Thursday, March 11, 2010
Travelers log - Day 6 in Haiti
Pastor Mike and Kathy at the end of a long day.
The supply room at the clinic.
Dale and a patient, waiting for the boy's turn with a doctor.
Wade, Jennifer and an 80 year old patient.
Pastor Brian holding a toddler who was waiting for her mother to be finished.
The clinic wasn't quite as busy today. We served over 160 patients for a week's total of 773 people. We have seen a variety of ailments including serious burn victims, people with all sorts of skin conditions, a boy with a hand growing out of his chest and a girl with a severely cleft palette. We have treated dozens for scabies, hypertension, diabetes, worms and infections. Hundreds of prescriptions have been filled. Dozens of glasses have been given. What a fantastic week!
The clinic will be open for half the day tomorrow to serve patients and then we will conduct an inventory for the next group that arrives on Monday. Following our work, we will go on a more extensive tour of Port au Prince. I'm sure we'll have more photos to share!
After clinic today, we walked through Gramothe again and met some villagers. They are so gracious and polite and seem to really appreciate our presence. I spoke with Jean Micheal, Rachoul's son, while we were walking. He said that he has been counting the aftershocks since January 12 - he has tallied 70, with the last one being in the past 7 days. Yet people keep on living their lives, doing the best they can with the limited resources they have. In Gramothe, most people are farmers, growing coffee, leeks, and bananas to support their families. They farm land that most would consider unusable. They are very resourceful and extremely hard workers.
After our walk through Gramothe, we hiked down one mountain and up the next to walk through Petionville again. We were there at a really busy time and it was great to see how people really live in this area.
The Haitian people are amazing. So strong in body and spirit. The physical challenges that are a part of everyday life seem incomprehensible to most.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Travelers log - Day 5 in Haiti - lifestyle
Waiting in line at the clinic.
This lady asked me to take her photo.
She stood so straight and proud!
She smiled warmly when I showed her the screen.
Travelers log - Day 5 in Haiti - Petionville
The hike down the mountain from Gramothe toward Petionville.
A typical street in Petionville.
Wade getting ready to go dancing after a long day at the clinic.
The market.
A collapsed building (background).
Travelers log - Day 5 in Haiti - Evenson Jean
We were fortunate enough to greet Evenson Jean during his visit to the clinic today.
Kathy giving Girl Scout cookies to Evenson.
Annalies and Evenson Jean.
Travelers log - Day 5 in Haiti
Wade playing with a small patient.
Nick and Dale taking blood pressure readings.
Kathy taking temperatures.
Angela and a patient.
Pastor Mike giving an injection.
The majority of the day was filled with clinic work again. 222 patients were served today.
Since the government has not re-opened any Haitian schools, we decided to turn patients into students during their wait at the clinic. While Sonya took temperatures and moved people through the line, Kathy weighed in the patients and taught them English while they waited to see a physician. From young children to seniors, they were enthusiastic about learning and showing off their knowledge of the English language.
Kathy used some of the ESL books to show the children photos and pronounce the words. Some of the kids even began picking up how to sound out the words themselves. Their smiles lit up the room when they were successful in repeating their newly learned words.
The highlight of today was visiting with Evenson Jean, the young boy we have pledged to support. He is growing up so quickly! The medical team re-examined the external mass on his chest to check for any changes in it and were happy to report that it appears to be stable. To date we have raised over $1,000 toward his procedure. We hope to raise the additional $2,000 so that we can have the mass removed and he can move on with his life. He smiled broadly when we gave him some Girl Scout cookies to take home and share with his family.
We hiked up and down the mountain on our return trip to the guest house, taking a "short cut" through the dry river bed to a very steep trail. Visualize an indoor rock climbing wall and you'll be close. The Haitians that we passed chuckled at our progress and sweaty faces. It was very humbling to see little kids with buckets of water or rocks on their heads racing past us on their way to the top.
Following our "hike", we walked into the town of Petionville. We visited an outdoor market, a small grocery store, a barber shop and a discotheque. We sat at a bus stop enjoying cold drinks, watching life go by in this tiny "cosmopolitan" town. Streets were lined with small businesses, and walled properties. Small busses and "tap taps" (taxis) packed with passengers buzzed around. It was interesting to see how different this town is compared to Gramothe.
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