I feel honored and blessed to be one of 50 chiropractors, students and lay people who traveled to Ouanaminthe, Haiti to bring chiropractic care to those in need. We traveled during the Crossroads vacation – the week of December 27th. The week-long mission trip began in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (because flights, luggage and travel are safer there than in Port-au-Prince, Haiti). There we boarded two buses loaded with chiropractors and portable chiropractic tables and supplies and traveled the 3.5 hours through the countryside to cross the Haitian border at a bridge which was heavily guarded and had multiple steel gates. We did the “official” paperwork to leave the D.R. and enter into Haiti, but we also had to BRIBE armed men with cash at each gate. It was like a scene out of a movie!
Over the next five days our chiropractic team adjusted children and adults in orphanages, villages and churches. We also provided supplies, toys, vitamins, clothing and shoes to the people in need. On New Year’s Eve the chiropractors hosted a party at our mission house for the 21 orphans of the Mission Life International orphanage. There was music, dancing and a feast of popcorn and goat!
The availability of chiropractic care in the United States might be taken for granted, but in Haiti there are no chiropractors, except for those volunteering as part of a mission organization. I was accompanied by Dr. John (who was able to oversee the chiropractic students and provide his Cranial Sacral Therapy to the Haitian people) along with our daughters Brooke and Emilee. We traveled as part of the Mission Life International’s 67th mission trip to Haiti. Many of the people we saw had been adjusted by the previous chiropractic groups who have been visiting since 2010. Others were receiving their first ever chiropractic adjustments! It was amazing to see the people flock to the chiropractic tables and circle around, some waiting hours for their turn to be adjusted.
In addition to providing chiropractic care and cranial-sacral therapy, we brought sporting goods, toys and cash donations to the two Haitian orphanages. Emilee, age 12, had enlisted the help of the Rundlett Middle School Student Ambassadors to sell raffle tickets to raise money for the children prior to the trip. Our older daughter Brooke along with sister Emilee also hosted a fundraiser at Orange Leaf to raise funds for the project. Through their efforts, over $350 in balls, bats, mitts and other sporting equipment were given to children in Haiti. We were thrilled that the cash donation was large enough to cover the cost of feeding one child for over a year!
The trip brought about an overwhelming amount of varied emotions. It was shocking to see the poverty. Such sad living conditions: no running water, no electricity, dirt floors, no shoes, and babies/toddlers had no bottoms on or diapers. Yet it was heartwarming to see the happiness and gratitude of the people we visited. In the end it was difficult to leave, we wanted to stay and give more of our time, hands and resources. (Just a little American money can buy so much there.) We will continue to donate to the orphanage through Mission Life International and hope to return again next year. Until then, let me thank our generous practice members, as well as the Rundlett Middle School Student Ambassadors and the community for supporting this year’s mission!
In love and health,
Dr Stephanie