News from Kristy Engel via @constantcontact

News from Kristy Engel via @constantcontact

The 1st Walk-a-thon "Walk for your health!"

On Saturday July 3rd the Good Samaritan Hospital sponsored it's first walk-a-thon to initiate it's new Wellness Program. The program started after the death of one of our employees who was only 40 years old. She died of a heart attack while working. After her death I began talking with the hospital administrator, Moises Sifren, and the assistant medical director, Franklin Bido, about the need for our hospital to start a wellness program. It would focus on preventative measures that employees could take to avoid complications of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. We will also focus on monitoring our health as well as encouraging employees to begin and exercise program. As a hospital, we should set the example for our patients in regards to good health and healthy lifestyles. The walk-a-thon was the beginning of this endeavor! It was a very hot day, around 100 degrees, but we had well over 300 people participating. There were employees and their families as well as invited guests, volunteer medical personnel and over 80 American's!! I've posted several pictures from the event.
Following the 5 mile walk-a-thon through the streets of La Romana, there was a concert by Rayos de Luz and Orquesta Maranatha in front of the Maranatha Haitian Baptist Church.
Our next objective is to get as many employees as possible signed up for health screening exams and started on an exercise and healthy eating program. We plan to build a walking/running track on the hospital grounds as well as a gymnasium at the hospital that would be available to hospital employees and the physical therapy patients.
This is just the beginning. Eventually, we hope that our program will encourage other businesses and hospitals to set the same example and begin employee wellness programs.
Please keep us in your prayers as we begin and let me know if you would be willing to help in any of these activities!
May God bless you!
Kristy

New website!!!

Please visit my new website at: http://kristynurse.org
I will be adding new pictures and stories so please visit often!
Also, if you are a team member, team leader or would like to know more about how you can get involved in the work we are doing in La Romana, this is the website for you!! There is lots of information for teams so that they are prepared for their trips.
Thanks for all of your help!
Kristy

Update: Week 3 in Haiti

In a brief phone conversation last night (Feb. 4th), Kristy wanted everyone to know that the team in Haiti this week is safe, and working very hard in difficult circumstances. On Wednesday alone, the team treated 527 patients. On Thursday, from what we understood (between background noise, connection static, and unfamiliar names), they were in Carrefour, an extremely poor and distressed area of Port-au-Prince, and saw over 400 patients. This week's team is spending all of their time in Port-au-Prince, or just outside of town.

Please continue to pray for the health, safety, and strength of all who are volunteering their time and skills to minister in Jesus' name. May their gifts of presence provide hope and comfort to each person they encounter.

On another note, you have undoubtedly heard of the missionaries who were arrested in Haiti for attempting to transport children across the border into the Dominican Republic. Media sources in our country have described them as "American Baptist," meaning that they are Baptists from America. They are not in any way a part of, or associated with, "American Baptist Churches USA," the denomination in which Kristy serves through International Ministries. For further clarification, click here.

posted by Soozi Whitten Ford (Convener, Kristy Engel's MPT)