One week down ! We happy in Haiti !

Well here it is Sunday morning and it has been such a full week. When we arrived a week ago, I was immediately faced with a number of problems, one being my own health – I developed laryngitis on the plane from Dallas to Miami, then had a migraine for 24 hours, then a cold. I was expecting that 600 tickets would be out for the patients but found out that 760 had been given out. Then the setting up of the clinic and sorting through rubbermaids and then searching for things we knew were here but couldn’t find was a daunting task. Introductions to our team of interpreters and we were off on Monday morning. Dr Amelia has been nothing short of spectacular in supporting and advising the nurses in their new and expanded roles. Once we all felt comfortable in our roles, things ran very smoothly and we exceeded our number of patients that I expected – we still have one and a half days so will be able to see all the patients who have tickets. It is also been great to have our 2 men along – my husband Martin and Al, our electrician. They have been key to helping us fix problems as well as wiring homes in the village and troubleshooting. We had a good meeting with Marc and Lisa on Friday evening and we have appreciated the others who are here at the compound giving leadership with their technical skills. (Architect Kathleen and Engineer Roy). Well I think others are going to blog today, so enough from me. Thanks for all the prayer and support - we couldn’t do this without knowing we have a host of family and friends back in Canada who are standing behind us. This is the first blog I have ever done, so thanks to my daughter Yolanda who set it up and assured me that if I mess up, she’ll fix it! Enjoying the sun! Sharon

What happpens under a mango tree.......

Hi everyone – I know you have been waiting with baited breath for my turn! My highlights have been handing out flip flops… as you would think if you hand one pair out after a foot care treatment then everyone comes and wants the same so needless to say after one day they were all gone! Let me tell you they were all much appreciated. The foot care has not been any less rewarding with the many blessing , hugs , kisses and hand squeezes. It is hard to describe the feelings after completing a person’s feet – who knows how far they may have walked to clinic that day – one story that has come to light – a man started out at 4am from the mountains to arrive at clinic for 10 am. A well deserved treatment is just what the doctor ordered! My office under the mango tree has been the best office I could ever ask for - beautiful weather, a breeze to cool you, never ending action of Haitians working on the medical clinic, technical school and the children playing at the school. Another note when you work under the mango tree, you need to keep looking up - one afternoon a mouse fell out of the tree right beside me – the mouse had his ”bell rung”, the Haitian lady picked up her shoe and flipped the mouse off to the side while I was already running the other way- the ladies killed themselves laughing at me – needless to say I was a little jumpy after that!
As the week rolled on, my nursing services were required in the clinic as 2 nurses needed some extra rest. I spent the morning in the pharmacy – much more appreciation to the many pharmacists following this blog! Then finally a chance in the clinic to see patients – translator Kelly at my side! I am proud to say that my skills were put to use – a malaria case, a 7 day old baby boy delivered at home - sixth child for Mom, upper respiratory infection and an eye injury from tree branches! Primary nursing at its best!
At the beginning of the week, I had spoke to Marc and Lisa regarding purchasing of goats for families. I had enough money for three goats so Marc sent Christoph to the market today to find the finest goats money could buy! At noon he returned to the compound with 3 female goats -2 black and one brown/black. We tied them up to cinder bricks, fed them a handful of mango leaves and watered them before we headed off to the beach for the afternoon. Upon returning from the beach my first recipient was brought to pick up her goat. Even without translation my lady chose the black female goat who was pregnant! With translation I presented her with her gift – the smile on her face will not be forgotten! The fisty goat was a handful for her as she was carrying a nine month old so one of the Haitian boys led the goat home for her – who knows what kind of home this goat was going to. While walking in the town I saw goats eating charcoal – hopefully my goat gets more than that! The other two goats will be kept in the compound for the week until Marc returns to choose the other families who will benefit the most, he promised me pictures with the families!
Friday afternoon was a day that I will not ever forget – first of all it has taken me all week to decide that I would sponsor the little nine month boy that his grandmother was having much difficult taking care of . His name is David and he is very much on the small side. I had asked Marc that if I were to sponsor this baby I would like to be able to hold him and have pictures of him before I left next week – my prayers were answered. Many pictures have been taken, even his feet and hands traced for a keepsake! I know that with my sponsorship, David will have the everyday opportunities of food, clothing and medical attention to take care of his needs. After the little details were taken care with Pastor Marc, I asked to become a Christian and accept the Lord that Friday afternoon under the mango tree…I have the spirit and the life to go forth and the smile on my face has not left……..
To all my family and friends… I will come home but I will be returning!
Lynnise
PS The lady with the first goat is David`s gramma!!

Out of my comfort zone again!

Being back in Haiti again after one year, is all that I expected it to be. I was excited to come back to Haiti Arise. It was nice to see familiar faces and to see that they even recognized me. This time I came with a medical team. My job has been to work in the pharmacy, but today one of our nurses was sick, so I worked in an examining room seeing patients. Every area has been quite busy. In pharmacy we have to do a lot of calculations to figure out doses, so by the end of the day your mind slows down. By today we have seen about 620 patients, and each prescription can have up to 4-5 medications to fill out. So add that up and you can see what we have to do. Our translators are excellent in translating and explaining everything to the patients. Besides medications we also hand out hygiene products, clothes for children, and baby formula. Sunglasses and reading glasses are also handed out. We see a lot of children and often grandmothers are looking after their grandchildren, when they themselves are not healthy. Twins are in abundance here. Yesterday we had one child that kept coming into our pharmacy and didn’t want to leave us. They are not shy. In church they almost look for a white person to sit with and just cuddle up to you. I just wish I could speak their language. I know how to tell them my name and they won’t forget it. We are all tired after a long busy day of sometimes nine hours on our feet. But in the end, it is all worth it when you the see the dilemma and need that these people are in. To be able to serve them in love and in the name of Jesus is a great blessing. They are always so appreciative and thankful for every little thing you do for them.
Loretta, that Roughrider loonie that was imbedded in cement here this week was not mine, but another team members. They always say you can find Roughrider fans all over the world. Now we have something to prove that they are in Haiti too. Rita

Friday, bring me the babas! (gramas)

Well here we are at the end of our first week. Wow what a week it has been! I have been working in one of two clinic rooms. My co nurse is Colleen who loves maternity. Needless to say, this homecare nurse points all the pregnant women to her stretcher. I told Sharon, “Bring me all the old people” and they have truly been a blessing. I am afraid though that many many more should be seen, but because they have to walk a km or more to the clinic, this does not happen. They are so grateful for anything we can give them, whether it be a pair of sunglasses and tears for their irritated eyes, some Tylenol or tums and a hug and prayer goodbye. I have been stretched seeing pediatrics again as I plot growth charts and try to figure out the cause of cough after cough after cough. (Guess what I developed last night?) Oh well, I can always ask to see a doctor as I have one as a bunk buddy. Tomorrow is beach day…Yippie! Rita from work, if you are reading this, I will never complain about a day being too busy at the health unit again! Carlene

Ruth's Ramblings

Hello family and friends
It is hard to believe that a week ago today I left for Edmonton to start this Haiti trip. We have had some many experiences that are new and foreign to us. The temperature was in the 30’s with high humidity today, but I won’t complain even though the sweat was running down my brow and my clothes were sticking to my skin. (I hear it is still cold in RMH)! We saw 147 people in the clinic today and unfortunately we have run out of sun glasses and are getting very short on certain medications. Almost every other person we see has irritated itchy eyes from the smoke from the fires from cooking, dust and the sun. People have been so appreciative of the medical supplies that we have been able to give out because of your generosity in helping us with supplies for this trip. I saw a little boy yesterday who had cut his finger deeply with some sheet metal and had gone to the Hospital for stitches. He received a prescription for antibiotics, but he couldn’t afford to get it filled. The bandage on his finger was dirty and he was reluctant to let me change it because he wanted to make sure I would put another one on. We were able to fill his prescription and after dressing his finger we gave him supplies to change it at home for the next few days. We have awesome young translators who learned their English at school here in Haiti. They are very fluent and we could not have done this work without them. The team have hired them with the money that you have donated as well. It has not been a holiday. We start at 6:30 with devotions and end our clinic around 5:30 – 6:00. Tonight we had a church service until 7:15 pm, then supper! So needless to say our team retires early.Saturday and Sunday afternoon are beach days! We will enjoy the rest and the Caribbean Ocean. Even though the work is hard none of us would trade this experience ! I love and miss you Gord! See you Wednesday night! Ruth Stock

Jeudi and day 4 at the clinic is over

It’s Thursday at Haiti Arise and the day is even hotter – probably pushing 30 today. Saw 147 patients today and nearly completed wiring the Paulin house (the third house constructed by volunteers from Haiti Arise). For a change, the guys get to write the blog and talk about themselves - kinda like the Toby Keith song “I want to talk about me”. The crunch was on for finding containers in which to distribute meds to patients and in that search we ended up cleaning out about a quarter of the storage area.
The last few days we’ve been busy repairing and burying an electrical feed as well as wiring the Paulin house. Interestingly enough, the kilometre walk to the house gives us the opportunity to interact with kids along the shortcut path. As we push our wheelbarrow of tools down the rutted pathway past goats, cows, chickens and donkeys, we get accosted by kids from 2 to 10 who run along with us smiling, touching our skin, holding our hands and trying out their English (usually “you – you” or “give me a ‘dollah’” but smiling up at us when they say it). Those we are working for are very appreciative of our efforts and try their best to speak English (or to politely respond to Al’s pidgin French or Martin’s English). There is just so much to be done and with an improvement in infrastructure we would see an improvement in health as well (for example, Madame Paulin spent all of Wednesday ironing with a charcoal fired iron and she spent the whole day sitting on the floor breathing that smoke while ironing piles of clothing. One of these days we’ll get a decent sleep and not be woken at 0330 by a mooing cow or at 0400 by an insomniac rooster. Al and Martin

Happenings in the Clinic

Another great day Haiti Arise. Started out at with a half day at the clinic which ran so smooth as we are getting more comfortable and confident with much encouragement from Dr. Amelia and Sharon. Today I cared for a small baby who was brought in the clinic by his grandmother
( the baby’s care giver).The grandmother herself presented with her own health issues and admitted she was struggling with being able to provide for the baby ,with lack of food, clothes, etc for her young grandson. The whole team pulled together gathering formula, pablum, clothes and counselling. We prayed with the family which gave both the family and us great comfort. So please remember this family in your prayers tonite. After lunch we had about two hours of free time which was really nice as our schedule has been very full. Later in the after-noon we went around the local village and were able to visit with, pray for and give a few gifts of needed supplies (face clothes, toothbrush, soap ,etc). People living in extreme poverty requesting prayer for safe shelter was very touching. The children are so sweet and very friendly. I must say my time so far in Haiti has been an amazing experience. Just a quick note to my family at home—I love you and am thinking of you just know that we are very well looked after here. xxoo. Colleen