Dear Friends in Christ,  

We are pleased to send you highlights from the reports of two recent healthcare missions to Covenant Hospital. The action ministry of short-term mission teams is one of the pillars of purpose for our work together at this remote health facility in the poorest region of rural Haiti.   

Covenant Hospital’s program and guesthouse provide opportunities not only for health professionals to serve through treatment and prevention of illness, but also for any others who feel called to assist the hospital to maintain and improve its facilities, vehicles, health education, and Christian outreach to the community.

Besides the compassion and healing provided to those in need, a major positive effect of visiting teams is to enhance the overall quality of care provided by the hospital and its staff, and to strengthen and reinforce Covenant Hospital as a center of treatment, health education, and witness for Jesus Christ among the people of the Haitian countryside. 

Those called to journey to this ministry of outreach in Haiti invariably find great personal growth in worship and spirit even as they serve others in need, and are able to share and effectively to lead spiritual growth and engagement in mission for their own congregations back home.

Dr. Sylvia Campbell, surgeon from Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa, has led teams to Covenant Hospital for ten years.  She writes of her March, 2007 mission:  “During our week in Mombin Crochu, 208 patients were seen by Dr. Gayle in the Medical Clinic, in addition to the patients seen by Dr. Joanne Vincent.  A total of 30 surgery cases were performed in the Operating Room.  The hospital continues to improve each time we visit from an organizational standpoint.

Dr. Joanne Vincent is doing an excellent job, in spite of many difficulties, in delivering care to these desperately poor people.

The physical plant is in great need of repair and maintenance, and I would recommend that several groups be encouraged to go to the hospital to try and teach the personnel how to do this, as well as to fix the existing problems with the buildings.  Painting, structural repair and upkeep are necessary or the buildings will continue to deteriorate.”

Dr. Chuck Yancey, eye surgeon from Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, MN, recently returned from a visit during which he performed the first cataract surgery at Covenant Hospital, restoring eyesight for several of the villagers.  Dr. Yancey and his team did eye exams, distributed 200 pairs of eyeglasses, and were able to repair and refurbish the hospital laboratory equipment to working capacity.  This team also participated in fellowship activities within the community, as they responded to the challenge of volleyball games with a couple of the local teams in Mombin Crochu as a way of sharing our unity in Christ. 

Please continue to consider teams ministry to Haiti as part of your congregation’s outreach, and many thanks for your valuable contributions and your prayers for Christ’s continued work at Covenant Hospital.