Update message from CDMM director Gary Klein

Dear Friends and mission partners,

Though we have been making frequent trips to help those in need next door in Haiti, we have been running around constantly while here in the DR. We are doing our best to continue and expand the ongoing ministry here. So far this year we have had 10 groups visit us to work with the mission both here and in Haiti, with a total of over 100 visitors to cook for, work with and provide logistical support for. Between the work here & the trips to Haiti, we have offered over 20 medical, dental, and optometry clinics since the first of the year. CDMM has had the privilege of holding VBS's, monthly Bible college training, weekly Bible studies, and monthly youth leader's training sessions. In continuation withe the ongoing ministries, we frequently visit and often preach in all of the mission churches to uplift & encourage these growing congregations. Through these efforts, we have seen over 30 people make a decision for Christ, most of whom have continued in this faith and have been baptized in Him. Over the past three months we have been joined by a missions Intern, Yvonne Goll, who was a blessing to the ministry here and received a lot of valuable training while she was here. Currently at the school we have two full-time students, as well as the 17 part-time students in the Bible College, all of whom carry out ongoing ministry and are a vital element to the growth of the Dominican church. This spring we have been setting up a mission library for the students, preachers & church workers full of Bible reference materials and other valuable study tools. The book drive is going through July; please contact us if this is a project that you would like to get involved in.

In Haiti we have delivered over 1000 tents, and tarps, and have distributed tons of baby formula, diapers, clothing, shoes, food, and medicine to the disaster victims there. These distributions took place in the neighborhoods of Carrefour, called Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Aztec, and Joey's Hill, along with 4 hospitals, and three Orphanages. Trips over into post-earthquake Haiti find us sleeping in tents on mats or in the vehicles as the need arises, and eating mostly snack food which we bring with us. We bring in our own drinking water to avoid sickness and so as not to use up the supplies needed for those living in this disaster-stricken country. I have seen more dead bodies, protruding bones, infections, gangrene, diarrhea, and dehydration than I have ever seen in my entire professional career. God has been faithful and kept us physically, mentally & spiritually healthy, throughout the process. Our vehicles continue to perform wonderfully, and the Dominican churches are growing spiritually and in number as they continue to keep these suffering neighbors before the Lord in prayer.

This has truly been a difficult first 4 months of the year like no other. The Lord continues to provide all we need, and we see no end to the pace at which we have been working. I did take my birthday off (mostly), and it was my first day off in weeks.

Please keep the mission, our family, the Haitians, and the Dominican churches in your prayers! We will try to keep you up-dated as much as we can.

We write frequently on the mission blog:

(http://christiandominicanmedicalmission.blogspot.com),

post pictures and stories on the mission Facebook page:

(www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=84808703145&ref=ts),

and try to keep our web-site (www.cdmmissions.org) up to date as good as we can.

Please look to these sites for updates and information on the Lord's work here.

We covet your prayers and look forward to an invitation to visit and report sometime this next Spring if at all possible. Please fit us into your schedule and budget for such a visit, so we can give you a full report in person after the rush slows down a bit.

God Bless!

In Christ, and for His sake!

Gary

GARY V. KLEIN

DIRECTOR CDMM

(809) 983-6640

cdmm@hotmail.com

Secure vehicle successful in delivering aid safely

Waiting in line to cross the border.

Still loaded with supplies, the mission vehicle makes a needed pit-stop for repairs.

Anything that can be salvaged or recycled in any way is carted away by hand.

Together with the community organizers, a spot is carefully selected to distribute the aid.

Make-shift shelters are pieced together with empty bags, bed sheets, anything people can find.

Many of the new tent communities, including Jerusalem, are organized into blocks & labeled with street signs.

The medical team set up under the tarps as people lined up to be treated.

With little to protect them from the elements, children & infants are vulnerable to sickness & disease.

The community of Jerusalem was eager and grateful to get any help that we could offer.

Formula, pampers and other needed items were distributed to the mothers with infants.

Out of a pull-out awning off the side of the vehicle, we were able to safely distribute aid to those needing it most.

Many who were struggling for prior to the quake, now find staying healthy to be a difficult thing.

Under the harsh conditions the displaced are exposed to, many infants are suffering from a number of sicknesses.

Concern is a moderate word to describe the feelings of uncertianty these mothers are facing.

The clinic and distribution in the center of Jerusalem, as seen from up the hill.

Under the scorching Carrefour sun, these young mothers are glad to be approaching the front of the line.

With hopes high, these mothers must know before lining up that help is not limitless and may not reach them.

As we packed up, many lingered to see if there was nothing more we might offer them.

When we reached the top of the hill in the neighborhood of "Jerusalem," it was immediately obvious to us that this was the prime location to distribute the much needed aid which we had brought. But yes, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning.

After a long evening of last minute preparations, our team of 9 (6 brothers & sisters from the D.C. area, mission director Gary Klein, Hempson Lindor, a preacher & Haitian national and myself) Departed for Haiti to deliver baby formula, pampers, vitamins, and parasite meds, as well as other medical assistance. Traveling through the night, we safely crossed the border in the early morning. Throughout the night's drive, we had stopped every few miles to add fluid to the leaking clutch assembly, which despite having been "fixed" a couple of days prior to the trip, persisted in leaking fluid and loosing it's prime. Upon arrival in Port-au-Prince, we stopped at a reputable repair center to have the problem resolved. A result of January's earthquake, the dealer's showroom, waiting area, and repair center had lost an interior wall and had been joined into one large, hot, non-air-conditioned room. If it seemed a miracle that the shop was even open, the fact that they happened to have the needed seal and were able to resolve the issue in just a couple hours was even more astounding. It truly must have been a God-thing.

With mechanical problems resolved, we continued on across the wreckage that was the capital city of Port-au-Prince and into Carrefour. Upon arrival in Carrefour, after a quick lunch, we set ourselves about the task for which we had come. With the hot Caribbean sun still high in the sky, we hiked up the hill to the community leadership office. All along the way we were greeted by smiles & waves, longing stares from hungry eyes, and pleas in french creole for tents, tarps, food, or any kind of help we could offer. The neighborhood leaders were more than a little glad to see us return to make good on our offer to help their community. The last time we had attempted a distribution in this area, even with the assistance and security of several Haitian police officers, we were surrounded, about mobbed, and chased on foot and moped for miles. This is a very needy & desperate crowd. Even two and a half months after the quake, as foreign governments and international aid agencies are starting to make things look like they are coming together in the areas surrounding the airport, it is clear as day that the people of "Jerusalem" have seen very little if any of the help coming in. The hills of Jerusalem, Aztec & "Joey's hill" are dotted in and out with tarps, makeshift shelters, and a few tents here and there. These temporary residences are scattered amongst and sometimes even on top of the crumbling rubble that was once home to so many. While there were a few tents and tarps here & there, most people are living in multi-colored, makeshift shelters spliced together with bedsheets, curtains, old clothes, tin, empty rice sacks… anything the people can find to form some kind of shelter over their heads, no matter how permeable. As we approached the top of the hill in the neighborhood of "Jerusalem," it was immediately obvious to us that this was the prime location to distribute the much needed aid which we had brought. Rather then thinning, the population density seemed to thicken toward the top of the hill. Here, instead of makeshift shelters being scattered sparsely throughout the concrete rubble, there were bits of rubble scattered sparsely amidst the densely populated, very destitute yet organized plots. these hillsides are filled with rag-tag, pieced together shelters, broken down into blocks and marked with hand written address markers and street signs. This community was born out of the recent series of quakes and made-up of people displaced from their homes in the lower hillsides below it. Without outside aid or materials needed to build themselves adequate shelter from the imminent rains, winds & flash-floods that the area is prone to, this community has organized itself. They are doing their best to ready themselves for the long months and even years that it will take them to move on from this disaster.

Early the next morning, accompanied by 3 of the community organizers, we were able to drive to the top of the hill in Jerusalem, set up the distribution under an awning attached to the off-road vehicle we are using for this purpose, and distribute the meds and supplies as we treated the sick for their illnesses. With the harsh conditions that people are forced to live under, the health problems are only likely to worsen. Infants do not have the antibodies to ward off illnesses that are common under these conditions and this aid undoubtedly came none too soon for some of these struggling babies and mothers. Please continue to pray that these people will find a solution to both their spiritual and physical needs in this time of turmoil and uncertainty. Our short distribution was cut 20 minutes shorter then expected due to the fact that we had run out of medicines and things to give. Praise the Lord for a secure vehicle which has enabled us to deliver these supplies without any incidents. After packing up, we headed home, blessed with a safe visit, minimal trouble, and the privilege to help those in need, but with a pressing desire to be able to return soon to help those still struggling for existence.

Haiti trip, update

Many people have re-located to the countryside to live with family in this time of caos & uncertainty

Tents in Haiti

A typical van in Port-au-Prince

Unsure of what tomorrow holds, the shelter of a tent will hold many over as they sort things out.

Dear friends of CDMM,
We have completed another trip to Haiti with relief supplies for the neighborhoods in Carrefour, Bethlehem, and Aztec.
This trip was made in the new (to us) Defender. With the full length roof rack and lots of storage room inside the vehicle we were able to get all of the relief supplies to the distribution site safely. We were escorted by the local authorities from these neighborhoods and 8 Haitian policeman that helped keep the order.
As before we encountered a huge number of people in line with tickets when we got there, and a lot more trying to get a ticket. The crowds are so aggressive that the police had to work real hard to keep the line under control and allow only a few people with tickets in the schoolyard where we were set-up for distribution of Tents, shampoo, baby formula, soap and a few other things. This event went extremely well! When we were at Aztec the last time it was extremely difficult and actually dangerous even with 4 local armed policemen. It was much better this time as we went well prepared with our donations well contained, enough police, and local organized govt. as well as a good location to distribute the supplies from. We were warned before going that a van full of Catholic Nuns went to Aztec a few days before to distribute food with some police and the people were so wild and desperate that the windshield of their van was broken, and several of the Nuns were roughed-up in the process of giving their supplies out.
Determined to not repeat this fiasco we went well prepared to a very secure location.
The main challenge was in the local traffic which seems to be getting worse instead of better...long lines, lots of big trucks full of shattered buildings and twisted rebar sticking-out everywhere...dropping huge pieces of broken buildings all over the place as they drive down the road. It is getting farther away where they have to go to dump their loads as there is so much broken material they are having a hard time finding a place to put it all.
Another concern is the border-crossing. There have reportedly been a lot of abuses going on in the weeks of open border from both directions...drugs coming into the Dominican by the truckloads being disguised as relief trucks returning, all kinds of commercial goods going into Haiti untaxed being sold for huge profit in Haiti, trafficking of people and children etc. as a result both nations have decided to close the border and get tough on taxing everything and checking every vehicle that goes through...this has made the line of vehicles waiting to cross in both directions a real nightmare reportedly. We had a relatively easy time crossing this time but that is changing according to folks crossing in the past few days. The taxing of relief supplies is probably the worst change...it is hard to feel good about paying tax on supplies you are bringing in just to give away...with these changes, and the shift in Disaster relief to Chile the great concern we have is for the health and well-being of the Haitian people most effected by the disaster...the Government seems to be getting the international help it is needing to re-build but the people on the street are still homeless, starving, and without employment...as the rainy season is beginning we are seeing a serious increase of disease, Malaria, Dengue, Cholera, Typhoid, Fevers and Diarrhea becoming a real problem.
Please keep these people in your prayers, and our mission team as well as we plan to keep making these relief supply trips as long as we have supplies to bring them that they critically need.
God Bless you and thank you for all your help in this effort!
In Christ, and for His sake!
Gary

GARY V. KLEIN

DIRECTOR CDMM

(809) 983-6640

Dental Clinics this past week in Dom. Rep... Next Haiti trip coming up on the 8th of March.

Praying in the day before starting dental work in San Nicolas.

The crowd was anxious to be cared for.

Smile!

His hands

Blessed to bless

With the sanctuary full of dentists, our team was preaching outside to those waiting to be treated.

teeth cleaning

Sharing Christ's love through dentistry

Armed & ready

tools of the trade

Looking good

Tooth extractions were a big part of the task.

Making friends

Sharing the Gospel is always a priority

changing suspension parts

Eager to try out his new toothpaste

Shade tree dentist

Tough love

teaching Bible school

Taking a break after a day of hard work.

What a privledge to see the fruit of our labor.

Dear friends,

Grace & Peace.

The Lord is doing great things here, both in the on-going work in the Dominican Republic, and in the Relief work going over to Haiti.

With a dental team of 24 here and a full schedule of clinics this week here at home in the D.R., the disaster in Haiti and what we must do in response remains on our hearts and minds. We are counting the days till we can return to deliver more aid in the form of tents, medicine & food to the many still desperately needing shelter in Carrefour.

This past Saturday, we at CDMM welcomed a team lead by several alumni of the University of Louisville school of Dentistry. These dentist, now working in their fields, had first come to visit and work with us while they were in school as dental students. This ream was also joined by Ariel Baez (Christy's husband & Gary & Cindy's son in law). To start the week with a little fun and fellowship, on Sunday we held a baseball clinic in the local ball field in Cambita. Over 100 young men came out to receive training on their throwing, batting and catching. With ball gloves given to many and the Gospel presented to all, these boys were encouraged in their passion for the sport and challenged to pursue a fuller life in Christ.

The week from Monday on out found us at a different location every day, providing people with much needed cleanings, tooth extractions, oral surgeries and tooth restorations. Providing some with brighter smiles, removing dangerous and painful teeth that have become no longer useful, and restoring those that could be fixed. As always, the greatest work was that done by the Holy Spirit on people's hearts as the love and Gospel of Christ was shared. With one day remaining, we have already witnessed seven decisions to follow Christ, and treated over 700 for their various dental issues. Yesterday, (Friday, Feb. 26th), concluded the dental clinics for a total of 5 clinics in 5 different areas. Praise God for the work done for His glory, and please pray that the seeds sown by this outreach will continue to grow into fruition as the people continue to witness Christ's love demonstrated and here His word preached.

As another special element of this outreach team, several of the visiting dentists brought their fathers who are in the construction trade along on the trip with them. While here, they were very helpful with several projects including replacing non-working light fixtures, and replacing worn vehicle parts. It is wonderful to see what God can accomplish through people that offer what the have been blessed with to be used by Him.

The outreach and relief distribution efforts in Haiti will continue on March 8th when we return to Carrefour to deliver more tents and aid to people still in need of shelter there. Please pray for safety in this effort and that the light and love of Christ will shine through us into the darkness.

God bless,

David Klein

Missionary, Dominican Republic