Friday emergency flight

As I got up on Friday I was expecting a nice slow day.  Only two flights were on the flight board and I didn't have a mountain of flight requests to be scheduled.   Since I was not planning on flying I just put on an MAF t-shirt and left my official pilot shirt hanging in the closet, thus saving Julie a washing and ironing job.

Sunrise over the Cessna 207 in Port au Prince

 Probably about the same time I was leaving my house to go to the airport, Pastor Rochelin, along with his 6 year old daughter and 5 year old son, got on a motorcycle taxi to go to school.  Tragically on the way, a large truck lost its brakes and slammed into the motor cycle.  The driver was killed instantly and Pastor Rochelin along with his children sustained head injuries and broken bones.  They were taken to a local clinic run by some American missionaries.

Back in Port au Prince at the hangar I was looking forward to the weekend when my phone rang and I was informed of a possible emergency flight to Les Cayes.  It is not uncommon for people to call requesting an emergency flight only to find out they do not need it or it was not that urgent.  But as time went by and I got more details, I knew we had to make the flight.   It was decided that the children could be cared for in Cayes but Pastor Rochelin had to be flown to the hospital in Port au Prince.

Grabbing my helmet I headed to the little Cessna 207.  Our hangar guys were busy adding fuel, removing seats and securing a back board to the floor of the plane.   The past month I had been flying the larger Caravan.  Getting in the little 207 I felt like I was entering some rickety carnival ride.  "I don't remember this plane feeling so small" I thought.  No wonder everyone likes the larger Caravan...pilots and passengers!

Working my way around rain showers

Departing from Port au Prince with sunny weather and no turbulence, I was feeling pretty relaxed.  But half way to Cayes I could see dark clouds and rain directly in front of me.  The last half of the flight was spent climbing, descending, dodging and flying through holes in the clouds and rain.  Arriving in Cayes, I saw the ambulance waiting with the patient.  It was a difficult process loading Pastor Rochelin who had severe head/neck trauma and a broken leg.  His face was crushed and he had extreme difficulty in breathing.  After getting his wife strapped in the plane I prayed for them and quickly headed back to Port au Prince.   With Rochelin's labored breathing, I knew altitude would make his condition even worse.  The next 45 minutes were spent flying low along the coast trying to avoid mountains that were shrouded in clouds and dodging rain showers.  Every few minutes I would check on Madame Rochelin and her husband laying on the floor.  Each time she was either praying or singing.  We communicated with nods, looks and hand signals.  She was seated toward the back of the noisy plane and even if we yelled, it was all but impossible to understand each other.

Madam Rochelin flying back to PAP

Getting an ambulance in Haiti is more difficult than most people imagine.  Knowing this, I made several radio calls to our hangar to inquire on the status of the ambulance.  Each time I was assured it was coming.  I've learned that can mean a few minutes or hours.  Even when something does show up there is a chance it is just an old pick up truck with a broken light on top.  Arriving back in PAP I made a quick check of the patient and was relived to see his breathing had not gotten worse.  After landing, we pushed the plane into the shade of the hangar and waited for the ambulance to show up.  Thankfully it was only half an hour.  We were notified the ambulance was here but would not be allowed into the airport, so we had to carry him through the terminal.  Our hangar guys all gathered around and got him out of the plane and to the ambulance.

Our hangar guys taking pastor out of the plane

As the ambulance pulled away, I prayed again for this family and headed to the hangar.  Getting back to the plane I noticed how much blood was inside the cabin.  It was on the floor, seat belts and side panels.  I was spent and did not want to think about the carnage I was seeing in the plane.   I've been in the unfortunate circumstance of having to remove a patient that has died during the flight, but at least this time he made it alive.  As I was standing there, our hangar guys moved me to the side and told me they would clean up the plane.  Thankful for these guys that do so much of the dirty work, I walked inside the office.  I was also thankful for the many supporters that make it possible for us to minister here in Haiti.  Without MAF, the 45 minute flight would have been hours of grueling travel by road.  A trip that Pastor Rochelin would most likely not have survived.  Please pray for this national pastor and his family.  It is still not certain if he will survive the injuries but he has a much better chance now that he is in Port au Prince.

"I remember 1-12-10"

It is January 12, 2013 - three years after the nightmare that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in Haiti and brought destruction to many more.  As I think back to that life-altering event, I briefly allow my mind to run wild.  Back to the terror that half a minute brought as our house and the ground shook violently around us.  I remember the clouds of dust as buildings shook, then collapsed into powdery pieces throughout the city.  I remember the horrifying screams from the ravine and our surrounding neighborhood as human life was either crushed out immediately or slowly snuffed out if no help came in time.  I remember wave after unsettling wave of aftershocks as we, along with our neighbors, convened in the streets to check on one another.  It is hard to forget the many sleepless nights as we all sought refuge away from our homes and the walls that might fall at any moment.  Regardless of color, social status, or money, we were all in the same situation, aimlessly trying to make sense of the bewilderment around us.  Concern mounted as people tried to take stock of their needs and food supplies quickly ran low.  I remember the piles of rubble everywhere, as we drove to the non-functioning and over-run Toussaint Louverture airport days later.  I remember desperately trying to divert my children's eyes from the growing heaps of dead bodies on the side of every road.  I remember the chaos of a country in ruin and leaving my pilot husband behind, unhindered by his family, so that he could help bring hope to the hurting mess that the earthquake had left in Haiti.

It is noticeable that my body is rigid, tensed up tight as I allow myself to think, "What if it happens again?  What if I were crushed or trapped and suffering?  What if my loved ones were underneath the broken concrete and I could not get to them?  What then, how would I act Lord, what would I do?"  The feelings are all still there, three years later, if I let them surface, and for a moment I do:  panic, terror, paranoia, fear, anxiety, tears.  And then I let my Lord's comfort and love surround me and calm my anxious, racing thoughts as I take them captive for His glory.  I don't often let those feelings get the best of me.  I try to keep them reined in so they don't consume my daily life.  So instead, I choose to praise.  I remember God's presence with me those days when I needed Him most and I praise Him.  I remember His protection for my family, our house, our neighbors and coworkers and other friends and I praise Him for life.  I remember my Lord's miraculous provisions time after time, as we dealt with death, and loss, and destruction and I thank Him for His comfort amidst tumultuous times.  I remember, I mourn, I reflect, I accept, I find peace, I praise, and I go forth confident in a God who is always with me.  I say with the Psalmist David, "I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.  Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.  Psalm 145:1, 2, 3, 18, 21.