October 2002

Dear Friends in Christ,

Greetings in His name from Covenant Hospital in Mombin Crochu, Haiti. God continues each day to bless our lives and the ministry here in the name and fashion of Jesus Christ. We have found to our delight that summer in Mombin Crochu is a time of greening of God’s creation. Once-brown mountainsides and dusty paths that waited through a sparse spring and early summer have finally yielded to the late but welcome daily rainfall of recent weeks. We find ourselves at last surrounded by hills covered with green, and on our daily walks we traverse rocky ravines, which have become grottos of lush tropical foliage. Streams run full now, mud and ruts rather then dust are the problems for road travel, and we’ve even noticed a few varieties of birds we hadn’t seen before. Heavily laden trees have yielded wonderfully sweet mangos and huge avocados all summer, and pineapples fresh-cut along the pathways and fields have been an item of our daily diet. Although scant early rainfall allowed only a meager first harvest of beans and corn, our farmers are again planting with renewed energy and hope of a reasonable second harvest in a few months. God is good!

Returning on their 10th annual September medical mission to Covenant Hospital came a seasoned surgical group led by Dr. Sylvia Campbell and including her pastor and support team members. This was the first large medical group we have hosted, and what a joy to have them! The halls of the hospital overflowed with patients from far and near seeking consultation on medical as well as surgical problems, and every bed soon filled with post-op patients. The clinical work continued long, and our solar-powered system was called into extra duty as the operating room lights burned and OR equipment buzzed into the hours of darkness. In addition to med-surg activities, the team fitted donated eyeglasses for two days and helped with hospital equipment maintenance. This was a tremendously busy week of patient care for all of us but was balanced by some walks in the neighborhood, morning group-devotions led by Pastor John, and a celebration dinner given to the hospital’s employees for all their faithful support and long hours. Then suddenly, in what seemed like the same whirlwind that brought them, they were gone, with hugs and tears for all and promises for another time.

Three different kinds of visitors to this ministry, three wonderfully different blessings for the people of Mombin Crochu, three ways our lives have been enriched by God’s grace and His faithful people working in the name of Jesus Christ.

We continue in thought and prayers for all of you, and ask yours in return. Thank you so much for all the different kinds of loving support that you give us. God’s richest blessings in His Spirit.

Paul and Joan McLain