression was seeing the city lights from the airplane, and it was a lot bigger than I expected. The first night was spent at the White’s house. Jim and Theresa White are missionaries who lived in Haiti for many years and are now in the DR serving as a host couple for many groups that come through. They are building a discipleship training center in Santiago to raise up the next generation of pastors and church leaders here. We were blessed to have a night at their house, with hot running water and toilets that flushed, which would be a rarity in days to come.
Throughout this all, I rest on the knowledge that God has us coming here for a purpose. His faithfulness abounds if we only seek His will. One of my longtime favorite verses, Isaiah 43, continues to roll through my head as we go forth on our journey. He will protects us, we are His witnesses. He is the Lord!
Isaiah 43:
1 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush [a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”
