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Editor’s note: Dr. Ron Sloan of Kendallville returned late Saturday from his volunteer work in Haiti. He left Port-au-Prince Saturday afternoon, arriving in Grand Rapids, Mich. at 11 p.m. The family practice physician is back at work in his offices adjacent to Parkview Noble Hospital, Kendallville.
Just one week ago I stood next to a broken Wesleyan church listening to a congregation of Haitians singing praise to the Lord for his provision. Not for their houses broken, all around them, not for vacations or miscellaneous things they have to enjoy, not even for their family, many lost to the crushing blow of cement, but rather for their very breath. They were standing next to their broken church walls praising their Lord with heartfelt joy.
Today (Sunday) I stand among fellow worshipers reflecting on the sights and sounds of the Haitian disaster. Singing now the song “This world has nothing for me.” With a house full of stuff and a garage full of the same, I recall the songs of those who this world really has nothing for.
This trip to Haiti I anticipate will be only one of more to come over the years. I no longer can convince myself that I can do just as much by supporting financially those who go. The knowledge and experience of this event behind me, I will no doubt make the sacrifice of time and expense to gain far more than it could possibly cost. To have a woman tell me my presence tells her that “God has not forgotten” her makes the cost and inconvenience melt away. To hold a small child in your hands knowing the child may not have survived without your involvement will leave a lasting mark.
I thank the many people who in very real terms were with me on this Haitian relief trip:
• My wife, who supported me in my decision to go.
• My staff, who at no small self sacrifice encouraged me to do what I could.
• The doctors who I share call with for taking up the slack left by my quick departure.
• Parkview Noble Hospital administration who at a moment’s notice put together life-saving IV fluids and medications.
• My patients who were inconvenienced by my quick departure for their understanding.
• The community that was there in many ways.
• The often maligned corporate America for contributing in may ways at their own cost. Amway and other corporations used their corporate jets and flew crews, supplies and manpower time after time. When my commercial flight was cancelled they were able to get me on the return flight of one of the flights they were making. The expense was all borne by the families who own the Amway corporation.
We saw many other similar examples of corporate America making great contributions in Haiti. Perhaps corporate America is not as evil as it is made out to be.
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