Foret des Pins - God Calling Me
Today’s blog is written by Meredith Myers, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who has experience serving in medical missions in developing countries. We are thankful for friends like Meredith who share AHA’s vision for improved healthcare in Haiti and know that you will enjoy reading about her experiences.
I went to Haiti for the first time on medical mission over 5 years ago now. The people and country of Haiti had been in my heart for some time - knowing the conditions of extreme poverty and the very limited availability for children and families to find affordable and accessible medical care. As an experienced Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I was searching for an organization that could use my specific skill set. I ended up leading a very small team for a 10 day trip in which we spent the majority of our time serving at a Port au Prince missionary led preschool, running a Pediatric Health Clinic. The missionaries there, hooked us up with some friends who were just starting a school in the mountains and who knew a local health clinic who may also benefit from a few days of our service.
We drove out of Port and slowly and methodically up the mountains to Foret De Pins and with every passing mile, I could feel God speaking to me. I knew this place was special, even before I arrived. We spent a few nights with some fast friends there- did a “ front porch” clinic for some local children; served two days at an established clinic in a nearby village, and fell in love with the people and place of Foret. Nestled near the Dominican Republic border, high in the mountains, the views were beautiful, the air was cooler and crisp, the people were in such need and so appreciative of whatever help we could provide. I knew I wanted to return, and soon. Just at that time, the health clinic in the village of Foret was being developed and perhaps even had a small presence- though I had not met any of the people serving there.
When I came back the next year, they were up and running and I brought my young adult son along with me, who just happens to speak Haitian Creole quite well, as my interpreter. We served for a week, getting to know the providers, the clinic staff, the beautiful people of the village, seeing each day’s pediatric patients and helping with the adult patients ( somewhat out of my comfort zone). I could feel God’s presence there- and I knew that God wanted me there, in that exact time with these exact people. And for good reason!
Access Health Alliance ( as they are now named) has grown and developed since then with the prayers and support of so many. The clinic provides a well stocked pharmacy, and now two providers to manage each day’s patients who have come from very nearby or even by long day’s journey by foot or donkey to seek care. There is a Nutrition/ Feeding clinic as well which provides management for children with mild to moderate malnutrition. Importantly, the clinic provides vaccines for children as well as prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care for mothers and babies. The impact is palpable, as more and more people are able to get care for their injuries, their illnesses both acute and even some chronic, and their emergency needs.
I returned again for a 10 day visit a few years ago and brought my son again and my husband ( he a former Air Force EMT/Paramedic ). It’s great to spend time with Daniel and his family, with the Haitian villagers, with the Haitian staff at the clinic- and most importantly for me, with God - being His hands and feet to each patient, sharing His love in every word and action, praying with patients when they ask. The work that Access Health is doing there is so important- Foret and it’s surrounding villages are quite remote and there is extreme poverty in all directions. They are meeting an urgent need and prayerfully, as their clinic grows and can provide even more services, I will be able to continue to serve with them in whatever capacity God directs and wills. In the meantime, it is with a joyful heart that I continue to support them with monthly donations, knowing that the monies are well spent, and with prayers for each person serving there as they do this very difficult but rewarding work that the Lord called them to.
Occasional Haitian civil unrest and the recent COVID 19 pandemic have prevented my return to Foret for now. But my heart awaits a return to Foret soon, to continue to work along side this dedicated team of God’s servants.