We departed Metamora at 2:45 am yesterday, checked in a gazillion bags at DTW, snoozed to Miami, and landed in PaP around 2 pm. . .the worst part of the trip is explaining to Haitian customs why 2 people have a gazillion bags. . .and it can't be the many changes of underwear needed to be comfy in this hot and humid environment! Actually, with Nader's help, he found a capitalist customs person and, despite getting shuffled into the red lane, we opened one bag (thankfully packed to the gills with innocent-enough dresses, boy shorts and other non-pharma items) and were waved through. . .although I did settle up with Horatio Haitiman in the parking lot for $80!
Surprise. . .on the plane with us to PaP was Carlot Dorve, the one-armed Haitian trumpet player who was part of the Concert for Haiti at the church a couple years' back. He looks great, still studies at MSU but was returning to Haiti to do so visa work.
We overnight in PaP near the airport as there isn't a way to get to Jeremie the same day. So, we met Rubin for dinner. . .we're helping Rubin with his English classes in PaP, and we brought a laptop so he could supplement the classroom work with listening to CDs on his own, as well as do papers untethered from the school's computer lab. We also met Fabula, who is studying nursing in PaP, and helped her navigate through a scholarship application provided by Metropolitan Methodist in Detroit.
While in PaP, we also ducked into Nader's favorite grocery store to fill a last-minute order for diapers, as they apparently cost more in Jeremie than the first year of college. This was as nice as any store I've seen in the US, with the exception of Whole Foods.
Puddle jumped to Jeremie at 8 am this morning and had a lovely view of the coastline on the way. We had contracted with Cassy to drive our gazillion bags overnight from PaP as the 5-passenger plane was no match, and he dutifully deposited the bags before we arrived at the guest house. We set about to empty and reorganize the contents around stops we planned on making while we are here, today including Good Sam and a nearby hospital where there are a couple of difficult cases (colostomy, 3rd degree burns) for which we brought medicines and other treatment items. We made a stop for some drinking water for Good Sam and good the cooks tours of a very up-to-date reverse osmosis water treatment facility.
The folks at Good Sam were over the moon with new rubber sandals and some apparel items we brought, along with bananas and the drinking water. Dr. Marx stopped by and gave all the residents a kind of work up, supplementing the blood pressure readings Nancy had already obtained. We brought meds for the residents which we'll distribute on Monday, when the Good Sam nurse is available. Our stop at the St. Antoine hospital, to deliver some newborn items. . including the lovely baby blankets made by the seamstresses at FUMC. . .and we managed to generate some smiles in the process.
Tomorrow, we're back to St. Antoine and perhaps Good Sam as well, and will visit Axary's mother to deliver her diabetes medicines. We'll also meet with the Dentist who will come along to Chiraque when we visit there on Monday.
As for the post title, Nancy bought 3 HUGE water bottles for Good Sam today. . .which the residents will surely lap up. . .but we won't be able to make the toilets flush until Monday. . . .oh well, our intentions are pure!
John and Nancy
What a joy to read your posts and see the very personal ways you are making connections in Haiti!
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