(Truly) Amazing Grace

We've had a great week all along, and another memorable day to close it out.  The eye team did 4 surgeries today, bringing the week's total to 14.  The equipment available put Scott in some kind of time machine, having to recall procedures last used a decade or two ago, but there were 100% satisfied patients leaving the clinic this week. . .some recovering their sight after years of impaired vision.

The construction team were prevented from returning to Chiracque today by a giant tree, with some history (see below), which fell across the dirt road turn off.  So, we shipped the eyeglasses and medicines we promised to parishioners after last Sunday's services by way of motorcycle, which seem to find their way through any crack.  We boogied off to Gommiers, another 10 minutes down the road from the turnoff, and delivered a world map, in French, to the Methodist-run school there.  We got there at recess and Nancy and Lynne proceeded to engage about 100 kids in ring-around-the-Rosie.  The kids won. . . .

We returned to the clinic and Nancy and Lynne turned to triage for a bit, left all the scrubs they brought for the local Nurse Ratchett. . .who warmed up to the "help" as the week wore on. . .then down the road to the orphanage, where the east of the flouride treatments to the 30-odd kids just returning from school.

The day was still young.

We departed the clinic for the guest house. . .14 people, including 3 eye surgery patients who were
offered a lift in our beat up compact crew-cab pick-up rather than walk 3 miles or take a "taxi" (aka
riding shotgun on a motorbike).  It was reminiscent of either the old clown trick about how many of them you can stuff into a VW or the Keystone Cops, or some blend of both!  What a hoot!  That said, compared to the loading of some other vehicles, we had room to spare.

One of our translators, Victor, was born with short and disfigured arms.  He spent two years at a young age in the U.S. undergoing several surgeries which left him with a semblance of functioning hands, and a good command of English.  He and Wilbens, our other translator, were indispensable this week.  We learned that Victor had organized a support group of other disabled Haitians in
Jeremie, most of whom are truly homeless, living from day to day either begging for food or
prevailing on a friend for a place to sleep at night.

Pastor Chrisnel has quite a lot of despair to deal with already in Jeremie but met with this group once before, and agreed to let Victor gather them together again at the John Wesley School this afternoon so we, too, might meet them and learn more about their circumstances.  The disabled in Haiti are shunned, basically, and have to overcome both physical and socia obstacles.  Now in a support group, they hope to secure a permanent place where those with no place to go or no food to eat might go. . .a place where supplies important to their mobility and dignity might be maintained, and where food might be cooked and delivered to the less able by those among them that are more able.

Pastor Chrisnel said such a room in Jeremie might cost $300-500. . . .a year.

Nancy, Lynne and I probably had the same thought, about the same time, which most of you reading this blog are also having right now. . . ."here's the money, when can you move in?".

After a while here, you learn to rein in your shock/disbelief/disgust, take a deep breath, and find a way to be supportive without building undue expectations, working within and with the local Pastor, but giving some inkling that their might be some light at the end of the tunnel. So, I said we would work with Pastor Chrisnel, our church and the other Methodist churches in Michigan that have come together to coordinate their work in Jeremie to find a way. Just the thought that we wanted to meet them was hope enough, but those admittedly vague words brought cheers and smiles. If I have to say goodbye Starbucks for a year, they will have their safe house, and soon. After dinner. . .yes, yes, goat again. . .we all began to pack for the return tomorrow. One of the young Haitians we have been helping, Rubins (who is the high school's computer jock) brought a 9-person choir to the guest house to serenade our group. . .it was lovely and lively, featuring English and Creole songs, some of them decidedly upbeat. They sang Hallelujah (so did some of us) and they sang Amazing Grace (so did all of us). The words remind us of our faith, and their voices. . .passionate, sometimes soaring, a few truly beautiful. . .remind of us of our shared humanity, and the very real and important differences we can make in their lives when we compare our concerns with their condition. Thank you all again for your support. With it, we can do more here and are ready to so.