GC Haiti Facebook and E-mail List

Grace Chapel’s Haiti ministry now has an e-mail group and its own Facebook page. If you’d like to stay up to date with GC’s activities in Haiti, subscribe to the e-mail group by sending an e-mail to: gracechapelhaiti-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.  If you want to post a message to the list, you can do so by e-mailing to gracechapelhaiti@yahoogroups.com.

You can also join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grace-Chapel-Haiti/135157726548949 or just search for Grace Chapel Haiti on Facebook. Questions or comments? Contact Grace Chapel's new Haiti Ministries Coordinator Gene Summerlin at gene@gracepca.com.

Gene Summerlin Update on Political Situation in Haiti and Status of Medical Trips

[from Gene Summerlin, Dec. 18th]

Writing this email makes me sad. I should be in Mirebalais, Haiti, right now making sure our team is packed up and ready to head home after running seven days of medical clinics. Instead, I'm in Lincoln. Last week's rioting in Port au Prince caused American Airlines to cancel all flights into and out of Haiti and left us freezing in Nebraska instead of sweating in Mirebalais. This is our third medical team in a row that got derailed (October team cancellation, November Hurricane and December riots). We’ve had a great run over the past few years in avoiding cancellations, so I guess the odds finally caught up with us. The medical supplies that you generously made donations for are packed and ready to go. (Here's a picture of my date night with Terri last week sorting and packing meds. You can tell it’s a date night because Terri has a glass of wine in her hand and a big smile on her face.)

We are working on scheduling another medical trip, but Haiti's current political situation remains a bit unstable.  Here’s a quick rundown on Haiti politics.  Haiti’s Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP) is a committee selected by the sitting Haitian President.  The CEP runs elections in Haiti (e.g., determines who is a qualified candidate, counts votes, announces the winners, etc.)  The three primary candidates for President were Celestin (the current administration’s preferred candidate and current President Preval's future son-in-law), Manigat (a former first-lady and law professor) and Martelly (a popular Haitian singer).  Celestin has almost no support outside of Haiti’s elite.  Manigat and Martelly both have a large popular following with older voters leaning towards Manigat and younger voters supporting Martelly. In Haiti, all qualified presidential candidates run in the general election (there were 18 candidates in the Nov. 28 election), but a candidate has to obtain 50% of the vote to take office (insert your own Bush v. Gore joke here).  Since there are usually so many candidates in the general election, no single candidate gets the required 50% of the vote and the top two candidates participate in a January run-off election.  Following the November 28th vote, the more than 5,000 NOP international election monitors announced that Manigat and Martelly were the top two candidates with Celestin a distant third.  No big surprise there.  However, a few days later, the CEP announced its stunning preliminary results which dropped Martelly to third and put Celestin and Manigat in the run-off.  That started the riots. 

No question exists that the Nov. 28 election was rife with significant problems. International election observers and journalists presented credible evidence of intimidation, ballot box stuffing and voters being turned away at the polls.  That is, however, the norm for Haiti. But Celestin's 2nd place finish goes far beyond a hanging chad or two.  It is the equivalent of George W. Bush sweeping an election in Berkeley, California, or Nancy Pelosi trouncing an incumbent Republican in Plano, Texas. It just wouldn't happen. It couldn't happen and if someone claimed that it did happen, we wouldn't believe them.  That is what caused the riots.  The CEP's placement of Celestin in the runoff caused the people of Haiti to lose all confidence that the election process was fair or reflected the will of the voters. 

Our problem is that the CEP is now struggling with how to deal with their current situation.  The official announcement of the Nov. 28th election result is due on December 20th.  Unless the CEP completely reverses course, we think that additional civil unrest is likely to occur following the Dec. 20th announcement. The run-off election is scheduled for January 16. The result of that election could result in additional rioting. We greatly appreciate the time and sacrifice that our medical partners and their families make when physicians and nurses come with us to Haiti and we do not want to do anything that will jeopardize their safety. So, we have to wait. We have put together tentative schedules for January, February and March trips, but our plans are subject to the reality of the situation on the ground. Ultimately, we know that this is in God's hands and we trust and pray that we will be able to get our people and our supplies to Haiti as quickly as possible.

Thanks again for the support you have provided to us in the past and please pray that we will be able to get back into Mirebalais as quickly as possible.

Haiti Team Trip Cancelled for Now

The Grace Chapel medical trip that was scheduled to leave for Mirebalais this week was cancelled due to the unrest currently in Haiti.  The anxiety has been caused by the belief of many that the election was rigged by the ruling government coalition.  Please continue to be in prayer for Haiti as well as the re-scheduling of this trip.  Thank you for all your prayers and support for the Haitian People.


Also, please see this wonderful post written about GCA Director Brian Kelso by Reformed Seminary professor Mike Milton: http://mikemilton.org/2010/11/25/my-friend-who-walked-through-the-valley-of-death/

Please Pray for Medical Team Leaving Saturday

Please pray for a small group of Grace Chapel people who will be joining a larger group from Vanderbilt medical school.  Gene Summerlin, Deb Knight, Al and Mary Halls will leave this Saturday Dec. 11th and return to Lincoln Dec. 18th.  They will be serving in Mirebalais to further the work of GCA's medical ministry.

Update on Funding of the Mirebalais Clinic

As of today, we have received pledges of $66,000 for the building of the clinic! and we still have others who have expressed significant interest in getting involved.  Our total funding goal for this project is $105,000.  We are hoping to break ground on the clinic very soon.  This is an exciting time.  Please keep praying for the funds to come in so we can build the clinic and get more needed medical help to the people of Haiti.

This was my post from the summer when we started raising funds for the clinic: http://hsumike.blogspot.com/2010/07/building-medical-clinic-in-mirebalais.html

Update on Frank and Brian Surgeries

Here's an update from Brian Kelso on recent surgeries that he and Frank Maiorana underwent.  Frank injured his knee when we were in Mirebalais back in Feb., doing relief work together.


Mike

Hey Everybody,

I just talked with Karen and Frank’s knee surgery went very well. There was no damage to the ACL and the doctor cleaned up the knee and corrected some damaged areas. This is great news. Please continue to pray for Frank and his recovery (remember to pray for Karen too – she might need it more – trying to keep the “big dog” down for a couple of weeks.

My surgery this morning went excellent. The doctor removed the metal fixator (sp) from my right foot/leg. After surgery I was immediately walking with crutches. I praise God for this new stage of my recovery. I feel great. My goal is to dance on New Year’s Eve (and being such a bad dancer prior to my illness – no one will know the difference).

I continually thank God for His provisions to us. This has been a difficult Fall by the Lord has seen us through every situation. I want to again thank everyone who has helped us through this time. God is continually to bless us even though “we walk with a limp.”

I believe that we have striven with God and with men and have prevailed, we have seen God face to face, yet our life has been preserved. The Lord has touched our lives for His glory and even our infirmities (walking with a limp) bring Him glory and will bring Him glory all the days of our lives!


Genesis 32

24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.  25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.  26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."  27 So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."  28 He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”  29 Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there.  30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved."  31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Peniel, and he was limping on his thigh.


Expecting Great Things from God,

Brian Kelso
 

Brian Kelso's First Sunday Back at CCC

His message is "The Valley of the Shadow of Death".  You will be deeply impacted by this video:

http://www.christcovenant.cc/media/videos/index.html 

Prayer and Need of Dec. Haiti Medical Team

A medical team made up of three med students from Wake Forest, plus Dr. Al Halls, Mary Halls, Deb Knight and Gene Summerlin will be headed to Haiti Dec. 11th-18th.  Since Grace Chapel has been given administrative oversight of GCA’s medical teams, one of our goals is to make sure that we are providing consistent medical support to the children within GCA’s care.  Currently, that includes 23 children attending GCA’s school in Mirebalais, 16 children at the orphanage in Sodo (just west of Mirebalais), and 25 children at Tutu’s orphanage (just east of Mirebalais). During the spring and summer months, medical teams come down on a fairly regular basis.  However, from August through March, far fewer teams travel to Haiti, and we want to make a focused effort to ensure that we don’t let our medical care drop off during the winter.

The primary goals of this team are threefold:  First, we will be creating initial medical records with pictures, heights, weights, and dates of birth for the kids at all three locations.  Second, we will be administering dewormer to all the kids at all three locations in addition to regular medical exams and treatment.  In places like Haiti, intestinal worms constitute a long term and chronic risk for children and the poor.  These infections can negatively affect all aspects of a child’s development: health, nutrition, cognitive development, learning and educational achievement.  Fortunately, the treatment is simple and cost-effective.  Finally, we will bring additional medical supplies with us to restock GCA’s medical inventory.  If time allows, we will also run a field clinic at a refugee camp where GCA has been providing food and water about halfway between Mirebalais and Cange.

We initially had a medical team scheduled to be on the ground in Mirebalais in late September, but that team had to cancel at the last minute.  As a result, this team was assembled very quickly and with very little opportunity to engage in advance fund raising.  We really need people to pitch in to help us cover the costs of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.  Craig Moore is currently going through our list of existing inventory and making recommendations for additional drugs to purchase.  Given the possibility that the current cholera outbreak could fester for years, we will also be bringing in IV fluids, tubes and needles and Oral Rehydration Solution.  Finally, as always, what we need most of all is prayer – for the people of Haiti, for the GCA support staff and for the team members and their families.


If you are interested in helping out financially or otherwise with the team, please contact Gene Summerlin at gene@osolaw.com or send checks to:


Grace Chapel
December Haiti Medical Team
4000 Sheridan Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68506
402.484.8555
office@gracepca.com

E-mail Update from Brian Kelso

Here's an e-mail I received from Brian Kelso earlier today:


Mike,

Hey man – it’s me! I’ve been home for two weeks and getting a little stronger each day. I using a wheelchair for now but hopefully I’ll be walking by the end of the year. All my organs have recovered. I’ve lost a lot of weight so I need to build up my body, do my physical therapy and go to doctor appointments. Please tell everybody how much I appreciate their love and prayers! All the doctors call me the “miracle man” and I remind them that God preserved me for His glory!

GCA is going great. I has been a blessing to see how everyone has stepped up. Everything is moving forward.

Thank you so much for your partnership with GCA.

Expecting great things from God,

Brian

Brian Kelso Update

Brian is recovering from Tuesday afternoon's surgery on his right foot.  He is doing well and is in good spirits but is sedated for pain.  The surgeon was pleased with the surgery -- a partial amputation.  The surgeon believes that Brian will be able to return to the normal active lifestyle similar to what he had before this malaria so aggressively infected his body.  He will continue to the hyperbaric chamber, dialysis treatments and physical therapy.  Brian is showing great contentment during this trial.  Let us continue to pray for his healing and comfort after this surgery.  Also, praise God that Brian's kidneys continue to slowly but steadily improve.

Brian Kelso Update

Just received this update from GCA:

Brian is doing quite well, his kidneys are slowly starting to work again.  He'll have surgery today on his feet. Only during surgery will the surgeon know the extent of what has to be done. They will remove the dead skin and hope that there is good skin underneath. He will lose some toes but is very content with whatever the end result.  Brian's faith is strong through all of this, and it has affected all those around him: nurses, staff, dr's, friends and family.

Brian Kelso Update

Brian is currently doing OK.  He has been sick to his stomach somewhat from all the medication (very constipated).  Although the Dr. is very hopeful his kidneys will come back they still are not working.  We may know soon whether they have to amputate some of his feet/toes as a result of the gangrene.  Keep praying for Brian!

60 Minutes Clip on Haiti with Pastor Moise Vaval

This was a 60 minutes clip that aired last March and was previously posted. I've re-posted it since I refer to Pastor Moise Vaval's story in my sermon today.  If you want to listen to the message, it will be posted here: http://gracepca.com/index.php/sermons/ .  The message is entitled, "Our Prevailing Triumph and the Life of Service".

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Brian Kelso Continues to Need Our Prayers

Brian will remain in the ICU for awhile, but the docs think he will recover full organ function.  However, he has devloped gangrene in his feet.  He has already lost a toe and there is a possibility that he might lose his right foot. His attitude is great but he can still use our prayers.

Brian Kelso Update

Brian is doing well. He slept through the night and his breathing is normal. It has been 24 hours since Brian received his last pain meds.  His platelet levels are improving up from 40,000 to over 90,000.  Brian thanks everybody for all their help and prayers.  

Kelso Update, ... Good News

Brian has finally started to show significant improvement.  His platelet count is at 40,000 and since he hasn't had any recent transfusions, the physicians are confident that Brian's body is once again producing and retaining platelets.  Brian is starting to eat again.  He still has the feeding tube, but if he continues to eat, they will remove it.  Swelling is going down and Brian's liver function is improving.

Brian Kelso and Kim Rodriguez Updates

Brian Kelso is currently receiving nutrients from a feeding tube and is not getting worse.  But he is also not seeing improvement either.  Brian continues to need our prayers for progress and improvement.  Test results came back negative on Dengue fever, so Brian is primarily battling malaria at this point.

Kim Rodriguez was released from the hospital without any indication of heart problems (praise God).  The issue seems to be neuro-muscular at this point.  Keep praying for Kim as well.

Brian Kelso Update

Brian's malaria count is 0.01, the lowest it's been. While that is a source of great hope, the doctors are still greatly concerned for his overall health and recovery. Even though the disease seems to be in decline, it has had a week to wreck havoc on Brian’s organs. Brian remains in critical condition. Even though his malaria count is down, he has not made any further improvement, so we need to continue in fervent prayer.  Also remember to pray for Brian's wife Barbara and sons Caleb and Josh who are undergoing tremendous stress right now.

Pray for Great Commission Alliance

Brian Kelso remains stable and will continue on dialysis today.  Also, this morning Kim Rodriguez, the wife of GCA’s Administrator Leo Rodriguez, was taken to the hospital by ambulance with chest pains.  Please keep the entire organization in your prayers. Our friends at GCA are currently undergoing a time of severe testing. Our Sovereign King will continue to uphold and sustain His people, but they need our prayers.

Brian Kelso Update

Bryan's fever is not getting any worse, which is good news.  They had to put him on dialysis earlier today to help his kidney function.  Keep praying. 

Update on Brian Kelso Today, Keep Praying!

Brian’s fever broke last night. He still isn’t out of the woods, but for the first time since he was admitted he isn’t getting worse.  Keep praying.
  

Please Pray for Brian Kelso!

On Monday, Brian Kelso, Great Commission Alliance's executive director and the pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Fort Lauderdale, was hospitalized in Miami with Dengue Fever, Malaria and Pneumonia.  The next 24-48 hours are critical. The elders at Christ Cov are assembling the congregation tomorrow (Sept. 2nd) at 6pm Nebraska time to pray for Brian, his wife, Barbara, and his sons Caleb and Josh.  Please take a few moments now and over the next few days to pray for Brian and his family.

"Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."  -James 5:14
  

Trey Summerlin Back!

Trey Summerlin is back in town after spending the summer in Haiti.  Trey just got back last Friday night.  We're looking forward hearing updates.  It sounds like a lot of ministry projects are moving forward at the site in Mirebalais.

The Reforestation of Haiti

The planting of trees and the training up of the Haitian people in environmental stewardship is a big step towards bringing stability to Haiti.  "Reforestation training" is something the Lord can use.

Here's a recent Newsweek article on much of the problem and an opportunity for involvement here in Nebraska:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/16/a-tree-grows-in-haiti.html

http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/donation/nature2010.php

If evangelicals reading this are skeptical, I ask these questions: 1) is this the world the Lord made? 2) has the futility of this world come about because of human sin? 3) is the promise of the Gospel that sin has been put away (and is being put away) in Christ? and 4) doesn't God's creation await redemption in the same way as believers (Romans 8:20,21)?

If you answer "yes" to the four questions, then pray for success of initiatives like these.  While they may not be the "final answer," there is value to exploring questions regarding how Haitians might grow in their understanding of environmental stewardship.

Blessings,

Mike

Summerlins

Gene and his wife Terri are in Mirebalais this week. Their son Trey has been there since early June. Gene has been to Haiti multiple times. This is Terri's first trip. Pray for them. Also, Gene is visiting with the Partners in Health Haiti director today. PiH has been very helpful in giving us input and insight as we put together plans to build our community health clinic in Mirebalais.

Here are some pictures from Gene's fb page:

Pictures of Trey Summerlin in Haiti

Trey loving on the Haitians and leading an American group.

Don't Forget Haiti

Six months is a long time in our sound-bite, media-clip, reality-show-lovin', sensational-driven culture.  I have one simple message today: don't forget Haiti.  Her problems today are as great as ever.  See the following:

Six Months After Quake, Haiti Still Suffers (CNN)
Haitian Orphans Have Little but One Another (NY Times)
Haiti's Camps of Despair (Montreal Gazette)

At Grace Chapel, we are focusing in on building a medical clinic in Mirebalais:

http://www.gcanet.org/update/clinic/update1.html

We invite you to get involved with the building and the furnishing of the clinic.  If you have questions about the project, contact Gene Summerlin at gene@osolaw.com or me at mike@gracepca.com.

Blessings,

Mike

Building a Medical Clinic in Mirebalais

At Grace Chapel, we are focusing in on building a medical clinic in Mirebalais:

http://www.gcanet.org/update/clinic/update1.html

We invite you to get involved with the building and the furnishing of the clinic.  If you have questions about the project, contact Gene Summerlin at gene@osolaw.com or me at mike@gracepca.com.

Blessings,

Mike

Update on Michelle! Hallelujah!

Some of you might remember a little girl we met in Haiti back in February. Her name was Michelle and she had a fibrous tumor. Here's my blog entry from our encounter:

http://hsumike.blogspot.com/2010/02/michelle.html

Our ministry partners had not been able to locate Michelle until recently but I just received this report from Gene Summerlin:

"Just wanted to let you know that the girl with the abdominal tumor we saw by the dam has been treated and fully recovered.  The pastor got in touch with Marcel last month and GCA got her to a hospital for surgery.  She is home and doing fine!"

Hallelujah! Thank you to all who prayed for Michelle!

June 18th Update from Trey Summerlin

I received this e-mail yesterday from Trey who is currently living at the Guest House in Mirebalais:


Hey man, I'm doing really well. Frank's keeping me pretty busy, I've mostly been helping with medical teams that have come down and helping a Haitian guy Ricarto around the guest house. It's really beautiful; you won't believe it when you see it. I can't figure out how to send pictures on this thing but they're all on my facebook under mobile Uploads. I've been on dental for the past couple of days. Today the doctors from Cross Bridge saw more than 460 people not counting dental. It's been pretty awesome so far. We didn't get back till pretty late so I'm a little tired. I think I'm gonna head to bed. God bless, brother, say hey to Chris and Ben for me.