Sunday 1/24/10: For to Him, all are alive.

My soul sings. That is the best way to describe how I feel. I know in my heart, God has created me to serve His people (particularly in 3rd world nations) through my medical giftings. I am humbled and so thankful. Every patient I interact with blesses me more than I bless them, and the Haitians proved this statement over and over.

Our medical team met at the private airport hangar Sunday morning. Our team was comprised of: 5 orthopedic surgeons, 1 general surgeon, 1 family physician, 1 ER doctor, 1 internal medicine doctor, 3 anesthesiologists, 2 surgical assistants, and 3 nurses (myself included). Our team members were from Austin and Dallas. I was thankful the two other nurses are my dear friends: Lindsey Griffin and Jenny Husband. God is so good like that :) After a quick debrief led by Joel Hurt (an orthopedic surgeon and coordinator of our team), we loaded into two small jets (once belonging to Bernie Madoff...God has a funny sense of humor). My heart was full. I simply could not believe within 3 hours, we would be landing in Port-au-Prince. He had moved so quickly to provide this trip on such short notice, and simply removed barrier after barrier to make a level path. I was so overwhelmed by His provision.

Lindsey, Jenny, and I sat in the back, as we discussed possible scenarios. None of the team members honestly had a clear picture of what to expect, so we began roughly organizing our plans to the best of our ability. Once we'd settled logistics, we began reading scripture out loud. As we did, the three of us decided what better way to put on our spiritual armor than to write His truth on our arms...so we did. We wrote scripture on our arms to encourage one another, ourselves, and our future patients (Unfortunately, the minute we landed the high humidity quickly removed the scripture, but we still were encouraged during the plane ride ;) ). As our plane descended into Port-au-Prince the plane gradually grew silent, as all eyes peered out the windows. Lindsey, Jenny, and I quickly huddled together and prayed: for Jesus's redemption, healing, endurance, strength, unity, and peace.

We were greeted by the leaders of MOH (Mission of Hope) at the PauP (Port-au-Prince) airport. The first thing I noticed once we landed was the smell. It was very distinct, like burnt rubber. I knew the reason for the powerful smell, and my heart broke at the thought of so many lost lives. They loaded us (along with our slew of medical supplies) onto a school bus, and we made our way to Mission of Hope (approximately 20-30 minutes outside of Port-au-Prince). As we drove through the capital, the bus was silent. We absorbed the landscape, the people, and the devastation. Once we made it to Mission of Hope (a 70 acre plot of land with high security), we unloaded our belongings and began setting up the hospital we would be running. Since our medical team was so well rounded, we had the ability to open up our own hospital (God is good). There was already a clinic on the MOH compound, so we essentially took over this clinic building and made it into a hospital complete with: 1 operating room, 1 ICU/ER room, 1 pharmacy, 1 PACU (post anesthesia recovery room), and 1 post-op ward. We were up until about midnight completing this transformation.

Our bodies were physically tired, but our hearts were bursting with anticipation and purpose. I could not wait for Monday. I was so ready to love the broken, hurting, and lost with His love. My soul was singing.

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.

-Luke 20:38

Currently Playing: "Truth (Helios Remix)" - Balmorhea

My Ways are Higher than your ways.

Where to begin? The last twenty-four hours have been a complete whirlwind. All I know is that His ways are higher than my ways. I love how God is beautifully orchestrating this entire process, so as to bring the Haitians the most effective care when and where they need it most. He is so good.

An amazing trip opportunity sprouted up within the last twenty-four hours, that we simply could not ignore. The logistics, safety, and personnel involved proved too perfect to pass up. So, after some [fast paced] scrambling and praying, God has provided me with the opportunity to leave for Haiti this Saturday (that's right, tomorrow) and return the following Thursday/Friday. Our team (comprised of doctors & nurses from ASCC, Hill Country Bible Church, and Watermark Church in Dallas), will fly out on a private plane straight to Haiti Saturday at noon. We will be working at Mission of Hope Haiti, where they have set up medical clinics within their private facility. We will have clean drinking water and food provided. Within this facility, physicians on the ground have already set up their own OR complete with electricity and supplies. Our team will be bringing an extensive list of supplies the team on the ground has already requested, and I'm sure we'll be put to work quickly.

As far as support goes, we will raise it once we return (since it is such short notice). If you want to begin contributing financially, visit Hill Country Bible's donation link. Also on that link, they have beautiful prayer requests that I encourage you to pray over the next few days.

I know I am not prepared for the brokenness my eyes will see, but I pray His love and light will flow through me. He makes all things new.

Specific things to pray for:
-The Lord would use use effectively and efficiently to deliver the utmost patient care
-Anointed hands for His healing
-Wisdom/discernment in medication administration and patient care
-Heed the Spirit, whatever shape that takes
-Safety for our team
-Jesus would be magnified

Thank you for embarking on this journey with me :) I will do my best to keep you updated with stories on my blog once I return!

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

- Isaiah 55:9

Currently Playing: "Wake up the World" - JJ Heller

Light my way.

It's official: I will be Haiti bound February 1 - February 7, 2010. God has continued to bowl me over with His provision in this process. I will be traveling with several close medical friends and doctors from Austin, and our group will merge into a larger medical team for Mercy Works. My heart is pretty much overflowing :)

I am thankful He has given me the desire of my heart in this process, and I am so humbled to be used by Him to love His people...what a joy and privilege.

Our team will be working in medical tent clinics set up by Mercy Works. They already have healthcare professionals on the ground and providing medical/spiritual relief to the victims of the earthquake.

My trip will cost approximately $1,600 which includes: airfare, housing, and food. If you feel so led, please consider supporting my efforts. All checks can be made payable to Mercy Works, and mailed to:

Mercy Works

c/o YWAM

PO Box 3000

Garden Valley, TX 75771

Please include a piece of paper with my name in the mailing envelope, to indicate who the check is intended to support :). To confirm payments, please email myself: sarenagreen@gmail.com, with the amount you have committed to donate. Mercy Works has been overwhelmed on a variety of levels, so this way I can ensure all of the support is properly received.

Please feel free to email if you have any questions! Again, thank you for taking the time to hear my heart, and thank you for helping me serve His people with His love. We all have a part to play in His redemptive Love story.

And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new " And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." - Revelation 21:5

Currently Playing: "Who will Rise Up?" - Churches Helping Churches

His Lovingkindness will not be Removed from You.

It's all happening. My prayers are being answered, confirmed, and reconfirmed. It's almost scary.

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, I couldn't escape the thought of going. The following day at work, it consumed my every thought. After a few phone calls to friends I figured shared the same desire, we began piecing together realistic options for making our way to Haiti. We prayed the Lord would swiftly open or swiftly close doors, pertaining to Haiti. We confessed it is a privilege at all, that we are used by Him, as a part of His redemptive Love story. He does not need us. We simply prayed that if the Lord wanted us to go to Haiti, that He would make a clear way.

He has answered.

Our team will be going through the ministry: Mercy Works. We have spoken with Ryan King, the ASCC missions coordinator, and they will be making an announcement at the Austin Stone Community Church tomorrow (Jan 17, 2010). If you are a healthcare professional and you feel called to serve the people of Haiti, feel free to contact myself, or visit their website for details.

We are awaiting specific departure dates (hopefully we will go within the next 3 weeks). It is a beautiful and humbling thing to watch potential road block after road block disappear before my eyes (scheduling with work, application forms). He is good.

My heart is overwhelmed because I know in my bones, this is what I was created to do: to serve the spiritually and physically broken through my medical giftings. I have never been more certain of anything in my life, and I am so thankful He has made this so abundantly clear to me.

Jesus is beautiful. That's all I know to say :) I am overwhelmed with His everlasting love for you, for me, and all of His children.

The trip cost will total $1600. We will be in Haiti for one week. The trip expenses include: airfare, housing, food. Once I have received the final dates with Mercy Works, I will begin the process of raising support.

I know I am not prepared to see with my own eyes, the devastation of which I've only caught glimpses of through American media. I am prepared to love with His love, and I'm quite certain the Haitians will teach me more of His love than I could offer. I am so thankful to be a part of His redemptive Love story.

More details to come! Thank you for taking the time to hear my heart.

Dream big in how He is calling you to serve the people of Haiti (prayer, financially, fundraisers, service, concerts, tshirts). Heed his voice. His understanding truly has no limit.

Also, for amazing updates pertaining to the people of Haiti, visit: Discover the Journey. They are on the ground in Haiti, and covering the plight of the earthquake victims. You can also follow them on twitter: @followDTJ, @jonathanolinger.

My prayer for the people of Haiti:

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,

But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,

And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,"

Says the LORD who has compassion on you. -Isaiah 54:10

Currently Playing: "Fight Day" - Thomas Newman