Today was a tearjerker for many. But today I will not be the one to tell you, but my team instead. You will hear from many whose lives were transformed. However I will tell you the stats, and that was total for this week being 337 patients, more than 100 people receiving Christ, and 22 healings. These team members who are writing below have wanted to get their heart out for you to see. So how can you have your heart set afire? Come out with us and join us on the mission field and TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE!
Vilma Vega, M.D., Sarasota, FL
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This has been my first mission trip and I can’t wait for my next one. The last three days have been truly life-changing. I worked in triage and the Haitians we saw were so desperate for medical care.
I started off my day with some praise and worship this morning. “Now’s the time for us to rise and carry hope and let love shine and show this world that mercy is alive.” This song was so appropriate for our mission.
Today, we went to the Dream Center site. These people are the poorest of the poor. The UN soldiers were called in to provide some order in the midst of the desperation and mass chaos. We were able to distribute bags of rice and beans and we loaded up a school bus full of patients and provided them with medical care back at our medical base.
My heart aches for the people here. The kids just want to be touched and hugged. When you smile at them, their faces just light up. We take so many things for granted. These people are no different than you and I. I encourage you to go out in the mission field. Your life will be changed.
Amy Swedberg, Sarasota, FL
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I have always had a heart for missions but this is actually my first time in the mission field. It’s been an amazing time. I was going with Caring4Haiti but since I’m a nurse I was nabbed to work with the Hearts Afire medical team.
We stayed at a hotel in The Dominican Republic. I was quite overwhelmed when I walked across the border and God’s heart of compassion for the people of Haiti came upon me and I began to weep for the needs of the people. It was very unexpected.
It was quite a journey to get there but we finally got to work. I assisted with triage. We had so many people in need of just basic care and I find it humbling to see anywhere between 50-150 people waiting for hours on end just to be seen. They were so grateful for the love and prayers they received, as well as the care. It was a bit of a challenge speaking through an interpreter, but everyone was so patient with the process.
We saw a woman who was brought in by her grandmother with inability to move her hips enough to be able to separate her legs and walk. It was as though her legs were glued together from the hips to her knees and her right leg was bent out to the side from the knee down. We prayed for her and the initial experience was that her right lower leg became straight. We continued to pray and believe that this was just the beginning of her miraculous healing.
I’m so grateful that I’ve been a part of an awesome work of God in such a needy place. I believe in the goodness of God and trust we have planted some very fruitful seed this week. To God be all the glory.
Dina M. Sine, RN/MS, Ret US Army nurse, San Antonio, TX
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Humbled. Humbled is the first word that comes to mind when I think of the things I have experienced in the past few days, seeing rare diseases, incurable diseases, open wounds and many others things that as a sophomore in college and an aspiring physician, I wouldn’t even see in med school or in America.
God has been more than just a spirit but a presence. He has been with me through every single step. He provided the strength to carry on even when I thought I could go no more. My, how good is our God. He covers and has lavished us with many blessings.
At the beginning, upon finding out I would be blessed enough to work on the AMAZING medical team, I prayed that He would keep everyone safe from disease and bites. He then reminded me that we have the blood of Christ. Not once have I had a second thought. God is so good.
Elizabeth Wilder, pre-medical student, South Georgia College, Covenant Christian, Douglas, GA
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This is my first medical mission trip – the first of which will be many. I was called by God to go on this trip. Now I know why. To see all these Haitian people existing day to day, just to stay alive. I was so humbled by their cheerful spirit and loving attitude. Here in one of the seas of impoverishment, I have seen so many happy people who really have nothing. Once you experience this, you will never complain about your situation again.
Americans have to be some of the most blessed people on Earth. We have so much, and still complain. The people we saw down here – young and old – had a cheerful spirit. Remember that, the next time you want to complain about anything. This has been a life-changing experience.
Dan Kassicieh, D.O., neurologist, Hearts Afire medical team, Haiti 2012
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Wow, the mission field is the place to be. This was my first mission trip and it was amazing. I am forever blessed and changed by this experience. God had His hands in Haiti and I was honored to be a part of this. Coming from a life of crime, sin, and recklessness, to being saved and on the mission field was truly a blessing. One thing that moved my heart was leading people to Jesus. I know what Salvation did for me, so I was pleased to introduce people to the Hope of Glory, Jesus Christ.
Elyse DeLoach, correctional tech (substance abuse), St. Petersburg, FL
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Haiti has been an incredible and unique experience. I got a firsthand look on rare diseases and I was gratefully given the opportunity to assist the physicians and help with the pharmacy in the clinic. The medical staff had so much patience with me because I was surely not adequate to assume those positions. But thanks to God, this trip has immensely encouraged and confirmed his calling for me in this field. Most importantly it has opened my heart to the love of God for this nation.
Honestly, anger and devastation were my first reactions to the condition of the people. Yet God’s spirit was moving every day in the hearts of our team and the hearts of the poor, to have compassion and love for them, and them for us. I’ve learned that my drive for medicine can only be fueled by the spirit of God, for it is by Him that he has laid this passion in my life for His glory alone. I now go forth on the pre-med journey with a renewed passion to serve my Lord and his people.
Monica Macahuachi, pre-medical student, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
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First and foremost, I want to thank God for allowing me to be a servant on this trip. Being here this week has been an awakening to the call on my life of serving. As 1 Cor: 9:19 says, “For though I am free, I become a servant to all, for I can win more” (for Christ). My passion is to lead people to Christ and now the Lord’s allowing me to use my profession to help me do so. It is just awesome and amazing.
I enjoyed the children, and was excited by what the day brought, and the fellowship of our missions team. Seeing Danita’s place firsthand really inspired and helped confirm the calling on my life. A $500,000 hospital showing that through Christ, all things are possible.
One patient touched my heart the most. The mother of one baby being denied and refused care due to lack of funds, to get a colostomy reversal surgery done. The surgery cost about 1000 gudes (roughly $125 US). To think $125 can cover a colostomy reversal surgery here in Haiti and it would cost $20,000 dollars in the USA easily. Our dollars in America can go long ways with the help of God.
As medical school is now (confirmed) and ahead of me, I’m praying that God will get me through it, strengthen me, and allow the passion of what took place in my heart this week to continue to burn and flow until I’m here as an MD in this mission field. Thank you, Dr. Vega and Hearts Afire, for your help getting me connected.
DJ Anneaud, ICU Nurse-BSN, pre-med, Tampa, FL
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This is part of Hearts Afire Dream Team. Now you’ve gotten a more personal touch. Each one of these individuals, plus more, transformed my life. They are a testimony to why I continue to run the race. This IS Hearts Afire!
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 NKJV)
You will hear from more tomorrow. God bless everyone and keep your HEART AFIRE!
Vilma Vega, M.D.
Cofounder, Hearts Afire
https://heartsafire.flywheelstaging.com
