New Life Fellowship, in Rochester, NY began this partnership just prior to the 2010 earth-quake when it was decided that the com-pound would house male orphans. There now exist in the com-pound a large church, a school, a medical clinic, the orphanage and three homes.
Missionary work is not an event but a journey, this was in fact my fifth trip to Haiti. This one was coordinated by my sister-in-law Alice Gissendan-ner as the Elder of Missions at New Life Fellow-ship Church. She is no stranger to outreach minis-try, more than 45 years ago she joined a mission trip to Guiana the place of my birth. Indeed after several trips to Haiti the medical clinic in the com-pound was named the Gissendanner clinic in hon-or of herself and her husband Carthel.
The travelers were engaged in outreach ministry: A children’s camp, a self esteem workshop for girls ( ages 13- 17) “Love Your Selfie”; comple-tion of a new boys Home which houses 12 or-phans from 5-15 years of age. The senior Pastor’s wife of “Elevate Haiti Ministries” supervised the staff of Haitian women who cooked, packaged meals and assisted in feeding 200 patients at a nearby hospital for the mentally ill.
I joined the team to collaborate with other medical professionals along with Haitian Nurses/interpreters, most Haitians speak Creole. Despite
the communication barrier we were able to serve 350 plus patients from the LaPlaine community. Generous donations of Medical Supplies came from fellow travelers, Greater Turner Chapel Usher Board and the West Area Women’s Mis-sionary Society. Monetary gifts were Godsend!
New Life Fellowship, Rochester City retired teachers and North Greece Church of Christ sewing projects supplied 250+ pillowcase dresses. Coupled with a gen-erous donation of shoes from Brenda Hall and others we were able to create a “Dress a Girl Bazaar.” It was a hit! We were also able to distribute school supplies for over 200 children donated by a 2014 trav-eler. Andre Thomas, a principal from Buffalo.
We experienced several challenges/setbacks: loss of electricity for several hours (daily) parts of the new generator were stolen, lack of water (the water table was too low to pump water to taps and show-er heads) and high temperatures (103+ degrees every day) but none of this touched our resolve to serve. The support of fellow travelers with servant hearts, being awoken by crowing roosters to start daily devotions made the trip a success. We are definitely co-laborers together in the vineyard to God be the Glory!
A day at the beach and a tour of PAP revealed that there has been progress in Haiti. The bad-ly damaged elaborate Presidential Palace was torn down and the incumbent President vowed not to rebuild it until Port au Prince and other damaged areas are rebuilt. There were a few large new buildings with intricate architecture and notably tent cities were al most non existent. Halleluiah! My Haitian brothers and sisters!
In Loving Service,
Sister Claudette Rainey
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