Container Clinic Headed for Haiti!

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Future site of the container hospital in Haiti.

The 3-container hospital we’ve been building for Haiti is nearly ready to ship! This hospital will be operated by Aslan Youth Ministries, an organization working in the north-east of Haiti, within a mile of the border with the Dominican Republic.

Aslan Youth Ministries sought us out because our container hospital is ideal for the area they will be working in. With a fault line running right under where they work, steel shipping containers are much safer than a concrete structure.

We were able to work with them to optimize the design for their needs. One of the problems they told us about was the potential for traffic jams – because people aren’t used to regularly receiving medical care, teams are swamped with patients when they come. Even patients who aren’t really sick come to see the doctor, hoping to receive medicine that might help the next time they or their family members get sick.

To deal with this, Aslan Youth Ministries has developed a color-coding triage system for patients: red, yellow, or green. “Green” patients don’t really need to see the doctor, so these patients will simply receive a small medical kit containing items like Tylenol and Pepto-Bismol – which are too costly for most Haitians to keep on hand. In fact, they’ll often buy just 1 or 2 Tylenol at a time, because it is too expensive for them to buy an entire bottle.

To help avoid traffic jams of these patients, we installed an exterior window into the pharmacy of the hospital, enabling “green” patients to come get their medicine without disrupting the flow of patients inside.

Although the container hospital will be staffed by visiting medical teams to begin with, in the future, it will be staffed by Haitian doctors. We’re considering partnering with them to send a medical team this coming winter. If you’re interested in joining us on this trip or on our August 2011 trip to Haiti, send an email to info@hospitalsofhope.org or give us a call at 316.262.0964.

Chapter Bolivia

In the time I was in Bolivia, my life was changed. But it was not because Bolivia was a place of revelation for me. Nor was it because those three weeks were when I saw God work the most in my short twenty-two years. God was working in me before then and has been working in me since. It seems that no matter where I am, God molds my life so that I can live in His grace more each day.

The greatest lesson I learned from Bolivia was of Unity in the Spirit. No matter what church you go to or what language you speak, if you profess Christ and rely on Him for everything, we are siblings in Christ.

Perhaps the second greatest lesson I learned was what it means to have childlike faith, dependence on God for everything. Some days, it is difficult to see God at work. I want the world to change and to be inspired by God, and, when I do not see the change even in myself, I wonder if God works at all. But He provides even my faith by His grace. By relying on God, even for the motivation to desire Him, I have found my greatest strength lies not within myself, but in the grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Amidst times of stress and weakness, the feeling of God’s closeness wanes, but faith is conviction without sight, assurance without foreknowledge. I remember that God has pulled me through and I laugh with joy.

You do not need to leave America to know God is real. You do not need to have the perfect plan to move forward with your life. All you need is to pursue righteousness. Live based on what you think is best at the time and be open to God’s Word for everything. And if He gives you opportunity to go, you should go. But trust that God will change your life no matter where you go.

~Scott Ho, Bolivia volunteer

2011 Servant Awards

Hospitals of Hope was chosen as one of three Grand Prize winners at the Wichita Servant Christian Community Foundation's 2011 Servant Awards last night. Check out this great video put together for the awards by 5ive Stones Creative!

Thanks to the Servant Christian Community Foundation for choosing us for this award, as well as to all of you who make what we do possible!