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