Called to ‘build the walls of friendship’

Published 7:36 pm Monday, March 8, 2010

Local contractor Phillip Gschwend just returned from a second trip to Haiti for relief efforts and says the country is still in great need of help and will for sometime.
Gschwend, of Green Creek, is part of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, which has schools in Haiti. The recent second visit was to get the mission compound ready to receive teams of volunteers to help with the recovery effort. This trip, Gschwend took a friend of his from Hendersonville, Pete Grey.
Gschwend tells of taking teams of doctors, nurses and pharmacists who he described as incredible, working quickly to help those in need.
Following is Gschwends account of this trip, written shortly after his return last week:
“We flew into the Dominican Republic and then went by Bus into Port Au Prince on Feb.16 and started working right away preparing for a team of six doctors, 15 nurses, a pharmacist, and support staff that arrived Feb.21st. We were able to build tables and benches, repair plumbing, install fans, build storage shelves, and set up beds for the team. The 40 arrived and immediately began seeing patients suffering from a variety of injuries and illnesses. One of the saddest cases was a two-month-old whose mother had died in the earthquake and was being cared for by a neighbor who could not get formula to feed the child. Several would have died had the team led by Clinton Pentecostal Holiness Church in Eastern North Carolina not come to help.
“We were able to bring and install a water filtration system at the compound to purify water for the teams coming in as well as the people there. The system uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and a carbon filter to remove chemicals. At this time it appears that a lot of the foreign aid that was gridlocked in the initial weeks of the tradgedy is getting out.
“The need however is overwhelming as so many have been affected. The people are still living outdoors even if their home is standing because of fears of aftershocks. I didnt really understand their fear until I woke up about 1:30 a.m. on the 22nd to a 4.7 quake that rocked the building I was sleeping in. When I finally got back to sleep another aftershock hit sending us all back outside. Pete spent the rest of the night sleeping outside.
“It is beginning to rain and the mosquitoes are becoming a problem. The medical team saw some severe malaria cases. When the rainy season arrives in May it is going to become even worse for all those living in the tent cities that have sprung up all around Port au Prince with tents and lean-tos crammed side by side.
“The people are survivors and make do. Even though they have lost much they still gather at church and offer thanks for what is left. I spoke to about 200 on Sunday morning on “Be a Wall Builder” from Ezekiel 22:29-30. There are a lot of walls down in Haiti and we are all called to build walls of friendship and help whereever we are.
“The effort to help Haiti will go on for long time and if you are interested in sponsoring this effort please contact me at 1-828-863-4383.”

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