Saturday Morning Tour

Just a short blurb about  yesterday morning’s tour of the surrounding area:

Many went to Grand Goave market a short walk from where we are working. Included herewith is a short video of the main street of Grand Goave (hopefully will get it on later) and the hectic Saturday morning activity where the market is located.
Elva Ruth S, Ruth B and Lynnise bought bottles of vanilla for US$ 0.50 each. They also bought star of anise and bread from the bakery. Cindy bought soap. They had a tour of the bakery too!

Haitian Money - gourd .......Divide the bill number by 40
 and that is Canadian dollar value

Other’s went with Lisa to Petit Goave – a short 10km drive up the coast with scenic mountain views. It was nice to see the way the locals live outside if the 2 small towns that we were visiting.  Petit Goave seems to be a more affluent community and the market is more like ????West Ed Mall! (joking)Lisa and us girls had a great time shopping and poor Gerald had some training on how to treat a woman when going shopping with her – only he had to do all the talking. Mignon,Lisa, Jeanette and I bought some clothing that we are proudly wearing and the men went to the hardware store. Wayne bought a pair of Columbia sandals for $17.00.

A local pharmacy



A busy store

Jeannette has now firmly established herself as a vegetarian (and possibly Mignon too) after a whiff of the meat market stall – not to say anything about seeing the cow and pig heads on the table with the resident flies keeping guard!

cow head at the market



 

Live chickens -sold in groups of 3

Part of the hospital destroyed in earthquake

Outhouse on a dock







Afterwards we went to the Petit Goave hospital where we have been referring some of our patients. A part of the hospital was destroyed in the earthquake. It was a harsh reality for myself and the nurses to deal with when we went into a ward and were confronted with the conditions that the patients were suffering. (decided not to post pictures) This was so far beyond what any of us could cope with and so we offered a prayer, which each one graciously accepted. Sometimes it is a saving grace to be reminded that this worldly temple of ours is only our temporary accommodation.




Morgue - wagon is their transport

No guns, no knives, no....assault weapons

Washing area and waiting  area

Waiting area for hospital

Pediatric and maternity areas

  




















On our way home we stopped at Marc and Lisa’s house where we picked up a few more guests in our already full van – guess how many persons (apart from some luggage too!) can Haitians fit into a minivan? …….22 and 2 on the roof and 2 hanging on at the back. Antoinette

Out of our comfort zone.....bartering..temperature...decisions..

With reports of snow coming from home, today seems even warmer.  It was an off day at the clinic, so we had the opportunity to go to the market and then the beach.  Several of us went to Petit Goave, about 10 km west of where we are.  The market was dark, hot and crowded and word spread quickly ahead of us that the “blancs” were on the way. Several treasures were purchased. 

Marc negotiating price for the lobster.

 When the crowd of us hit the beach, the vendors congregated as well.  Commercialism thrives!! 







 As I reflect on the last week, I am amazed at the learning curve I have had the opportunity to be a part of.  Working with a translator has been both a challenge and a blessing.  Sometimes when the conversation takes place it seems the “non English” portion is considerably longer, then I find out afterwards that the patient is a friend, brother, or some other person that the translator knows.  It also means that I have a great advocate in encouraging someone to give me the whole story.  Presenting complaints like:  “spitting too much” and “she has a problem with the blood” don’t seem to be on the CEDIS list I use to teach!!  Dr. Antoinette is amazing, and has been so patient to teach us as well as care for patients.  I feel like I have learned a whole new skill set.  We see 120 patients between 5 nurses and a physician float.  Needless to say, when we were asked to remember to pray for patients as they leave, mine often includes a prayer that I have chosen the right diagnosis and written the right prescription.  Fortunately the pharmacy team is getting really good at reading our minds…and figuring out what we really want these patients to have.

It’s also been a huge blessing to see the smiles on the face of these people as they are given something to help them see, stop hurting, or make their lives just a bit better.  Doug figured out that asking people if they could read was not working, but when he got a needle and thread, they get a pretty good idea of which strength of glasses will work.  People will walk a long way to come to the clinic, but then they talk of coming to “Pastor Mark’s church” and one soon begins to realize how far reaching the ministry of this place is in the surrounding community.  When we went on a ministry walk, we met folks that told us of coming to the church as well.  God is working in the lives of these folks despite their adversity. 

Joyce with translator, Franklin.

Dallas and Elva manning the Pharmacy.

 Food supplement given from pharmacy.

A home visit

What the ..... is that?

Stopped for a visit on the way to the beach.

Please remember to pray for our safety as it seems the foreign bugs that thrive here really like to attack our northern immune systems.  Continue to pray as well for us to make wise decisions regarding patients that have significant medical issues.  The follow up system here is very complex and difficult to navigate.  Pray for Gord tomorrow as well, he is preaching in church.  Joyce

Needing Comment !

Sorry about the comments section - it was a small glitch in the setting so now we are waiting for comments - we are feeling abandoned by our friends and family!  If you are having trouble - use anonymous      Sharon

I am amazed.........

Yes, the week has been a long one. When I have had a few moments to contemplate it all (and believe me there have not been a lot) I stand amazed at many things.

I am amazed at the vision of Marc and Lisa Honorat and the difference that they have made to this relatively small Haitian community through the sheer power of their faith. I have worked under third world circumstances in the past and what I see here actually gives me hope. Yes, they are materially poor and the effects of that, as well as many other circumstances beyond their control, is so obvious as we work with the people on a daily basis, but the people are essentially not without hope. They have faith in a future and have something to look forward to.

I am amazed at what can be accomplished with so little. Here the bricks of a new building is made prior to the wall being built. When one looks at one brick at a time – the job seems way too much to accomplish but when looking at what has been accomplished thus far ( a school, a medical clinic, a church, a computer college and a children’s village on the way) I realise that nothing is impossible …….. we just need to walk the road.

I am amazed at the fact that 16 people from frozen Canada could work in the searing heat for 6 and a half days and furnish, stock and open a medical clinic that was a bare building the day before and see 560 patients none of whom speak a language any of us understand. (Try explaining risk: benefit ratio via a translator!)

I am amazed at how much one receives back from doing this mission – both in insight about yourself and about one’s own culture and the people that you share this journey with.

I am amazed at the blood pressures we see (many above 200 systolic) and the glucose levels (many above 20mmol/L) and how well antibiotics work. Also how a wound can heal in a few days after being neglected for weeks. How large a belly can swell with constipation and how malnourished a child can be with a congenital intestinal stenosis.

 How thankful a patient can be for my explanation of how incapable I am of doing anything more than caring for their situation and sending them on a wild goose chase because of the fractioned health care provision in Haiti. How Haitian children can sit quietly for hours with nothing to keep them busy and how loving they are. How the patients all share their personal space and has no problem with open doors and others in the same room when they are being examined. How Haitian people can quietly accept diagnoses such as HIV and cancer and blindness – not for a moment think that they have a right to something better. The list is endless………….

But on a personal note I am amazed at the wonderful child that God has given me. I always knew that she was special, but having the opportunity to bring her with me to Haiti has been affirmation that she is………….well, amazing!      Dr Antoinette leRoux



Mignon leRoux at age 12 can run our medical records singlehandedly



A Day to Encourage

Four month old abandoned by mother, being cared for by elderly lady.

 Yes, as already mentioned, it has been extremely hot (I think hotter than last year)!   We have been doing our best to drink lots of water and get plenty of rest so as to stay well.  My role has been to counsel and pray with individuals whose needs goes deeper than what can be visualized on the outside.  One incident stands out.   An elderly lady, very frail and weak came with lots of aches and pains.  She wasn’t eating as she had no food.  She had been earning money by doing other people’s laundry by hand, but she could no longer do that.  When she came to me I assured her that we would be giving her medication for all the pain.  Then I told her that we would be giving her a food pack.  She broke down and wept uncontrollably for a minute and then her hands went up and she vocalized expressions of praise and thanks to God.  It was definitely a very moving moment for me and my interpreter.

Thought it would be nice for you know that Haiti does have a law that seems to be one up on us.  Handicapped people get preferential treatment.  That means, they are allowed to precede people that are already in line to be seen.  I asked the security guard how it is decided who qualifies.  He told us that the decision is entirely up to us.

A big “Hi” to my friends and family and especially to Art!  Thank you so much for praying for us.     Ruth Bartlett   

And they just kept coming - all 140ish of them!

After being in Haiti for 6 days, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been exposed to the Haitian culture. Sweating is the national pastime. Noah

Noah is willing to do anything - here he is putting our nametags together.

Coming back here after 16 years with Noah has been a pivotal experience for me.  The sights, smells, sounds, that were our world, when Noah was only 4 months old, once again envelope us.  Creole words swirl around us.  This time, I know these words, they are not completely foreign and I love that I can communicate, even joke with Haitians, in their language.  We are working hard…seeing 120 patients + per clinic day.  It has been a stretch for us nurses to adapt to nurse practitioner-like roles, but we have a very fantastic physician in Antoinette, that makes the transition less painful.  Our team is excellent, I am so impressed by their attitudes and servant hearted ways.  This has been a God- orchestrated experience…the best kind…not without frustrations and physical demands that tax us, but when you know it is where God wants you, there is no other place to be but at the center of His will.  Noah and Mignon are our two teenagers and they are an encouragement to the rest of us as they work hard right alongside us-what a blessing they are!  I will speak for Jeanette, who says she can’t count to 90.  Perplexing comment, eh?  Nightly, we count out pills with our wonderful pharmacist coaching us and you’d be surprized how hard it is to count the 90 pills out, especially when our more mischevious team mates try to throw us off our counts just for fun.  Noah is keeping his comments to a bare minimum as you can see.  He is taking it all in stride, he has Gord and Dallas and Doug as his roomates, so I hear from them that he asks some tough questions at night after he has tried to process all he sees here. 

Well, that is all for our contribution to this blog..Stay tuned for more team input.  Bondye bene ou. (God bless you)  And a special hug and kiss to Dan and Ben.  Tannis

Well I think it is time that I had a little say – I hardly know where to begin – Moving into the new clinic has been such a privilege. We had a pretty chaotic day on the first day but after putting a few heads together and discussing the situation we made some changes and what a difference it made. On Tuesday morning I overheard the Haitian translators having a very animated meeting with Marc Eddy and they were not a happy crew. However after the day on Tuesday, they were all happy as the day went amazingly smooth.  Drs Francelot and Dr Jacob, our Haitian doctors have been helping out as they could and we are working at mentoring as many Haitians as we can from the registration and medical records area, lab, footcare and clinic rooms.  I am going to post some photos of the clinic rooms as they have been set up. The container with furnishings for the clinic is still waiting at Port au Prince and so we don’t want to make any major changes so we are always improvising.

This baby is the same age as my little grand daughter.

Our counselling room, supply room and flip flops

First row waiting for blood pressure, weights and deworming pill
and second row is patients waiting to get into a clinic room.

Clinic room

Another clinic room.

 Well it is late and I will post this and get some rest.  Sharon

What a Great Day in Haiti

Hi everyone back home and abroad!  Wednesday started out on the roof top this morning for devotions and I lead for the first time! It was a year ago today under the mango tree on this very piece of land that I became a Christian! Who would know that a trip to Haiti would make such an impact in my life and the beautiful memorable story telling that would come with it about God and his love for all!

  We had an awesome half day in the clinic this morning – Elva moved into the clinic, Ruth S. took over pharmacy with Dallas, Dr. Jacob came for the morning to help out, and I had a chance to work in the clinic also – no one wanted to take on my foot care so I was multi – tasking – something like Regina Pasqua ER! I have had some great interactions with the Haitian people who have lined up for foot care – I don`t have an interpreter  but the smile on their face, the kiss on the cheek ,the chanting or the little dance step of the last Haitian of the day yesterday makes it all worthwhile. I don`t have the shade of the mango tree this year as one of the young Haitian men told me on Monday – “we have a new medical clinic so come sit  under the banana tree!” The people are not as shy as last year for foot care – they remember “the nurse” who makes their feet “belle” (beautiful).

As some of you remember from last year, I sponsored a little 9 month old boy, Dave, with a truly sad story. Pastor Marc and Lisa have generously kept me up to date with pictures over the past year. Monday morning little Dave and Gramma came to clinic – WOW! The little frail “failure to thrive” baby was now in the 80% percentile of growth – walking, talking and could even give you a “bump” for a hello gesture. Gramma recognized me instantly and gave me the biggest hug then pointed to her feet! Even though Dave would not let me hold him – a game of peek a boo was just as good. I will be seeing them a few more times before our mission is over. As for the goat I gave her last year – it had 2 babies but one has since died.

After lunch, our team went out into the village divided into 3 teams with an interpreter to visit families throughout the area – we were able to see the Haitian people in their own surroundings and hear their story. We ministered to them, invited the people to come to church on Sunday and then presented the families with a small token of hygiene products. The walk might have only been one hour in length but the impact on us  will be life long – the housing, the stories about the earthquake, their fears and worries will stay with us. The heat of the afternoon was starting to beat down upon us so there was nothing better than to finish our “free” afternoon off but with a trip to the beach!

The waters were very inviting – Elva said it best “the ocean is warmer than our showers and a lot more of it but the wind chill was getting to us” The snorkeling for some of the group was phenomenal –some of us decided just to watch for this time which was just fine now that we find out that Elva saw a lion fish that is definitely one you do not want to get to know!

The evening is ours tonight – some are resting, Dallas is back in the pharmacy prepping for tomorrow, others are comparing photos of our ministry walk, laundry being done, shopping in the gift shop and great visiting with our Moose Jaw team who are doing construction on the first duplex in the children`s village. Pastor Marc and Lisa are here tonight  visiting and told us that our 14 goats were purchased at market today – the goats are now housed over at the children`s village where there is plenty of green grass and security for them until the families are chosen for them. These families will be very blessed with their new gift!

As I close this evening we must remember how blessed we are and privileged to have the life we have in Canada. If we only choose to change one thing in our life may I pray that it will be that you come to know God – life does change once you have Jesus in your heart! God Bless one and all………..Lynnise the Nurse

Hi - casualty at the beach - small laceration from the coral - Dr Antoinette to the rescue. Yes I am the team leader setting example for all and yes I took freezing!!  Sharon