Where There Is No Doctor
In Haitian French-Creole

With more than 2 million copies in print in more than 80 languages, Where There Is No Doctor is perhaps the most widely used health care manual in the developing world. Using simple language and hundreds of drawings, the book provides information about recognizing, treating, and preventing common illnesses and injuries. 

Where There Is No Doctor is more than a book on first aid. It covers a wide range of things that affect the health of the villager-- from diarrhea to tuberculosis, from helpful and harmful home remedies to the cautious use of certain modern medicines. Special importance is placed upon cleanliness, a healthy diet, and vaccinations. The book also covers in detail both childbirth and family planning. Not only does it help the reader realize what he can do for himself, but it helps him recognize which problems need the attention of an experienced health worker. 

Pastor Codo
Cape Haitian, Haiti 2003

Survival in Haiti is very difficult. It is virtually impossible for the Haitian populace to transport their goods to market because of the conditions of the roads. A country without infrastructure is not a country at all, in these modern times. The Haitian people, in general, do not have electricity or running water. Bottled gas for cooking cannot be transported safely because of the poor conditions of the roads. Water must be carried on their heads in five gallon buckets from the nearest well, if there is one, or from the nearest polluted river. By the way, this job is reserved for teen age girls only. It improves their posture and strengthens neck muscles.

Medical supplies are in dire need. We have delivered medicines and supplies on two occasions in 2001 to Cape Haitian, and only touched a tip of the iceberg. Today, after the earthquake the situation is much worse. They need our long-term help.

Q'eqchi' Mayans living in southern Belize

Antonio Kib lives with his family in a small village in southern Belize. We visited with them and they are wonderful people. Antonio is a part time Pastor to the village youth and our visit was instrumental in our having the Luke study translated into Q'eqchi' (K'ekchi') Mayan.

You can email Antonio at  mayayouths@yahoo.com.

St. Andrews Anglican Church
San Ignacio, Belize

The Anglican Church in Belize struggles like many churches. Our friends for many years Juan and Maria had chosen Belize for their new assignment because of the proximity to their children attending college in the Florida. We first maet them while they were serving in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and have had a strong relationship ever since. Our prayer is to have our studies as part of the curriculum of the Anglican schools in their area.

Belize Central Prison

In 2002 the Kolbe Foundation, a non profit organization, was formed specifically to take over  the management of the Belize prison.  The government agreed to hand over the prison to the Foundation.  The Kolbe Foundation is named in honor of a priest, Maximilian Kolbe, who on July 31, 1941, in reprisal for one prisoner’s escape, several men were chosen to die and Father Kolbe offered himself in place of a prisoner who was a young husband and father.
The Belize prison has an inmate population of 1400 men, 45 women and 70 youths.  They are imprisoned for murder, rape, drugs and robbery.  The age of the inmates range  from 12 years old up to about 65 years old.

In keeping with the foundation’s goal of providing a secure humane facility geared towards meaningful rehabilitation, Kolbe has already implemented many changes.   They fired many of the guards who were causing pain and anguish to the prisoners.  They replaced them with God loving men. Emphasis has been placed on the belief that all men are created in the image and likeness of God and as such the inmates are to be treated as wayward brothers.

Today, my brother in Christ Mike Znachko has single handedly implemented  Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs prison wide and is currently working with released prisoners and pastors to implement them in communities for released prisoners.

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Former School teacher, Ms Jeanna teaching the Gospel of John study in the Chuck Colson Inner-Change For Freedom Belize.  A year before this visit I was showing the video on John to the men and Ms Jeanna requested I make it into an interactive Bible study, “because a lot of my men can’t read” she exclaimed! Those words, ‘til this day, ring in my ears.

Hurricane Mitch

One of the most devastating hurricanes of our time to cripple the country of Honduras was Hurricane Mitch. Hondurans watched in disbelief as Mitch circled just off the coast, leading no clues as to where it would strike next. To the amazement of all, it took a surprising turn and tore through the very center of the country, destroying major cities such as San Pedro Sula, and even the capital of Tegucigalpa. The flooding was indescribable. San Pedro Sula's newly completed ultra-modern airport was 6 feet underwater. Its brand new, top of the line computer systems were useless. All equipment would need to be replaced. In outlying areas, people stranded on rooftops, surrounded by water, were helicoptered out to safety. Statistics can never truly paint an appropriate picture of the affects of such a hurricane. The impact of the lives lost, the destruction, and the entire economic impact cannot be measured in numbers.

The Honduran government donated the top of a hill to relocate survivors. Malcolm Alexander, a South America Missionary Society (SAMS) missionary moved in to the new community and built a center for the children. Shoes were one of the many things in short supply.