Officially, today was the first work day. . .but yesterday's post hopefully cleared that up! When we're here, it's as wall to wall as we can make it, and Pastor Chrisnel does his level best to support us.
The clinic was open today and the place was mobbed, more so because of the triage done in Gommiers yesterday. Dr. Scott abandoned plans for surgery this afternoon, dedicated the day to clinic work so he can determine how to use the rest of his time for both new walk-ins and those he saw today that need surgery of some sort. The medical clinic was also busy and Shawn was pitching in all over. Meds donated by St. John's Providence were delivered to the clinic pharmacy, and Nancy got an update from Head Nurse Dorismond about the malnourished newborne program she has developed. A generous donor in the congregation has made it possible to support the program for 5-6 months.
We have also renewed our support for the breakfast program at the main church here in Jeremie, which provides those who don't eat so well a roll and coffee before services on Sunday. Here, this support is a joint effort between our church and a handful of other Methodist churches in the greater Detroit area.
Roland and I made our way to the mountain village of Chiraque. Last year, we supported the building of pews and school benches, and finishing off a partially completed 1-room school building. We also supported the building of a flush toilet for the church, although we need to help with the purchase of rainwater cistern so the sink and toilet have "running" water. This year, we are underwriting the construction of a new 2-room school building to bring indoors students otherwise having classes outside. This underwriting means 35 villagers have been put to work hand digging the foundation trench, and lugging EVERYTHING. . .stones, rock, mortar, cement, re-bar. . .UPHILL the last 200 yards. Roland and I took a turn with the pickaxe and the shovel, and carrying a load of mortar up the hill. . .one load was enough, but the villagers smiled and clapped when we dumped our load out onto the pile they had been making since early this morning. There is a little Model T in this undertaking, as most of the villagers make 200 Gouds/day. . . .or $5. Compared to no work, it is a blessing, made possible by the generosity of FUMC's congregation.
Back at the clinic, Nancy and Lynn administered flouride treatments to about 45 kids from the orphanage that is nearby. This is the second treatment in as many years and they were (mostly) all smiles again.
After dinner, the seamstresses among us busied themselves with the finishing touches on curtains to replace the tattered and dowdy ones at the Good Samaritan Old Folks home. . .installation will take place later this week. Others of us used a machine from the clinic to read the prescription of donated eye glasses, to
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Day Won. . .
It's hot and pretty much breezeless at the moment, and we're thinking "what are we thinking?". . .we're not freezing, shoveling snow or navigating around black ice! Short hitters if not short memories!
We had a full day, attending church services that Pastor Chrisnel was presiding over in one of the 35 churches comprising his circuit. . . it is the seaside village of Gommiers. Services typically run 2 1/2 hours, and the Pastor stopped to pick up a choir that was to sign at service. . they all climbed into the back of his pickup truck until a nasty bit of rain intercepted us. He let the choir off under some cover, drove the rest of us to church, and returned to pick them up. Nice thing about being the pastor is that service doesn't really start until he arrives!
While we don't understand a word of creole or french, the voices of the many choirs established the common ground of our faith. Our host congregation couldn't have been nicer, practicing "radical hospitality" with our gang after service was concluded.
With two nurses, and eye doctor and his PA in toe, we offered "First Nurses" blood pressure readings, and eye triage. . .to find those with cataracts or glaucoma so that they might make their way to the clinic in Gebeau where Scott will be performing surguries Monday thru Thursday afternoons. It was a happening. . .musta seen 60 people with one or both screenings, with Pastor Chrisnel serving as translator congratulating thosed with tres bon blood pressures. Not sure how she managed but Nancy did all the blood pressures on her knees. . .no tables, just pews. Shawn counseled several mothers about their babies, and Jill might have been "Most Popular" as she was dispensing reading glasses. . .initially as Scott directed, but once the crowd saw how nice they were she had a following!
This afternoon, Scott, Mary and Jill went to the clinic to ensure all was ready for tommorrow. The rest of made our way to the Good Samaritan Old Folks Home. . .not a pretty site but they would be homeless otherwise. We did blood pressures and other triage, arranging for a few to be brought to the clinic for the attention they need. We installed some mattress protection, and generally inspected the conditions. There are some simple improvements in order, which Pastor discussed with the caretaker. There is a bigger problem to solve and that is the lack of some kind of visiting nurse who would do what we did. . .every week. . .what we did in the only visit we make in a year's time.
We covered a lot of ground and, while tired and hot (and hydrating like crazy), regard today as a good day, a day won. . .
John Smith
We had a full day, attending church services that Pastor Chrisnel was presiding over in one of the 35 churches comprising his circuit. . . it is the seaside village of Gommiers. Services typically run 2 1/2 hours, and the Pastor stopped to pick up a choir that was to sign at service. . they all climbed into the back of his pickup truck until a nasty bit of rain intercepted us. He let the choir off under some cover, drove the rest of us to church, and returned to pick them up. Nice thing about being the pastor is that service doesn't really start until he arrives!
While we don't understand a word of creole or french, the voices of the many choirs established the common ground of our faith. Our host congregation couldn't have been nicer, practicing "radical hospitality" with our gang after service was concluded.
With two nurses, and eye doctor and his PA in toe, we offered "First Nurses" blood pressure readings, and eye triage. . .to find those with cataracts or glaucoma so that they might make their way to the clinic in Gebeau where Scott will be performing surguries Monday thru Thursday afternoons. It was a happening. . .musta seen 60 people with one or both screenings, with Pastor Chrisnel serving as translator congratulating thosed with tres bon blood pressures. Not sure how she managed but Nancy did all the blood pressures on her knees. . .no tables, just pews. Shawn counseled several mothers about their babies, and Jill might have been "Most Popular" as she was dispensing reading glasses. . .initially as Scott directed, but once the crowd saw how nice they were she had a following!
This afternoon, Scott, Mary and Jill went to the clinic to ensure all was ready for tommorrow. The rest of made our way to the Good Samaritan Old Folks Home. . .not a pretty site but they would be homeless otherwise. We did blood pressures and other triage, arranging for a few to be brought to the clinic for the attention they need. We installed some mattress protection, and generally inspected the conditions. There are some simple improvements in order, which Pastor discussed with the caretaker. There is a bigger problem to solve and that is the lack of some kind of visiting nurse who would do what we did. . .every week. . .what we did in the only visit we make in a year's time.
We covered a lot of ground and, while tired and hot (and hydrating like crazy), regard today as a good day, a day won. . .
John Smith
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Weighing in. . .
We are here, having started the journey to Jeremie. . .some of us, at least. . .at 2 am yesterday morning. We made our way from Detroit to Miami on a 6 am flight, then had a 4-hour layover before flying to Port au Prince.
PaP has progressed from just chaos, to organized chaos. A new arrival hall replaces the ram-shackle Butler building that was used for luggage after the earthquake. That being said, baggage handling must be among the top10 occupations in Port au Prince, with teams of Haitians comprising a sort of relay of one's luggage in the 400 yards or so between the luggage conveyor and whatever vehicle you pile into! Friendly, helpful. . .ever-present, and persistent. . .but its really just another way of sharing our gifts with those trying to make their way in a difficult place.
We couldn't get to Jeremie yesterday and spent the night at the Palm Hotel near the airport. It has become a sort of crossroads for other mission teams as suspect as we that making it to or from Jeremie in one day is a bridge too far for the capabilities of local transportation. We happened across "Reverend Jerry" from a South Carolina methodist church with whom FUMC has worked in prior years. He was one his way out, we on our way in, and it was great to get his take on the state of things.
Pastor Chrisnel has 35 or so churches in his circuit, and his parsonage serves as guest house for mission teams like the one from South Carolina, FUMC and a host of other churches in southeast Michigan. For a while, we are his last gig, and I detected a bit o' relief in his manner when he met us at the Jeremie air strip a short while ago.
We are on Haitian time, as the scheduled flight to Jeremie was to depart at 11 am, based on arrangements made several weeks ago. At the airport, the charter staff offered that the plane would leave at 1 pm. . .then, after a little checking, OK maybe noon. . .and another staff member said they often leave early. . .take a seat, take a load off, it'll happen!
So back to today's blog title. . .every bag and EVERY PERSON has to be weighed before we pile into the 9-passenger puddle jumper. At least half of those reading this blog would be surprised to know the idea of standing on a scale, with a HUGE dial, visible to the entire Caribbean basin, was the last thing the ladies of FUMC wished to do. No big deal. . .so Jill weighs &^%, Mary weighs @#$, Nancy weighs?>{, and Lynn weighs +)*. . .there, what's the big deal?
We're sorting today, since we had 20 checked bags for the 8 of us, and the fur starts to fly tomorrow!
John Smith
PaP has progressed from just chaos, to organized chaos. A new arrival hall replaces the ram-shackle Butler building that was used for luggage after the earthquake. That being said, baggage handling must be among the top10 occupations in Port au Prince, with teams of Haitians comprising a sort of relay of one's luggage in the 400 yards or so between the luggage conveyor and whatever vehicle you pile into! Friendly, helpful. . .ever-present, and persistent. . .but its really just another way of sharing our gifts with those trying to make their way in a difficult place.
We couldn't get to Jeremie yesterday and spent the night at the Palm Hotel near the airport. It has become a sort of crossroads for other mission teams as suspect as we that making it to or from Jeremie in one day is a bridge too far for the capabilities of local transportation. We happened across "Reverend Jerry" from a South Carolina methodist church with whom FUMC has worked in prior years. He was one his way out, we on our way in, and it was great to get his take on the state of things.
Pastor Chrisnel has 35 or so churches in his circuit, and his parsonage serves as guest house for mission teams like the one from South Carolina, FUMC and a host of other churches in southeast Michigan. For a while, we are his last gig, and I detected a bit o' relief in his manner when he met us at the Jeremie air strip a short while ago.
We are on Haitian time, as the scheduled flight to Jeremie was to depart at 11 am, based on arrangements made several weeks ago. At the airport, the charter staff offered that the plane would leave at 1 pm. . .then, after a little checking, OK maybe noon. . .and another staff member said they often leave early. . .take a seat, take a load off, it'll happen!
So back to today's blog title. . .every bag and EVERY PERSON has to be weighed before we pile into the 9-passenger puddle jumper. At least half of those reading this blog would be surprised to know the idea of standing on a scale, with a HUGE dial, visible to the entire Caribbean basin, was the last thing the ladies of FUMC wished to do. No big deal. . .so Jill weighs &^%, Mary weighs @#$, Nancy weighs?>{, and Lynn weighs +)*. . .there, what's the big deal?
We're sorting today, since we had 20 checked bags for the 8 of us, and the fur starts to fly tomorrow!
John Smith
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Getting Ready to Return to Jeremie. . .
Soon, 8 of us will return to Jeremie, Haiti for a week's worth of work. Scott, Jill and Mary will be doing eye surgeries again this year, and folks will WALK considerable distances to be seen and treated. Flouride treatments will be administered again in 3 different villages by Nancy, her sister Lynn, and Shawn. .another nurse from First United. Meds donated by St. John's-Providence, and baby blankets and other supplies for the clinic's malnourished newborne program will also be delivered. . along with 300 sundresses and assorted "boy" clothes made by hand by the FUMC seamstresses. . .finally, a use for all of that material filling up closets everywhere!
Roland and I will be helping the ladies some but spend most of our time helping local Haitian masons build a foundation for a new 2-room school building in the village of Chiraque. All building materials are HAND CARRIED, UP THE MOUNTAIN, the last 10 or so minutes. I'm hoping that has happened before we arrive, as the most technologically advanced tool they can bring to bear on the foundation is a pick ax! We will be replacing the tattered window and door curtains at the old folks home, and bringing new laptops to the high school (solid-state Chromebooks that should hold up better under the constant heat/humidity/dust that is Haiti).
Our basement has been filling up with all of the above, and we've squeezed into duffels for the trip to Haiti. Having all of what we take finally get into the guest house is the same feeling as when your kids stopped needing diapers!
We'll post everyday and we hope you follow along. . .best, John Smith
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