Wow -where to start. It’s been another great day!!

Everyday has been filled with new adventures! Today we only had a half day of clinic and saw 71 patients. Things are running much more like a greased wheel now that we have been at it for a couple days although we are learning quickly to change and adapt it very much part of our day. From where I work in the pharmacy I can look out over the waiting room that is always filled with people waiting ever so patiently for their turn to see the nurse or Dr. This morning again the room was filled when suddenly there was a MASS EXODUS of people running to get out the door. I looked to my Haitian interpreter for some explanation on what the excitement was, only to observe a look of fear and terror on her face as she said the words “earthquake…didn’t you feel it?” I had to admit I didn’t feel a thing although I did hear the loud sound of thunder and she said, “NO that was not thunder that was the sound of the earthquake” and she had felt the ground shake. I realized I had just witnessed some of the fear that is so deep in the lives of the Haitians since that day. Lynnise, who has her office out under the mango tree said she didn’t feel anything but all of a sudden the Haitians came pouring out of the building from everywhere! I think I like the solid ground of the prairies…although I am not missing the snow! Yes, it is hot although at night it cools to a comfortable temperature and we always enjoy our times of debriefing about our day on the roof each night. We have seen a few mosquitoes but they have not been a bother at all. Now the spider on the wall in our room this morning was massive so I guess mosquito nets keep more than the mosquitoes away! This afternoon we went for a tour of the local hospital here. It is Cuban run and the staff don’t speak creole although they wear white uniforms and caps. The hospital was clean but sparse, although I couldn’t help notice the sign hanging in the waiting room. Our signs display ‘no smoking’ but their signs display ‘no guns’! We walked thru the community in small groups and were able to stop to talk thru our interpreters to the locals and gave out some hygiene kits and prayed with many families. That was an eye opening experience as the people were so receptive to have us bless them. It has been an awesome day…from the ‘thunder’ to the cracking of coconuts…this day has been full and I am so thankful for this opportunity to be here! Elva