Trip dedicated to Steve Steinberg

I am very sad to report that Steve Steinberg, who was a member of our team for three trips, passed away last fall. Steve was a wonderful person whose quick wit, remarkable intelligence, and expansive world view enriched us all. On his last trip with us, Steve celebrated his 80th birthday. My last visit with Steve was in January 2015, when I had a business trip to New Orleans, Steve's adopted home town. Steve invited me to lunch at Antoine's where we enjoyed a delicious lunch and 25 cent martinis. Steve told me endless stories of his travels around the world and his exploits as a journalist. I will miss Steve greatly, and will cherish his memory. I am sure he is watching over us on this trip.

This trip is a little different than those in the past. Little by little we are trickling into Haiti. Our medical director, Dr. Dianne Pizey, traveled to Port au Prince on Wednesday, April 8, to attend the bi-annual Haiti Connection Conference. I will write more about that when I catch up with Dianne. The northern members of the team, including our dental director, Dr. Terry Shively, his wife Stevie, Jane Weist, Dick Anderson, nurse Darrell Martin, and Rev. Ward Bauman arrived on Friday, April 10, and successfully traveled to Leogane where Dianne was waiting for them. The southern team members, my husband Steve and I, will arrive tomorrow. I am flying from Montreal where I have been for business, and meeting Steve in Miami, then we fly to Port au Prince together. Wow! It will be nice for all the Americans to finally be together again.

As in the past, we have many Haitian team members, including a new member Sony Baziel, who will help in the pharmacy. Our other Haitian members include nurses Evens Joicin and Myrline Richeme, doctors Rudolph Richeme, Frantz Codio, and his wife Charenne, dentist Emmanuel Bastien and his wife, optometrist Laguerre Guerry, five nursing students, four translators, two drivers, and our priest Pere Sonley. Of course, we could not be successful without the great care of the guesthouse manager, Jeanine, and her staff. Lastly, we always appreciate the help of the US guesthouse liaisons, David Paige and Bob Sloane.

We expect our week to be much the same as in the past, with clinics on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, followed by clean up and organization on Thursday. (Of course, nothing is ever the same in Haiti!) Steve and I have to leave on Friday to get back for the Diocese of Atlanta's Annual Global Mission Conference,which I chair. The northerners will return to their colder climate on Saturday.

Please keep those we serve and our team in your prayers.

Terry