Holistic Health Care Partners – Grand Goave, Haiti

July 2018

I am writing from the town of Grande Goave in southern Haiti. Nancy remains in the US on a three month medical leave following surgery in May for early diagnosed breast cancer. She is doing well and does not need chemo or radiation therapy. Once Nancy’s recovery was on track, I returned to Haiti for four weeks to help with ministry needs here.

The trip began with 4-days in Dallas, Texas, attending the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) General Assembly. It was a joy to connect with our partners and team members who have supported us in ministry these past 13 years!

After arriving in the north of Haiti, reconnecting with colleagues, and tending to residency visa renewals and truck repairs, I headed 12 hours south on July 3rd to Grand Goave with our American Baptist missionary colleague, Kihomi Ngwemi. There we met up with our Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Field Personnel colleague Jenny Jenkins. Jenny has been a full-time community health nurse in Haiti since the earthquake of 2010.

On July 4th the three of us visited the nearby Darbonne Community Health Center where Christian nurse and community leader, Williene Latouche, and her medical staff lovingly care for many who walk for hours to receive care. I first met Williene after the earthquake when she heroically cared for the injured despite being injured herself. I plan to spend a day teaching medical staff and consulting at the Center.

As I write, Haiti is experiencing nation-wide rioting over gas prices with calls for the ouster of the democratically elected president. Please pray for all of us here in Haiti, that we can grow in the nonviolent enemy-loving salvation of Jesus.

Thank you for your ongoing faithfulness in prayer and support.

In His love and peace,

Steve
Stephen W. James MD, M

A Blessed Day

July 5 began with patient consultations and treatments at the Norgesse and Mt. Tabor community Baptist churches mobile hypertension and diabetes clinics. When finished at the clinics we walked 30 minutes up the mountain to  visit a 10-lb 12-month-old, Rosenika, who is suffering from malnutrition and possibly Tuberculosis. Though breast-fed, her family is so poor that her mother lacks the daily calories to have adequate breast milk for her baby. We are networking with the community to have her brought to the Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince for diagnosis and treatment. Her mother has already lost 3 children to poverty and infectious disease.

As we prayed for little Rosenika and her mother, it felt as though we were standing on holy ground in the presence of Christ. The day ended back in Grand Goave with two home visits with disabled, shut-in widows. We delivered food, water, and medications, checked blood pressure, and exchanged loving smiles. It was a beautiful ending to a truly blessed day.

Nurse Jenny Jenkins with Rosenika in the hills high above Grand Goave.

Jenny Jenkins and Philomene Jean are all smiles during a home visit in Grand Goave.

Churches Continue To Pray For A Local Clinic

The mountainous area above Grand Goave lacks a dependable health clinic. Many walk for 2 hours to seek medical assistance. Jenny Jenkins is working with three local churches who have been praying for this project since the earthquake devastated the area 8 years ago.

I was blessed to accompany Jenny and Johnson Chery, her colleague in ministry, along with Williene and Kihomi, on a tour of the proposed site of the new clinic. I am grateful too that Williene and Jenny could meet and get to know each other as possible future holistic health care collaborators.