February 2005

How precious is your steadfast love, O God !
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7

Dear Friends in Christ, “

When last we wrote you from Mombin Crochu, Haiti, we were well into preparing our departure at the end of our three-year assignment at Covenant Hospital. Our desks were cleaned up. Most of our household goods and all but a few changes of clothes were laid neatly in heavy plastic packing crates. Our final projects were underway, if not completed (mission work is never completed), and we had visited with Haitian friends to say preliminary goodbyes. The hospital activity reports were written, and the guesthouse financial information was in order. We had reservations to fly out in three weeks from Cap Haitien with all our “stuff” on one of the twice-weekly mission trips made by Missionary Flights International.

Then it happened. Paul had been complaining of some unusual persisting back and leg pain for several weeks, but he continued to work at the hospital, even covering for one of the Haitian physicians who was away for an education course. Paul planned to consult a doctor soon after we returned to the States. Then in just a few days he rapidly became worse, with pain so severe that he could not continue to see patients, and then was not able to sit or stand. He was really sick. We knew he needed urgent medical evaluation not available in Haiti, and that he had to be transported lying down. Joan got on the radio, and with assistance from a missionary friend she was able to get us a local flight so we could avoid the long drive into Cap from Mombin Crochu. All we had to do was hold out for (and get ready in) two days. And if the rain would just hold off so we could get over the road to our first airplane pick-up point, an hour and a half away by Land Cruiser. If that failed, we’d be forced to wait another week. Paul’s condition remained bad, so he wasn’t able to help Joan in somewhat frantic last-minute preparations. But we prayed. We prayed for strength and endurance, for God’s loving help and light through this time of trial. And we prayed the weather would hold.

Fatigue and pain medication took their toll, so our flights were kind of a blur, except for the grace and helpfulness of the pilots from Mission Aviation Fellowship and Missionary Flights International. When we landed in West Palm Beach, Florida, an ambulance arranged by PC(USA) met us and took us to St. Mary’s Medical Center. Paul was admitted for exams and X-rays, which led to surgery for infection in the bones and nerves of Paul’s spine.

During the month that Paul was hospitalized and in rehabilitation, Joan was able to stay at a family care house, and we were further blessed and encouraged by phone calls from family and close friends, including those at PC(USA). Then came the long flight to Washington state. Airport and airline people and a traveling nurse were so kind and helpful with seating and managing the wheelchair that our flights and transfers were amazingly trouble-free. At the end of a long day an ambulance with EMTs that Paul had helped train carried us back to the hometown we had left three years before.

We are continuing convalescence together, living in a home graciously lent to us by friends. We have been welcomed with open arms of nurture and love by our families, friends, and church family, all of whom have been tremendously supportive of our work and of us personally. We celebrated a cherished and long-awaited Christmas. We have heard from Mombin Crochu and from a surgical team who just completed a successful visit there. The caring and curing mission in Jesus Christ continues at Covenant Hospital.

We will re-schedule our mission interpretation visits to a number of Presbyterian churches, perhaps during late spring and early autumn, and we’re looking forward to that. We remain eager to share God’s Word and His vision for mission in rural Haiti.

God has been so good to us. As He promised us in Jesus Christ, He has never left our side, not even for a moment. In His great faithfulness, God led us into the midst of the care and the people we needed at every step of our journey. Paul recovering in His healing hands, and we give praise and thanks each day. Thanks also to each of you for your prayer and for your support of the work of Jesus Christ at Covenant Hospital.

In His Spirit of Grace and Peace,

Paul and Joan McLain