Clinic in Mts. Of Tapiyo- Wednesday 7/13/11:

                Today our Omega team went to the mountains, (where both teams had worked together last week).  Although this week we were by ourselves for most of the clinic day, as team Alpha went to an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. They shared that night about their wonderful experience treating 40 children, and then having the chance to play with them, and give them beanie babies and clothes they had brought. Anna one of the young girls enjoyed letting the children play with her hair, stick stickers on her face, and cling on her arms.  The children sang ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘Father Abraham’ to the group.  It seems like it would have been such a blessing to be with these children.  But I hope on Friday we will get to go to an orphanage. 

                However, back to our clinic…. when we pulled up to the mountain the people on our team where asking why are there so many people? Dr. Francise said this is our clinic, and everyone on our team was quite shocked at the hundreds of people already gathered. Dr. Vlad said people will start walking or riding their donkey’s at 1:00am to make it to the clinic.  I was not surprised yet was excited to return and look for familiar faces.  I love the small little man, who controls the huge crowd, and writes the names, and ages of the patients, and sends them up in shifts to triage.  He cracks me up, such a small skinny man, controlling our largest crowd of patients.

                The clinic was quite the event for the people, as many children on the mountain above watched us all day long, at times yelling “hey you”, and waving to us, as well as other young teenagers hung around the clinic.  There are even ladies that cook food to sell to the patients waiting line. The people are very helpful, helping us to carry all the supplies up the steep rocky mountain where we hold the clinic under a large tree.  There is a lady who volunteers each week to set up a bathroom for us, which consists of a tarp wrapped to the side of a house, held up by two wooden posts in which on the inside was a white pot with a lid for us to go to the bathroom in. At the end of clinic she cleans up the area and neatly folds the tarp.  What a humble act of service to our team every week!  

                The children were also very helpful, when the other team arrived Dr. Vlad sent them up to the mountain to their village (which I found out was where I had been back in March, where most live in Samaritans purse shelters), and brought down more chairs for us. Before patients arrived and as we set up, I noticed a man practically carrying a woman up the hill to us.  The woman was hysterical, crying and stumbling up to see the doctor.   We were not sure what was wrong with the woman, until one of the Haitian staff said that she was possessed by bad spirits. Innocence was amazing to watch, he calmly had the man sit the woman down, and he took the time to pray and talk with her.  He also had some other Christian women pray over her.  It was breath-taking to see the woman’s demeanor completely calm down after the prayer.

            Today, I was so thankful for the blessed breeze and cool air sent from the rain and thunderstorm last night.  The weather on the mountain top today was very refreshing, and peaceful.  We had an awesome team; today I saw many serious cases of scabies and impetigo, as well as several children with high fevers.  One baby girl had 105 temperature, the highest I had seen thus far.  We routinely gave her Tylenol, and took her dress off, and gave her a cold wet paper towel to try to cool her down.  Dr. Francise gave her two shots and a treatment from the nebulizer.



Thanks for the portable nebulizers!!




Thanks for all the donated children's tylenol!!



                 I loved seeing the many precious children today at clinic.  It was very special for me to see sweet baby Rachel (Rachelle) and her mother again, (looking much better today)! I was so excited to get to hold her again, as I helped get her mother her medications, (as she was still in quite a bit of pain).  Baby Rachel was adorned today with a handmade bonnet.  As well as, it was foremost a privilege to witness Innocence lead six salvations!  As I triaged patients, I loved watching as Innocence and the other six people, held hands in a circle and echoed a prayer to accept Christ. Praise the Lord! 



Innocence leading 6 patients to accept Christ!!



Baby Rachel & her mother!!



                Today we saw 232 patients, so thankfully the Alpha team traveled at least an hour from the orphanage to help us finish up the clinic. As thunder and dark clouds rolled in, we were able to finish seeing patients and able to pack up everything, in case it were to rain.  Today was a great day, very organized and a blessing to meet each person.  There was one small boy I recognized from last week that wore the same incredibles red t-shirt and just hung around the clinic all day. The children waited around all the day to receive our extra boxes, and empty medicine containers.  We also broke up our leftover PB& J sandwiches to distribute to the children around J.  As we left, the children just melt your heart as they smile at you, and wave goodbye.



Thanks for all the donated clothes, shoes, and items!!

 

                I enjoyed riding down the mountain with my Haitian friends, laughing and taking in the breathtaking view.  You can see the village below and the clear ocean, and beautiful blue rolling mountains in the distance.  We stopped on the way down to take a group photo.  I try to take in each moment as I know my time is running short here in Haiti.
            ** I love it in Haiti, I feel so at place here.  Here I feel a purpose; I feel my calling; I wake up excited each day for what the Lord has prepared for us. I look forward to seeing and working with the Haitian staff and doctors, and bringing hope and God’s love to the patients.