As the skies above us darken with the approaching tropical storm Tomas, new cholera cases appear in Cap Haitien and the north of Haiti. We are in the midst of helping the Haitian Department of Health secure medical supplies for northern communities as we also are trying to treat the sickest and educate everyone we meet. It is more than a "three-ring circus" of ministry these days!

Lead, Kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me."

Yesterday, I was called early to the Ebenezer Community Health Center to help with 10 year old Willy who was near death from cholera dehydration. Willy is the first case of cholera the health center had received. More and more cases of cholera have been moving north. Willy had only been sick 12 hours and was severely dehydrated in shock. Their neighbor, a 22 year old young man, had died from diarrhea during the night.

Thanks to God, prayer, and the Ebenezer Clinic’s Christian medical team, who have been educated, prepared, and mobilized for this latest challenge, we were able to find a vein, start IV fluids, and in a few hours Willy's life was saved.

Willy's family and many from the community, hearing of the first cholera case in this community, came to see Willy. We did not lose the opportunity to educate all those who came by in this new disease for Haiti, cholera, its prevention, water safety methods, such as water purification by sun exposure for the poorest of the poor (www.SODIS.ch), personal hygiene, and sanitation.

Willy's family are believers in Jesus and were praising Him with grateful hearts as they took Willy home at the end of the day now hungry and asking for food, having received 3 liters of fluids, drinking oral rehydration solution without more vomiting, and the diarrhea having stopped.

On Tuesday, November 2, we received word that the Health Department, through the efforts of Missionary Flights International and Medical Ambassadors with whom we have been working closely, received 200 cots for their northern Cholera Treatment Center that accepts patients requiring IV rehydration. Without cots patients would lie on the ground, spreading cholera into the watershed.

On the prior day, again thanks to Medical Ambassadors of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Canada, and financial gifts from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and International Ministries, crucial medical supplies for use in local clinics were purchased in the Dominican Republic and brought over land to Cap Haitien. Today, November 3, we are again involved in trucking medical supplies from the Dominican Republic to Cap Haitien to assist the Haitian Ministry of Health.

Many are asking how they can be of help in this cholera challenge. Here is a list of immediate needs:

1. Pray for all of us in Haiti

2. Raise money to purchase and transport supplies already in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Donations designated for cholera relief in Haiti may be sent to one of the four partners with whom we are working:

American Baptist Churches International Ministries
PO Box 851
Valley Forge, PA
19482-0851
800-222-3872 ext.2349

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions
PO Box 101699
Atlanta, GA 30392
770-220-1624
800-352-8741

Missionary Flights International
3170 Airman's Drive
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946
772-462-2395

Medical Ambassadors of Canada Assn.
7589 Main Street
Louisbourg, NS Canada B1C 1J9
902-733-2269

3. Send any of the following supplies to Haiti:
 
•    IV fluids (Ringers Lactate is most needed)
•    oral rehydration salts, i.e. Pedialyte
•    disinfectants such as Chlorox wipes, hand soap (i.e. hotel soaps), hand sanitizer
•    rolled bandages
•    antibiotics (erythromycin and azithromycin for children; pregnant
      patients, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, tetracycline)
•    disposable non-sterile gloves

Supplies can be shipped to us either by Missionary Flights International at the address above or to our mailing address:

  Agape Flights 1369
  100 Airport Avenue
  Venice, FL 34285
  941-488-0990

For the sake of Haitian Customs please mail us a letter via Agape Air on your church’s or organization’s letterhead stating that the supplies you are shipping are intended for the medical work of the Haitian Ministry of Health,  the Medical Ambassadors of Haiti and the Haitian Baptist Convention, all organizations registered with the Haitian Government? Include also on letterhead a list of the supplies being shipped.

Please email us about shipments before you send them.  Write us at: snjames8@yahoo.com
Thank you!

We are truly together in these challenging days, and we can feel your love, your prayers, and your support for all of us.

All in Christ-God,

Steve and Nancy


Nancy B. James RN
Stephen W. James MD
Holistic Health Ministries in Haiti & the Caribbean
ABC International Ministries/CBF Global Missions
Tel 828-355-5862
Cell (US) 904-657-8816
Cell (Haiti) +509-3-774-3207
http://www.internationalministries.org/missionaries/104
http://www.thefellowship.info/james