Ambassadors of Christ from John

This fourth trip to Haiti was, in many ways, the most meaningful for me.  God really blessed this trip in so many ways.  First, He molded together just the right people to make a group of individuals from several different churches and many different backgrounds and skillsets into a team that he knew before the foundation of the world.  How neat is that!  Second, He brought us together with a remarkable group of translators so that we could minister to those that needed our help.  Third, He kept us all in good health and good spirits, so that we could minister to one another.  Finally, we attended two worship services where you really felt God's Spirit (expertise in Creole not needed!), heard from Pastor Esau and a real prayer warrior and marveled at how 70+ orphans ranging in age from 2 years to almost 20 readily participated in and benefited from God's Word and music.

I will never forget the many ways that God uses all of the many and varied gifts that He has blessed each of us with, so that the body of Christ is served in His name.  As ambassadors of Christ, it was truly a blessing to ask so many who came to us for healing if we could pray for them and have them light up and say "Oui!"  And the orphans showed us a level of love and acceptance that we felt from the first day entering the orphanage until the final day when we said goodbye. 

And ... special thanks to Emily, Pastor Daniel and Cliny for their help, support, smiling faces and Haitian hospitality!

John Zamzow
Short-Term Missions Coordinator
Faith Lutheran Church

Photo credit: Sarah ;}

Photos du jour from Janet Pratt

John working triage under the mango tree. This huge tree provides incredible shade.

Scenes from market day above.  We do believe the truck was overloaded.  The wheelbarrow contains sugar cane.

We had no idea there were so many calculations to be made as a pharmacist.  Mike has to double check everything.

Hugging moment for Suzie.

Toodie and Kathy get a ride in the back of the truck after a long day's hard work.

Mel and Bruce in pharmacy.

Sandy is dedicated to triage and she is fantastic.

These are the batteries that power the orphanage!! Recharging the batteries comes from running the generator only at night. There is no utility power at the orphanage. The generator also pumps the water for the water storage tank on top of the building.

Emily and Dr Elizabeth discussing some patients. Doc Sarah  in her little office. Jen Wride works full time out of the boys' orphanage teaching them how to plant, grow and harvest food.

Mike Lucey's pharmacy is upstairs.  We figure he makes innumerable trips up and down and up and down.

Kathy says: "You want me to do what?"

Mark working under the gigatic mango tree which provides blessed shade for the medical team and patients.

Mike and John in pharmacy.

John Zamzow

I've been happily married to JoAnn, an RN, for almost 37 years. We have two children and five grandchildren, all of whom live in the Dallas, TX area. I retired from General Motors in 2008, after a 40-year career in Sales and Marketing. I've been blessed to be a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Troy for about 17 years and, since my retirement, have served the church as its Coordinator of Short-Term Mission trips. I work with/accompany our mission teams and act as their liaison with the church staff. I have been on several trips to Haiti and have also served with mission teams to Belize, Bolivia, Brazil and Kazakhstan.

I trust that God will give us numerous opportunities to be His ambassadors in Haiti and I always look forward to the many blessings that our hosts give to us.