Group Visit

Bonjou enkor!

My time here is passing so fast! Please excuse my lack of posts, time is passing faster than I realize, and I did not had consistent internet recently. However all is well now! I have also been busy which is good!

Pretty soon I was back at the clinic to work and see familiar faces I had missed! 

Some of the clinic staff (clockwise from left) Miss Toussaint, nurse; Andrelle, records and reception; Lulu, reception and cashier; Virginia, lab pathologist

I have mostly been helping receive patients at the front, and doing vision screenings on Thursdays when we have eye care. I also help out the manager Richard with other random tasks and technical things.

Another group came in shortly after the first, along with a couple I had been in contact with for advice before I came to Haiti. Peter and Meredith are an agronomist and a nurse/midwife who lived in Terrier Rouge for almost a year, and it was wonderful to meet them in person and learn from their experience. We had some nice walks and talks, and I got a lot of ideas from them about being involved in the community, and it was also nice to hang out with some people my age and share in the experience of living here.

The group from Georgia included physical therapist Hank Wright, his wife and speech therapist Marianna Wright, Bethlehem Ministry board member Ed Risler from the UGA school of social work, his wife and retired speech therapist Susan Risler, and a small group of high school students from Athens. We visited Pere Bruno's farm where I had helped to plant cashew trees the last time I was here! They inter-cropped it with many different plants like corn and beans, because cashew trees will take a few years to produce. These crops will help feed the school and hopefully produce some extra revenue to support the school.

One day the group and I went to Dendon, a small town tucked away in the hills, to do a food distribution. It was an impoverished and isolated area with many unemployed, elderly, and children. There is no social security for many elderly in Haiti, so when someone is injured or is too old to work, they must rely on their family to support them. In the society in general, there is more ties to your family and a more tangible sense of duty to care for them, which is a beautiful thing and something we truly can use more of in our culture. However, when someone does not have much family left, or the family as a whole cannot sustain many people, it leaves many fending for themselves.

 The food packs contained a coffee can full of rice, a package of spaghetti, a bottle of oil, and some dry salted fish; this is enough to sustain one person for a week or two, or a small family for a few days. It does not seem like much and is not a very sustainable practice, but anything helps in some people's situation, and knowing that someone, even people from our wealthy country, cares enough to bring them something can make a real impact in a person's heart.



To finish off their stay, the group hosted an appreciation party for staff of the school and clinic. There was food, raffle tickets, music, and lots of fun for everybody. There weren't enough door prizes for everybody, so I gave mine to Freddy, an elderly gardener/grounds keeper for the school. He waited with anticipation, and jumped from his seat when our number was called to receive his prize: a plastic water pouch, perfect for staying hydrated after working in the Haitian heat!

 





Thank you Lord for never failing to deliver beautiful sunsets! More posts very soon! (I am about to leave:(

Anpil tan!

It has been way too long since I posted on here! I returned to Haiti March 5th, and I will be recapping my  time thus far...

I have spent the last few months in the states, visiting home and loved ones! During my time back home, I did a lot of catching up with my friends and family and with my girlfriend and her family. I also have been working as a substitute teacher and completing my medical school applications. I interviewed with LSU New Orleans, and recently received news of my acceptance! I thank all the wonderful love and support from my family, friends, and my amazing girlfriend Mie; I couldn't have done it without you all! Time with my friends and family has been wonderful, as I have missed them so much, and there's no place like home for the holidays. However I am excited to return to my new Haitian family and friends and return to my work. A huge thanks goes out to all of those who have supported me on this mission with donations, prayers, and love!

M'ap vini Ayiti!

After a near sleepless night in Miami, I flew to Cap Haitien, gazing out the window at the beautiful Haitian countryside once more. It made me remember all the beautiful things about Haiti, the rolling mountains, the unique culture and food, and the diligent and loving people who persevere through so much. The ride out of Cap brought back the uglier familiar sights of bustling poverty and smells of burning trash. Deep-down, I really had missed the raw reality of it all, which can be easily forgotten in the comfort of middle-class America.

Getting into Terrier Rouge was real nice however, and I felt like I was coming home, back to my second home! There were plenty of familiar places to see, food to eat, and faces to greet, especially the Bruno family, and before long it felt as if I never left. I also was excited to meet a group of people visiting and working here. There was a small group, many of whom were from Houston:  French educators Soizic Bonnet and Elo Le Nezet, who hosted an educational seminar for the teachers; Bethlehem Ministry board member Janet Wheeler and advisory board member Rich Wheeler; and Associate Pastor John Melsness from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

The first few days back were very eventful revisiting the town and projects, and remembering my Creole! We also rode bikes over to the jatropha pepinye, where Rob and his group have been busy getting ready for more oil production to make body oil, soap, and bio-diesel. As for the goats, perhaps goat cheese? It was a nice few first days back, and I was able to start working at the clinic again too.

Oh yes and the much missed Haitian sunsets...

 It is always so nice meeting the wonderful people who come down to Haiti to contribute their talents and time. God works through many people and many different ways, and its amazing to see it happen. All you need is love in your heart, and a will to help others!

Posting more soon! Much love and God Bless!